Thinking about switching carriers ahead of upgrading to iPhone 14? With competition strong, the major US carriers are offering compelling incentives for new customers. Below we’ll focus on T-Mobile vs AT&T including how they compare with speed, how to find real-world coverage maps, test T-Mobile for free instantly with an iPhone eSIM, and more.
Table of contents
We’ve also got a comparison between T-Mobile and Verizon:
T-Mobile vs AT&T
Coverage
TL;DR
T-Mobile and AT&T’s coverage maps will look great on their websites, so here are some tips to figure out how coverage will actually be:
- Check coverage with the independent, third-party Opensignal app
- Opensignal gets real-world data from millions of devices and billions of measurements
- Get a quick coverage comparison with Signalchecker
- Do a free eSIM trial to test out the coverage (available with T-Mobile and Visible/Verizon – not available with AT&T)
- Talk with friends, family, or people at work who use the carrier
T-Mobile has made a lot of progress with its Sprint acquisition and quick 5G deployment over the last couple of years. That has meant AT&T and Verizon playing catch-up on 5G coverage as they work on rolling out more mid-band spectrum.
Speed
TL;DR
- T-Mobile has the fastest average 5G speeds with more mid-band coverage
- AT&T is notably slower with both overall average speeds (4G and 5G) as well as its 5G speeds
Like coverage, a carrier’s speed will depend on a mix of factors like your location, device, signal strength, network congestion, and more.
Here’s a look at how the carriers compare for average speeds in studies from Ookla and Opensignal as of summer 2022:
Opensignal’s results show average 5G download speeds in the US as of Q2 2022.
Free and instant eSIM trials
While it’s been a hassle to try out a new carrier in the past, eSIM support on iPhone and other smartphones has opened a new possibility.
T-Mobile and Visible (Verizon) are taking advantage of the tech so customers can instantly test out their networks for free right alongside their existing carrier.
As it happens, AT&T isn’t offering this convenient option yet.
- Start a T-Mobile eSIM trial
- Start a Verizon eSIM trial through Visible
With eSIM trials, you can see the signal of your current carrier and the one you’re testing simultaneously. And you can decide to keep using your existing carrier and number for phone calls while using the trial for cellular data.
T-Mobile vs AT&T: Price
Earlier this year, AT&T increased its prices by $6-12/month.
Meanwhile, while keeping lower prices, T-Mobile has added new perks like free worldwide data, in-flight data, and more.
As T-Mobile touts, it usually offers 15 to 20% lower prices for its unlimited plans compared to AT&T. T-Mobile also includes taxes and fees in its advertised prices.
Keep in mind these prices can change based on how many lines you need.
| AT&T | T-Mobile | |
| Basic unlimited | $35/per phone with autopay and 4 lines or $26.50/per phone for military/vet/1st responder with 4 lines | $26.25/per phone with autopay and 4 lines |
| Upgraded unlimited | $40/per phone with autopay and 4 lines or $30/per phone for military/vet/1st responder with 4 lines | $35/per phone with autopay and 4 lines or $25/per phone for military/vet/1st responder with 4 lines |
| Premium unlimited | $50/per phone with autopay and 4 lines or $37.50/per phone for military/vet/1st responder with 4 lines | $42.50/per phone with autopay and 4 lines or $35/per phone for military/vet/1st responder with 4 lines |
Incentives and deals
At the time of writing, T-Mobile offers up to $800 for a trade-in when buying a new device with AT&T offering up to $700.
But T-Mobile is the most aggressive with up to $650 for early termination fees or covering a current device balance.
| AT&T | T-Mobile | |
| Trade-ins | Up to $700 | Up to $800 |
| Early termination fee or device balance coverage | – | Up to $650 |
| Bring your own device credit | Up to $250 | Up to $650 |
| Streaming video service included | – | Netflix, 1 year of Apple TV+ and Paramount+ |
The Uncarrier does “T-Mobile Tuesdays” to give out regular perks and savings to customers and it also gives 50% off 5G home internet for their cellular customers.
Best affordable alternatives to major carriers
If slashing the cost of your phone bill is a priority, check out our full guide on the best affordable iPhone plans. We go over which of the major networks each provider uses, key features, and more with plans starting from just $10 a line.
T-Mobile vs AT&T conclusion
As long as T-Mobile’s coverage is good for you (do a free trial to make sure), it’s currently offering both better average performance and better pricing.
T-Mobile pros:
- Fastest average speeds (Opensignal and Ookla studies)
- Enticing incentives to switch
- Much improved coverage over the last few years
- Unlimited plans from $26.25/line – taxes and fees included
Hopefully, now you have a clear picture of how the major carriers compare, how to check real-world network coverage, and start a hassle-free eSIM trial (T-Mobile or Verizon through Visible). Thanks for reading our guide on T-Mobile vs AT&T!
If you’re curious about how Verizon compares to T-Mobile and AT&T, we have a guide that includes all three:
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