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:
- New plans starting at $35/month
- No annual contract
- No data caps
- Equipment included
T-Mobile Home Internet: Real Customer Review
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
| Pros | Cons |
| Starting price: $35/month with AutoPay and any T-Mobile voice line | Not available in all areas (Check eligibility) |
| Unlimited wireless internet data | Data speeds may be inconsistent |
| Wi-Fi gateway included at no extra charge | Cell phone customers receive higher priority |
| New customer offers and entertainment perks (See deals) | Some live TV streaming services are not compatible |
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.
2. Pricing, Deals & Perks
T-Mobile introduced new 5G home internet plans in December 2024.
With all three plans, T-Mobile wireless customers who set up AutoPay get the best pricing. However, T-Mobile Home Internet is available as a standalone service.
The easiest way to think about T-Mobile’s new plans: good, better and best.
- T-Mobile Rely Internet: $50/month with AutoPay; $35/month with any T-Mobile voice line
- T-Mobile Amplified Internet: $60/month with AutoPay; $45/month with any T-Mobile voice line
- T-Mobile All-In Internet: $70/month with AutoPay; $55/month with any T-Mobile voice line
Rely is T-Mobile Home Internet’s the base plan, which is what I have reviewed for the past few years.
What do you get by paying more?
Amplified and All-In plans come with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, which the service says can deliver faster speeds, and some additional cyber security features.
The All-In plan includes ad-supported Hulu and Paramount+, a Mesh Access Point and priority tech support.
The Fine Print
With the introduction of the new plans, T-Mobile appears to have brought back a true Price Lock and says it won’t raise your monthly internet rate as long as you stay on the plan.
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.
One-Time Perks
T-Mobile has special perks for new customers. At the time of this update in December 2024, T-Mobile is offering $150 back in the form of a virtual prepaid Mastercard.
These offers change frequently. Check T-Mobile’s website to verify the latest offers.
Other Plans
In addition to the main unlimited data plans, T-Mobile Home Internet has a few other plans that I typically do not recommend.
- Internet Lite: For addresses where unlimited plans are not yet available
- Away: Wi-Fi plan for travelers; bucketed or unlimited data options
- Internet Backup: 130 GB of data per month; not intended as a primary internet plan
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 base Rely internet plan:
- Typical Download Speed: 87 to 318 Mbps
- Typical Upload Speed: 14 to 56 Mbps
- Typical Latency: 18 to 36 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
| Download Speed | Upload Speed |
| 246 Mbps | 18.7 Mbps |
| 351 Mbps | 19.5 Mbps |
| 224 Mbps | 17.7 Mbps |
| 317 Mbps | 21.8 Mbps |
| 250 Mbps | 28.5 Mbps |
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’s unlimited plans are not available in all areas. 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 plans, 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 Rely internet plan is a very good deal starting at $35 per month.
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!
Great insights, Michael! I’ve been considering T-Mobile Home Internet for a while, and your breakdown of the pros and cons really helps clarify things. I appreciate the tips on data speeds and potential coverage issues. Your perspective makes me feel more informed before making a decision. Thanks for sharing!
I started using Tmobile Home Internet about July 2022; The service was excellent, always reliable and always fast speeds. It seems however in August 2024 the “unlimited” plan rate has changed. Our entire section of Brick, NJ has been downgraded. Experiencing many buffering and freezing incidents daily. It has become unbearable to WFH etc. After several calls to Tmobile about this, where we were told the local antennas were having issues, after replacing/upgrading our Gateway, we were finally advised that we could no longer receive “unlimited” data and streaming, and that our service would experience random disconnections. We could “call support’ and can be reconnected but it would soon be disconnected again, and sure while we could once again “call support” and be reconnected… soon enough it would again be disconnected. The only option would be to upgrade to a plan costing $165/month or leave Tmobile. The $165/month plan is typically for users who are RV travelers and far remote users.
I have it for close to a year now.Had Spectrum and all we did was reboot several times a day. I have You Tube TV and for the most part not bad. Much better than Spectrum was.
I completely agree with the author’s assessment of T-Mobile Home Internet. I was hesitant to switch from my existing provider, but the speed and reliability of T-Mobile’s service have exceeded my expectations. The unlimited data option is also a game-changer, especially for heavy internet users like myself. Great post, thanks for sharing your insights!
I’m on the 3rd day of my two week free trial. So far I’ve only connected our smartphones, streaming boxes, MAC and a laptop. In a day or two I’ll connect my MyQ Garage Door opener and my Ring equipment. I haven’t noticed a difference between Xfinity and T-Mobile with one exception. When I’m streaming a Dolby Vision movie my tv notifies me at the top corner. It hasn’t done that with T-Mobile. Does anyone know if you can stream Dolby Vision and 4K content?
