US Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Which carrier is better?

US Mobile and T-Mobile’s postpaid plans offer amazing deals for their users with several included features to take advantage of. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

US Mobile is on the Verizon network.

US Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. US Mobile is an MVNO of Verizon.

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

US Mobile and T-Mobile both offer premium data and many features with their plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options. US Mobile also offers limited talk and text. US Mobile and T-Mobile offer premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. T-Mobile also deprioritizes data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

US Mobile Plans

US Mobile offers premium data and a flexible data plan, among others. 

US Mobile offers a variety of plans, including several unlimited and limited data plans. They also offer a plan with customizable data, where you buy as much data as you use. You can have an unlimited number of lines with your phone plan. US Mobile’s QCI tier on T-Mobile is 7 and tier 8 on Verizon. 

US Mobile offers premium data with their plans, which means your data will not slow down in times of high traffic or network congestion.

Their plans all include unlimited talk and text, except for the 500MB plan. This plan includes 500 minutes of voice and 500 text messages. 

If you purchase your phone from US Mobile, your device will be sold to you already unlocked. 

The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

Kosher Plan

This plan only offers unlimited talk and text, no data. 

This plan doesn’t offer data. As such, users do not have hotspot access or the ability to stream video without WiFi. 

The plan costs $7.50 per month. 

Light Plan

This plan gives you 500 minutes and 500 text messages. 

This plan gives you 500MB, or 0.5GB of premium data. Your data will stop after this allotment is used. It can be used as hotspot data, but stops at the same cap. 

The plan costs $5 per month. At this rate, you get 500MB at $10 per GB. 

2GB

This plan gives you 2GB of premium data. 

Like other US Mobile plans, you get premium data with this plan. Data stops after 2GB. You can use all of your plan data as hotspot data.

The plan costs $10 per month, so $5 per GB.

6GB

This plan gives you 5GB before slowing down. 

This plan, like the others US Mobile offers, gives you premium data. Data then slows to 2G speeds. This plan also includes hotspot access with all plan data. 

The plan costs $18 per month. At this rate, you get 6GB at $3 per GB. 

12GB

This plan gives you hotspot access. 

12GB of premium data is included with this plan, and then data access stops at that cap. Hotspot access is also available. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 12GB at $2.08 per GB. 

Shared Data

This plan gives you the option to choose how much data you pay for.

With US Mobile’s shared data plan, users can choose the exact amount of data they use and buy. After you run out of data, your speeds will slow to 2G speeds. This allows for browsing the internet and sending texts or emails, but streaming video or playing games will be difficult. The amount of data you purchase can also be used as hotspot data, and stops once you run out of your specific data allotment. 

The plan costs $9 per line per month, and $2 per GB. After you buy 30GB, this plan costs $16 per 10GB. 

Unlimited Starter

This plan gives you 20GB of premium before slowing down. 

The Unlimited Starter plan that US Mobile offers gives users 20GB of premium data to work with before slowing down to 2G speeds until the next month. This plan does not include hotspot access.

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 20GB at $1.25 per GB.

Unlimited Essentials 

This plan gives you 50GB premium data. 

The Unlimited Essentials plan is a slight upgrade from Unlimited Starter, which offers 50GB of premium data each month. Speeds slow to 2G after the cap. You also get 5GB of hotspot data, and that access stops once you hit your limit. 

This plan costs $40 per month for one line. You get 55GB per month for $0.73 per GB. 

Unlimited Premium

This plan gives you 100GB of premium data. 

As US Mobile’s biggest plan, this plan gives users 100GB of premium data. After 100GB, data slows to 2G speeds. This plan also gives you 50GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap. Plans with 3+ lines also have access to several perks that US Mobile offers, such as streaming services and music subscriptions. Only one perk can be chosen at a time, but plans with 4+ lines can choose an additional perk. 

The plan costs $45 per month. At this rate, you get 150GB at $0.30 per GB. 

T-Mobile Plans

T-Mobile plans include varying amounts of data, numbers of lines allowed, and discounts. 

T-Mobile’s postpaid options include 6 plans. Their Essentials and Essentials Savings plans allow for up to 6 lines, Magenta and Magenta MAX allow for up to 12, and their GO5G, GO5G Plus, and GO5G Next plans allow for up to 8 lines. All T-Mobile postpaid plans are QCI tier 6. 

If you purchase your phone from T-Mobile, your device will be locked for 40 days after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price on Magenta MAX, Magenta, GO5G, GO5G Plus, and GO5G Next. The Essentials plan does not include taxes with the advertised price. 

T-Mobile also includes additional discounts for seniors, veterans and military, and first responders.

Essentials

This plan is deprioritized after the premium data cap. 

The Essentials plan comes with 50GB of premium data, then unlimited deprioritized data afterwards. The plan also includes unlimited 3G hotspot data. With 3G speeds, users can expect 

The plan costs $65 per month, and $60 with Autopay. At full price, you get 50GB of premium data at $1.30 per GB. 

Magenta 

This plan gives you 100GB. 

This plan gives users 100GB of premium data access before slowing to deprioritized speeds. You also get 5GB of premium hotspot data before unlimited 3G speeds.  

The plan costs $75 per month, and $70 with Autopay. At full price, you get 105GB at $0.71 per GB. 

Magenta MAX 

This plan gives you unlimited data access. 

