Once upon a time, I was living in Massachusetts and using AT&T for my cellphone service. When the iPhone first hit the market, I was one of the first to get it. Why? Because I could swap out the AT&T SIM card for a local one when I was traveling, and still have a fully functional smartphone to tweet from. So, I unlocked my phone and started my global adventures.
Fast forward to the end of 2012. Verizon announced that their iPhones would come unlocked for international travel. I was in need of a new iPhone, and AT&T’s customer service and high fees were driving me nuts. The fact that the new phone would already be unlocked was a bonus. It was the perfect excuse to ditch AT&T.
Then, at the end of 2013, T-Mobile announced they were giving all their users free international data and text messaging in over 140 countries. Plus, calls in those countries would only cost 20 cents a minute. Since then, I’ve been a T-Mobile customer. But are they still as good as they used to be? Not really, and here’s why.
I’ve put together a table of international fees from each carrier’s website for comparison:
| Carrier | Data | Texting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | $0 | $0 | 25 cents a minute |
| AT&T | $0 | $0 | 35 cents a minute |
| Verizon | $70 per month for 500MB | 100 free texts; $0.05/text after | 100 minutes free ($0.35/min after) |
As you can see, T-Mobile comes out slightly ahead. Their Magenta Plan offers free data and texting abroad for $70 USD per month. AT&T’s Passport Plan is also $70 USD per month and includes free data and texting, but calls are slightly more expensive. Verizon is still way behind both.
T-Mobile used to have a reputation for terrible coverage. But after the failed merger with AT&T, they got a cash infusion and heavily invested in their network. They started offering 4G and LTE speeds, and now their coverage map is almost as good as the other carriers. They still don’t have Verizon-level coverage, but they cover 96% of the country. Their plans start at $60 USD per month, making them the clear winner here too.
Domestically, the service has improved over the years. I get 4G or LTE wherever I go, and I haven’t had any dropped calls. I only have a few instances of "no service" in a few rural areas, but that usually only lasts a few seconds. However, that used to happen with Verizon too, so, while annoying, it’s not a deal-breaker for me.
I’m thrilled that T-Mobile, with its contract-free (and cheaper) plans, free international data, and better customer service model, is out there. I never again have to worry about buying foreign SIM cards and coverage again. There are no more additional costs in my travels. I know what my phone bill is going to be every month, and I get to keep the same number worldwide.
But their service has become hit or miss. It’s easy to call and text overseas, and they do offer free data, but it’s 3G and sometimes even 2G, depending on the country. That makes it easy to load some stuff, but anything that is data-heavy is a pain. I don’t mind it since there’s Wi-Fi everywhere these days, but the data isn’t as fast as it used to be.
If you’re a short-term traveler, it might not matter. But if you’re a long-term traveler, it might, and there are a few instances where you should NOT get T-Mobile:
First, if you’re traveling for more than a month, it’s worth it to get local SIM cards. T-Mobile is great for people who bounce in and out of the country frequently (like myself). It’s not good for people who are doing multi-month trips. Get a local SIM card. It’s cheaper.
Second, if you need fast Internet. They throttle your coverage to 2G most of the time, and it can be painful if you need faster speeds for something important. You can upgrade to faster speeds for an added fee, but then you’re not saving much money.
Finally, since T-Mobile came out with their plans, Google Fi has been introduced. This is often a better, faster, and cheaper alternative to T-Mobile. If you aren’t hooked on your iPhone, consider getting Google Fi as an alternative that still allows you to roam the world with the same number.
So, should you switch to T-Mobile? Maybe. I love it for my short-term trips, but when I go places for months at a time, I switch to a local sim card. That said, they are still the cheapest option in the states!
Update 1/15/19: In 2018, T-Mobile decided that all accounts have to be in the USA for "the majority of their usage." What that means is hard to decipher, but some accounts have been suspended for being away for more than 3 months in a row. So while T-Mobile is still great for the average travelers, long-term travelers may need to re-evaluate their plan. (Long-term travelers should be using local SIM cards anyway because that’s going to be much cheaper!)
Note: I know people will wonder, so I want to say that no, T-Mobile didn’t sponsor me or ask me to write this post. I pay my own monthly bill, switched years ago, and have been very happy with the service since. I’m just here preaching about something I believe can help other travelers.
