Did you know that fixed wireless internet connections account for 90% of all the new broadband subscriptions in the USA? What is it about wireless internet connectivity that has taken the country by storm?
Today, we will deep dive into the world of 5G wireless home internet to try and answer why this new addition to broadband technology is booming in the USA. We will compare and contrast the nation’s two most prominent 5G home internet providers, Verizon and T-Mobile, to see what keeps them clicking with the consumers.
So, let’s start our T-Mobile vs Verizon 5G Home Internet head-to-head and answer the fundamentals for an informed decision.
- T-Mobile Home Internet
- Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Key Differences – T-Mobile vs Verizon Home Internet
- Home Internet Plans – T-Mobile vs Verizon
- Internet Speed – Verizon Home Internet vs T-Mobile
- Data Caps
- Bundle Deals
- Contracts
- Additional Fee
- Better Customer Service – T-Mobile or Verizon Home Internet?
- Best for Gaming – T-Mobile or Verizon 5G Home Internet?
- Final Verdict – T-Mobile or Verizon Home Internet?
T-Mobile Home Internet
Powered by T-Mobile USA, T-Mobile Home Internet service is exclusively designed for cord-cutters and allows them to utilize T-Mobile’s 5G wireless technology for setting up a reliable broadband connection at home. The service was introduced in April 2021 and was immediately made available to anyone who had access to T-Mobile’s 5G LTE towers (cellular towers).
Commonly known as a fixed wireless internet connection, T-Mobile uses low and mid-band spectrum towers to transmit 5G signals across its national footprint. The low-to-mid-range frequencies offer a wider coverage area but at the expense of speeds. So, even though more people can receive 5G signals for the T-Mobile wireless home internet service, the speeds will be slower.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan subscribers can receive a download speed of up to 245 Mbps, and the upload speed maxes out at 31 Mbps. Currently, over 50 million households in the USA can access T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service that costs $50 per month (without bundling and with the AutoPay and paperless billing discounts).
Customers can bid adieu to the hassle of managing complicated equipment, cluttered wiring, and arranging appointments for expert installations because T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service is completely wireless and requires a simple plug-and-play, 6-step setup. Moreover, subscribers can escape the exorbitant early termination fees and annoying data overage charges because neither is the data usage capped nor do they have to sign annual term agreements to avail of perks and discounts.
Look at some of the pros and cons of T-Mobile Home Internet service to see how it fares compared to Verizon’s 5G Home Internet plans.
Pros
- Nationwide availability
- Affordable monthly rates
- Price lock guarantees
- Cost-saving bundle deals
- T-Mobile Tuesdays perks
- No-caps data
- No annual contracts
Cons
- Slow upload speeds.
- Only 1 plan is available.
- Inconsistent internet speeds.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
In October 2018, Verizon Communications, America’s second-largest telecommunications company, embarked on a new mission. It committed to making internet access wire-free while retaining the properties of a common coaxial cable connection, such as asymmetrical speeds as fast as 1,000 Mbps (on the downstream channel), unlimited internet data, 99.9 percent network reliability, and affordable monthly rates. Its ingeniously crafted, 5G Home Internet service, was first rolled out in parts of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.
Verizon’s 5G Home Internet became the first and fastest commercial wireless 5G home Internet service in the country. Customers in select areas could easily get up to 300 Mbps of download speeds on their 5G Home plan, and upload speeds peaked at 50 Mbps.
Get Verizon 5G Home Internet for less than $1/day.
Instead of using its existing 5G LTE towers for the cellular phone service, it deployed specialized 5G ultra-wideband technology for the wireless internet service. The frequency range of an ultra-wideband 5G network is between 28 GHz and 39 GHz. Such high frequencies have a narrower coverage area and cannot penetrate through objects, like walls and trees, but the internet signals can travel at 1,000 megabytes per second (1 Gig).
At the moment, Verizon’s 5G ultra-wideband powered, 5G Home, and 5G Home Plus broadband plans are available to more than 40 million Americans. The plans start at $50 per month and include cutting-edge equipment, unlimited data, and up to 3 years of price guarantees.
Browse the pros and cons of the Verizon 5G Home Internet service to get a gist of its offerings.
Pros
- Unlimited data
- Contract-free service
- Discounted bundle deals
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Up to 3 years of price guarantee
- Uses 5G Ultra-Wideband frequencies
- Superfast download speed of up to 1 Gbps
- Free NFL Sunday Ticket or Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
Cons
- Signals cannot penetrate through walls.
