Metro vs Spectrum: Who Should You Go With?

Trying to find a cell phone plan that works for your specific needs in this day in age can be a bit difficult- especially since there are so many options out there and it can all get a bit overwhelming especially if you are looking for something that may differ from the traditional plan. You may be someone that isn’t looking for all those fancy “bells and whistles” you get from those expensive bundle plans.

In fact you may be looking for a cell phone plan that gets you what you need and that’s it. If you’ve found yourself on this little corner of the internet comparing cell phone providers with each other so you can narrow down your search then you’re lucky as today we’re taking a look at Metro vs Spectrum.

Metro by T-Mobile and Spectrum Mobile are two wireless carriers that probably ring a bell for you as their name(s) have been in the game for a little while now. And there is a lot to discuss when it comes to them, so we’ve decided to breakdown each company and give you the insight on them, their coverage, and cell phone plans so you can get your new provider up and running.

• Quick Overview: Metro by T-Mobile and Spectrum Mobile
• What the Coverage Looks Like from Both Providers
• How the Plans Compare: From Price to Features
• The Verdict

Before we take a look at what the coverage and phone plans look like from each provider, let’s first talk a bit about the two carriers separately so you can get a general idea of what to expect from them. Or check out our in-depth guides to get an honest review about spectrum.

-> Metro by T-Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile, formerly MetroPCS, and now more commonly referred to as just “Metro”, has been a part of the T-Mobile family for quite some time. T-Mobile is a part of the “big three” in wireless alongside Verizon and AT&T. Metro, although a branch on the T-Mobile tree, isn’t the exact same as T-Mobile. Metro is considered a MVNO which stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. A MVNO is the term used to describe smaller cell phone carriers that don’t own their own cell towers/infrastructure. They instead piggyback off a provider that does, and in Metro’s case it is T-Mobile.

MVNO’s prices will normally be more budget-friendly when compared to a major carrier, but there are some downsides that you may not know about at first glance. Two of the major ones are data deprioritization and throttling:

Data deprioritization is “the temporary slowing of data speeds for certain customers in order to give priority to other customers.” This will happen when there is network congestion (which is when the network link is trying to transfer more data than it can currently handle), or if you are in a high traffic area like a concert or sporting event and there are thousands of others also using their phone the same as you. The primary network, T-Mobile in Metro’s case, will give priority to direct T-Mobile customers and your data will be a bit slower until the problem(s) are solved. 

Throttling is “the dramatic slowing of your data speeds to the point that it becomes almost unusable.” And unlike data deprioritization, throttling will last until the start of your next billing cycle date. This occurs when the user goes over their monthly allotment of data for the month, or data “cap” as it’s usually referred to. You can find your data cap number either within the plan itself or in small print located on the provider’s website normally at the bottom of the phone plan or by scrolling down till the end of the page itself. These speeds are significantly slower than deprioritized speeds and can be quite a pain to deal with if you aren’t connected to wifi. 

Metro by T-Mobile gets you a direct link to T-Mobile’s widespread coverage which is a huge plus as you’ll soon see when we go over coverage next, but first let’s go over our next provider Spectrum Mobile:

-> Spectrum Mobile

Spectrum Mobile just like Metro by T-Mobile is also a MVNO, that means you may deal with some of the same issues like data deprioritization and more frequent throttling. And although MVNOs are unique by themselves, Spectrum adds a whole new layer of uniqueness to their roster because they aren’t quite like other carriers. In order to sign up for and use Spectrum Mobile’s services you first have to have Spectrum Home Internet. 

Yep, you’ve heard us right.

In order to be on a Spectrum phone plan you first have to have their Home Internet, which you might not be interested in if you like your current home internet plan. If you are interested in switching it up, Spectrum isn’t a bad shout to give as their Home Internet and Mobile bundle plans are pretty enticing to look at. Plus, Spectrum Mobile keeps things simple with just two unlimited plans and one “By The Gig” plan at their roster.

What the Coverage Looks Like from Both Providers

Coverage can make or break a wireless carrier, especially if you are looking for certain benefits like solid 5G by your home or work. Let’s take a look at both Metro’s and Spectrum Mobile’s coverage.

