By
Moe Long Senior Writer
Updated

With its best-in-class 5G coverage area, T-Mobile provides blazing-fast internet connectivity via its reliable cell network. Unlike terrestrial fiber and cable internet, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet beams a cellular signal straight to your house. Essentially, The Un-carrier sends 5G mobile data to a device that receives that signal and distributes it via Wi-Fi.

Because T-Mobile Home Internet doesn't require a hardwired connection, it's great for folks in hard-to-reach areas. But is this the right networking solution for you? Discover more about T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet with our comprehensive overview and learn whether you should sign up.


T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a cellular-based networking solution. Traditional broadband internet networks like fiber or cable require a hardwired connection from your internet service provider (ISP) to your home to provide a signal. On the other hand, 5G home internet, like T-Mobile's offering, utilizes a Wi-Fi gateway that shares a cellular network (powered by the same 5G towers sending signals to your phone). Don’t expect the high speed and low latency of a traditional internet connection, but so long as you’re not a hardcore gamer, 5G internet works just fine.

The Wi-Fi gateway is a modem/router combo device that accepts a cellular signal and shares it over Wi-Fi for your smart devices like TVs, laptops, or game consoles. While it's called 5G Home Internet, you can also access 4G LTE signals. When comparing 5G to 4G LTE, 5G boasts significantly faster mobile data download speeds. Since T-Mobile maintains the largest nationwide 5G footprint, chances are you'll have access to the fastest possible mobile internet speeds.

Luckily, there are no data caps, so you can use as much internet as you like. And fitting with T-Mobile's self-imposed moniker of the Un-carrier, you're not locked into a contract. Pricing is affordable across their plans, with a single plan starting at $50/month. Bundling with a T-Mobile voice line (phone plan) lowers your home internet cost by $15/month. You can expect download speeds ranging from 87–415Mbps, although real-world performance varies based on the signal strength and network saturation in your location.

#1
T-Mobile
T-Mobile

Rely Internet

  • Mobile Broadband 318/50 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Switch to this Home Internet plan and get 1 month FREE + $100 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard
$50/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
#2
T-Mobile
T-Mobile

Rely Internet + T-Mobile voice line

  • Mobile Broadband 318/50 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Switch to this Home Internet plan and get 1 month FREE + $100 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard
$35/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
#3
T-Mobile
T-Mobile

Amplified Internet + T-Mobile voice line

  • Mobile Broadband 500/50 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Switch to this Home Internet plan and get 1 month FREE + $100 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard
$45/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
#4
T-Mobile
T-Mobile

Amplified Internet

  • Mobile Broadband 500/50 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Switch to this Home Internet plan and get 1 month FREE + $100 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard
$60/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
#5
T-Mobile
T-Mobile

All-In Internet

  • Mobile Broadband 500/50 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Switch to All-In Home Internet and get 1 month FREE + $200 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard
$70/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. 5G phone service

T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet is the same 5G signal you receive on your phone. However, where T-Mobile's mobile data plan customers enjoy priority access to T-Mobile's 5G network, the carrier's home internet service makes use of excess network capacity instead. This difference can affect coverage and availability over time, which is something customers should bear in mind.

Other differences include how devices connect to the internet: T-Mobile Home Internet uses a "High-Speed Internet Gateway," similar to a traditional Wi-Fi router. It connects to the carrier's 4G and 5G data networks, brings that signal into your home, then converts and distributes it as a Wi-Fi signal. The devices in your home—like your laptop, tablet, and smart TV—connect via Wi-Fi 6 technology or directly to the router via Gigabit Ethernet cables. 

On the other hand, smartphones use built-in radios to grab the 5G signal and connect your device directly to the network. You can also turn your phone into a Wi-Fi router of sorts by using your mobile hotspot feature to connect other devices to that 5G signal. Or, you can use a standalone mobile hotspot device as a portable router.

