Metro by T-Mobile buyer's guide: Plans, perks, and more

If you love almost everything about T-Mobile, it might be worth giving Metro a try. Of course, the two carriers have their slight differences, so you’ll want to do some homework before you sign up. We’ll walk you through the ins and outs of Metro by T-Mobile so you can make the best decision possible.

See also: The best Metro by T-Mobile deals

As a subsidiary, Metro only offers prepaid options. We’ll highlight each of its plans, and we’ll also touch on a few of the best phones you can try. You’re likely already determined to switch carriers, so we’ll compare a few top MVNOs to help you decide. Ready to learn about T-Mobile’s little sibling? Let’s get to it.

Metro by T-Mobile at a glance

The carrier now known as Metro by T-Mobile began its life in 1994 as General Wireless. By the time it merged with T-Mobile and rebranded, Metro had amassed nine million subscribers and the fifth-largest US network. Although it’s now wholly-owned, Metro is not truly considered an MVNO as it had its own network before the merger. It now exists as a division of T-Mobile rather than a separate entity.

Because Metro is a division of T-Mobile, it’s not easy to track down at the Better Business Bureau. However, its headquarters location carries an A-rating and just over a one-star customer rating. Metro by T-Mobile has closed 2,800 customer complaints in the past three years.

One of the best perks to come from the T-Mobile merger is the incredible 5G access afforded to Metro customers. They can access the entire nationwide network, and the areas that don’t have 5G coverage are likely to have a 4G connection. The network extends throughout the United States and into southern Canada. You can check out the entire map right here.

Pre-paid Metro plans

If you’re ready to make the switch, you’ve got four plans to choose from. The first two plans offer limited data and some restricted features, but the unlimited options inch close to post-paid levels of service. It’s up to you to decide which perks you want, but check out our table for a quick breakdown:

5GB Plan

Metro by T-Mobile’s most basic plan offers unlimited talk and text in addition to 5GB of high-speed data. That’s all there is to it, and each line of service will run you $30 per month. It’s a solid plan if you only use your phone for the basics or you spend almost all of your time connected to Wi-Fi. As you’ll see later, there are a few add-ons available for the 5GB plan, but you might get better value from one of the more expensive plans out of the gate.

All Metro by T-Mobile plans are now eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP. Essentially, this is a program that’s designed to make owning a connected smartphone more affordable. As a result, qualifying customers can get the 5GB plan for free. However, not all customers will qualify, but you can check your eligibility at this link.

Highlights:

• Just $30 per line (or free with ACP)
• Add more data as you need it

Best for:

• Low data users who want to add as they go

10GB Plan

The next step up from the 5GB plan, Metro’s 10GB plan offers five times the data for just $10 more per month for the first line. Each additional line costs an extra $30, the same as the smaller plan. Beyond the talk, text, and data, the 10GB plan allows Music Unlimited streaming. That means you can rock out on more than 40 music apps without your usage counting against the 10GB cap.

The 10GB plan isn’t free under the ACP agreement, but Metro by T-Mobile will chop $30 off your bill if you qualify. That means you’ll pay just $10 for service instead of the standard $40.

Highlights:

• Five-times more data
• Music Unlimited streaming
• More add-ons available

Best for:

• Users who plan to stream music often
• Users who don’t need unlimited data but don’t want to add gigs too often

Basic Unlimited Plan

If you’re making the switch from one of the big three, you might be used to the unlimited data lifestyle. Luckily, you can continue that trend with Metro by T-Mobile’s Basic Unlimited plan and leave your data cap behind. The $10 per month price increase comes with more than just unlimited data, though — you get 5GB of hotspot access per line and 100GB of Google One storage. You can store pictures, videos, and just about anything else you might need.

Qualifying customers will pay just $20 for the basic unlimited plan with ACP.

Highlights:

• Unlimited data
• 5GB hotspot included
• 100GB Google One Storage

Best for:

• Students who need a ton of cloud storage
• Users who don’t want data limits

Better Unlimited Plan

If 5GB of a hotspot isn’t enough and you don’t want to pick a monthly add-on, then you can opt for the Better Unlimited plan. It jumps to a 15GB hotspot per month, and the pricing is more than fair. Although the first line costs $60, the second is just $30 more, and the third and fourth lines keep your plan at $120 total. You’ll get the same 100GB of Google One Storage, and the added benefit of an included Amazon Prime membership. It’s easy to stream your favorite shows or have just about anything delivered in a hurry.