-> Metro by T-Mobile

By now you’re well aware that Metro is under the T-Mobile brand and that means all Metro customers will get access to T-Mobile’s coverage. T-Mobile is standing pretty by being the leader in 5G coverage which is a huge feat to have as more and more phone users are switching to 5G capable phones. When comparing T-Mobile to its two major competitors: Verizon and AT&T, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage is hard to beat, but it is good to note that their 4G LTE coverage is ranked third when comparing the three. It’s not a drastic difference in coverage area, but it is the lowest out of the three so our friends in more “rural” areas might want to take a look at the T-Mobile coverage map just to be safe before signing up.

And speaking of coverage maps. Here’s a look at Metro by T-Mobile’s:

On the Metro by T-Mobile coverage map you do get a look at what type of coverage is available in your area. Here’s a close look at New York, Pennsylvania, and other Northeastern United States:

Almost every wireless carrier has a coverage map on their website that you can zoom in and out of, and type in your location so you can get the scoop on what coverage is offered in your area. That way you’ll get a good approximation so you can start narrowing down your choices.

-> Spectrum Mobile

Since we know that Spectrum Mobile is also a MVNO, we know that they have to be partnered with another carrier to provide coverage to customers, and in Spectrum’s case it’s Verizon! Unlike T-Mobile, Verizon is the leader in 4G LTE coverage (if you’ve seen a Verizon commercial there’s a good chance that you remember them saying the words: “nation-wide leader in coverage” or something similar to that effect). Spanning over 70% of the country, Verizon certainly is a solid choice for those living in more rural areas. However, Verizon is number three when it comes to their 5G coverage, as T-Mobile and AT&T are a bit ahead in that regard. Though their 5G coverage is strong- they’ve received top marks in 5G Games Experience, 5G Voice App Experience, and 5G Video Experience- the availability for 5G may be harder to come by. 

Here’s Spectrum Mobile’s coverage map:

Spectrum Mobile covers the United States and parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Though looking at the map you can see that on the West Coast and Pacific Northwest side, Spectrum is a bit more sporadic in their coverage. Need to see if you’re covered by Spectrum Mobile? View Spectrum Mobile’s full Coverage Map here.

How the Plans Compare: From Price to Features

Let’s get to the fun stuff, the phone plans. We’re going to go over all the perks, benefits, and basics each phone plan offers from both providers starting first with Metro by T-Mobile’s unlimited plans:

Then for our limited data users:

There are a number of unique things already that sets apart Metro by T-Mobile’s phone plans from other providers and MVNOs. As you can see with the Metro Flex Plus plan you get an Amazon Prime Membership which is potentially huge for those who are already paying for Prime- you can save some money this way! Also throughout the unlimited plans is a VIX Premium subscription and cloud storage which is always a plus. And of course T-Mobile Tuesdays come with every plan.

Now let’s take a look at Spectrum Mobile’s phone plans:

They have two types, “Unlimited Data Plans” and “By The Gig.” One gives you unlimited data while the other is a more “pay as you need it” phone plan. Here is their Unlimited Data Plans:

When comparing it to Metro’s there isn’t a lot of “perks” but those prices are definitely something to note when looking at both providers, here is their “By The Gig” plan:

Paying $20 for one gig isn’t what we call “budget-friendly” especially if you need a few more gigs than you initially expected- those numbers can climb quickly, so this plan is definitely our least favorite of the bunch.

What makes Spectrum Mobile a good opponent in this Metro vs Spectrum match-up is their data caps for their unlimited plans. For their standard Unlimited plan you get 30GBs at high speeds till your speeds are throttled and for their Unlimited Plus plan you get 50GBs at high speeds till your speeds are throttled till the start of your next billing cycle. That is a lot of data, especially since the average person uses about 20GBs a month.

The Verdict

We’ve got our coverage information, we’ve got our phone plan information, now’s the time we talk about who you should sign up for: Metro by T-Mobile or Spectrum Mobile. Although Spectrum Mobile is very enticing for heavy-data users as their data cap is pretty high when compared to other MVNOs and prepaid plans- the downside of having to sign up for Spectrum Home Internet to get access to these plans is too big of a downside to choose it for our winner today.

Metro by T-Mobile is a great pick for a prepaid MVNO. You’re getting some fun perks like the one year VIX Premium Subscription, Google One membership, and the Amazon Prime included on the Metro Flex Plus. You don’t have to worry about switching up your whole Home Internet set up just to get a mobile plan, (but hey if you’re in the market for one already then Spectrum isn’t a bad shout- we just think there are faster options out there).

Metro by T-Mobile is our winner today!

And if you want to compare and contrast Metro by T-Mobile and Spectrum Mobile to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.