T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet plan


T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan details
Plan Price Price with
voice line
Speed Learn more
Rely Internet $50/month $35/month 87-318Mbps See plan
Amplified Internet $60/month $45/month 133-415Mbps See plan
All-In Internet $70/month $55/month 133-415Mbps See plan

T-Mobile currently offers a single 5G Home Internet plan that costs just $50/month (with Autopay). If you bundle it with a T-Mobile phone plan, though, you receive a pretty sizeable monthly discount of $15. This discount is applied no matter which phone plan you choose to bundle with. You’ll enjoy a no-contract unlimited data plan, meaning T-Mobile won’t impose speed or data caps after a certain usage threshold. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet speeds are around 33Mbps to 415Mbps download and 14–56Mbps upload average, which is plenty fast for your daily Zoom calls or Netflix binges.

There is no annual contract, nor are there hidden costs—you don't even have to pay for setup or equipment, as your Wi-Fi gateway is included without rental fees You can connect up to 64 devices to your Wi-Fi signal, and your gateway allows you to set up four individual Wi-Fi networks (i.e., unique names and passwords) within your home.

While T-Mobile's Home Internet plans lack the bevy of perks in its mobile plans like their premium phone plans, you get a free subsctiption to either Paramount+ or Hulu with their All-In plan. 

There are some downsides to T-Mobile Home Internet. For instance, availability is limited to areas where T-Mobile has extra 5G capacity—so even if you have T-Mobile's 5G cell network in your area, you may not necessarily have access to the carrier's home internet service. If you do, your potential speeds will vary based on the distance between your home and T-Mobile 5G towers in your area, so not all customers can take advantage of a maxed out 5G signal. Even then, speeds can fluctuate significantly on a given day based on the network's overall usage—something you see less of with a cable or fiber internet connection.

Pros and cons of T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Pros:
  • Super affordable high-speed service
  • No data caps
  • No hidden costs or equipment fees
Cons:
  • Experiences vary greatly based on location
  • Availability is limited
  • Speeds can fluctuate based on network activity

T-Mobile 15-day Test Drive

If you're curious about T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet but not quite ready to commit, you can always take a test drive. T-Mobile's 15-day Test Drive lets new and existing customers sign up for its home internet service. You'll receive a full refund as a bill credit if you cancel within 15 days. This free trial period is a great way to see if The Un-carrier's 5G Home Internet works for you. If you like it, keep it; if not, you get your money back.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet availability


The availability of T-Mobile 5G Home Internet depends on several factors. First, you need to be in an area that receives T-Mobile 5G coverage. Then, you'll need to hope that your area has excess coverage capacity for connecting to the internet—and that no one else nabs it first.

Officially, T-Mobile Home Internet is available in more than 50 million homes across the United States. The actual availability fluctuates based on demand and things like network upgrades adding more capacity. A surefire way to find out if T-Mobile internet is available where you are right now is to use its online availability checker. If you don't have T-Mobile 5G Home Internet in your area, you could always pick up a mobile hotspot device like the Netgear Nighthawk M6 and grab a mobile hotspot plan for a makeshift 5G-powered home.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet coverage

Whether or not T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet works for you largely depends on your signal strength. Luckily, T-Mobile boasts the nation's best 5G network spanning a whopping 53% of the country. While its 4G LTE service could be stronger, especially in rural areas, chances are you can still connect. Check the T-Mobile 5G Home Internet coverage map below to see signal strength in your area.

Other 5G home internet options


Provider Speeds Data Price Perks
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet 33–415Mbps Unlimited $50-$70/mo. internet only 
$15/mo. discount with voice line
No annual contract
No data cap
Verizon 5G Home Internet 300Mbps average; up to 1Gbps Unlimited $50-$80/mo. internet only
$25-$35/mo. with eligible Verizon mobile plans
No annual contract
$200 Home Depot gift card
Free Xbox Series S console
Starry Unlimited Up to 200Mbps Unlimited $50/mo. No annual contract

While T-Mobile offers a compelling 5G home internet plan, its competitors, Verizon and Starry, also provide reliable service. All three companies offer unlimited, non-contract plans. While there's limited availability across the board, T-Mobile reaches the most areas nationwide.

