T-Mobile vs Verizon: Which carrier is better for you?

For years, T-Mobile has been the third-largest US carrier, and the Sprint merger only solidified its position. These days T-Mobile is every bit as important as Verizon and AT&T, arguably more so as they were directly responsible for both the uncarrier movement and yet have since moved in a direction that has sparked outrage among some of its fanbase.

Is T-Mobile the best choice for your needs or are you better serviced elsewhere? We’ve already looked at AT&T vs T-Mobile in another article, but let’s take a closer look at T-Mobile vs Verizon to see which carrier is ready for your business.

We’ll go category by category and see how each carrier fares on prices, coverage, phone selections, and more. Ready to choose your next carrier? Use this guide as your starting point.

T-Mobile vs Verizon — Plan overlook

Let’s start by looking at T-Mobile’s plans:

Now that you know T-Mobile’s options, here is a look at what Verizon has to offer:

Please note we’ll be specifically focusing on postpaid plans for the following comparison points. Want an even deeper dive? Check out our guides to the best Verizon plans and best T-Mobile plans.

T-Mobile vs Verizon — Pricing

The first difference between T-Mobile and Verizon is pricing. Verizon is one of the most expensive carriers around. No matter which plan you pick, T-Mobile is the more affordable option. That said, the gap isn’t as large as it used to be, especially if you need multiple lines.

The cheapest Verizon plan, Unlimited Welcome, starts at $65 versus $50 for T-Mobile Essentials. What you get is pretty similar between the plans, though T-Mobile includes hotspot access in its plan. Once you get to four lines, things become even. You’ll pay $25 per line for four lines of T-Mobile Essentials, versus $30 per line for four lines of Verizon Unlimited Welcome.

While T-Mobile has five different plans to pick from, Verizon only has three additional plans. First, let’s talk about Unlimited Plus which starts at $80 but gets as cheap as $45 per line for four lines. The most comparable T-Mobile plan is Go5G, which starts at $75 and goes as low as $41 per line for five lines or $45 for four lines. While you pay a little less with Go5G, Verizon’s offering gives you double the hotspot space at 30GB versus the 15GB Verizon gives you.

At the highest end, Go5G Next will start at $100 a line and drop to $56.25 for four lines. In comparison, Verizon’s highest-end plan starts at $90 and drops to as little as $55 for four lines.

Verizon’s mid and high-tier plans are technically cheaper, but remember that Verizon no longer includes perks for free. You’ll have choices of perks like the Disney Plus bundle or an Apple One subscription, but they’ll cost you $10 each. Meanwhile, T-Mobile includes Apple TV and Netflix with some of its higher tiers.

T-Mobile vs Verizon — Coverage

When you have an impressive coverage map, it makes sense to show it off. At least, that’s the case with T-Mobile’s map, as seen above. The map is impressive, though T-Mobile claimed just 62% 4G LTE coverage nationwide before its merger with Sprint. Verizon boasted a healthy lead with 71% nationwide coverage. It may not sound like a massive difference, but it can impact rural settings.

While the Un-carrier may lag behind Verizon in actual 4G LTE coverage, it’s leading the charge with its 5G rollout. T-Mobile can spread its high-speed network over greater distances thanks to a low-band setup. On the other hand, Verizon highlights its short-distance mmWave configuration, which is limited to select cities throughout the country. Big Red has recently rolled out its complementary Nationwide 5G network, and you can check out the new interactive map right here.

T-Mobile vs Verizon — Perks and promos

While network coverage should be your primary concern, perks are just as crucial for the best all-around experience. If you don’t want to pay extra for perks, T-Mobile is the current champion here. While its Essential plan includes no special perks, the rest of the plans do have at least a few potential extras.

Here’s a quick breakdown of everything T-Mobile includes:

Meanwhile, Verizon asks you to buy its perks for $10 each. Here’s a full list of the perks you can currently add to either Verizon’s Welcome or Plus plan:

• Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus)
• 2TB Cloud Storage
• 100GB Mobile hotspot
• Walmart+ Membership
• Apple One
• Apple Music Family
• Smartwatch Data
• 3 TravelPass Days

Both T-Mobile and Verizon love good promos, though you’ll have to grab a new device if you want the full menu of savings. If you’re switching carriers, it’s as easy as trading in your device. You might get a free phone out of the deal! Over at T-Mobile, you can get plenty of flagship devices on BOGO deals when you switch. Other solid options include a free iPhone 16 or Galaxy S24 if you subscribe to Go5G Plus.

Over at Verizon, you can take up to $1,000 off top Android phones with a trade-in, no matter their condition. Make sure to check the terms of each deal carefully, but both carriers seem to offer excellent value if you’re in the market for a new device.

T-Mobile vs Verizon — Phone selections

When it comes to new devices, both carriers offer impressive selections as two of the largest providers in the United States. The majority of each list is the same, though the CDMA and GSM divide offers unique choices. Verizon still relies on the CDMA setup, while T-Mobile relies on the GSM framework. That means that you can bring a more comprehensive selection of phones, especially those from OnePlus, to the Un-carrier.

While Verizon may not have the same OnePlus relationship, it does have a strong bond with Motorola. You can technically grab Motorola devices on T-Mobile, though they bear the Un-carrier’s Revvl badge.

Full a list of phones you’ll want to head over to T-Mobile’s website. Also, be sure to check out T-Mobile’s deal page for all the latest promotions, including the possibility of a free phone and more.

Which carrier is right for you?

There is no cut-and-dry answer in the T-Mobile vs Verizon debate, as there are many differences to consider. T-Mobile is the more affordable option at the lower end, and it offers the largest 5G network you’ll find right now. On the other hand, Verizon covers the most 4G LTE territory — which is most likely where you’ll spend most of your time anyway. You may also want to consider the CDMA and GSM divide when you choose.

Have a favorite, hit up the links below for more details or to sign up for a plan now:

The network that’s right for us may not be suitable for you, and maybe neither of these options is the perfect fit. If that’s the case, you might want to also explore our guides to AT&T plans and pricing or consider a prepaid carrier instead.