Is T-Mobile Home Internet Worth It? 4 Things to Know Before You Sign Up (2024)

If you’re looking for an affordable internet plan, you may have seen the ads for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and wondered if it’s worth the savings.

At first glance, the service sounds almost too good to be true:

• $40 to $60 per month
• No annual contract
• No data caps
• Equipment included

T-Mobile Home Internet Review 2024

I’ve tested T-Mobile’s home internet service two times since it first launched. In 2023, I canceled fiber internet to rely solely on 5G home internet services from T-Mobile and Verizon.

This article covers the pros and cons that you need to consider before you sign up for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.

Pros and Cons Overview

1. Try T-Mobile Home Internet Before You Commit

T-Mobile is offering customers a 15-day risk-free trial to test out its 5G home internet service.

This is a significant development. When I first tested the service in early 2021, it didn’t work well at my location. I canceled almost immediately, but I was charged for a full month of service.

T-Mobile eventually refunded me after a series of calls to customer service.

Now, T-Mobile customers don’t have to go through that hassle. If the service doesn’t work out, cancel by phone within 15 days and return the gateway promptly to avoid a $370 equipment charge.

During the test period, I recommend that you keep your existing internet service as a backup.

And if you decide to continue with T-Mobile and drop your existing internet service, T-Mobile says it will pay up to $750 in early termination fees. Learn more here.

​2. Pricing, Deals & Perks

T-Mobile Home Internet’s unlimited data plan costs $60 per month when you set up AutoPay. Otherwise, it’s $65 per month. Taxes are included in that price.

There are additional savings for T-Mobile wireless customers:

• Get home internet for $40 per month if you have at least one Go5G Next, Go5G Plusor Magenta MAX voice line
• Get home internet for $50 per month with other T-Mobile wireless plans

T-Mobile raised the price of its home internet service in January 2024. When reviewing the fine print, I also learned that the company revised its popular Price Lock policy.

For new customers, T-Mobile no longer guarantees that your price won’t go up. Instead, it will cover your final monthly bill if T-Mobile raises your price and you cancel within 60 days.

There are no contracts with T-Mobile Home Internet. You can cancel anytime.

When you sign up for T-Mobile Home Internet, the company will run a credit check.

New customers must pay a one-time $35 activation fee. In the fine print, T-Mobile refers to this as an “assisted support or device connection charge.”

However, some customers have told me that T-Mobile waived this charge for them.

T-Mobile has special perks for new customers. At the time of this update in February 2024, T-Mobile is offering $200 back in the form of a virtual prepaid Mastercard.

These offers change frequently. Check T-Mobile’s website to verify the latest offers.

T-Mobile Internet Lite

In addition to the unlimited data option, T-Mobile has introduced Home Internet Lite. This version of the service does have a data cap.

It starts at $50 per month for 100GB of data.

T-Mobile Internet Lite is available in areas where T-Mobile doesn’t have the capacity to offer the unlimited plan. Learn more about this plan here and why I don’t recommend it.

3. T-Mobile Home Internet Data Speeds and Reliability

T-Mobile Home Internet relies on T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE networks to provide service.

If you already have reliable high-speed internet service from a cable or phone company, T-Mobile’s data speeds may be slower than your current provider.

Here are the updated data speeds T-Mobile says you can expect with its home internet service:

• Download speeds between 72 Mbps and 245 Mbps
• Upload speeds between 15 Mbps and 31 Mbps
• Latency between 19 ms and 37 ms

During my test of T-Mobile’s service in 2021, I never got a strong signal — only one or two bars.

My experience improved when I tested T-Mobile 5G Home Internet from new locations in 2022 and 2023. These days, I regularly record download speeds of more than 250 Mbps.

With those download speeds, I’m able to reliably stream video, music and use all of my apps.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Speed Test Results

Bottom line: If you get the advertised download speeds, T-Mobile Home Internet is fast enough to stream video and surf the web.

Although there are no data caps with the unlimited plan, home internet customers are deprioritized during times of congestion and may notice slower speeds than T-Mobile wireless customers.

In addition, heavy users who consume more than 1.2 TB of data per month will experience slower speeds.

There is no separate coverage map for T-Mobile Home Internet. The service relies on the same 5G and 4G LTE towers that T-Mobile wireless customers use.

For that reason, only sign up for the internet plan if T-Mobile has strong 5G coverage where you live.

The placement of your T-Mobile gateway (router-modem combo) greatly affects your data speeds. T-Mobile recommends positioning the gateway by a window and on an upper floor.

The T-Mobile Home Internet app guides you through the setup process. I have a separate tutorial here.

