Best T-Mobile MVNO Phone Plans
T-Mobile has the fastest mid-band 5G in the U.S. — but T-Mobile postpaid still runs $60–$100 per line. T-Mobile MVNOs lease the same towers, coverage, and 5G at a fraction of the price. The trade-off is deprioritization during congestion (invisible most of the time); the savings of $40–$60/month are very visible.
How we judged these plans ▾
Every plan here uses T-Mobile's towers at a fraction of T-Mobile's price. We score on Value for Money, Network Reliability & Speed, Hotspot & Features, and Customer Experience, and note which tiers keep priority data.
We rank on all-in cost, network priority (Mint and Metro get favorable T-Mobile-owned access), hotspot, retail vs digital support, and price stability — with the deprioritization trade-off flagged honestly.
Coverage is identical to T-Mobile, so we push readers to confirm T-Mobile works where they live first, then pick the best MVNO on it.
Mint Mobile Unlimited, at $15/mo
The cheapest brand-name T-Mobile unlimited — $30/month effective on 12-month prepay, with a 50GB premium threshold and 20GB hotspot. T-Mobile-owned since 2024, so network access is full including 5G UC.
The catch: $360 upfront; digital-only support; short renewals cost more.
Read our full review →First confirm T-Mobile covers your home and work — an MVNO can't fix a T-Mobile dead zone. Test it free with our carrier trials guide; if coverage is marginal, look at Verizon MVNOs instead.
At a Glance
What a year costs
Every plan on this page, annualised. Top to bottom, the gap is $540 a year.
Why These Plans Win
Every plan is scored against the same four pillars. Here is why each one made the ranking, who it fits, and what to watch for.
Also Worth Considering
Plans that didn’t make the ranking but are the right answer in a narrower case.
$15/mo effective — the lowest real bill on T-Mobile for light users.
Read more →Unlimited 5G at $25/mo AutoPay with walk-in stores and a 5-Year Guarantee.
Read more →T-Mobile-owned with free calling to 90+ countries on every plan.
Read more →T-Mobile-primary multi-network with data in 200+ countries.
Read more →How to Choose
The questions that decide it, in the order worth asking them.
Under 10GB: Mint 6GB or 17GB. 15–30GB: Mint Unlimited or Metro Starter $25. 35GB+ in congestion: Metro $60 Premium's no-deprioritization guarantee.
Metro has walk-in stores nationwide; Mint, Ultra, Kroger, and Tello are digital-only at lower prices.
Mint's cheapest rates need 12-month prepay; Metro bills monthly across all tiers with no prepay requirement.
Best Plans by Use Case
$15/mo first year (regular $25–$40 by tier) — cheapest brand-name T-Mobile access.
Runner-up: Metro for retail + price guarantee.
Walk-in stores plus a 5-Year Price Guarantee.
Runner-up: Ultra Mobile for international callers (digital).
Unlimited 5G all-in, with stores you can walk into.
Runner-up: Mint 17GB at $15/mo first year for light users.
Grocery and fuel rewards stacked on a $30 unlimited plan.
Runner-up: Mint Unlimited if you don't shop Kroger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best T-Mobile MVNO? +
Are T-Mobile MVNOs slower than T-Mobile? +
Does Mint Mobile have 5G? +
What's the cheapest T-Mobile MVNO? +
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Affiliate disclosure: ShopCellPlans earns a commission on qualifying signups through some of the links on this page. Our rankings reflect editorial judgment, not commercial relationships. Read our methodology.