Technologies
Best T-Mobile Plans: How to Choose and Which Ones to Pick in 2025
T-Mobile’s plans have changed this year in name and also the services they include. We break down what’s offered.
Our Experts
T-Mobile plans look a lot different than they did a few months ago. The carrier hasn’t just retired the name “Go5G.” It’s added services, introduced a five-year price guarantee and improved its 5G infrastructure, which has led it to being named the Best Wireless Network in the US by Ookla. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) T-Mobile has also added the T-Satellite texting service powered by Starlink satellites, removing geographic limits to how you can get connected. If you’re looking for perks, the company is still committed to its Magenta Status perks like T-Mobile Tuesdays and a new DoorDash deal that offers a year of DashPass delivery. On the downside, none of the current plans include taxes and fees, which get tacked on above the listed plan prices.
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Read more: Our Guide to the Best Cell Phone Plans
Pros
- T-Mobile’s 5G network is generally robust
- Plan includes 50GB of high-speed data in the US
- Phone can be used as a hotspot
- Unlimited calls, texts and data in Canada and Mexico
Cons
- Data in Canada and Mexico limited to very slow 2G speeds
- Hotspot is limited to 3G speeds
- No five-year price guarantee
- Everyone must be on the same plan
- Taxes and fees aren’t included in monthly cost
The T-Mobile Essentials Saver plan offers unlimited data usage and includes 50GB of «Premium» data, which is the fastest-capable 5G rate available in your area. After 50GB, speeds are reduced to 3G levels for the remainder of the month. However, that Premium may not always be so premium: T-Mobile notes in the fine print that «Essentials customers may notice speeds lower than other customers and further reduction if using >50GB/month, due to data prioritization.»
You can use your phone as a mobile hotspot, also with unlimited data, but at 3G speeds. High-speed hotspot access is available as an add-on. Internationally, calls, text and data are unlimited while in Canada and Mexico, but the data is restricted to 2G speeds. Elsewhere, calls cost 25 cents per minute, and texts are unlimited at no extra charge when you’re in roughly 215 countries.
As for other T-Mobile features, you’ll have to look further up the plan menu. Essentials Saver and Essentials don’t carry the five-year price guarantee found in the Experience plans, nor does it include T-Satellite texting access, but you can add the Starlink-based service as an optional add-on when it launches on July 23. Perks are also reserved for the costlier plans, which means no included Netflix, Apple TV Plus or Hulu streaming thrown in.
The Essentials Saver plan costs $50 a month for a single line, $80 for two lines and $100 for three lines, the maximum number allowed on this plan. If you need three or more lines, the Essentials plan is a better value.
Why we like it
Providers want to push you toward their more expensive offerings, but they also know there’s a place for cost-conscious people who want just the basics. Essentials Saver includes 50GB of fast data before the data rate slows down. And even though the hotspot feature is especially pokey at 3G speeds, it’s still there in a pinch if needed.
Who it’s best for
The Essentials Saver plan is great for individuals or pairs who don’t want to spend much for a cellular plan and aren’t looking for perks or fast data.
Who shouldn’t get it
The plan isn’t for people seeking features such as larger amounts of premium data, regular hotspot access or included perks, or folks who need to set up a family or group with three or more lines.
Customer service options
• Online: T-Mobile
• Phone: 1-855-315-6244
• Store: Store locator
• App: T-Life app
Pros
- T-Mobile’s 5G network is generally robust
- Plan includes 50GB of high-speed data in the US
- Phone can be used as a hotspot
- Unlimited calls, texts and data in Canada and Mexico
- Can have up to six lines on an account
- Third line free is a better deal than Essentials Saver
Cons
- Data in Canada and Mexico limited to very slow 2G speeds
- Hotspot is limited to 3G speeds
- No five-year price guarantee
- Everyone must be on the same plan
- Taxes and fees aren’t included in monthly cost
If you compare the specifics of T-Mobile’s Essentials and Essentials Saver plans, you might think the company forgot to update one or the other — they’re Essential-ly the same. With both, you get 50GB of fast Premium 5G data (depending on the network capabilities in your area), which drops to 3G speeds of still-unlimited data after that allotment is used up. You can use your phone as a mobile hotspot with unlimited data, but only at 3G speeds and restricted to paltry 2G speeds when you’re in Canada or Mexico. In those two countries, calls, text and data are unlimited, while calls made from around 215 other countries are charged at 25 cents a minute.