I have been using T-Mobile Home Internet virtually from when it was first introduced. Although speeds have not been great, they are acceptable. My only problem it that I was using Nettalk for my home phone service. Unfortunately, T-Mobile home internet will not work with this service. I believe it is related to the service not providing a fixed IP address
Yes, T-Mobile Home Internet has dynamic IP addressing — so it will be an issue for services that require a static IP address.
Recently signed up for T-Mobile home internet and could not be happier. Formerly paying Xfinity $111/month for streaming multiple TV’s, home security (including outdoor cameras), multiple phones, tablets and laptops.. No interruptions on any devices. Seeing 180-145 download and 18-45 uploads.
I was specifically looking for something in regards to your comment but more about streaming 4K and Dolby Vision. I’m on the 3rd day of my two week free trial. So far I’ve only connected our smartphones, streaming boxes, MAC and a laptop. So far I have noticed a difference between Xfinity and T-Mobile with one exception. When I’m streaming a Dolby Vision movie my tv notifies me at the top corner. It hasn’t done that with T-Mobile. Does anyone know if you can stream Dolby Vision and 4K content?
I stream Dolby Vision with T-Mobile Home Internet
I just started using T Mobile Home Internet about 3 weeks ago. During the “trial period” seemed to work fine. There was a slow down during peak usage which I expected. This past weekend, there was little to no signal. I ran speedtests repeatedly and was gettting 0 upload and 0 download speeds. I would reset the gateway and things would improve for a few minutes then signal would drop substantially. Couldn’t even get to their website to seek support. Needless to say I am looking for the next option as T Mobile Home Internet is not it for me.
I’ve been using t-Mobile internet for about 10 months. I live in a rural area where internet choices are limited.
I left media com, AT&T (Wireless), and conexxus fiber (new to my area) for slower speeds that I thought I could live with at a much more reasonable price.
That all came to a halt in the last few weeks when I noticed unbearably slow upload speeds of 2.0mbs.
Just ran a speed test now – Download-162.2mbs Upload – 1.32mbs
I’ve called 3 times in the last two weeks.
While customer service seems to be working with me, I feel like I’m calling a support team that reads from a script, and at the end of each call my case was escalated to a higher tech group and then finally the engineer team. They do call back to follow up, but usually without any news of whats being done to improve the situation.
At the beginning of the upload slowdown a few weeks ago, the initial solution was that t-Mobile was modernizing (upgrading?) the tower. One support rep suggested I try another tower, we only have one close by and it’s only 5 miles away. The rep I was talking to was in California, 5 states west of me.
I’m guessing I’ll have to go back to one of the other internet services until T-mobile gets it figured out in my area.
We also live in the sticks south of Asheville in the mountains… And while our T-Mobile gateway only gets two bars, we seem to be able to function well with about seven devices connected. My problem is the rain… In the evening when we watch TV we frequently have issues with audio loss as the inevitable rain here starts. We connect using a newish Roku device and after fussing with it, disconnect/reconnect of gateway, adding new connection cords, etc. gave up the battle and live with it. Can’t imagine T-Mobile can control the weather, so I never contacted CS. Optimum is the only alternative…. I HATE the router, cable box and wire bs we would be stuck with if we switched back to wired cable. I had such hope for T-Mobile, too…sigh.
Firestick 4k / T mobile home Internet will stream Sling TV (free) on my system. Figure I would try getting around the dynamic IP issue I tested it on both with Surfshark VPN enabled and disabled.
Tested 1am EST – Download 73.96 Upload 36.43 (SurfShark disabled)
Download 132.04 Upload 64.28 (SurfShark enabled)
This was using the SlingTV (free channels) on their app.
Has anyone had a problem connecting a wireless printer to the T-mobile home internet? We can’t seem to connect.
Yes, we have had issues connecting with Tmobile home internet, period. We used our Tmobile hotspot and got our printer to connect,
I personally found T-Mobile home internet to be more reliable than Xfinity in my area of Folsom in California. I’ve see speeds as high as 600mb down here and it usually is between 300-400. Sling tv, when I’ve been subscribed to it, actually hasn’t been an issue. Maybe I’ve been lucky with that or maybe now it won’t work but a few months ago Sling worked just fine.
Nice speeds! Thanks
Don’t believe the ad for the early termination fee disbursement if you switch to T-Mobile!! They kept me on the line for 2 hours until I finally hung up. This should be illegal!!!!!!!
If you didn’t get a refund (and you canceled within the time period), complain on the BBB’s website. You’ll likely get a fast response.
Not happy at all with the service. It goes down daily. Usually for just a few minutes, but some evenings it will go out 8-10 times. Customer service is no help. Every rep that I have spoken to tells me something different and none have been able to help. It goes back in the morning.
