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Verizon vs. T-Mobile: Which Wireless Provider Is Best for You?

Want a sweet phone plan? We compare two cellular giants on pricing, data, and 5G access.

  • Best for extra perks
    • Unlimited plans: $70.00–$90.00/mo.
    • Family plans: $25.00–$80.00/mo.
    • High-speed data: 50 GB, unlimited mm-wave 5G
    • Hotspot data: 15–30 GB
  • Best for 5G
    • Unlimited plans: $60.00–$85.00/mo.**
    • Family plans: $23.00–$70.00/mo. per line
    • High-speed data: 50 GB–Unlimited
    • Hotspot data: 5–40 GB

Compare Verizon and T-Mobile head to head

T-Mobile and Verizon are two of the largest cellular carriers in the country. Both offer solid unlimited phone plans with lots of internet data, robust speeds, and 5G access. We like T-Mobile better because it gives you faster speeds on average and wider 5G coverage, but Verizon has cheaper prices upfront and a lot of extra perks (available for an extra fee) that come in handy for hotspot owners and Disney+ subscribers.

Pro tip:

Cell phones don’t have consistent internet speeds, but it’s good to know what kind of firepower you’re getting—especially if you’re on a superpowered 5G network. Run an internet speed test to see how much bandwidth you have.

Pros and cons: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

Pros:

  • Biggest network
  • Unlimited data on superfast mm-wave 5G
  • Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ included on some plans

Cons:

  • Very limited mm-wave 5G availability
  • Higher prices

T-Mobile

 

Pros:

  • Truly unlimited data on the Go5G Plus and Magenta Max plans
  • Cheaper prices than Verizon
  • More premium data on some plans

Cons:

  • No superfast 5G speeds due to little to no mm-wave 5G access
  • Smaller US network

Unlimited plans and pricing: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

Verizon and T-Mobile will both get you an unlimited phone plan with 5G access, a nice chunk of high-speed data, and nationwide coverage. Verizon charges for extra perks, but they’re great extra perks and you can opt out of them to get a lower price. T-Mobile gives you faster speeds and a bigger 5G network.

What is premium data?

Premium data is internet data that runs over 4G LTE and 5G networks, giving you speeds in the range of 30–100+ Mbps. While most T-Mobile and Verizon plans are technically unlimited, the truth is that your speeds will slow down to a snail’s pace (think: under 0.5 Mbps) once you use up all of your premium data for the month. In short, the data is unlimited, but the fast speeds aren’t.

The only exception to this rule is with T-Mobile’s Magenta Max plan, which comes with entirely unlimited premium data. You’ll get premium data all month long with no slowdowns whatsoever. Sounds pretty cool, huh?

Verizon plans and pricing

PackagePrice*Premium dataHotspot dataDetails
Unlimited Welcome$60.00/mo.None (speeds can slow during network congestion)None
Unlimited Plus$65.00/mo.Unlimited30 GB

Verizon takes a unique approach with its cellular plans. Unlimited and Unlimited Plus come at a low price upfront, much less than what you’d pay for a T-Mobile flagship phone plan.

What about the perks?

From there, you can add on extra perks for an additional $10 per month each. The perks include subscriptions to the Disney Bundle, Apple One, or a Walmart+ membership. You can also get $25 per month off a 5G Home Internet or Fios home internet plan when you pair it with a qualifying unlimited phone plan.

Pro tip:

Mobile hotspots are a great way to access high-speed Wi-Fi while you’re out traveling or working remotely in a restaurant or coffee shop. Take a look at our best hotspots guide for the lowdown on pricing, data, and speeds.

T-Mobile unlimited plans and pricing

PackagePrice*Premium dataHotspot dataDetails
Go5G$75.00/mo.Unlimited (speeds will never slow)15GBView Plan
Go5G Plus$90.00/mo.100GB (afterwards speeds can slow during network congestion)50GBView Plan
Essentials$60.00/mo.50 GB (speeds can slow during network congestion after data cap is reached)Unlimited 3G data (max 3 Mbps)View Plan
Magenta$70.00/mo.100 GB (speeds can slow during network congestion after data cap is reached)5 GB (and then 3G speeds)View Plan
Magenta Max$85.00/mo.Unlimited (speeds will never slow with phone use)40 GB (and then 3G speeds)View Plan

T-Mobile goes big on a cell phone user’s fundamental needs, namely speed and data. You also get some nice perks too.

The entry-level plan, Essentials, comes with 50GB of premium data. That means you’ll have a lot more data delivering you 30–70Mbps (and potentially even faster in some 5G markets) on a cheaper plan. Magenta doubles down with a more-than-generous 100 GB.

And then there’s the Go5G Plus plan. This is one of the only unlimited phone plans you can get that’s actually unlimited. There are no caps and no slowdowns, so you can stream and download on your cell phone all month long without worrying about throttled speeds.

What about the perks?

Go5G Plus and Go5G both come with Netflix plans (Standard for the former, Basic for the latter). Apple TV+ comes included with Go5G Plus, and you get a six-month trial with Go5G. On top of all that, you can get T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for up to $20 off per month when you pair it with one of these phone plans.

