T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Review

T-Mobile provides more than just cell phone services. T-Mobile's 5G home internet service covers over 40 million homes in 40 different states, making it the most widely available 5G internet provider. The sole T-Mobile home internet plan gets you download speeds between 72–245 Mbps and upload speeds between 15–31 Mbps. Plus, it only costs $50 per month with no contracts or data caps.

If you don’t love the ISP that services your area, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet makes a strong case as a replacement. You don't quite get fiber internet (~ 1 Gbps) speeds with 5G Home Internet, but you can get solid speeds for streaming and gaming for an affordable price. Read on for more details to help you decide if T-Mobile 5G Home Internet gives you a better deal than your current internet service provider.

Quick guide to this article:

• Prices and plans
• Equipment
• Speed and performance
• Customer Service
• Comparison with Verizon 5G home internet
• Recap
• Methodology

You don’t need to stress about choosing an internet plan with T-Mobile because you only have one option. The stand-alone T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan costs $50 per month and gives you download speeds somewhere between 72–245 Mbps and upload speeds between 5–31 Mbps.

It’s always refreshing to see a home internet plan without data caps or contracts. The only small detail to know is that if you opt-in to the AutoPay program, you get a discount of $5 per month. Just make sure to turn off AutoPay if you plan on canceling your service.

Since there are  no contracts, you can ditch T-Mobile 5G Home Internet whenever you want. If a sexy fiber-internet provider moves into town, you can easily abandon T-Mobile and go for something faster.

The hallmark of every internet provider is how they entice customers with an introductory price that lasts for a year or two and then jack up the price after that. We’re happy to report that T-Mobile 5G Home Internet doesn’t have anything like that baked into its fine print—you’ll always pay $50 per month for your home internet service.

If you don't have access to T-Mobile 5G Home Internet where you live, T-Mobile Home Internet Lite might be the answer. T-Mobile Home Internet Lite is a new internet service that anyone can get as long as you live somewhere with T-Mobile service. It costs the same as T-Mobile 5G home internet ($50 a month), but the catch is that you only get a 100 GB data cap. If you pass that data cap during your data cycle, your speeds will down to painful 2G-like 128Kbps, which won't be enough for basic internet activities like Zoom calls or YouTube videos.

You can pay more for a higher data cap ($75/mo. for 150 GB, $100 for 200 GB, $150 for 300 GB), which might make sense if T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Lite is your only option outside of satellite internet or DSL internet.

If you want to try out T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Lite, enter your ZIP code at T-Mobile's website and get signed up. 

T-Mobile’s home internet data speeds vary depending on factors outside of your control like location, signal strength and availability, and the time of day. Your data speeds can fluctuate pretty wildly, with a massive quality-of-life difference between 72 Mbps and 245 Mbps.

The good news is that if you find that your internet speeds fall closer to 72 Mbps than 245 Mbps, you can easily cancel your plan without incurring any annoying fees.

Will T-Mobile Home Internet be faster than what you already have? If you use a fiber-optic internet connection, then the answer to that question is a resounding “No.” On the other hand, if DSL or cable internet is the only option in your neck of the woods, then 5G home internet might work better.

For example, my parents just moved to a 55+ community in Southern California that just so happens to provide terrible internet coverage. On average, my parents get about 25 Mbps, which isn’t enough to support their favorite activity: streaming Netflix in every room of the house. In this case, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet would assuredly work better than what they currently have, despite the wide range of internet speeds. Don’t worry, I’ve already set things in motion to get my parents set up with 5G home internet access.

If you want to check out other internet providers offering faster download speeds, check out how T-Mobile 5G Home Internet stacks up against providers like Frontier or Optimum.

You don’t need to worry about using too much data with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet considering there’s no data cap. Some internet plans will throttle your speeds when you pass a certain amount of data usage in a month, but you won’t encounter that with T-Mobile Home Internet. Go ahead, download every season of The Simpsons if you want.

If you're curious how T-Mobile's speed or performance compares to other providers, check out T-Mobile vs. Optimum, T-Mobile vs. AT&T Fiber, and T-Mobile vs. Google Fiber.

When you sign up for T-Mobile's home internet plan, you get sent a 5G Gateway device that functions as a router/modem combo. Just a few months ago, T-Mobile upgraded its Gateway device to include Wi-Fi 6 technology, which means your wireless signal will cover even more of your home.

Equipment setup mostly comes down to taking the Gateway device out of the box and placing it in a place that gets signal reception. We recommend putting your router/modem higher-up in your home, on a shelf or near a window, for example. If you need to connect an ethernet cable, the Gateway has two ports.