The Essentials plan also doesn’t include perks such as streaming video from Netflix or Apple TV Plus, nor the five-year price guarantee found on the Experience More and Experience Beyond plans. T-Satellite service is also not included, though it can be added for $10 a month when it launches on July 23.
Where Essentials comes out ahead of Essentials Saver is the number of lines you can have on your account. Essentials Saver is limited to just three, but Essentials can accommodate six lines. In fact, a trio of people will save money going with Essentials due to a free third-line deal, paying $90 a month (plus taxes and fees) for a $10 savings over Essentials Saver.
However, if you need just one or two lines, Essentials Saver is still the better deal. A single line on Saver is still the better offer at $50 a month compared with $60 for the same features on Essentials, and two lines on Saver costs $80 a month compared with $90 for Essentials.
Why we like it
You get a solid level of basic phone service, with unlimited calls, texts and data, 50GB of premium higher-speed data and better pricing than the Essentials Saver plan for three or more lines (up to six).
Who it’s best for
Essentials is great for a cost-conscious family of three or more that wants unlimited everything, even at some slower speeds.
Who shouldn’t get it
This plan isn’t for people who want features such as larger amounts of premium data, regular hotspot access or included perks, or folks who need to set up a family or group with three or more lines.
Customer service options
• Online: T-Mobile
• Phone: 1-855-315-6244
• Store: Store locator
• App: T-Life app
Pros
- T-Mobile has a strong 5G network
- Free T-Satellite service through end of 2025 (then $10 per month)
- 5-year price guarantee
- Solid perks like Netflix, Apple TV Plus and international data
Cons
- T-Satellite not included in the plan price
- Taxes and fees not included in monthly cost
T-Mobile’s Experience More plan sits in the middle of its unlimited plans but is actually quite a jump above the more value-focused Essentials and Essentials Saver plans. It includes unlimited high-speed data over its 5G network, so you don’t need to worry about whether performance will lag after you’ve used up an initial amount (although T-Mobile does reserve the right to slow data when networks are congested). It also includes 60GB of high-speed hotspot data (then unlimited at 3G speeds once that’s used up).
The Experience More plan also carries T-Mobile’s five-year price guarantee. The T-Satellite feature for texting via satellite when you’re away from a cellular network is not included in the plan, but it can be added as a free service once it begins operation in July through the end of 2025; after that date, it will cost $10 per month.
Internationally, Experience More includes unlimited talk and text while traveling in Canada and Mexico, plus 15GB of high-speed data (then unlimited at 256Kbps). In more than 215 other countries outside the US, you get unlimited texting and 5GB of high-speed data (then unlimited at 256Kbps), plus calling charged at 25 cents per minute.
The Experience More plan also includes a few attractive perks above the 5G and data speed allotments. Included in the price are Netflix Standard (with ads) and Apple TV Plus, which includes the MLS Season Pass, at 4K resolution where available. A one-year AAA membership can also help when you’re traveling. T-Mobile’s Magenta Status adds even more perks, such as 15% discounts on Hilton hotel stays, 25% off tickets to “more than 8,000 shows at over 120 venues nationwide,” and T-Mobile Tuesdays, a series of deals that can include perks like cheap movie tickets and discounts at national restaurants.
Through Aug. 4, T-Mobile subscribers can sign up for a free year of the DoorDash DashPass service.
Why we like it
Although it’s more expensive, Experience More packs a lot of perks into one plan. Unlimited high-speed data means you don’t need to monitor your app and streaming usage.
Who it’s best for
Individuals and families who want to get the most for their monthly cost.
Who shouldn’t get it
People looking to pay less per month who don’t need hotspot data or a multitude of perks.
Customer service options
• Online: T-Mobile
• Phone: 1-855-315-6244
• Store: Store locator
• App: T-Life app
Best T-Mobile plans compared
| Plan | Cost 1 line (autopay) | Cost 4 lines (autopay) | High-speed data | Hotspot data limit | Price guarantee | Max number of lines | Streaming resolution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Essentials Saver | $50 | n/a | 50GB | Unlimited 3G | n/a | 3 | 480p (SD) |
| T-Mobile | Essentials | $60 | $105 | 50GB | Unlimited 3G | n/a | 6 | 480p (SD) |
| T-Mobile | Experience More | $85 | $170 | Unlimited 5G | 60GB | Five years | 12 | Up to 4K |
Recent updates
T-Mobile shook up its plans (again) in early 2025, replacing its Go5G Plus and Go5G Next plans with Experience More and Experience Beyond. And yet, the stalwart Essentials and Essentials Saver plans are still in the lineup as lower-cost alternatives to the bells-and-whistles Experience plans. It also announced that the Starlink-based T-Satellite service will be included in Experience Beyond and Go5G Next plans, and available as a $10 a month add-on for other plans (even extended to competing carriers).
