T-Mobile vs Verizon: Plans Compared

Considering T-Mobile versus Verizon? Here's how T-Mobile unlimited plans and Verizon unlimited plans compare head to head when it comes to coverage, multi-line discounts, perks, pricing, and more.

If you want to find and compare plans from other top carriers, try our Plan Finder.

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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 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

When comparing cell phone plans, one of the most important factors to consider is coverage. No doubt about it: the ideal way to compare T-Mobile vs Verizon coverage is at your house with a friend or neighbor who has the service you’re considering. Not possible? That’s where our T-Mobile coverage map and Verizon coverage map can be helpful. 

Just enter an address on the maps below to view T-Mobile and Verizon coverage where you live, work, and anywhere else you rely on your phone for cell service. 

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.

T-Mobile vs Verizon Entry-Level Unlimited Plans

If you’re hunting for the best bargain unlimited plan from T-Mobile or Verizon, the entry-level plans below are the most similar. These plans are a great fit for light data users who only rarely use their phones as a mobile hotspot, if ever. They primarily use their phone’s Internet connection to browse the news, quickly check emails, and stream a YouTube video on occasion, but that’s about it.

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T-Mobile vs Verizon Mid-Level Unlimited Plans

If you’re searching for a middle-of-the-road unlimited plan that strikes a good balance between price and speed, the following T-Mobile and Verizon plan comparison might be what you’re looking for. These plans work well for average data users who use their phone as a mobile hotspot around one to three times per week, play some mobile games, stream a few shows a week, and scroll social media for up to an hour a day.

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T-Mobile vs Verizon Premium Unlimited Plans

For the user with high data needs, a premium unlimited plan might 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.