Metro is owned by T-Mobile, but what’s the real difference?

Metro by T-Cellular is well probably the most recognizable pay as you go model in T-Cellular’s portfolio, adopted intently by Mint. Whereas Mint is clearly aimed on the finances section, the distinction between Metro and T-Cellular is much less apparent. In spite of everything, Metro has its personal shops and provides many options usually related to main carriers, resembling free cellphone promotions, streaming perks, and household reductions.

To clear up among the confusion, I took a deeper have a look at the 2 suppliers. Whereas they share many similarities, a number of notable distinctions set them aside. Interested in which one is the higher match for you? Be part of me as I discover pricing, cellphone choice, community precedence, and extra.

Metro by T-Cellular has the bottom beginning worth at $25 for its Deliver Your Personal System (BYOD) plans. For those who want just one line, we advocate the limitless knowledge plan. Whereas this selection isn’t accessible for multi-line customers, you may add a number of strains to Metro’s 10GB BYOD plan on the identical $25 per line.

If you’d like perks like discounted or free telephones and different extras, you’ll want a unique plan. Metro provides a 10GB plan for $40 and extra lower-data choices, however we advise Metro Flex Limitless plans as an alternative. These embrace perks like discounted gadgets, Google One membership, Amazon Prime, and extra.

Pricing begins at $50 per 30 days and goes as much as $70 for Metro’s highest-tier plan. For a number of strains, charges drop to $38.75 and $43.75 per line (for 4 customers). Notably, Metro consists of taxes and charges in its pricing, whereas T-Cellular doesn’t for pay as you go and postpaid plans.

T-Cellular is mostly dearer for single-line customers, but it surely excels in multi-line reductions for postpaid plans. Metro provides reductions as nicely, however T-Cellular is extra aggressive on this space. Consequently, T-Cellular could provide a greater deal for households, relying on the plan.

T-Cellular gives each pay as you go and postpaid choices. On the pay as you go facet, we advocate limitless knowledge, because the restricted plans are priced too excessive. T-Cellular’s pay as you go limitless plans don’t have any knowledge caps and provide barely larger precedence than base-level plans, with pricing between $50 and $60 per 30 days. Multi-line reductions can scale back the price to $35 per line (for 4 customers).

For those who’re set on T-Cellular, postpaid plans usually present higher options and could also be more cost effective for a number of strains.

On the decrease finish, Necessities Saver prices $50 for a single line or $33.33 per line (for 3 strains). The Necessities plan begins at $60 however drops to $25 per line for 4 customers. Nevertheless, each have the identical community precedence as Metro — to get higher-priority knowledge, you’ll want Go5G or larger.

Go5G plans begin at $75 per line however can go as little as $41 per line (for 5 customers). The premium Go5G Plus and Go5G Subsequent plans value $90 and $100 per 30 days, or $51 and $61 per line (for 5 customers).

Each T-Cellular and Metro continuously replace their plans. For a more in-depth look, take a look at our T-Cellular plans information or go to Metro by T-Cellular’s official plans web page.

T-Cellular and Metro provide quite a lot of plans and are continuously updating them with new choices. For a more in-depth look, take a look at our T-Cellular plans information. For those who’re excited about Metro by T-Cellular’s newest choices, go to its official plans web page.

T-Cellular has a transparent benefit in community precedence — apart from its budget-friendly Necessities and Necessities Worth plans, which function on the identical decrease precedence as Metro.

What does larger precedence imply? Throughout congestion, lower-priority customers expertise slower speeds. Whereas speeds often stay usable, in busy areas like downtown districts, they might drop to 1Mbps or decrease in excessive circumstances. Larger-priority plans should see minor slowdowns however usually provide higher speeds.

Protection is analogous between T-Cellular and Metro, although T-Cellular’s roaming agreements could present protection in some areas the place Metro doesn’t. These excited about satellite tv for pc performance will probably be glad to know that T-Cellular permits sign-ups no matter service — together with Metro customers.

For hotspot entry, each carriers provide at the least limitless 3G hotspot use. On the excessive finish, Metro helps as much as 25GB, whereas T-Cellular pay as you go caps out at 10GB of high-speed knowledge earlier than switching to limitless 3G.

T-Cellular’s postpaid plans present one of the best hotspot choices, with Go5G Plus and Subsequent permitting as much as 50GB. Moreover, T-Cellular provides higher video streaming choices — whereas Metro is restricted to SD, T-Cellular helps SD, HD, or QHD, relying on the plan.

You may anticipate T-Cellular to supply considerably higher cellphone choices, and to some extent, that’s true. Whereas Metro carries lots of the most costly and high-end flagships, it tends to focus extra on finances or older flagship gadgets, particularly when providing particular promotions like free telephones with a number of strains.

