T-Mobile’s secret $25/month plan is tempting, but here’s why I won’t sign up

Recently, we learned about a secret T-Mobile plan that costs just $25 per month, significantly undercutting every major US carrier. Before you rush out and sign up, however, you’ll want to make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting.

On paper, the offer sounds compelling and, in a vacuum, it really is. That said, there are a few caveats you should consider before making up your mind.

The Super Essentials Saver plan appears to offer all the features you’d get from T-Mobile’s standard Essentials plan. You get unlimited 5G data, the same 50GB of premium high-speed access, and unlimited  3G mobile hotspot usage running at 3G speeds. It even retains coverage in Mexico and Canada, alongside unlimited texting from the US to over 215 countries.

So, what’s the catch? There are a few minor “gotchas.” First, the $25 price tag doesn’t include taxes and fees, which typically add another $5 to $8 per line. You are also capped at a maximum of two lines, and there is no multi-line discount.

The biggest restriction, however, is that you must be a new customer and physically visit a Walmart store to sign up, as this offer is exclusive to the big-box retailer.

It’s currently unclear how long this promotion will last or whether there are any hidden downsides not immediately apparent on paper. While I haven’t found any major drawbacks compared to the standard $50 Essentials plan, be aware that you won’t see many (if any) promotional phone deals.

This lack of hardware promos has largely held true for the standard Essentials tier for a while, though occasional special deals have been available in the past. It’s safe to assume this Super Saver plan will be completely devoid of promotional phone upgrades, but only time will tell.

In many ways, Verizon Simplicity and T-Mobile Super Essentials Saver are very similar. Both plans offer an entry-level experience built around unlimited data and international roaming in Canada and Mexico.

Technically, Verizon Simplicity costs $15 more per month than T-Mobile’s new Walmart plan. However, customers switching from another carrier can get it for just $30 a month. For those keeping score, that’s only $5 more than T-Mobile’s offering.

While T-Mobile’s Walmart exclusive looks like a better deal at a glance, Verizon’s Simplicity plan remains the more tempting offer. First, consider the line limits: while T-Mobile caps you at two lines, Verizon Simplicity allows up to 12 lines at the $30 price point. For large families, Verizon presents a much better long-term value.

Verizon doesn’t offer unlimited hotspot access, but it does include 10GB of high-speed hotspot data (even if it’s lower-priority). Verizon’s hotspot might be limited, but it will be noticeably faster than T-Mobile’s claimed 3G speeds. Most users report a cap of around 600Kbps. I’d much rather have functional, usable hotspot speeds limited to 10GB than unlimited, garbage-quality speeds any day of the week.

If you travel frequently or live in a rural area as I do, you’ll likely find that Verizon offers the superior network, though this naturally varies depending on exactly where you live. T-Mobile’s rural coverage has improved significantly, and its main markets are among the fastest in the US, but Verizon remains more consistent nationwide.

As expected with budget plans, Verizon’s base Simplicity tier doesn’t support phone promotions, meaning you’ll need to buy your phone outright or sign up for a standard payment plan. However, the Simplicity Plus and Pro add-ons offer greater upgrade flexibility for $35 and $50 per month, respectively.

With these add-ons, you receive a monthly credit that covers a phone payment plan indefinitely, along with the option to upgrade annually. The cheaper Plus add-on covers phones up to $850, while the Pro tier raises that credit limit to devices valued up to $1,300. While I don’t think these add-ons are worth it for most people, they highlight another area where Verizon’s plan is far more flexible than T-Mobile’s new offering.

For the first time in recent memory, two of the three largest US carriers are offering postpaid plans in the same price range as some of the cheapest unlimited prepaid plans. Because many consumers still view prepaid as a lesser experience, these budget tiers make Verizon and T-Mobile look incredibly appealing. Just be aware that paying the same price doesn’t guarantee the same experience.

Postpaid plans typically hold advantages over prepaid carriers, such as more features, better financing options, and superior device insurance. The catch here is that T-Mobile and Verizon have dramatically watered down the features and phone promotions on these budget plans. You are mostly paying for the brand name, as the standard postpaid perks simply don’t apply or are heavily restricted.

While Verizon and T-Mobile’s high-end plans absolutely outcompete a prepaid option like Visible Plus in terms of features, the opposite is true at this budget tier. With Visible Plus, you currently pay $29 per month, including taxes and fees.

For that price, you get true HD video streaming, rather than the 720p cap typical of budget postpaid offerings. You also get unlimited premium data and unlimited hotspot access capped at a very usable 10Mbps. Furthermore, the international data options are vastly superior. Not only do you get unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada, but you also receive one Global Pass day per month (which can accrue up to 12 days).

Visible is arguably one of the best overall values right now in both the prepaid and postpaid markets, but you’ll find a similarly competitive experience with prepaid carriers like US Mobile or Mint Mobile.

Personally, I’d gladly take Verizon or Visible over T-Mobile’s new plan. The “Un-carrier” has always been less impressive in my rural Midwestern neck of the woods, and the potential $5 in monthly savings isn’t worth giving up Verizon’s network reliability.

If your situation sounds similar, I highly recommend looking closer at prepaid options. The same advice applies if you want to spend under $40 per month but still want premium features like better international coverage, high-priority data, and usable hotspot speeds. The major carriers offer all of these perks, but you’ll pay close to triple the price to get them on a standard postpaid plan.

That said, some users are absolutely set on sticking to a major brand for perceived advantages, such as marginally better customer support, simple installment plans, or specific add-ons and insurance. In those cases, Verizon Simplicity is the clear winner.

Ultimately, unless you absolutely prefer T-Mobile’s network in your specific region, you are likely better off looking elsewhere.