Factors to consider
A wireless carrier saying it offers 5G is like me saying I have a car. Good for me — but what make and model is it? Does it run reliably? Can it actually get up to the top speed on the speedometer or will it sputter when I try to merge onto the freeway? And could I have gotten the same performance if I’d paid less for a model without extras like heated seats and a TruCoat sealant?
As you’re evaluating carriers, keep the following things in mind.
Know your area
Wireless coverage can make or break a plan. If you aren’t getting reliably fast connections, or if calls often drop or aren’t picked up, then you could be paying for more than you’re getting. Fortunately, most areas of the US are blanketed by some type of cellular coverage, so there aren’t as many dead zones as there used to be. (And now satellite service is starting to fill those holes.) The major companies are also putting a lot of money and effort into broadening their coverage.
On the other hand, even in a dense area, one carrier’s network may be stronger than another’s, or signals could be reduced due to interference. So the best approach is to ask friends or family members which services they use and if the quality is acceptable. You can also test-drive services to see how your devices work in your area. (See the FAQ below for more on how reliable coverage maps can be.)
Know your deals and discounts
One other thing to keep in mind: discounts. All the carriers offer additional discounts you could be eligible for, depending on your employer, military status, student status or age. T-Mobile’s Work perk could knock 15% off the monthly price of an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.
If you’re 55 or older, you may also be eligible for a discounted plan: T-Mobile offers discounted plans nationwide for as low as $55 a month for two lines.
It’s also worth noting that some carriers may advertise different rates geared toward switchers on their websites, for example if you bring your own phone (not trade in and finance a new one on an installment plan). Our recommendations reflect the actual rate outside of these very specific promotions.
How we test
Picking a wireless plan and carrier is a highly personal process. What works for you and your family’s needs may be vastly different from what your friends or neighbors are looking for. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage, while others work best on Verizon or T-Mobile. The picks we make are based on more than a decade of covering and evaluating wireless carriers, their offerings and overall performance.
Specifically, we take into account coverage, price/value, and perks.
Coverage
Since all three major providers cover most of the country with reliable 4G LTE or 5G, this is largely a toss-up on a macro level. It’s why we recommend a variety of eSIM options for figuring out what works best for you in your particular location, so you can best decide what’s right for you. Looking at coverage maps on each provider’s website will likely show that you get good coverage even if your experience isn’t full bars or the fastest speeds.
Price/value
Value is factoring in the total experience you might get, such as how much high-speed data you get and what’s included in the sticker price. We also take into account whether a plan includes typical taxes and fees, or whether those are charged separately, inching your monthly bill up higher.
Perks
Perks are add-ons beyond the core components of wireless service (talk, text and data). This could range from bundling in or discounting streaming services, to extra hotspot data, or the ability to use your phone internationally.
T-Mobile plans FAQs
Technologies
Netflix Green-Lights ‘Assassin’s Creed’ TV Series Adaptation
The original partnership between Netflix and Ubisoft began five years ago. We’ll soon be able to see the fruits of the union, with the upcoming adaptation.
You can now add Assassin’s Creed to the Netflix game-to-show adaptation portfolio. The streamer has green-lit a new TV series based on the game franchise from Ubisoft. Netflix was sparse on details regarding the story itself but said the live-action adaptation, five years in the making, will include the «rich storytelling» that players of the games would expect.
Assassin’s Creed is a historical action-adventure game that spans multiple time periods and has players assuming the role of multiple characters across the franchise. The first title was released in 2007 and has spawned multiple sequels. More than 230 million units of Assassin’s Creed have been sold. The games typically consist of a modern-day character using specialized software to relive the memories of historical figures to alter history for the better.
The upcoming streaming series’ logline gives a glimpse of what to expect when the series arrives: «Assassin’s Creed is a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will.»
Peter Friedlander, Netflix vice president of Scripted Series, says the adaptation, «honors the legacy of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and invites longtime fans and newcomers alike to experience the thrill of the Brotherhood as never before.»