Metro nonetheless carries most main manufacturers and well-liked fashions, although T-Cellular gives a greater variety and extra particular provides tailor-made to higher-end gadgets. Each suppliers provide insurance coverage and financing choices, at the least.

Metro’s financing by Affirm will not be as favorable because the phrases supplied immediately by T-Cellular, however many customers have had constructive experiences with it, and it gives choices just like these of the bigger carriers.

Equally, whereas Metro’s insurance coverage may need fewer options or lower a number of corners, it’s usually extra inexpensive, providing a comparable worth total.

Whereas postpaid carriers usually provide superior customer support, Metro comes very near matching T-Cellular.

Each carriers present on-line, phone-based, and in-store customer support. Nevertheless, T-Cellular has considerably extra bodily shops nationwide than Metro. General, each carriers provide a median or higher customer support expertise in comparison with different suppliers, so there’s not a lot to distinguish them on this space.

T-Cellular has the sting with regards to extras, particularly for individuals who join a postpaid plan. All postpaid plans embrace limitless calling and texting in Canada and Mexico, however there are additionally a number of plan-specific worldwide perks value noting:

• Go5G: Along with 4 full-flight streaming periods per yr, limitless in-flight texting, and one hour of streaming, this plan provides limitless texting and 5GB of high-speed knowledge in 11 nations, plus limitless texting and 256Kbps knowledge in 215+ areas.
• Go5G Subsequent and Plus: These two plans embrace all the advantages of Go5G, plus limitless full-flight texting and Wi-Fi, in addition to 15GB of knowledge in Canada and Mexico.

T-Cellular additionally provides extra in depth streaming choices, although once more, just for choose plans:

• Go5G: This plan features a six-month free trial of Apple TV Plus whenever you first join.
• Go5G Plus: Apple TV Plus is included as a free perk.
• Go5G Subsequent: Together with Apple TV Plus, you get Netflix Normal with Adverts and Hulu with Adverts.

There are a lot of pay as you go carriers that run on T-Cellular’s community. Right here’s a fast breakdown of simply three alternate options we extremely advocate:

Google Fi

• Pricing: $20 for the Flex plan, with Limitless beginning at $50 — or as little as $25 per line for 4 or extra strains.
• Information precedence: Not like Metro, Google Fi gives the identical precedence as a mid-tier or larger T-Cellular postpaid plan.
• Limitless cap: Relying on the plan, you’ll get both 35GB or 50GB of high-speed knowledge earlier than important slowdowns.
• Cellphone choice and promos: No iPhones, however glorious offers on Pixel and Galaxy gadgets which are exhausting to beat.
• Customer support: Corresponding to or higher than Metro, although with out brick-and-mortar help.
• Notable extras: Google Fi is finest identified for its excellent worldwide knowledge plans, which outperform even most postpaid choices.

US Cellular:

• Pricing: Restricted-data plans begin as little as $8 per 30 days, whereas limitless plans vary from $17.50 to $44 per 30 days.
• Information precedence: Varies by plan and community, with higher-priority choices accessible.
• Limitless cap: No strict knowledge caps, although most plans embrace a set quantity of precedence knowledge. After exceeding this, speeds could sluggish throughout community congestion.
• Cellphone choice and promos: Fewer particular promotions, however a comparable cellphone choice.
• Customer support: US Cellular has responsive help, although Metro has a stronger status and the benefit of in-store help.
• Notable extras: Distinctive amongst MVNOs, US Cellular permits switching between all three main networks and even provides a multi-network plan that allows you to use two networks concurrently.

Mint Cellular:

• Pricing: Restricted-data plans begin at $15 per 30 days (paid yearly), whereas Limitless prices $30 per 30 days (paid yearly).
• Information precedence: Decrease-priority knowledge, which can expertise slowdowns throughout community congestion.
• Limitless cap: No exhausting knowledge cap, although speeds could briefly sluggish in periods of congestion.
• Cellphone choice and promos: Sturdy promotional offers and a good cellphone choice.
• Customer support: Mint Cellular has a blended status for buyer help and lacks in-store help.
• Notable extras: Greatest identified for its ultra-low charges by annual fee plans.

Metro is a strong selection in order for you lots of the options and experiences supplied by T-Cellular, however don’t thoughts sacrificing community precedence to economize or keep away from locking into a conventional postpaid plan.

Whereas the service intently matches T-Cellular in lots of areas, the decrease precedence means it’s finest for individuals in areas with comparatively low community congestion on T-Cellular’s towers.

That stated, T-Cellular’s decrease precedence can nonetheless outperform Verizon and AT&T in sure areas, relying in your location.

For those who’re prepared to pay extra to skip the decrease precedence and among the different limitations related to pay as you go companies, T-Cellular will provide a greater total expertise — although at a noticeable premium.