- Limited availability across the country.
Key Differences – T-Mobile vs Verizon Home Internet
T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home are fixed wireless broadband services for residential customers who seek the convenience of a cordless life. Underserved suburban homes and downtown dwellers can access the 5G wireless home internet services at affordable monthly fees for heavy-to-moderate online activities.
Both services include unlimited data, price locks, discounted bundle offers, compatible modem-router gateways, and freebies. However, it is the details that distinguish T-Mobile’s Home Internet service from Verizon’s 5G Home plans. Take a look at the side-by-side comparison table for T-Mobile and Verizon 5G Home Internet to get an idea of the key differences between them.
| T-Mobile vs Verizon 5G Home Internet | ||
| Comparison | T-Mobile Home Internet | Verizon 5G Home Internet |
| Type of Connection | Fixed Wireless | Fixed Wireless |
| No. of Plans | 1 | 2 |
| Price Range | $30.00 to $55.00/mo. | $25.00 to $80.00/mo. |
| Speed Range (Down) | 72 Mbps to 245 Mbps | 300 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps |
| Speed Range (Up) | 15 Mbps to 31 Mbps | 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps |
| Coverage Area | 50 states | 39 states |
| Data Cap | Unlimited Data | Unlimited Data |
| Contract | Not required | Not required |
| Installation Fee | Free self-installation | Free self-installation |
| Equipment Rental | Included | Included |
| Bundle Deals | Available | Available |
| Perks | T-Mobile Tuesdays | Samsung Galaxy Chromebook |
| Customer Rating | 7.4 out of 10 | 7.2 out of 10 |
| Best For | Moderate internet usage | Heavy internet usage |
| Learn More | View Details | View Details |
Home Internet Plans – T-Mobile vs Verizon
Jumping ships from wired internet service to wireless has one major drawback. There are not many options in terms of speed tiers and pricing. Generally, DSL, cable, and fiber internet providers offer customers at least 3 different month-to-month plans. The variety in speeds and prices ensures that people from all walks of life can benefit from the service and select a plan that best meets their households’ needs. But sadly, this is not the case with wireless 5G home internet services.
T-Mobile has only one standardized plan for its 5G home internet, as shown below.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plan
The T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plan costs $50 per month as a standalone broadband service. But when you combine the plan with a T-Mobile Magenta Max or Go5G Plus phone line, the price drops to $30 per month. On average, subscribers receive up to 245 Mbps of download speed and 31 Mbps of upload speed with unlimited data throughout the month. They can enjoy a lifetime price lock guarantee without the inconvenience of signing an annual contract.
The $50 monthly charge includes equipment rental, which is provided free of cost after order confirmation. Customers can self-install the T-Mobile wireless router gateway and return it for a full refund if they are unhappy with the service in the first 15 days. T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet connection is fast enough to handle simultaneous online activities on 5 devices.
And here is the most exciting part about T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Subscribers automatically qualify for the T-Mobile Tuesdays perks. Every Tuesday, they are awarded freebies and discounts in the form of movie tickets, gift cards, dinner vouchers, and retail sales. Overall, the T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan is a value-added package for small families with average internet consumption.
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plan- At A Glance | |
| Regular Price | $50.00/mo. (with AutoPay discount) |
| Bundled Price | $30.00/mo. (with AutoPay discount) |
| Download Speed | 245 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 31 Mbps |
| Data Cap | Unlimited data |
| Contract | Not required |
| Installation Fee | Free |
| Equipment Fee | Included |
| No. of Connected Devices | Up to 5 |
| Perks | 15-day money-back guarantee. |
| Best For | Small families with moderate internet usage |
Prices shown in the table above are with AutoPay and paperless billing fee waivers.
On the other hand, Verizon offers 2 reasonably priced monthly plans for its 5G home internet service.
Verizon 5G Home and 5G Home Plus Plans
The Verizon 5G Home and 5G Home Plus plans cost $50 and $70 per month, respectively. Customers can get a discount of up to $35 each month when they combine their 5G wireless internet service with a Verizon Unlimited phone plan.
The maximum download speed available on Verizon 5G Home Internet service is 1,000 Mbps, and customers can expect upload speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet plans do not have data caps. Customers can consume unlimited data every month, without paying data overage charges. Neither are they required to sign contracts to get price lock guarantees for up to 3 years.
