T-Mobile Internet for Seniors: Our Hands-On Test
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October 2, 2024
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Widely known as one of the best cellular providers for seniors, T-Mobile now offers home internet service across the United States. Through its combination of high speeds, quick installation, and no long-term contracts, it’s one of my favorite providers overall.
T-Mobile does not offer a senior discount or senior-specific plan. However, its home internet is a great option for those who want affordable, simple, and reliable internet.
FYI: In addition to the internet, T-Mobile is also one of my favorite cellular providers. To learn more, take a look at my guide to T-Mobile phone plans for seniors.
T-Mobile Home Internet Pros and Cons
T-Mobile Pros
- Fast speeds: T-Mobile home internet cost me $50 monthly, and I experienced consistent download speeds near 245 Mbps. This is more than enough for streaming movies and browsing the web on multiple devices.
- No long-term contracts: Unlike other providers, who often require two-year commitments, not to mention subsequent price hikes, T-Mobile allows you to cancel your service at any time without extra fees.
- No equipment fees: Many internet providers charge extra to rent necessary equipment like routers and modems. However, T-Mobile includes all required equipment with your monthly costs.
- No data caps: For heavier users, T-Mobile won’t throttle your internet speeds once you reach a certain threshold, allowing your service to remain consistent.
- Bundle discounts: If you currently have a T-Mobile unlimited cellular plan, then you can get a $10 to $20 discount on your monthly internet bill.
T-Mobile Cons
- Location restrictions: A relative newcomer in the home internet realm, T-Mobile’s 5G internet is not yet available everywhere. Additionally, while I had no issues with slower speeds, T-Mobile notes that some locations will have a slower connection.
- No budget plan: Although $50 per month is relatively affordable, several internet providers offer senior-specific plans and deals at lower costs.
- Fluctuating download speeds: In some cases, I had download speeds up to 245 Mbps. Sometimes, though, it was as low as 72, which made having people on multiple devices a bit difficult.
T-Mobile Home Internet Plans and Pricing
T-Mobile currently offers three different home internet plans. While they all offer the same typical download speeds, they differ slightly in terms of functionality. The Home Internet Plus plan includes more advanced equipment that allows you to get faster speeds across a wider area — ideal for larger homes. The Home Internet Backup plan, on the other hand, will help you stay connected if your internet service provider (ISP) has an outage. In other words, it’s not available on its own. All of the plans will also come at discounted rates when bundled with a qualifying T-Mobile cellular plan.
| T-Mobile Internet Plan | Monthly Price* | Download Speeds | Data Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Internet Unlimited |
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72-245 Mbps | Unlimited |
| Home Internet Plus |
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72-245 Mbps | Unlimited |
| Home Internet Backup |
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72-245 Mbps | 130 GB |
*Pricing may be higher based on location.
What Is 5G Home Internet?
5G is the current industry standard in internet connection. You may have heard of 5G phones, but 5G internet means that you’ll get speeds that are faster than 4G and 3G (the “G” stands for generation). In other words, if you’re upgrading to 5G internet, expect faster download and upload speeds and less latency. You’ll be able to use more devices simultaneously and will be able to do high-bandwidth activities — like streaming movies and TV shows, downloading files, and video chatting — without issue. Plus, installation is easy, and you can do it yourself for free.
How does it work? Instead of being connected to broadband internet through a cable, you’ll use the same cellular network as your 5G phone through a fixed receiver. Your modem and router transform the signal into Wi-Fi so you can use it throughout your home.
While 5G is fast, it’s not available everywhere, especially in remote or rural areas. So, it works best in cities. Additionally, the more people who use 5G, the slower it will be. 5G is a great option for people who live in more populated areas. But, even so, they may have issues with interference from walls.
My Experience With T-Mobile Home Internet
Because I live in a small home, I chose the Home Internet Unlimited plan for $50 a month — I already have phone service from Verizon. I went on T-Mobile’s website, chose the plan, and entered my address. Because I live in a city, I wasn’t surprised to see it was available. Shipping was free, and nothing was due upfront; all I had to do was enter my name and residential address, create an account, and verify my email address. One credit check later and my Wi-Fi Gateway, power cord, and quick start guide arrived at my home in a few days.
Savings Tip: T-Mobile advertises its internet service as low as $30 per month. However, this price reflects the amount you pay when enrolled in AutoPay, a service that automatically bills your payment method each month. That price also takes into account a discount for bundling internet and phone.
Installation
Once I received the Wi-Fi gateway, setting it up was as easy as plugging it in, syncing it with my T-Mobile app, and waiting about a minute for the connection to establish. Overall, the process was very simple and quick. The only caveat is that you’ll need a smartphone to set up your home internet. Fortunately, I already had one, so this was a quick and easy process.
Then, I wanted to test my internet speeds. So, I used Google’s internet speed test. Read on to find out how fast my connection was.
T-Mobile Internet Speeds
When I spoke to a T-Mobile representative on the phone, he explained that their internet speeds vary with location, ranging from 72 to 245 Mbps. To put this in perspective, 72 Mbps is enough to stream high-definition movies without sacrificing quality. Higher speeds allow for multiple users to use the internet without interruption. Unlike broadband internet providers, T-Mobile Home Internet does not support faster speeds, unlike Cox, Verizon, and Xfinity.