Even at the highest levels, you can still save money with the ACP. It chops the price of Metro’s most premium plan in half — down to just $30 per month.

Highlights:

• 15GB hotspot included
• 100GB Google One storage
• Amazon Prime membership

Best for:

• Anyone who frequents Amazon
• Users who plan to work remotely and rely on a hotspot

Tablets and connected device plans

Metro by T-Mobile is a great option for more than just mobile service — you can grab a tablet for cheap too. The carrier offers two tiers of tablet service, each with unlimited data access. $15 per month will get you standard definition streaming, but $30 per month kicks up to HD quality. Right now, you can get an Alcatel Joy Tab for free when you add a line of service to an existing plan too.

If you’d rather add a hotspot device to your plan, the MetroSMART is the only device available directly from Metro. You can start with 10GB of high-speed data per month for just $35 or increase your cap to 15GB for $45, 20GB for $55, or 30GB for $75 per month.

Add-on services

Although each Metro by T-Mobile plan offers a solid level of service and a few handy perks, add-ons are the best way to make the most of your service. It doesn’t take much to flesh out your plan, whether you want more hotspot data or international access. Check out the table below to see what you can add to each plan:

Canada/Mexico Unlimited

Metro by T-Mobile’s plans don’t offer built-in international access, but it doesn’t take much to add access in Canada or Mexico. Just $5 per month gets you unlimited talk and text in either country, as well as 5GB of roaming data. However, you’ll have to pay $5 for each country.

Metro by T-Mobile Global Voice

If you need access to more than Canada and Mexico, Global Voice is the way to go. You’ll need Global Voice if you want to call more than 140 countries, but the add-on offers unlimited texting to select locations. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t include unlimited calling, so you may have to grab Global Voice Plus for double the minutes.

Extra monthly data

Let’s face it — 2GB of high-speed data per month isn’t all that much. It’s especially constrained if you plan to be on the go often or have limited Wi-Fi access. You can add 2GB to any plan for $5, whether it’s straight-up data or hotspot. 5GB will cost $10, but you can only add it to $40 plans and up. Finally, 10GB of bonus data costs $20 and is only available on a $60 plan.

Google One storage

Another add-on for unlimited users, you can expand your Google One storage by 200GB for $1 or 2TB for $8. It’s a handy boost if you want to store everything you can imagine in the cloud. Just remember that Metro by T-Mobile’s unlimited plans come with 100GB of storage already.

Shared Calling

Do you remember chat lines? Shared Calling gives you access to those multi-caller lines that aren’t built into the Metro by T-Mobile network. You’ll need Shared Calling for other connections like conference calls and radio broadcasts, and more. 300 minutes will run you just $3, or you can grab 1,000 for $10.

Protection options

Metro by T-Mobile’s protection options are a bit more open-ended than the other add-ons, and you can bundle them together to save even more money. Some perks like ScamID and Web Guard for kids and teens are free, but you can grab the Premium Handset Protection Program for just $6 per month. It pretty much covers any physical damage that may come to your phone, or the $5 Security Bundle covers software threats and offers Scam Shield Premium.

Which Metro by T-Mobile plan is right for you?

While the 5GB and 10GB plans are great if you’re on a very restricted budget, Metro by T-Mobile’s Basic Unlimited plan is probably the best for most people. In addition to unlimited data, you get plenty of cloud storage and 5GB of mobile hotspot. The plan saves you from having to pay for a few add-ons, although you can still pick a few features if you want to. With the new ACP agreement, qualifying users may want to turn to the 5GB plan as it’s completely free.

If you don’t already have an Amazon Prime membership, you will be well served by the Better Unlimited option. 15GB of hotspot access is plenty for most people, and the $10 per month increase over the Basic Unlimited plan is less than a Prime membership costs typically.

Metro’s plans also come with access to the T-Mobile Tuesdays program. No matter which one you sign up for, you’ll get special perks and discounts from the Uncarrier and a whole host of partners every week. Previous partners include Dunkin’, Redbox, Adidas, and Major League Baseball.

Metro by T-Mobile vs the competition

The fact that Metro by T-Mobile isn’t a true MVNO can make it difficult to compare to other carriers. It’s in a unique position as a division of T-Mobile, but it’s also a prepaid carrier without post-paid options. With that in mind, we’ll stack it against Verizon’s Visible, AT&T’s Cricket Wireless, and Google Fi. You can learn more about all of our favorite prepaid and no-contract plans right here.

