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Verizon vs T-Mobile: Which is carrier is best?

We compared T-Mobile & Verizon plans, coverage & customer ratings: Which cell phone service is best for you?

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For years, Verizon and T-Mobile have been at each other's throats, striving for the number one position and the attention of consumers throughout the nation.

How do you decide which network is best for you?

Just as important - how do you get the best price on cell phone service on the T-Mobile and Verizon networks?

We're going to answer both of these questions and also address customer service, plans and pricing, and the cheapest cell phone deals.

T-Mobile vs Verizon: Plans

Best cheap T-Mobile phone plan

Mint Mobile 5GB plan

Image of cell phone with Mint Mobile
  • T-Mobile coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
5GB
data
$15/mo*
See at Mint Mobile

*$45 for 3 Months

4.2 Read our Mint Mobile review
$720 in annual savings

Cheapest T-Mobile unlimited data plan

Tello unlimited data plan

Image of cell phone with Tello
  • T-Mobile coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
Unlimited
data
$25/mo
5 Read our Tello review
$600 in annual savings

T-Mobile unlimited data plans

Plan Data Monthly Price Annual Cost
T-Mobile Essentials Unlimited $65 $780
T-Mobile Magenta Unlimited $75 $900
T-Mobile Go5G Unlimited $80 $960
T-Mobile Magenta MAX Unlimited $90 $1,080
T-Mobile Go5G Plus Unlimited $95 $1,140

T-Mobile vs Tello comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
T-Mobile T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Tello T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $25/mo $300/yr
Savings $50/mo $600/yr

Best cheap Verizon phone plan

US Mobile 6GB plan

Image of cell phone with US Mobile
  • Verizon & T-Mobile coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
6GB
data
$18/mo*
See at US Mobile

*30 Day FREE Trial

5 Read our US Mobile review
$684 in annual savings

Cheapest Verizon unlimited data plan

Visible unlimited data plan

Image of cell phone with Visible
  • Verizon coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Instant eSIM activation
Unlimited
data
$25/mo*
2.6 Read our Visible review
$600 in annual savings

Verizon unlimited data plans

Plan Data Monthly Price Annual Cost
Verizon Unlimited Welcome Unlimited $70 $840
Verizon Unlimited Plus Unlimited $75 $900
Verizon Unlimited Ultimate Unlimited $85 $1,020

Verizon vs Visible comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
Verizon Verizon 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Visible Verizon 4G & 5G Unlimited $25/mo $300/yr
Savings $50/mo $600/yr

Plan features

  • 4G & 5G data speeds: Since MVNOs operate on the big three cellular networks you'll pay less without sacrificing speed. More and more are adding 5G coverage all the time so you can expect high-speed data.
  • Unlimited talk and text messaging: Finding a new unlimited plan has never been easier. Virtually all small carriers include unlimited text and calls in their plan options. Compare cheap talk and text plans with or without data.
  • International calls to Canada and Mexico: International calling is a must for many people. Luckily MVNOs offer some of the best international phone plans, with free calling to certain countries like Canada and Mexico, and discounted rates on others.
  • Multiline discounts: Low-cost carriers also offer some of the cheapest family cell phone plans, with multi-line discounts.
  • Wi-Fi calling: This feature is handy when you're out of your service area, allowing you to make calls over the internet instead of on your cellular connection.
  • Tethering/hotspot data: Many low-cost carriers allow you to use your phone as a hotspot. Pick an MVNO with the best mobile hotspot plans so you can share your mobile hotspot data with other devices.
  • HD video streaming: Just like the big guys, some MVNOs offer HD video streaming and some don't. Read the fine print to find the option you want.

T-Mobile vs Verizon: Coverage

T-Mobile coverage map

T-Mobile Coverage Maps

Verizon coverage map

Verizon Coverage Map

Compare network performance

NETWORK OVERALL RELIABILITY SPEED DATA CALL
Verizon Coverage 95 96 94 96 94
T-Mobile Coverage 86 88 82 89 82

Source: Rootmetrics

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T-Mobile vs Verizon: Family plans

T-Mobile family plans

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
T-Mobile Essentials $65 $100
$50/line
$120
$40/line
$140
$35/line
T-Mobile Magenta $75 $130
$65/line
$156
$52/line
$180
$45/line
T-Mobile Go5G $80 $140
$70/line
$171
$57/line
$200
$50/line
T-Mobile Magenta MAX $90 $150
$75/line
$186
$62/line
$220
$55/line
T-Mobile Go5G Plus $95 $160
$80/line
$201
$67/line
$240
$60/line

Verizon family plans

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
Verizon Unlimited Welcome $70 $120
$60/line
$135
$45/line
$140
$35/line
Verizon Unlimited Plus $75 $130
$65/line
$150
$50/line
$160
$40/line
Verizon Unlimited Ultimate $85 $150
$75/line
$180
$60/line
$200
$50/line

T-Mobile vs Verizon: Data plans

T-Mobile data plans

Carrier Network Data Price
Good2Go Mobile 1GB plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 1GB $5/mo
Tello 1GB plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 1GB $5/mo
US Mobile 500MB plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 500MB $5/mo
Tello 2GB plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 2GB $6/mo
Boost Mobile 2GB plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 2GB $10/mo

Verizon data plans

Carrier Network Data Price
US Mobile 500MB plan Verizon 5G/4G Coverage 500MB $5/mo
US Mobile 2GB plan Verizon 5G/4G Coverage 2GB $10/mo
Red Pocket 1GB plan Verizon 5G/4G Coverage 1GB $10/mo
US Mobile 10GB plan Verizon 5G/4G Coverage 10GB $15/mo
US Mobile unlimited data plan Verizon 5G/4G Coverage Unltd $15/mo $29/mo

T-Mobile vs Verizon: Phone deals

T-Mobile cell phone deals

Verizon cell phone deals

T-Mobile vs Verizon: Customer service

NETWORK TRUSTPILOT RATING
T-Mobile user rating 1.5
Verizon user rating 1.3

T-Mobile vs Verizon FAQs


Recap

With all of the major wireless networks so close in coverage and reliability, it's up to you to decide which one works better for you.

One thing is crystal clear, though - MVNOs give you the same quality service for much less money.

Finally, to see all the best plans side-by-side, use our comparison tool to find a cheap cell phone plan.

MoneySavingPro methodology

We're here to bring transparency to telecoms, putting power back in your hands. This guides everything we do.

  • We've got high standards. We use our industry expertise to find carriers that reach these standards. We all deserve the best value for money, choice, and customer experience.
  • We care about accuracy. MoneySavingPro is run by cell phone geeks and money-saving obsessives. Our content team researches everything thoroughly so that information you read here will give you the whole picture. Everything we do is backed up by the data.
  • We keep things simple. It's our job to break down what you need to know, so you can make informed choices.

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