Netflix has a number of game-to-streaming adaptations under its belt, and more on the way, including the much-loved and long-awaited BioShock film that’s been in development for the past three years. Assassin’s Creed seems like a solid addition to the lineup and like something that’ll get a lot of people excited. Other adaptations include Castlevania, Resident Evil, Arcane and many more.
Netflix tapped Robert Patino (Westworld, Sons of Anarchy) and David Wiener (Halo, Brave New World) to be the creators of the adaptation. Both also serve as showrunners and executive producers. Additional producers include Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, Austin Dill for Ubisoft Film & Television, and Matt O’Toole.
No release date has been set.
Technologies
AI-Powered Smart Devices Help Older Adults Age at Home, Survey Finds
Despite trust in smart home tools and cameras, though, older people are generally skeptical of AI-generated material.
Older adults often find artificial intelligence smart home devices and voice assistants useful in helping them age in place, according to a new survey by the University of Michigan.
More than half of people surveyed aged 50 and older have used generative AI tools they spoke or typed messages to, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, released by the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.
By comparison, a June Pew Research Center poll found that 25% of US adults 50 to 64 and 10% of those 65 and older had used ChatGPT, OpenAI’s flagship AI tool and the most popular chatbot. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
The Michigan survey, a telephone poll of 2,883 adults ages 50 to 97 across the US, looked not only at text-based chatbots like ChatGPT but also voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri. Most significantly, the survey found nearly all older adults want to be sure when they’re receiving information generated by AI.
«AI is here to stay. Many older adults seem to know about its benefits, yet most want more information about potential risks when using AI technologies,» Robin Brewer, an assistant professor in the U-M School of Information, said in a statement. «The near-universal interest in clear labeling of AI-generated information should also be heeded by policymakers and the AI industry.»
Smart home devices help older adults maintain independence
The Michigan researchers found 51% of Americans aged 50 or older had used voice assistants in the past year, with 80% of those saying the devices helped them live independently and safely at home. AI-powered home security devices, like smart locks, cameras and alarm systems, were used by 35% of the adults, with 96% saying they helped them live independently.
«Smart home devices frequently suggest using their latest features to watch over older relatives or help them live better lives,» CNET smart home expert Tyler Lacoma said. «AI face recognition, for example, can send alerts to a family member if it spots someone leaving their home or granny pod to go shopping. Smart locks, meanwhile, make sure that older users never forget to lock the doors when they leave. I’m curious to see what the newest AI voice assistants like Gemini and Alexa Plus will bring to the table for older adults, perhaps by making more complex home technology easier to use with simple conversation.»
Another 14% of adults reported using AI to receive health-related information, although 47% of them said they’d rather interact with a person or by phone for that kind of information.
Older adults are generally skeptical of AI
Just 35% of the older adults surveyed said they’d be interested in using AI in their day-to-day lives, and while 58% expressed interest in knowing more about the benefits of AI, even more, at 81%, said they wanted to know more about the risks. Just over half of them said they thought AI would do more harm than good. That split generally aligns with the results of a broader Pew survey from earlier this year, which found 51% of Americans were more concerned than excited about AI.
Read more: AI Essentials: 29 Ways You Can Make Gen AI Work for You, According to Our Experts
The older adults in the Michigan survey also expressed understandable skepticism about the information generated by AI models, with 47% saying they had little or no trust in it. A similar portion said they weren’t confident they could detect when it’s incorrect. That problem is significant, especially as more information-gathering tools like search engines are built primarily on AI. Experts advise that you should always double-check information before making an important decision.
«This inability to tell verified information from false information, whether in the form of text, image, video or audio, is especially important when it comes to health information,» poll director Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren said in a statement.
Technologies
Get a Free Storm Skin, Hawkeye Skin and More in Marvel Rivals Season 3
As the Phoenix and Knull clash in Marvel Rivals Season 3, there has never been a better time to don new skins and leap into battle.
Marvel Rivals season 2.5 may have taken our heroes off-world as they battled across Arakko, but season 3 is throwing us into the furthest reaches of space to fight a new threat: Knull and his symbiote army.
Stopping one symbiote is tough enough. Fighting off an army of them is going to require a whole new wardrobe’s worth of battle gear. Luckily for you, there are many ways to unlock some free skins in the hit hero shooter right now — including the Milano Repair Logs event that evens the odds with a free Storm Symbiote Storm skin.