Verizon features two plans, 5G Home Plus and 5G Home. Its premium Home Plus package sets you back $80/month ($70/month with autopay) or $35/month bundled with select mobile phone plans. The base 5G Home tier goes for $60/month ($50/month with autopay) or $25/month bundled with eligible Verizon cell phone plans. Both options provide access to Verizon's fastest possible 5G Ultra Wideband (UWB) network with average mobile data download speeds of 300Mbps. Check out our Verizon vs. T-Mobile 5G internet guide for the full rundown of these carriers. 

Starry sports internet speeds up to 200Mbps on its sole $50/month plan. You can expect an average 196Mbps download and 105Mbps upload speeds. Although Verizon and Starry both trounce T-Mobile's average upload and download speeds, both lag behind The Un-carrier's large footprint. Technically, Verizon is in more cities, but T-Mobile reaches more houses.

Verdict: Is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet worth it?


T-Mobile's 5G network is generally considered very good, outperforming competitors like AT&T and Verizon, especially regarding coverage. And given that its home internet service uses the same network, you can be confident any possible experience there will be good, too.

But whether T-Mobile Home Internet is worth it for you depends on its coverage and availability in your area, as well as whether you're in a densely populated location that can greatly affect your average speed. You should also consider which traditional broadband internet services are available in your area and how much they cost before making a final decision.

Although 5G continues to improve and can be faster than traditional broadband internet in some cases, wired internet connections—especially fiber internet—typically perform better by offering a more reliable experience for most people. It also tends to be cheaper, offering a wider range of service plans.

Our take: If you've got access to traditional cable or, better yet, fiber internet, stick with that. However, T-Mobile is a viable alternative to satellite internet for folks in hard-to-reach areas, as long as there's reliable 5G coverage.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: FAQs


Does T-Mobile have 5G home internet?

Yes, T-Mobile offers 5G home internet but doesn't use 5G exclusively. The carrier's home internet service also uses its 4G LTE network, so you may only sometimes enjoy the faster 5G speeds.

How much does T-Mobile 5G Home Internet cost?

T-Mobile Home Internet includes three plan options priced at $50/month, $60/month, and $70/month, with autopay or discount bundles with an eligible cell phone plan. This price includes unlimited data and the fastest possible speeds. There is no annual contract or additional fees for setup or equipment.

Will 5G eliminate home internet?

5G may eliminate traditional home internet one day—when coverage is more widespread—for the average internet user. However, more traditional services like fiber are likely to stick around for those who rely on super-stable connections less susceptible to interference and downtime.

Where is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet available?

T-Mobile home internet is officially available in more than 630 metro areas across the U.S.; however, it varies depending on network capacity and demand. To find out if it's available where you live, use T-Mobile's online availability checker.

Is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet worth it?

Yes, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is worth it for folks with solid coverage in an eligible area. According to T-Mobile 5G Home Internet reviews, you’ll enjoy fast data speeds, good coverage, and affordable pricing. However, we only recommend 5G home internet as an alternative to satellite internet, not for traditional cable and fiber internet, which offers faster speeds with lower latency.

Can you travel with your T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Wi-Fi gateway

No, you cannot travel with your T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Wi-Fi gateway. It's geo-locked to your home address. When moving, you'll need to contact your ISP and request a transfer of service, or switch to a different internet service provider.

Moe Long

Senior Writer

Moe Long
Moe is a Senior Staff Writer with a passion for all things tech. As a writer and editor for over a decade, he specializes in researching and testing smartphones, gaming devices, and connected smart home systems. He’s been featured in publications including MakeUseOf, SmartHomeBeginner, TechBeacon, and more.

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