Family plans and pricing: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

You can add more lines to any of Verizon’s and T-Mobile’s unlimited plans in order to make it a family plan. The biggest benefit to this is it gives you a lower price per line with each additional line you add on—so you can invest in a better plan but also save money by splitting the bill with friends and family.

Verizon family plans and pricing

PackagePriceDetails
Unlimited$25.00–$60.00/mo. per line
Unlimited Plus$30.00–$65.00/mo. per line

Data as of 6/29/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

T-Mobile family plans and pricing

PackagePriceDetails
Go5G with 2+ lines$130.00–$180.00/mo.View Plan
Go5G Plus with 2+ lines$150.00–$220.00/mo.View Plan
Essentials with 2+ lines$90.00–$120.00/mo.View Plan
Magenta with 2+ lines$120.00–$180.00/mo.View Plan
Magenta Max with 2+ lines$140.00–$230.00/mo.View Plan
Essentials 55+ (for 2 lines with autopay)$27.50/mo. per lineView Plan
Magenta 55+ (for 2 lines with autopay)$40.00/mo. per lineView Plan
Magenta MAX 55+ (for 2 lines with autopay)$50.00/mo. per lineView Plan

Data as of 6/29/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Prepaid plans: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

A prepaid account is a cheaper and easier to manage alternative to the big-boy unlimited accounts. You don’t get as much data and usually none of the extra perks, but you’ll get the basics for a bargain price.

We think T-Mobile has better prepaid plans because you don’t need to pay a hefty monthly fee upfront like you would with Verizon’s prepaid plans. But both providers have some solid options.

Verizon prepaid plans

PackageStarting price (then $5/mo. off after 3 mos and $10/mo. off after 10 mos.)Data capCan the plan be used for a hotspot? 5G access?Details
15 GB$35.00/mo. (w/ autopay)15 GBYesYes (but no 5G Ultra Wideband)
Unlimited$50.00/mo. (w/ autopay)Unlimited (speeds can be slowed during network congestion)Yes (5 GB for hotspotting)Yes (but no 5G Ultra Wideband)
Unlimited Plus$60.00/mo. (w/ autopay)50 GB premium data (after which speeds can be slowed during network congestion)Yes (25 GB for hotspotting)Yes (including 5G Ultra Wideband)

Data as of 8/31/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Verizon’s prepaid phone plans start off at a really high price, but the monthly bill drops off the longer you have the plan. On each plan, the monthly price drops by $5 once you enter your fourth month, and then it drops by $10 at the tenth month. So you can definitely get a cheap deal eventually, but the first several months will be steep—especially for what you’re getting.

T-Mobile prepaid plans and pricing

PackageStarting price (then $5/mo. off after 3 mos and $10/mo. off after 10 mos.)Data capCan the data be used for a hotspot? Details
Prepaid 10 GB$40.00/mo. (for 1 line)10 GBYesView Plan
Prepaid Unlimited$50.00/mo. (for 1 line)Unlimited (speeds can be slowed during network congestion)Yes (unlimited data at 3G speeds)View Plan
Prepaid Unlimited Plus$60.00/mo. (for 1 line)Unlimited (speeds can be slowed during network congestion)Yes (includes 10 GB premium data, then reverts to 3G speeds)View Plan

Data as of 6/29/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

T-Mobile is more straightforward with its prepaid cellular plans—no steep starting prices or staggered price breaks here. You can get a cheap plan for a little bit of data and unlimited talk and text. Or for a little bit more, you can get a solid deal with Prepaid Unlimited, with decent data and hotspot options.

The Prepaid Unlimited Plus plan is basically a prepaid version of T-Mobile’s Essentials unlimited plan—but it’s not quite as luxe, since there’s no fixed premium data and fewer perks. If you go prepaid, we recommend sticking to the less pricey options.

Get part of your prepaid bill covered with the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program

Starting December 31, 2021, The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will help low-income families afford an internet connection by subsidising the cost of their internet bill. The ACP provides $30 per month toward a household’s internet bill, though households on Tribal land or high-cost areas might be eligible for enhanced support of up to $75 per month.5 To qualify, someone in your household must be enrolled in certain social programs (Lifeline, SNAP, WIC, National School Lunch Program, and others)—or you can qualify based on your income. This program replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program that was instituted in 2021 to help those dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Customer ratings: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

Verizon and T-Mobile both get decent ratings in public surveys and reviews from consumer-affairs institutions.

The providers got good ratings of 4.1 and 4.0, respectively, in the U.S. News and World Report’s pages on T-Mobile and Verizon. Meanwhile, a 2021 study by J.D. Power gave T-Mobile the highest score for customer care among the country’s major cellular carriers. Verizon came in just behind T-Mobile in second place.