The monthly internet fees include equipment charges and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Verizon 5G Home plans can support multi-device connectivity on up to 10 devices and are best suited for non-stop streaming and gaming.
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Plans | ||
| Features | Verizon 5G Home | Verizon 5G Home Plus |
| Type of Bandwidth | 5G Ultra Wideband | 5G Ultra Wideband |
| Regular Price | $50.00/mo. | $70.00/mo. |
| Bundled Price | $25.00/mo. | $35.00/mo. |
| Download Speed | Up to 300 Mbps | Up to 1,000 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | Up to 50 Mbps | Up to 100 Mbps |
| Data Cap | No | No |
| Contract | No | No |
| Installation Fee | $99.00 (one-time) | $99.00 (one-time) |
| Equipment Fee | Included | Included |
| No. of Connected Devices | 5 | 10 |
| Perks | 2-year price guarantee | 3-year price guarantee |
| Best For | Avid streamers | Professional gamers |
| Learn More | View Details | View Details |
All the prices quoted in the table above are after AutoPay and paperless billing discounts.
Internet Speed – Verizon Home Internet vs T-Mobile
Ookla speed test results show that the median download speed in the USA for fixed broadband connections is 205.20 Mbps, as of June 2023. The average upload speed is 23.38 Mbps.
Verizon and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customers are at an advantage. Regardless of the provider and plans, they get upload and download speeds faster than the national average. The typical download speed for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet subscribers ranges between 72 and 245 Mbps. Whereas, the upload speeds are noted to be within the 15 and 31 Mbps range.
Verizon 5G Home plan subscribers can expect a download speed of up to 300 Mbps and an upload speed of 50 Mbps. With improved speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps (down) and 100 Mbps (up), Verizon 5G Home Plus plan users can stream, play and connect effortlessly.
Data Caps
Verizon 5G Home plans, and T-Mobile’s Home Internet service comes with unlimited data in every billing cycle. The uncapped data policy means users can enjoy uninterrupted internet access for data-intensive online activities, like live TV streaming, movie downloads, multiplayer gaming, and video calls.
Even industry leaders, like AT&T and Starry Internet, restrict their fixed wireless internet users’ data consumption. They point out that data restrictions allow for a fair distribution of service to all consumers. When customers surpass these monthly data limits, they are required to pay data overage charges, usually at a rate of $10 for every 50 GB of excess data. Luckily, that is not the case with T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet customers.
Bundle Deals
Product bundling is a creative business strategy. Companies often promote specific items in their product portfolio by bundling them and offering the set at a discounted price. It increases sales by two folds because now, instead of buying one product, customers buy two or three as part of a set.
But why are bundle deals so attractive to consumers? The answer lies in the savings. When bought together, the price of each item reduces by at least 5 percent, resulting in 10 percent savings, altogether.
T-Mobile and Verizon have happily adopted this sales tactic. They are bundling their 5G phone plans with the 5G wireless home internet service to offer discounts of up to $35 per month.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet & Unlimited Cellular Data Bundles
You can save $20 each month by combining your T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan with a Magenta Max or Go5G Plus mobile line. T-Mobile’s Magenta Max plan includes unlimited 5G data, calls, and texts. Customers will get free access to inflight WiFi and Netflix Basic on one screen.
Similarly, if they choose the Go5G Plus phone plan, they will get all the perks of the Magenta Max plan as well as 50 GB of hotspot allowance and 15GB of free 5G data while roaming in Canada and Mexico.
| Price | Home Internet | Phone Plan | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $115.00/mo. | T-Mobile 5G Home | Magenta Max | $20.00/mo. |
| $120.00/mo. | T-Mobile 5G Home | Go5G Plus | $20.00/mo. |
Verizon 5G Home Internet & 5G Mobile Plan Bundles
Verizon customers can stack the 5G Home Internet plans on top of their Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus phone plans to save up to $35 each month. The Verizon Unlimited phone plans include premium 5G mobile data, calls, and texts to any number within the country, Canada, and Mexico. You can also send unlimited texts to international numbers for free.
| Price | Home Internet | Phone Plan | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60.00/mo. | 5G Home | Unlimited Welcome | $25.00/mo. |
| $65.00/mo. | 5G Home | Unlimited Plus | $25.00/mo. |
| $70.00/mo. | 5G Home Plus | Unlimited Welcome | $35.00/mo. |
| $75.00/mo. | 5G Home Plus | Unlimited Plus | $35.00/mo. |
Please call the Verizon Wireless customer service center for more details on the Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus plans. Prices shown are after the AutoPay and paperless billing discounts.
Contracts
Contracts can be a nuisance, especially if they are part of a give-and-take deal by the providers. Customers get stuck in a dilemma because the refusal to sign an annual contract often deprives them of availing of added benefits, like price guarantees, giveaways, and promo rates. For a year or more, they are forced to stay with the provider, even if the experience is gut-wrenching. Switching providers before the contract expiration date would mean paying hefty fines (early termination fees) of up to $400. So, even if they know it was all a big mistake, they have to stay put until the end of the contract term.
As a Verizon and T-Mobile customer, you will have the privilege to pity your contract-bound fellas. Both T-Mobile and Verizon have a strict no-contract policy. Instead, they offer 15 and 30-day money-back guarantees for the customers to test the service before sealing the deal.
Moreover, Verizon gives its new 5G Home and Home Plus customers $500 to switch services and cover their early termination fees. The offer is commonly known as a contract buyout.
Wider Coverage Area – Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile?
When Verizon 5G Home Internet service was first launched in 2018, its coverage was limited to 33 markets that were also the largest metro areas in their respective states. Over the years, Verizon’s 5G wireless home internet has expanded across the country. Today, the 5G ultra wideband deployment includes 900 cities, with the service being accessible to 40 million people.
In an official statement, Verizon said that it aims to increase the reach of its 5G Home Internet service to 50 million U.S. households by 2025.
The Verizon 5G Home Internet plans are available in the following 39 states.
| States with Verizon 5G Home Internet Coverage | |||||||||||
| Alabama | Idaho | Minnesota | Oklahoma | ||||||||
| Arizona | Illinois | Missouri | Oregon | ||||||||
| Arkansas | Indiana | Nebraska | Pennsylvania | ||||||||
| California | Iowa | Nevada | Rhode Island | ||||||||
| Colorado | Kentucky | New Jersey | South Carolina | ||||||||
| Connecticut | Louisiana | New Mexico | South Dakota | ||||||||
| Delaware | Maryland | New York | Tennessee | ||||||||
| Florida | Massachusetts | North Carolina | Texas | ||||||||
| Georgia | Michigan | Ohio | Utah | ||||||||
| Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | |||||||||
California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio have the largest concentration of Verizon’s 5G ultra wideband network, with service availability in at least 5 cities each.
In the table below, we have stated the top 5 cities with maximum coverage of Verizon 5G Home Internet service and the number of people who can easily access it in their zip codes.
| Top 5 Cities with Verizon 5G Home Internet Coverage | |||
| City | State | Availability | Pop. Covered |
| Los Angeles | California | 97.0% | 2,341,104 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | 82.4% | 812,069 |
| San Jose | California | 80.3% | 830,510 |
| Columbus | Ohio | 75.8% | 662,183 |
| Chicago | Illinois | 74.8% | 2,017,356 |
In contrast, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan is available throughout the country. T-Mobile is known to have the largest 5G network in the USA, covering over 3,888 cities and more than 50 million households.
The following are the top 5 states for accessing T-Mobile’s wireless home internet service.
| Top 5 States with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Service | |
| State | Statewide Availability |
| Minnesota | 97.8% |
| New Jersey | 74.0% |
| Oklahoma | 63.3% |
| Indiana | 61.9% |
| Louisiana | 59.4% |
However, infrastructure limitations affect the deployment of T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service in less populated and underdeveloped states. Refer to the table below to see the 5 states, which have been ranked the worst for receiving T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.
| 5 States with Worst T-Mobile Home Internet | |
| State | Statewide Coverage |
| West Virginia | 21.3% |
| New Hampshire | 21.1% |
| Vermont | 17.2% |
| Nebraska | 10.6% |
| Alaska | Nil |
The following 10 cities have more than 90 percent coverage of T-Mobile’s wireless home internet service.
| Top 10 Cities with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Coverage | ||
| City | State | Availability |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | 98.96% |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | 98.11% |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | 98.08% |
| Dallas | Texas | 97.47% |
| Houston | Texas | 96.97% |
| Columbus | Ohio | 96.46% |
| Chicago | Illinois | 95.72% |
| Saint Louis | Missouri | 95.70% |
| New York City | New York | 95.17% |
| Portland | Oregon | 94.99% |
Additional Fee
The price you see is the price you pay. The additional costs of T-Mobile and Verizon 5G Home Internet service are minimal. Apart from taxes and T-Mobile’s one-time device activation fee, you can avoid all the other extra fees with prudence and diligence.