I’ve experienced deprioritization with T-Mobile Home Internet at times, but the service has been mostly reliable since I signed up as a paying customer more than a year ago.

I’ve also tested Verizon 5G Home Internet and prefer it. See my comparison here.

Since there’s no way to predict when your speeds will be slowed due to network congestion, this service may not be a good fit if you do a lot of online gaming or video conferencing.

In addition, some live TV streaming services will not work with T-Mobile’s internet plan.

That’s because T-Mobile Home Internet uses dynamic IP addressing, not static. T-Mobile says Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV are two live TV services that are not compatible with the service.

YouTube TV, my favorite live TV service, does work with T-Mobile Home Internet. I use it every day.

However, there have been times when YouTube TV displays the wrong local channels because of the way T-Mobile Home Internet handles IP addresses.

Fortunately, it’s a very simple fix. I explain what to do in this related video.

4. Home Internet Service Availability

T-Mobile Home Internet says its unlimited plan is open to more than 40 million homes, while the Lite version is available wherever T-Mobile has wireless coverage.

You can enter your phone number and address on T-Mobile’s website to check eligibility.

If you’re not able to sign up for T-Mobile Home Internet’s unlimited plan, you may be offered the T-Mobile Internet Lite plan. However, I generally don’t recommend the Lite version due to the low data cap.

If you’re not eligible for the unlimited plan, check back regularly as the service expands.

Final Thoughts

T-Mobile was the #1 non-fiber internet service provider for customer satisfaction, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s 2022-2023 rankings.

I think T-Mobile 5G Home Internet’s unlimited plan is a good deal at $60 a month, but it was a much better value at $50 with the discontinued Price Lock.

Overall, I recommend this service mostly to people who live in rural areas and have limited internet options.

For those with fast internet service from a cable or phone company, T-Mobile’s service may be slightly cheaper. But depending on your current plan, T-Mobile’s service may have slower speeds.

Still, the low monthly price and signup perks may make T-Mobile Home Internet worth trying out.

I’ve put together a separate guide to help you choose the best internet service for you. Plus, I update limited-time offers on MichaelSavesDeals.com.

Have you tested T-Mobile Home Internet? Leave a comment below to add to my review!

T-Mobile Home Internet FAQ

How much does T-Mobile Home Internet cost?: After a January 2024 price hike, T-Mobile Home Internet’s unlimited plan costs between $40 and $60 per month when you set up AutoPay. The best pricing is available to customers with at least one Go5G Next, Go5G Plusor Magenta MAX voice line.

How fast is T-Mobile Home Internet?: T-Mobile Home Internet’s typical download speeds range from 72 to 245 Mbps. T-Mobile says 25% of customers experience speeds below this range and 25% of customers experience speeds above this range.

What is the coverage map for T-Mobile Home Internet?: T-Mobile Home Internet relies on T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE wireless towers, so there is no separate coverage map for the service. Check T-Mobile’s coverage map to see how the network performs where you live.

Is T-Mobile Home Internet good for working from home?: T-Mobile Home Internet’s advertised data speeds are fast enough for work-from-home tasks like videoconferencing, web browsing and checking email.

Does T-Mobile Home Internet have data caps?: There is no data cap with T-Mobile Home Internet’s unlimited plan, but the T-Mobile Internet Lite plan does have a data cap. I only recommend the Internet Lite plan if you have no other good options for high-speed internet.

What equipment do I need for T-Mobile Home Internet?: T-Mobile provides customers with a gateway (router-modem combo) to use with the internet service. It takes only a few minutes to plug it in and get started with the service. You can see my step-by-step guide to set up T-Mobile Home Internet.

Can I bundle T-Mobile Home Internet with other T-Mobile services?: Although T-Mobile Home Internet is available as a standalone service, it can be bundled with T-Mobile’s wireless plans. Those who bundle the two services get the best pricing on the internet plan.

How can I see if T-Mobile Home Internet is available in my area?: T-Mobile Home Internet places a limit on the number of customers that can access the service in a specific area. You can enter your address on T-Mobile’s website to check availability.

What’s the difference between T-Mobile Home Internet and Metro by T-Mobile Home Internet?: Metro’s home internet plan is prepaid, so no credit check is required. To get Metro by T-Mobile Home Internet, you must have a Metro voice plan. Metro customers pay a one-time fee of $49.99 for internet equipment, which is included at no extra charge for T-Mobile Home Internet customers. Learn more about the differences in this article.

More Content From Michael Saves:

• How to Choose the Best Internet Plan for You
• 10 Things to Know About Cheap Phone Plans
• Is Verizon 5G Home Internet Worth It?