I have used T-Mobile phones (2) on their senior plan for several years and have been okay with the phone service across the country (some midwest dead areas). The 5G signal at my home barely gets 2 bars and runs on 5G(SA)? When I check Speedtest on Chrome I can get 5.4 Mb one minute and 145.5 Mb a moment later while standing outside in the same spot. Is this the type of performance I can expect from their internet service? I am spoiled by 500 Mb Spectrum service but it is getting pricey.
As a freelancer who heavily relies on the internet, having a fast and reliable connection is crucial for my work. I appreciate your insights on different providers and technologies available for achieving the fastest internet speeds. It’s definitely something I’ll be looking into further.
Risk free trial? I was told as long as I returned within 14 days, no charge. Hmmmm………..returned in 2 and they charged me for a month on my bill. This company is beyond criminal. EVERYPLACE you go, a new batch of lies and deceit.
I’m confused.
1.)If you are going to be charged $50.00 a month including equipment, why are you avoiding a $370.00 equipment charge if you stop the service within the trial period?
2.)What in T-Mobile’s case defines a trial period for a contract that can be cancelled at any time?
You are only charged the $370 fee if you cancel and don’t return the equipment. You don’t get to keep the equipment after you cancel, whether that’s within the free trial period or not. The risk-free period is 15 days.
I am sure it is because T-Mobile’s 5G coverage is super strong in my area, but I’m getting 550 down and 100 up consistently throughout the day. Have their cell coverage as well and my cell phone gets 650 down. This definitely feels like YMMV but for me, $30/month is a no-brainer at these speeds.
I did shut off the wifi and used my own mesh network.
FYI, I talked to T-Mobile yesterday, in regard to the free 15 day trial on their 5G home internet. They told me the $35 activation fee is not refunded, so, IMO, it is not really a “free” trail, since you will be out $35,even if you cancel during the first 15 days. They said that applied to both purchases in store and online. The rep searched to see if there were any specials where the activation fee was waived, and he couldn’t find any.
I live out in the sticks, so figured I would try it due to the “free” trial. Decided not to after talking to the rep. I use my phone for a hotspot hooked to my laptop, but the Verizon tower is so congested, that the laptop is useless from about 4PM for the rest of the night. Can barely get on Yahoo using my phone data at those times, even though it is higher priority than the laptop on hotspot.
Yes, the $35 is a new charge. It was a truly free trial until they added that.
would a better modem inprove the service
If you are struggling with the service, I would contact support. People who get slow speeds on T-Mobile Home Internet are likely in places where there cell towers are congested.
Got through the 14 day trial fine. Worked like they said it would. Started about midway through December of 2022.
The subsequent time after the trial has been unusable. They are going to replace the “Gateway” but I don’t believe that will fix anything. I’ll have to wait to find out as the replacement will by here by Jan 18, 2023. Some of the service techs alluded to severe congestion in my area. Strange I did not see that during the 14 day trial. My internet now goes “down” after approx. 5:00 PM and remains down until about 2:00 AM in the morning. At times other than in that window I have usable internet. The special idiot I spoke with last is the one that ordered the replacement Gateway.
I must say that over 1/2 of the techs taking my calls were “special idiots”, more akin to parrots and don’t listen. The other techs were quite fine.
I’m thoroughly displeased at the moment. I feel swindled with this. This internet is right next to useless. Even just “surfing” at low throughput sites (not much bandwidth) is next to impossible.
I’ve got the unlimited plan, which they said my address qualified for. No data or speed caps.
Story recap and finale.
After being through many techs, and to be fair some were downright excellent, there were none that could actually resolve the internet speed issues where at the slowest I got nothing to about 300Kbps. I was told by a few that the particular cell tower I was linked to had high congestion and traffice. I finally called T-Mobile back and simply asked for my money back after explaining the full scenario to the patient woman at the other end of the line. She credited my account, and two gateways are being shipped back to T-Mobile (they are providing the shipping tags).
I really wanted this to work. I am now back with Optimum, the company I was with at the outset and was passionately hating. They have me at a VERY much lower rate than before at the moment and I now have internet that is full speed ahead.
I’m keeping the T-Mobile cell service. It isn’t a super fabulous deal but it does cover the bases I need covered and they seem to have broad coverage where I need it in my travels. So far I am pleased with the cell service.
T-Mobile states that their home internet runs at the lowest priority. Almost sounds like they might give it higher priority during the trail period.
I don’t believe that to be the case. The internet service is deprioritized and speeds are slowed when towers are busy, even during the trial.
Thanks for this very helpful article. Comcast just raised my rate after a 1 or 2 year promo deal and I’m looking for alternatives. Not many where I live in Alexandria, VA.
