T-Mobile’s family plan is an attractive option if you burn through data. It offers a variety of data-saving features, like unlimited video and music streaming, at a price that other postpaid carriers rarely come close to beating. However, if you’re outside a major metropolitan area, T-Mobile’s network might leave a lot to be desired.
AT A Glance
- Plans start at $80 per month for two lines
- Strengths: Great value for your money, strong slate of data-saving features
- Weaknesses: Lower performing network and data speeds
T-Mobile family cell phone plan
Unlike other carriers’ family plans — where everyone shares data from one big bucket — T-Mobile’s family plan gives each line a discrete monthly high-speed data allotment, accessible by no one else on your plan.
Each line you add to your plan, up to six lines total, comes at a base price that includes 2GB of high-speed data, plus unlimited talk and text. You can then add more data to each line for an additional $15 per 4GB. T-Mobile currently offers lines with 2GB, 6GB, 10GB or unlimited data.
- Line 1: $50 per month for 2GB
- Line 2: $30 per month for 2GB
- Lines 3-6: $10 per month for 2GB each
If you want 6GB of data on a line, add $15 to the monthly price of that line. If you want 10GB, add $30. For unlimited, it’s an extra $45 over the base price. Then add all the individual line prices together for your total monthly bill.
» COMPARE: Best family cell phone plans
Current T-Mobile family plan deals
As of May 2016, T-Mobile is offering:
- Four lines with 6GB of LTE data per line for $120 per month, only available if you call in to T-Mobile to make your purchase.
- Four lines with 10GB of high-speed data each for $140 per month, an $80 monthly discount.
- Discounted unlimited data pricing: Two lines of unlimited data are $140, a $30 monthly discount; additional lines with unlimited data are $40 per month each, instead of $55.
How T-Mobile’s family plan compares on prices
Since Sprint, Verizon and AT&T users share data with everyone on their plan — and T-Mobile users don’t — it’s not possible to do a direct comparison on price. However, it’s still illuminating to look at the plans side by side to see what kind of value you’re getting for your money from each carrier.
With that in mind, T-Mobile is a clear winner on price. For a family of four at Sprint, $100 a month gets you 1GB of high-speed data to share. That same price at T-Mobile gets you 2GB per line, or 8GB total. You can’t get even the lowest-end plans at Verizon or AT&T for $100 a month.
The table below compares family plan prices, assuming four smartphone users on a plan.
| AT&T | Sprint | T-Mobile* | Verizon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *T-Mobile's family plans do not share data; each line gets an equal amount of data accessible only by that line †Only offered if you're signed up for DirecTV or U-verse |
||||
| 1GB or less | $120 (300MB) | $100 (1GB) | n/a | $110 (1GB) |
| 2-3GB | $130 (2GB) | $110 (3GB) | n/a | $125 (3GB) |
| 4-6GB | $150 (5GB) | $125 (6GB) | n/a | $140 (6GB) |
| 8-10GB | n/a | n/a | $100 (8GB) | n/a |
| 12-15GB | $160 (15GB) | $140 (12GB) | n/a | $160 (12GB) |
| 16-20GB | $200 (20GB) | n/a | n/a | $180 (18GB) |
| 21-25GB | $235 (25GB) | $160 (24GB) | $160 (24GB) | $200 (20GB) |
| 26GB+ | $360 (40GB) | $180 (40GB) | $220 (40GB) | $380 (40GB) |
| Unlimited | $180† | $150 | $280 | n/a |
How T-Mobile’s family plan compares on features
For data-hungry families, T-Mobile’s unlimited streaming features and high-speed data rollover return great value. For example, streaming 30 minutes of video a day can add up to 5GB of data usage per month.
| AT&T | Sprint | T-Mobile | Verizon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited 2G data | Yes | Yes | ||
| Unlimited video streaming | Yes | Yes | ||
| Unlimited music streaming | Yes | |||
| Rollover data | Yes | Yes |
» MORE: How much data do you really need?
Unlimited 2G: After running over your high-speed data, T-Mobile allows unlimited 2G data use for the rest of the billing cycle.
Unlimited video streaming: With any family plan, T-Mobile allows unlimited video streaming from YouTube, Netflix, HBO, Hulu and other services. Any video you stream from these services does not count against your monthly high-speed data use.
Unlimited music streaming: T-Mobile also allows unlimited music streaming from Apple Music, Soundcloud, Pandora, Spotify and other services.
Rollover data: With its 6GB and 10GB plans, T-Mobile’s Data Stash program allows you to roll over unused data for use at any point in the next year. You can carry forward up to 20GB of unused data each month.
Is T-Mobile’s family plan right for you?
T-Mobile offers families great features and great value. The only caveat is that its network is not on par with Verizon and AT&T in data speed and reliability, though it still performs well in major metropolitan areas. If T-Mobile works well in your area, its family plan is one to strongly consider.
Stephen Layton is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: slayton@nerdwallet.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment