T-Mobile Raises Prices on Select Legacy Plans

If you’re a T-Mobile customer on an older phone plan, you may have received a text last week about a change in your plan price. If you did, you can expect an additional $2-$5 per line increase on your monthly bill starting after June 5.

In this article, I’ll share what we know about the changes coming to your T-Mobile bill. I’ll also share a few of our favorite T-Mobile alternatives that offer access to the same network for a fraction of the price.

T-Mobile’s Price Increase: What To Expect

T-Mobile customers affected by the price increase were notified via text message on May 22. 

T-Mobile did not specify which plans would be affected by the price increase, but the company has confirmed that the prices aren’t rising on current Go5G plans. Online, customers report receiving the price increase text on Magenta, Magenta MAX, Magenta 55+, ONE, Simple Choice and other retired T-Mobile plans. However, if you did not receive a text message on May 22, your bill should remain the same.

Additionally, other connected devices (including smartwatches and tablets) are increasing by $2/line per month on select older plans. Some customers reported that they would only see the $2/line per month increase instead of $5 according to their text from T-Mobile.

While T-Mobile is being vague about which plans and customers will be impacted, the company has confirmed that free line promotions will not be affected. Customers covered by T-Mobile's Price Lock guarantee will also not be affected.

If you aren't sure whether or not your plan rate is going to increase, contact T-Mobile by calling 1-800-937-8997 or sending a message in the T-Mobile app or on the website. A customer service representative will be able to tell you if your account will be impacted by the upcoming price increase, and how much you can expect to see added to your bill.

For more information regarding the upcoming plan pricing update, visit T-Mobile's website.

Alternatives to T-Mobile: MVNOs on T-Mobile’s Network

If you received a text message that your plan rate is increasing, you have options. First, you may accept the new rate and continue paying your bill with the added cost ($2-$5 per line per month). Second, you may switch your plan to one of T-Mobile’s newer options: Essentials Saver begins at $50/month for one line and Go5G plans begin at $75/month for one line (autopay required).

Finally, you may choose to leave T-Mobile altogether. If you're happy with your service, you can stay on the same network by switching to an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that runs on T-Mobile's towers. Here are a few of our favorite T-Mobile MVNOs:

• Tello Mobile (Review): With plans beginning as low as $5 per month ($9 for 1GB of high-speed data), Tello Mobile offers one of the most affordable phone plans available. For $25 monthly for one line, you can get 35GB of high-speed data per month before slowed speeds.
• Mint Mobile (Review): New customers coming to Mint Mobile can grab any plan for $15 per line per month including the unlimited plan (40GB high-speed data). To get this price, you'll need to pay three months in advance. After the first three months, you can get 5GB for $15/month or keep the unlimited plan for $30/month when you prepay for a year of service in advance.
• US Mobile (Review): US Mobile also offers access to T-Mobile's towers to customers on their GSM network. The cheapest plan begins at $6/month for 1GB when you prepay for a year in advance. Shareable data plans begin at $10 for 2GB and additional lines cost $8/line.

For more options, check out our top picks for the best cell phone plans and deals here.