Have you checked availability for Verizon Home Internet? I have an article on that as well. (I’m testing both T-Mobile and Verizon’s services.)
How many concurrent YouTubeTV streams did you test? We consistently have 3 YTV streams plus Ooma phone and various mobile phones/tablets. T-Mobile 5G Ultra is available at my address.
I have tested 3 streams at once.
I’ve had T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service for a couple of months and have seen a dramatic increase in speed during that time. Evidently, they are expanding their service. When I first signed up, I was getting 40-50 Mbps download and about 5-7 upload. Now I get 150 down and 20-25 up. And, all this for only $50 per month. I live “in the sticks” and previously was paying about $120 per month for 4G service with much slower speeds.
I highly recommend this service if they offer it in your area. It has been consistently available, speeds certainly vary and slow down a bit during late afternoon and evening but are still fully capable of streaming.
Nice!
No issues with hulu or netflix – running thru a roku box
Another issue with the T-Mobile 5g is they force you to pay monthly for their modem, yes it is included in the price. But if you own your 5g modem, they will not give you a credit for using equipment you already own. It is a take or leave it situation, I left it.
As you noted, the equipment is included in the price.
T-Mobile does not honor their 15 day guarantee. They said after 9 days of using and stopping their service that I used the data so NO REFUND! I will not use T-Mobile for anything and am telling everyone I know how bad they REALLY ARE!
I have had T-Mobile 5G Home Internet about a month. I’m truly on the fringe of their service area, but I’m paying $50 a month rather than $129 for a third-party 4G plan. And, it’s much faster, even with my “LOW” signal (one or two bars).
Speedcheck.org has me with an average of 71.41 down and 16.19 up. But, I frequently clock 100+ for download.
I’m EXTREMELY PLEASED with this service.
We got T-Mobile Internet and still on the trial. We are getting YT live TV. I guess we better try it before that trial period is over. It only became available in our area last weekend. So far zero issues but again we only have our devices hooked up and not a streaming service yet. We think YT live TV is the best option but Philo does look good??? Thoughts?
YouTube TV is excellent for a cable TV replacement. Philo is good too, but it doesn’t have major sports, news or locals.
I agree m getting pretty constant download speeds of 200 mbps and above, and average of 35 mbps upload, love this internet, works good enough for 45 a month.
Be aware that certain AnyConnect VPNs are also incompatible with the 5G gateway!
Be aware that if you plan to connect Genie, Aladdin, or Chamberlain garage door openers you will be sorry out of luck unless you set up a second router as a data access point. I spent hours and hours with with nice but technically unskilled T-Mobile help until I figured out that port 8883 is blocked on the current 5g gateways.
If you use Hulu Live TV, T-Mobile Internet is not an option. It does not work with HULU. I talked to a T-Mobile Rep and he confirmed.
Yes, T-Mobile says this on its website. Also Sling TV. I will add to my article.
Sling TV works on mine and I average 100-175 down and 10-25 up.
Thank you
I got the T-Mobile Internet as a separate set up for my theater room. Ethernet directly into my streaming box. I was in the store for an hour talking through everything with them before pulling the trigger. Not one time did they call out the difference between Home Internet and Home Internet Lite. I had no idea there was a 100gb limit until I got a text message saying I’d used up my plan data in less than one week of usage. Download speeds were 200 Mbps and worked great.
Returned it during the trial period.
I also capped out the data and canceled after 9 days of activating the account. I returned all the equipment 2 days later. After not receiving my promised refund I called TMobile and was told since I used the data I WAS NOT DUE A REFUND. I had my credit card company dispute the charges. I got my refund but NO thanks to TMobile. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. They continue to send me bills in the mail. NOT A REPUTABLE COMPANY!
I would love to say that t-mobile internet is a great service. I cannot. At first it was great. I was getting speeds of 120mbps download. after a few weeks that speed dropped to about 1.60 mbps down and 52 Mbps upload. I spoke with customer service several times about this problem and they sent me a new internet gateway. It worked for another 2 weeks and then stopped again. I am waiting on another gateway. if the service does not work this time I will be cancelling the service. In my opinion, the service is not worth the money.
I having the same problem worked for a few weeks, then speed slow down 54 .7 down load speed 47.6 upload .it will not connect to my home computer or my hp printer that only 2 years old . Contact tech support on the phone for 2 hours still unable to help my live tv stream worked but now will not work will be canceling
I’m having the exact same problem. Ive had 3 different gateways with the same problem with speed . Now again it’s slowed down till one 1mbs. I think they replace them with refurbished ones. Fiber optic cable will be accessible too me by the end of the summer and then saying goodbye T-Mobile!
they do data caps. throttled mine. works way spotty. won’t connect for an hour then wow, it works again.
I wouldn’t recommend if you work from home and rely on you home internet being up reliably.