Equipment set up 

Setting up 5G home internet is incredibly easy. All you need to do is download the T-Mobile Internet app from any app store on your phone, plug in the gateway router, and follow the instructions to power up your internet service. You'll set up your login credentials with the app, as well as You can use this app to set parental controls, see who’s connected to your home internet, and keep tabs on the quality of your internet connection.

If you’re moving to a place with T-Mobile home internet access, you can easily bring your router/modem combo device and set it up in your new place. If you don’t get coverage in your future abode, then you can send the Gateway back to T-Mobile and not get charged for a non-return fee.

T-Mobile has a dedicated customer care team that provides support for T-Mobile home internet. It’s a separate entity from the cell phone side of the business, so the customer care folks you encounter will know more about home internet issues.

T-Mobile provides two phone numbers to call if you have any problems:

• General questions: 1-844-839-5057
• Technical support:1-844-275-9310

Verizon is the other major player in the 5G home internet space and it absolutely crushes T-Mobile when it comes to data speeds. Look at how Verizon’s 5G home internet plans break down:

Verizon’s 5G home internet speeds can get up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps), whereas T-Mobile maxes out around 245 Mbps. If you’re choosing between the two, it’s really no competition and Verizon wins, but the catch is that Verizon isn’t nearly as widely available as T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Lucky you, if you happen to live in one of the 40+ cities that offers Verizon 5G home internet.

See how else Verizon 5G and T-Mobile compare in T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet.

While T-Mobile 5G Home Internet can’t keep up with fiber internet providers or Verizon 5G home internet, it’s certainly a better option than most DSL and cable internet providers. If you live in an area with bad options for internet providers, T-Mobile 5G home internet can be your get-out-of-jail-free card for better internet.

• Prices and plans: T-Mobile’s $50 home internet plan gives you download speeds between 33–182 Mbps and upload speeds between 15–31 Mbps, for $50/month.
• Speed: Hopefully your T-Mobile home internet speeds fall closer to the 115 Mbps end of the spectrum, otherwise you might want to consider canceling your service.
• Data caps: No data caps to worry about, so you can use as much internet data as you want.
• Contracts, equipment, and fees: You get the T-Mobile Gateway router/modem device for free when you sign up for service. The new router comes with Wi-Fi 6 technology, which helps your internet signal get around the house more easily. It also has two port options for an ethernet cable. Set up takes 15 minutes or less, and the only fee you need to worry about comes from not returning your router after canceling your service.
• Customer service: T-Mobile has a dedicated team of support agents for its home internet services, so you can expect competent help when you need it.

To conduct this review, we employed a meticulous approach, focusing on the following key aspects:

Price

We evaluated T-Mobile's home internet service pricing structure in relation to its competitors. By comparing the monthly fees, promotional offers, and any additional costs involved, we sought to determine whether T-Mobile's pricing is competitive and offers good value for the provided service.

Data Speeds

A crucial element of any internet service is the speed at which data is transmitted. We conducted speed tests at various times throughout the day, covering both peak and off-peak periods, to gauge the consistency and reliability of T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet speeds. We also examined the upload and download speeds and compared them against the advertised maximum speeds.

Equipment and Setup

A smooth and user-friendly setup process is a huge plus with home internet. We assessed the quality and ease of installation of T-Mobile's provided equipment (the Gateway router), and examined the accompanying documentation and support resources to determine how well they guide customers through the setup process.

Availability

You can't use an internet service if you don't live in a supported area. We analyzed T-Mobile's coverage area, considering both urban and rural locations, to determine the extent to which the service is accessible and reliable for customers across different regions.

Results

Based on our extensive evaluation, we have drawn the following conclusions regarding T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet service:

Price: T-Mobile's home internet service offers an affordable rate compared to many competitors, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.

Data Speeds: One notable drawback is the fluctuation in internet speeds experienced by users. While some customers may enjoy speeds close to the advertised maximum, others may routinely experience lower speeds. This inconsistency can significantly impact the user experience.

Equipment and Setup: Setting up 5G home internet is incredibly easy. No complicated wires, no technician needed (this is starting to feel like a bad infomercial). It's really just as simple as plugging the device in.

Availability: T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet service is progressively expanding its coverage, aiming to reach a wider customer base. However, its availability is still limited in some areas, particularly in rural regions. Users should definitely check if their neighborhood fall under T-Mobile 5G's coverage.