Magenta MAX is one of T-Mobile’s most popular and well known plans, as it gives users unlimited premium data access. This means that you get unlimited high speeds without worrying about deprioritization or data caps. 

The plan costs $90 per month, and $85 with Autopay.

GO5G 

This plan gives you premium data. 

This plan gives users 100GB of premium data before unlimited deprioritized data. Users also get 15GB of full speed hotspot data before slowing to unlimited 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $80 per month, and $75 with Autopay. At full price, you get 115GB of premium data at $0.70 per GB. 

GO5G Plus 

This plan gives you unlimited premium data access. 

GO5G Plus is one of T-Mobile’s biggest plans, as it gives you unlimited premium data. This means that you get unlimited full speed data without any cap or deprioritization. Users also get 50GB of hotspot data before slowing to 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $95 per month, and $90 with the Autopay discount. 

GO5G Next 

This plan allows you to switch phones every year.

GO5G Next is one of T-Mobile’s biggest plans, as it gives you unlimited premium data. This means that you get unlimited full speed data without any cap or deprioritization. You also get 50GB of premium hotspot data Once you run out of premium data, you get unlimited deprioritized hotspot data. 

What makes this plan stand out from GO5G Plus is that it allows you to get a new phone every year rather than waiting two years. Otherwise, the plans are the same. 

This plan costs $105 each month, but the autopay discount brings the price to $100.  

Features

US Mobile offers several perks on their Unlimited Premium plans. 

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. US Mobile offers perks, like streaming services or music services, with Unlimited Premium plans with more than 3 lines. You have over a dozen perks to choose from. Plans with 3+ lines can choose 1 perk, and lines with 4 or more can choose an additional one. If you have a different plan or an Unlimited Premium plan with less than 3 lines, you do not have access to these perks. T-Mobile also offers several features included with their different plans depending on what you purchase.

Domestic Roaming Data

US Mobile offers domestic roaming on all plans except their No Data plan. T-Mobile offers domestic roaming on all plans. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

US Mobile offers talk, text, 1GB of data in Canada and 3GB of data in Mexico for their Unlimited Premium Plan. They also offer call and text in their Unlimited Starter, Unlimited Essentials, and Shared Data plans. The rest of their plans require additional add-ons for connection in Mexico and Canada. Unlimited Starter and Shared Data also have access to these add-ons. All T-Mobile postpaid plans include talk, text, and roaming data in Mexico and Canada. The amount of roaming data varies per plan. For example, their GO5G Plus plan includes 15GB of high speed data, then unlimited data at 3G speeds. 

International Connection

US Mobile offers international talk, text, and 10GB of data on Unlimited Premium plans. Their Unlimited Starter, Essentials, and Shared Data plans include international calling and texting. All other plans require additional add-ons for international connection. Unlimited Starter, Essentials, and Shared Data also have access to these add-ons. T-Mobile plans include international texting and international pay-per-use calling for $0.25 per minute. Magenta, Magenta MAX, GO5G, GO5G Plus, and GO5G Next plans include 5GB of full speed international data, and unlimited 3G data after the cap.    

Video Streaming Quality

All US Mobile plans stream at 720p High Definition. T-Mobile’s Magenta MAX, GO5G Plus, and GO5G Next plans include 4k Ultra High Definition streaming, and their other postpaid plans include 480p Standard Definition.  

Streaming Services

US Mobile allows you to choose between a subscription to Apple TV+, Netflix Standard, Max, or a bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ if you have not chosen another perk on a 3+ line plan of Unlimited Premium. T-Mobile includes free Netflix Basic for single line users and free Netflix Standard with 2+ line plans, as well as free AppleTV+, on Magenta MAX, GO5G Plus, and GO5G Next. T-Mobile’s Magenta and GO5G plans include free Netflix Basic and 6 months of AppleTV+. 

Music Services

US Mobile allows you to choose between a subscription to Slacker Plus LiveXLive, Pandora Plus, Audible, Spotify Family, or Apple Music Family if you have not chosen another perk on a 3+ line plan of Unlimited Premium. T-Mobile does not offer this feature.

Gaming Services

US Mobile allows you to choose between a subscription to Playstation Plus, XBox Live Gold, Stadia Pro, and Apple Arcade if you have not chosen another perk on a 3+ line plan of Unlimited Premium. T-Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

US Mobile and T-Mobile do not include this feature.

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from T-Mobile, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time. US Mobile does not offer this feature. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

T-Mobile offers Scam Shield Premium with GO5G Plus, GO5G Next, and Magenta MAX. US Mobile does not offer this feature.

Free Trial

US Mobile offers a 50 day free trial. T-Mobile does not offer this feature.  

Customer Service 

US Mobile does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support, while T-Mobile offers several stores across the country.

US Mobile is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. They offer 24/7 support over the phone at 1(878)-205-0088, and over email at [email protected]. T-Mobile offers several stores across the country, and users can find the closest one with their store locator. They also offer customer support online with their website live chat, their support website for common questions, and over the phone at 1-800-937-8997.  

The Verdict

The better plan depends on your budget. 

While both carriers offer a wide range of options and features to choose from, their prices vary a lot depending on the plan you choose and which carrier you pick. If you want unlimited premium data, T-Mobile is guaranteed to suit your needs. If you need unlimited data at a lower price, US Mobile is the better option between both carriers. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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