Devices: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

PhonePriceStorageConnectionDisplayGet it
iPhone 13$884.00–$1,034.00128GB, 256GB, 512GB4G LTE, 5G6.1" Super Retina XDR DisplayView on Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G$699.99128GB, 256GB4G LTE, 5G6.2" 120 Hz Adaptive DisplayView on Amazon
Google Pixel 7A 5G$478.08128GB4G LTE, 5G6.1" 60 Hz Full HD+View on Amazon
OnePlus Nord N200 5G$239.99128GB4G LTE, 5G6.49" 90 Hz Full HDView on Amazon

Verizon and T-Mobile both support the iPhone 13, perhaps the most popular 5G phone out right now, which has a top-of-the-line camera and water-resistant body. Or you can go for Samsung’s Galaxy S21, with its robust Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and stunning design.

There are plenty of phones to choose from, though, and you can pretty much have your pick so long as your device is unlocked for all carriers. A lot of phones available right now work on 5G wireless networks, and a solid affordable pick is the OnePlus’Nord N200. The budget phones won’t always get you the fastest 5G speeds possible, but they’ll usually have decent cameras and plenty of storage.

Pro tip:

Are you on the market for a sweet 5G phone? Scope out the best 5G phones to get details on pricing and features.

5G availability: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

5G availability (% of time customer is on 5G)Get it
Verizon20.5%
T-Mobile49.7%View Plans

Verizon and T-Mobile both support the iPhone 12, perhaps the most popular 5G phone out right now, which has a top-of-the-line camera and water-resistant body. Or you can go for Samsung’s Galaxy S21, with its robust Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip and stunning design.

There are plenty of phones to choose from, though, and you can pretty much have your pick so long as your device is unlocked for all carriers. A lot of phones available right now work on 5G wireless networks, and a solid affordable pick is the OnePlus’Nord N200. The budget phones won’t always get you the fastest 5G speeds possible, but they’ll usually have decent cameras and plenty of storage.

Pro tip:

To understand what 5G is all about, take a look at our comprehensive 5G guide. There you’ll find info on speeds, pricing, devices, and availability.

4G LTE vs. 5G speeds: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

Avg. 4G LTE speedsAvg. 5G speeds (overall)Get it
Verizon31.3 Mbps84.9 Mbps
T-Mobile79.5 Mbps186.3 MbpsView Plans

T-Mobile has faster 5G speeds on average compared to Verizon.

T-Mobile has mostly emphasized building up low- and mid-band 5G in recent months, while Verizon has touted a version of millimeter-wave 5G that it has dubbed Ultra Wideband. As a result, T-Mobile has sprung to the lead with the biggest 5G network and decent average speeds. Verizon, on the other hand, has achieved stunning 5G performance in a handful of cities and sports and entertainment venues, but sees much more modest 5G speeds on a nationwide scale.

Coverage: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

Verizon and T-Mobile both have nationwide network coverage. T-Mobile’s network is a lot bigger than it used to be thanks to a recent merger with Sprint, but it’s still not quite as big as Verizon’s nationwide network. Both cell carriers see coverage drop off in some parts of Western states, including Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. But Verizon still has more coverage in those areas on the whole.

Want to know if you can get cell service from these providers where you live? Search your zip code or address on Verizon’s coverage map and T-Mobile’s coverage map.

Final call: Verizon vs. T-Mobile

We really like both of these providers, but we’d choose T-Mobile. It covers all the bases when it comes to the fundamentals. It offers more 5G speed overall and truly unlimited data on its Go5G Plus plan. And you get some sweet perks too, including subscriptions to Netflix and Apple TV+ on some plans.

But Verizon, of course, has its own strengths—including a larger nationwide network and much faster Ultra Wideband 5G in some areas. You can also get a lot of perks from Verizon that you can’t get from T-Mobile. Weirdly, you have to pay extra for them, but even with an extra fee you end up paying about the same or slightly less for a phone plan. If you’re already signed up for those platforms, then this could be a way to save some cash.

 

View Plans

FAQ about Verizon vs. T-Mobile

Which is better: T-Mobile or Verizon?

We think T-Mobile is a slightly better cellular carrier because it gives customers more data and wider 5G access, and you don’t have to pay extra for perks. But Verizon is great too, since it has a larger network and lower starting prices.

Is T-Mobile any good?

T-Mobile is a very good cellular carrier. Its phone plans give you unlimited talk and text and the upper-tier packages give you a generous amount of data for the price. The Magenta Max plan is one of the only truly unlimited phone plans, providing high-speed data with no slowdowns or caps. It also has the largest 5G network in the country, giving you faster speeds and lower latency compared to 4G LTE networks.

Sources

  1. Francesco Rizzato, Opensignal, “5G User Experience Report,” April 2021. Accessed August 24, 2021.
  2. Sascha Segan, PC Mag, “T-Mobile Finally Reveals Its ‘Ultra Capacity’ 5G Map,” July 28, 2021. Accessed August 24, 2021.
  3. Sascha Segan, PC Mag, “Testing Verizon’s 5G at the Jersey Shore: Super Fast, but That’s Only Half the Story,” June 15, 2021. Accessed August 24, 2021.
  4. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, “Verizon ‘Leads’ All Us Carriers in mmWave 5G Availability at 0.8%,” April 28, 2021. Accessed August 24, 2021.
  5. Federal Communication Commission, “Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on the Implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program,” November 18, 2021. Accessed November 30, 2021.

Author -

Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City’s The New School University in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services like 5G home internet. He also writes about internet providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.

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