T-Mobile Essentials vs. Magenta vs. Go5G: Comparison and Reviews 2025

T-Mobile Essentials Plan Review

T-Mobile's Essentials Plan does exactly what its name suggests — gives you all the essential features of a cell phone plan at a great price. The plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data as well as 3G mobile hotspot and standard definition video streaming.You don’t get Netflix or Apple TV, but you do get 50GB of priority data. You also will have extras like the ability to finance a phone, free phone upgrades for select devices, and more. You can add lines on your account and get Unlimited Talk, Text and Data for each phone.However, Essentials customers will be lower-priority traffic in congested areas, so you might see some slowdown in big cities or during large events.

Aside from T-Mobile Tuesdays and the same amount of data, talk, and text, Essentials customers don’t get any of the other perks that T-Mobile One customers get. That means no international data.

T-Mobile Essentials Plan Includes:

• Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE data

• Unlimited talk & text

• Nationwide 5G coverage

• Exclusive perks with T-Mobile Tuesdays

• Dedicated customer care

• Advanced scam-blocking protection

• 50GB premium data

• Unlimited 3G hotspot
  

• $5 disc. per line up to 6 lines w/AutoPay & eligible payment method.

T-Mobile Essentials Plan Price

Starting at $60 for one line but going as cheap as $25 a line for four lines, Essentials is the cheapest postpaid option. However, unlike more premium unlimited T-Mobile plans, T-Mobile Essentials doesn't include taxes and fees in its upfront price, which can add between 10-12% to the total cost.

Here is the full pricing breakdown for T-Mobile Essentials.

T-Mobile Essentials Pros and Cons

Who is It Good For?

T-Mobile Essentials is a good choice if you’re looking to save money. Essentials caters to users who are comfortable having their cellular data deprioritized (i.e., temporarily slowed down) when the network is busy, rarely need to use their device as a mobile hotspot, and aren’t looking to bundle their wireless plan with any add-ons like video streaming services other perks.

T-Mobile Magenta Plan Review

Magenta is one of T-Mobile’s most well-known plans. T-Mobile Magenta is the best alternative to Go5G for those that don’t care about hotspot use. The plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and unlimited high-speed data per month. You get 5GB of hotspot data. The data is also priority data, which means you will enjoy faster data speeds during times when the network is busy.Video streams at 4K UHD quality on this plan.You also get an Apple TV+ subscription for 6 months.

T-Mobile Magenta also comes with ample perks for folks that do a lot of traveling. Subscribers get unlimited international texting and 2G data in 210+ countries. Then there are all of the extra perks that come with T-Mobile Magenta. Subscribers get free stuff every week with T-Mobile Tuesday, caller ID, and scam call blocking. If someone has 2+ lines of Magenta, they also get a free Netflix Basic subscription for streaming in SD quality on one device at a time (normally $8.99/month). When all of that's added together, it's safe to say T-Mobile Magenta is a good deal.

T-Mobile Magenta Plan Includes:

• Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE data

• Unlimited talk & text

• Nationwide 5G coverage

• Exclusive perks with T-Mobile Tuesdays

• Dedicated customer care

• Advanced scam-blocking protection

• Apple TV+ for 6 months

• Netflix Standard with ads for 2+ lines
  

• 100GB premium data

• 5GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data
  

• 5G access included at no extra cost

T-Mobile Magenta Plan Price

All taxes and fees are included in the price,so your grand total is just $70 per month.Here is the full pricing breakdown for T-Mobile Magenta.

T-Mobile Magenta Plan Pros and Cons

Who is It Good For?

If you don’t care about hotspot use,the Magenta plan is one of the best options for people who use lots of data every month. Data speeds aren't slowed down until you've used 50 GB per month, a much higher threshold than most unlimited data plans. 

T-Mobile Go5G Plan Review

You can think of Go5G as a slightly pricier version of Magenta.The Go5G plans really aren’t much different from the older Magneta plan, with all the same perks included, like Netflix Basic for accounts with at least two lines and a 6-month trial to Apple TV. The biggest difference is you get much more high-speed hotspot data, with 15GB in the basic G05G plan.GO5G offers 100GB of premium data each month, which becomes deprioritized after that cap. It increases the video streaming quality to 720p . And it doubles the Canada and Mexico data to 5GB.

T-Mobile Go5G Plan includes:

• Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE data

• Unlimited talk & text

• Nationwide 5G coverage

• Exclusive perks with T-Mobile Tuesdays

• Dedicated customer care

• Advanced scam-blocking protection

• Apple TV+ for 6 months

• Netflix Standard with ads for 2+ lines.

• 15GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data
  

• 100GB premium data

T-Mobile Go5G Plan Price

T-Mobile Go5G offers a competitive amount of premium data compared to similar unlimited plans in the mid-tier category. With its generous allocation of premium data plus its unlimited deprioritized data, this plan is likely to satisfy the connectivity needs of all but the heaviest cellular data users.Here is the full pricing breakdown for T-Mobile Go5G.All taxes and fees are included in the price.

T-Mobile Go5G Plan Pros and Cons

Who is It Good For?

Go5G plans are perfect for families and frequent travelers. T-Mobile Go5G is best suited for users who want access to a healthy amount of premium data (AKA high-speed data) on a growing 5G network, unlimited deprioritized data, and the option to add on streaming services without breaking the bank. This plan offers enough hotspot data for moderate mobile hotspot use.