Visible

Visible, like Metro, is a wholly-owned subsidiary carrier. However, it relies on the Verizon network and swaps some perks for a lower base price. There’s only one plan to choose from, and it offers unlimited talk, text, and data. The plan also allows for hotspot access, and it now comes with Verizon’s Nationwide 5G access and international calling to Canada and Mexico.

Party Pay is what really sets Visible apart, as you can join as many friends as you want, and each pay as little as $25 per month. One late payer doesn’t hurt the others, and you’ll all save money. You can also refer a friend or family member up to 12 times per year, and each of you will pay $5 for the month.

Highlights:

• One plan, one rate
• Everything is unlimited

Cricket Wireless

Cricket’s most expensive option, the Cricket More plan, offers the best Cricket has to offer along with 15GB of a monthly hotspot. You can text 37 other countries, and you can even use your service in Canada or Mexico as long as it’s less than 50% of your overall usage.

Many of the best Cricket features are available as add-ons, so it’s easy to run your bill up by a few bucks. However, that’s the secret to unlocking Cricket’s full potential. Options include more hotspot data, better international access, and extra data on select plans.

Highlights:

• Customizable service with add-ons
• 15GB of hotspot included

Google Fi

A single carrier doesn’t own Google Fi, and that’s good news for you regarding service. The hybrid MVNO uses T-Mobile, Sprint, and UScellular towers to switch to the best signal available constantly. Fi supports an absolutely massive list of phones, covering options from many major US manufacturers and HUAWEI and even Red Hydrogen.

As for the plan, Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan is a great international option. You can call over 50 countries and territories for free, and contact with other areas can start at just one penny. Each line gets unlimited data up to 22GB, a Google One membership, and full-speed hotspot tethering. You can also save some green and grab the Simply Unlimited plan for US access.

Highlights:

• Impressive phone support
• Plenty of international connection
• Google One membership included

Metro by T-Mobile alternatives that use the same network

There are several other ways to get similar access to T-Mobile’s network and keep cash in your pocket at the same time. Some of the options may not be as well-known, but Mint Mobile and Google Fi are two names that are hard to miss.

Check out the table below for your best options:

Google Fi

We’ve talked about Fi already above, but it might help to see the information again for comparison’s sake. It’s a great fit if you plan to pay per gig or you expect to go abroad often. You’ll never pay more than a certain price per month, even if you use mountains of data. Fi’s reliance on multiple networks also means that you can always get the best signal available — even abroad.

Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is an affordable alternative if you’re looking for solid options with limited data plans. You can opt for 4GB all the way to 15GB or unlimited, and each plan is less than $35 per month for one line. There are no streaming perks like Netflix or Hulu, but long-term plans can slash your prices even lower.

Straight Talk

One of the easiest MVNOs to sign up for, Straight Talk, is available at most Walmart locations and supports most main carriers. You can choose a limited talk option with just a little data or spend more for unlimited service. Affordability is critical, so you’ll pay a bit extra for bonus features like international access, but Straight Talk is an easy way to grab the basics.

US Mobile

If you want a plan that’s perfectly tailored to your needs, US Mobile is the way to go. You can choose your ideal level of talk, text, and data for as little as $5 per month or go unlimited for $40. 5G access is now included with all plans, despite the extra charge for early access. When you add multiple lines of unlimited, you’ll get the chance to add subscription services like Disney Plus, Spotify, and Playstation Plus.

What phones can you use on Metro by T-Mobile?

Metro by T-Mobile is a low-cost division of T-Mobile, so it only makes sense that the carrier is skewed towards affordable devices. Sure, you can grab the iPhone 13 or the Galaxy S21 FE, but the real value is in devices like the iPhone SE (2022) or Galaxy A53. Both are available for less than $200, and most of Metro’s devices slot in at less than $400.

If you want to bring your own device, a Metro by T-Mobile SIM card is just $10. However, you’ll have to make sure that your phone works with the network first. It’s a GSM network now — Metro’s CDMA setup ended in 2015 — so you’ll do well to bring an AT&T or T-Mobile device.

As always, the most essential factor is band support. Without the right bands, your phone won’t perform. Check the table below for a full breakdown.