Additional Costs – T-Mobile Home Internet Service
| Add-On Services | Extra Charges |
|---|---|
| Device Activation Fee | $35.00 (one-time) |
| Bill Printing Fee | $2.50/mo. |
| One-Off Payment Fee | $2.50/mo. |
| Late Payment Fee | $7.00/ mo. |
| Unreturned Equipment Fee | $370.00 (one-time) |
| Taxes and Surcharges | Up to $5.00/mo. |
Additional Costs – Verizon 5G Home Internet
| Add-On Services | Extra Charges |
|---|---|
| Professional Installation Fee | $99.00 (one-time) |
| Bill Printing Fee | $5.00/mo. |
| One-Off Payment Fee | $5.00/mo. |
| Late Payment Fee | $7.00/mo. |
| Unreturned Equipment Fee | $300.00 (one-time) |
| Taxes and Surcharges | Up to $5.00/mo. |
Tips to Escape Additional Fees
- Self-install your 5G wireless router instead of requesting professional installation.
- Register for AutoPay instead of making one-off payments every month.
- Request for e-receipts instead of receiving printed bills in the mail.
- Pay your bills on time to avoid late payment fines.
- Return the leased equipment immediately upon service cancellation.
- Move to a tax-free state e.g., Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Oregon, or Montana, to avoid sales tax.
Please contact the relevant service providers for more information on fees and surcharges.
Better Customer Service – T-Mobile or Verizon Home Internet?
Both, Verizon and T-Mobile are part of the Big Three club in the USA. Together, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile dominate 65 percent of the telecommunications market. Their focus on customer satisfaction has allowed them to build a robust corporate culture and be a benchmark for other telecom companies to follow. Therefore, it is not a surprise that the difference between T-Mobile’s and Verizon’s customer ratings is only 0.2 points.
Based on the data obtained from Federal Communications Commission (FCC), J.D. Power surveys, and the American Customer Satisfaction Indices, CNET has given the Verizon 5G Home Internet service an overall score of 7.2 out of 10. Its customer care is ranked 7 on a 10-point scale. Verizon 5G Home customers can reach tech support via the live chat option on the website, physical stores scattered around the country, and over a call at 877-395-5851.
In comparison, the CNET score for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is 7.4 out of 10. Its customer care is considered top-notch with 8 points out of 10. And customers can troubleshoot their problems by contacting the representatives through the T-Mobile app, online chat, physical stores, and 24/7 call assistance.
Best for Gaming – T-Mobile or Verizon 5G Home Internet?
Gamers are known for their ‘need for speed’. Neuroresearch reveals that online gaming is a hyper-stimulating activity, requiring fast action and reaction time. In other words, a slow-speed internet connection can screw gamers as it will lead to increased lag time. Professional gamers are at a greater risk because they are paid to live stream their gameplay and participate in national/ international tournaments.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet speeds are slower than Verizon. Its latency is also higher, averaging 60 milliseconds (ms). Compared to that, Verizon 5G Home can be a gigabit broadband service with an ultra-low latency of 20 ms.
So, gamers…you know the game, and owe Verizon’s 5G ultra-wideband frequencies a “thank you” for your win.
Final Verdict – T-Mobile or Verizon Home Internet?
Gather around peeps! We are about to disclose the winner of your T-Mobile Home Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet debate. Ready? Drum rolls, please. And the award for the Best 5G Home Internet Service goes to…VERIZON! Verizon has conquered the horizon with its ultrafast upload and download speeds, 30-day money-back guarantees, and up to $35 of monthly savings on bundle deals. Verizon’s availability may be limited to 900 cities, and its customer service score is 0.2 points less, but it has won the hearts of gamers and budget-conscious buyers with its ultra-low latency and almost non-existent add-on fees.
To T-Mobile 5G Home Internet supporters, all that we have to say is that yes, Verizon cannot match your nationwide footprint, T-Mobile Tuesdays giveaways, or customer satisfaction ratings. But if its speeds cannot handle Americans’ fast-paced lives, then it is not worth the price.