Outside of the latest event, there are still other ways to earn free skins right now. Whether you’re getting used to Phoenix’s dense set of abilities or you’re still getting used to the ever-shifting landscape of team-up moves, season 3 has introduced a slate of free skins that you can use to deck out your favorite characters.
Here’s what you need to know about the Milano Repair Logs event, current Twitch drops and the Marvel Rivals season 3 battle pass.
Get the Storm Symbiote Storm skin during the Milano Repair Logs event
The Milano Repair Logs event is a simple challenge-based event launched at the beginning of season 3. It’s similar to the Cerebro Database events from season 2, but instead of playing a game of tic-tac-toe, you just have to complete every objective presented to you.
There are seven repair logs to complete, with each repair log containing three separate challenges. The challenge rewards are pretty solid this time around — there are some character-based sprays, profile pics and other filler, but you can also earn a handful of units and hundreds of Chrono Tokens that will give you an early boost in completing the season 3 battle pass.
You unlock new repair logs by completing the previous ones, so there’s no skipping out on challenges that don’t fit your usual play style. Once you complete all seven repair logs, you automatically unlock the free Storm Symbiote Storm skin for your outfit wardrobe. The Milano Repair Logs event lasts until Aug. 8, so you’ll want to unlock the Storm skin before then.
If you want to complete your symbiote skin collection, there are a smattering of Venom-themed skins for other characters on the battle pass (including two skins on the free track). There are also plenty of Venom- and Phoenix-themed skins in the in-game shop if you’ve collected enough units to snatch up an incoming bundle or two.
How can I get free skins during Marvel Rivals season 3?
Players who link their Twitch account to their Marvel Rivals account can nab a free Hawkeye skin.
But if you only care about rewards you can earn in-game, a Phoenix skin is available by progressing through the competitive ladder and new looks for Groot and Rocket Raccoon are available for free on the season 3 battle pass.
What Marvel Rivals skins are available free right now?
There are currently nine free skins available. Here’s how you get them:
- Storm Symbiote Storm: Complete all 21 challenges included within the Milano Repair Logs event by Aug. 8 in order to unlock this skin.
- Hawkeye Will of Galacta: To claim this skin, you’ll need to link a Twitch account to your Marvel Rivals account and then watch six hours of livestreams from streamers participating in the drop campaign. The Hawkeye Will of Galacta skin is available until Friday, Aug. 16.
- Phoenix Emerald Flames: Reach Gold rank or higher in competitive mode in season 3. You must play at least 10 competitive matches to be eligible to receive the skin.
- Groot Symbiote Flora: Reach page 4 in the season 3 battle pass by Sept. 11.
- Rocket Raccoon Symbiote Raccoon: Reach page 10 in the season 3 battle pass by Sept. 11.
Four of the currently available free skins are not time-gated although they are locked behind achievements or platform exclusivity. Here are the Marvel Rivals skins you can unlock at any time:
- Spider-Man Scarlet Spider: This skin is available to PS Plus subscribers who play the game on the PS5. It can be found on the PSN Store under Marvel Rivals DLC.
- Peni Parker Ven#m: Like the Scarlet Spider skin, this Ven#m skin is available for PS Plus subscribers and can be found in the PSN Store. This skin is also available in the Marvel Rivals in-game store, where it can be purchased with units.
- Storm Ivory Breeze: Earn 200 Achievement Points in the Heroic Journey achievement section.
- Star-Lord Jovial Star: Earn 400 Achievement Points in the Heroic Journey achievement section.
How can I get more free Marvel Rivals skins?
There are many ways to get skins in Marvel Rivals. Sometimes the developer issues special codes to unlock them while others require completing challenges. There are also some made available by watching streams on Twitch and many skins are «free» for progressing through the Marvel Rivals Battle Pass, which costs 990 Lattice, or about $10.
You can also earn skins through regularly playing the game, as a free skin is frequently awarded with the completion of seasonal events. Players who reach gold rank or higher in competition also receive a free skin as a reward for their performance. Live events like season 2’s Cerebro Database and the current Milano Repair Logs challenge include free skins as a completion reward.
What free skins used to be available in Marvel Rivals?
Twitch drops, battle passes and promo codes get cycled in and out of rotation, allowing Marvel Rivals players to earn different free skins from engaging with the game during different events. Here are all of the previously available free skins, what season they were introduced in and how they were obtainable.
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