T-Mobile vs Verizon: Plans Compared

T-Mobile and Verizon are two of the biggest cell phone carriers in the country, boasting a wide selection of postpaid and prepaid plans, wide-reaching 4G and 5G networks, and an assortment of perks. This begs the question: which is better?

In this article, we’ll compare T-Mobile and Verizon according to coverage, perks, pricing, and multi-line discounts. Read on to get a detailed look at T-Mobile vs Verizon.

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T-Mobile vs Verizon: Similarities

• T-Mobile and Verizon both offer their customers 4G LTE coverage. Both providers also are actively expanding their 5G network
• coverage. 
• Both carriers own the network infrastructure rather than renting from other companies. This is a benefit for T-Mobile and Verizon customers since renters get deprioritized data (read: slower speeds) when networks get busy.
• Verizon and T-Mobile provide multi-line discounts, so the monthly per-line cost is lower for additional lines. 
• Both T-Mobile and Verizon offer bundled perks, including streaming services.
• Both T-Mobile and Verizon provide best-in-class international capabilities. If you're planning on using your wireless plan to stay connected while traveling abroad, you can't go wrong with either carrier.

T-Mobile vs Verizon: Differences

• T-Mobile includes taxes and fees in its mid-level and premium plan pricing, while Verizon does not include taxes and fees in any plan pricing.
• T-Mobile includes hotspot data in its unlimited plan pricing, while Verizon only includes hotspot data on its mid-level and premium unlimited plans. With Verizon, you do have the option of adding 100GB of hotspot data to any of its plans.

T-Mobile vs Verizon Coverage

T-Mobile and Verizon both operate wide-reaching coverage networks, and you’re likely to find a signal of some kind from both carriers in most places you go. 

When it comes to 4G LTE coverage—the type that’s most common in rural areas—Verizon is the clear frontrunner. The carrier’s 4G network is a full 13% better than T-Mobile’s nationally: 

National 4G LTE Coverage: 

• Verizon: 56%
• T-Mobile: 43%

However, 5G coverage is another story. In this case, T-Mobile network covers significantly more of the country than Verizon’s, as these percentages show: 

National 5G Coverage:

• T-Mobile: 36%
• Verizon: 9% 

That said, in the places where Verizon’s 5G network is present, you’ll often find the fastest speeds, thanks to the carrier’s 5G Ultra Wideband network. Check out Verizon and T-Mobile's respective 4G and 5G coverage maps below: 

T-Mobile vs Verizon Cheap Unlimited Plans

If you’re hunting for the best cheap unlimited plan from T-Mobile or Verizon, their entry-level plans tend to offer excellent value. These plans are an especially great fit for light data smartphone users who don’t need the bells and whistles of premium plans. While the entry-level options from T-Mobile (Essentials and Essentials Saver) and Verizon (Unlimited Welcome) lack dedicated high-speed hotspot data, they do come with an assortment of nice international perks. 

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? As the name suggests, an unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data. However, the type of unlimited data included in these plans varies. Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to come with unlimited deprioritized data subject to slowdowns during busy times on a network. Some entry-level unlimited plans also offer some amount of premium data (aka high-speed data), but many do not.Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped to a certain amount, plus unlimited deprioritized data. The highest-priced unlimited plans are where you'll find truly unlimited premium data.

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T-Mobile vs Verizon Mid-Level Unlimited Plans

For a middle-of-the-road unlimited plan that strikes a good balance between price and speed, Verizon’s Unlimited Plus will be the way to go. For just $70/month (with an autopay discount), you get 30GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, unlimited premium cellular data, and international perks. All of this makes Unlimited Plus an excellent value.

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T-Mobile vs Verizon Premium Unlimited Plans

For those with high-data needs, a premium unlimited plan tend to be the way to go. If you find yourself using your phone as a mobile hotspot more than three times per week, you want to scroll and upload videos to social media apps without limit, watch all your favorite shows on streaming services, and play graphic-intensive games, you’ll want a plan that can keep up with your heavy data usage. The T-Mobile and Verizon unlimited plans below provide you with all the premium data you need without any deprioritization.

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The Bottom Line

Be sure to try out our free, unbiased Plan Finder to help you pick the right T-Mobile or Verizon unlimited plan. We sort through thousands of options in seconds to show you the best plans to meet your needs. You’ll also be able to compare plans from other carriers. Our Plan Finder lets you select the number of lines you need, whether you want hotspot data, and which streaming services you’d like to include in your plan, so you can grasp the total cost before you sign up with the carrier. Want more guidance? Check out our article on what to look for in a wireless plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, T-Mobile or Verizon?

Both T-Mobile and Verizon deliver strong 4G and 5G coverage, own their networks to minimize slowdowns and offer extras like streaming perks and international roaming. T-Mobile shines with hotspot data in all its unlimited plans, while Verizon saves that feature for its premium options. The right choice really comes down to where you live, since coverage can vary by location.

Which carrier has better coverage, T-Mobile or Verizon?

T-Mobile offers the best 5G coverage in the country, while Verizon maintains the best national 4G coverage.

Does T-Mobile use Verizon towers?

No, T-Mobile does not use Verizon's towers, as the company maintains its own national coverage network independent of any other carrier.