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About T-Mobile Simple Choice Plan

T-Mobile Simple Choice Plan was introduced in March of 2013. Simple Choice plans provide unlimited minutes and messages, plus unlimited data with flexible high-speed tiers to meet your needs.

But now,Simple Choice, Simple Choice North America, and Family Match Talk & Text plans for your phone are no longer available. If you signed up for one of these plans previously and are attempting to make updates to your current plan (such as adding more data, another line, or a Wearable plan, etc.).

Simple Choice Mobile Internet plans for tablets, Wi-Fi HotSpots and SyncUP DRIVE are still available and include:

• Unlimited data with between 2 and 22 GB of high-speed data, depending on your plan

• Unlimited texting

• Stretch your data further with optimized, DVD-quality video streaming (480p)

• Plans with 3GB or more high-speed get unlimited streaming from Netflix, HBO, ESPN, and more with Binge On

• Stream unlimited music with Music Freedom

• Texting & data (at up to 128 kbps) abroad in 140+ countries & destinations

• In-flight texting on all Gogo®-enabled flights

• Unlimited texting in Mexico & Canada, plus up to 5GB of 4G LTE data

• Taxes and fees are excluded from this plan's monthly recurring cost

Simple Choice plans for wearables include:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data with 500MB of high-speed

• Stretch your data further with optimized, DVD-quality video streaming (480p)

• Texting & data (at up to 128 kbps) abroad in 140+ countries & destinations

• In-flight texting on all Gogo®-enabled flights

• Unlimited texting in Mexico & Canada, plus up to 5GB of 4G LTE data

• Taxes and fees are excluded from this plan's monthly recurring cost

How to get Simple Choice Mobile Internet or Wearable?

Simple Choice Talk & Text plans for your phone are no longer available, but whether you’re new to T-Mobile or already a customer with a tax-excluded postpaid account, you can sign up for Simple Choice Mobile Internet or Simple Choice Wearable.

If you are new to T-Mobile, you can sign up in-store, or by calling 1-800-TMOBILE. If you already have a T-Mobile account, log in to T-Mobile.com, or call 1-800-866-2453 to contact T-Mobile.

T-Mobile Essentials vs. Magenta vs. Go5G Plan: Side-by-Side Comparison

Looking at the table, you’ll notice Magenta and Go5G have much in common. They both have unlimited talk, text, and 100GB of premium data. Extras like Netflix Basic and a 6-month Apple TV+ trial remain the same. Really the only thing noticeably different is the amount of hotspot data you get. Instead of just 5GB of hotspot data, Go5G gives you 15GB. If you’re visiting Canada or Mexico, you’ll also see your allotment jump from 5GB to 10GB.

Conclusion: Which Plans Is the Best?

The answer really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking to save some cash and don’t care about mild performance limitations, you may want to skip T-Mobile’s Essentials plan and instead opt for another carrier like Mint Mobile.T-Mobile’s Magenta plan includes a lot of features, but it is more expensive than the Essentials plan. For subscribers that want the best possible experience, T-Mobile’s Magenta plan may be the preferred choice.

So who wins the Go5G vs Magenta battle? At least for now, I’d recommend sticking to Magenta or Magenta Max unless you really care about the extra hotspot data. It’s just not worth the extra cost for very little tangible differences.But if you have two lines or fewer, you should pick Go5G over Magenta,you’ll save $5 on Magenta for those who don’t care about hotspot access. For families, it actually costs more on Magenta.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is T-Mobile's Essentials plan?

The T-Mobile Essentials Plan is T-Mobile's entry-level unlimited plan, offering a generous allocation of deprioritized data for those who don't need a lot of hotspot data or extra perks.

What are 2 features included in T-Mobile Essentials?

T-Mobile Essentials is a no contract plan and includes: Unlimited nationwide talk, text and data. Unlimited talk, text, and 2G data in Mexico and Canada.

Is T-Mobile Essentials plan slow?

During congestion, Essentials customers may notice speeds lower than other customers and further reduction if using >50GB/mo. On-device usage is prioritized over tethering usage, which may result in higher speeds for data used on device. 

How much is T-Mobile Essentials a month?

$60/month.This is T-Mobile's cheapest unlimited data plan, with only 3G speeds for hotspot data and few other perks. Your data speeds can be slowed if you use more than 50GB in a month.

How many lines can you have on a T-Mobile Essentials plan?

6 lines.

Does T-Mobile Essentials have unlimited hotspot?

T-Mobile has three postpaid plans, each with unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds. 

Does T-Mobile Essentials include international data?

Essentials plans include unlimited texting and calling at $.25 per minute in 215+ countries and destinations. To get high-speed data abroad, as well as unlimited calling in all 215+ countries and destinations, add an International Pass.

Do you have to upgrade from Magenta to a Go5G plan?

For now, I don’t think there is any reason to upgrade to Magenta. The plans are so similar you should only consider an upgrade unless you are really attracted to Go5G’s larger hotspot data pool, its special deals, or the ability to trade in a phone yearly. 

Is the T-Mobile Go5G Plan Worth It?

The T-Mobile Go5G plan is worth it if you’re looking good deal of premium data and are interested in bundling your new plan with additional streaming services without paying top-of-the-line premium unlimited plan pricing. 

Can you bring your own phone to T-Mobile?

Yes, as long as it’s unlocked. If you’re switching from another carrier you’ll want to make sure the phone can be unlocked and is compatible with T-Mobile’s network.

Is T-Mobile GSM or CDMA?

Technically, T-Mobile supports GSM alongside its LTE and 5G standards.

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