In my experience, my speeds were consistently around 100 Mbps, an impressive speed for the price. What’s more, T-Mobile doesn’t put limits on the amount of data I can use. For example, Viasat internet decreased my internet speeds after I reached a data threshold. In contrast, T-Mobile kept my speeds consistent regardless of how much data I used.
T-Mobile Phone and Internet Bundles
T-Mobile offers three phone and internet bundles:
- Home Internet Unlimited: $30 per month
- Home Internet Plus: $50 per month
- Home Internet Backup: $10 per month
These prices include a $5-per-month discount for enrolling in autopay. Fortunately, as far as T-Mobile phones go, there are discounts available for adults ages 55 and older; that is if they buy two unlimited lines starting with the Essentials Choice 55 plan for $30 per line per month, or $60 per line total. For one line, prices start at $45 a month with the 55-and-over discount. There are also discounts for military members, veterans, and first responders. All of the phone plans have unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data plus unlimited talk and text.
T-Mobile Home Internet vs. Spectrum
Let’s compare T-Mobile’s internet to Spectrum’s, which is not 5G but broadband. Broadband internet may be a better option if you live in a rural area. It also has fast maximum speeds compared to T-Mobile, and the starting price is the same. That being said, T-Mobile didn’t make me sign a long-term contract — unlike Spectrum.
| T-Mobile | Spectrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (Internet Only) | $50 per month | $50 per month |
| Price Increases | Depends on rate plan | After the first year |
| Speeds | 72-245 Mbps | 500 Mbps-1 Gbps |
| Data Caps | None | None |
| Long-Term Contracts | Not required | 1 year |
| Activation Fees | $35 for device connection | $30 for self-install activation |
Like T-Mobile, Spectrum also has plans that bundle phone and internet. For example, I could get a year of 500 Mbps internet from Spectrum, plus one unlimited mobile line for free for the first year. Each additional line would have only been $30 a month. Spectrum is certainly cheaper for the first year, saving you $25 a month with one phone line or $10 a month with two. Plus, given the fact that the internet on its own starts at $50 with both providers, I’d only recommend T-Mobile if you don’t want to sign a long-term contract. Otherwise, Spectrum will be more affordable and faster.
FYI: To learn more about Spectrum services, read my guide to Spectrum internet for seniors.
What Others Are Saying
Unfortunately, T-Mobile has low customer ratings on Consumer Affairs and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where it has received 2.1 and 1.13 out of 5 stars, respectively. While people appreciated the lack of contracts and the self-installation, they complained of slow speeds and limited availability.
Although the BBB itself gave it an A-, customers on the BBB were not so happy. Linda R wrote in a one-star review in September 2024: “If it was a Zero I would give it a Zero … I been keep up with my monthly phone bill and not only that the phone bill went up at the same time then I got their Internet because they are supposed to be better then recently I finally cut them off and they were still charging me, I found out when I went to pay the internet, not only that we in September and I even paid the phone and internet in August, I haven't got my hundred and something money back and they went up on my phone, they are highway robbery! I'm cutting all ties off and I need and want my money back that I work hard for!”
On a similarly negative note, George from Buffalo, New York, wrote on Consumer Affairs in a one-star review, “Horrible, this is 2024 and you can't get home internet in some areas, absolutely terrible. You can get better service in 3rd world companies than you can get with T-Mobile, this company should be ashamed of itself. Terrible terrible.”
But not every review was negative. Michael from North Walpole, New Hampshire, wrote in a five-star review, “We have been using T-Mobile Home Internet for almost two years, we have had no issues at all. The speed is good, rarely an interruption, and a huge savings in cost over Xfinity. We have 3 TVs, 4 computers, 2 iPhones, a stereo system, and a HUE lighting system. T-Mobile Home Internet rocks!!!”
Bottom Line
What I appreciate most about T-Mobile internet is its transparency. The $50 per month covered everything I needed. Plus, there were no hidden fees for equipment, just a one-time $35 device connection charge. I installed my internet myself, meaning I didn’t have to pay an installation fee. Also, I knew that if I had to cancel, I wouldn’t be financially penalized.
While Xfinity, Cox, and AT&T all offer the potential for higher internet speeds, T-Mobile’s 72 to 245 Mbps is perfect for most people (unless you have several video gamers in your household). For these reasons, T-Mobile is one of my picks for the best internet for seniors.
To learn more about other internet providers for seniors, take a look at my guides for AT&T internet for seniors and cheap internet for seniors.
T-Mobile Frequently Asked Questions
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Is T-Mobile home internet good?
While its speeds won’t exceed 245 Mbps, T-Mobile internet is overall reliable, speedy, and affordable.
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Does T-Mobile throttle home internet?
T-Mobile will not throttle your internet connection, and the company has no data caps.
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Can T-Mobile home internet be moved to another location?
Your T-Mobile Wi-Fi gateway is set to your address, so you can’t move it to another location. With that said, you can transfer your service to a new home, provided this home has adequate coverage.
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Is 25 Mbps good for streaming?
For one person, 100 Mbps is more than enough to stream 4K video in high definition.