5G home internet turned the cell network into a real alternative to cable. A small gateway picks up the same 5G signal your phone uses and turns it into WiFi for the house. There is no installer, no cable to run and, at both T-Mobile and Verizon, no contract. The two services work the same way, but they are priced for different people. T-Mobile is open to everyone and gets cheaper with a T-Mobile phone line. Verizon is mainly built for people who already pay Verizon for their phones.
Prices side by side
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
| Plan | Typical download speed | Price with autopay |
|---|---|---|
| Rely | 133 to 354 Mbps | $50/mo |
| Amplified | 170 to 498 Mbps | $60/mo |
| All-In | 170 to 498 Mbps | $70/mo |
With a T-Mobile voice line the three plans cost $35, $45 and $55 a month, $15 less than the prices above. T-Mobile also charges a one-time $35 device connection charge. The price is covered by a 5-year price guarantee.
Verizon 5G Home
| Plan | Download speed | Price with autopay and a Verizon phone plan |
|---|---|---|
| 5G Home | Up to 100 Mbps | $60/mo |
| 5G Home Plus | Up to 150 Mbps | $70/mo |
| 5G Home Ultimate | Up to 300 Mbps | $85/mo |
Verizon lists these prices only together with autopay and a Verizon phone plan, and does not show the price without one on its plans page. The price is guaranteed for 3 to 5 years depending on the plan. If you do not have Verizon for your phone, go through checkout to the last step before you order so you can see the price that applies to you.
Speed: what the numbers mean
The two companies describe speed differently, which makes a direct comparison harder than it looks.
- T-Mobile gives a typical range: 133 to 354 Mbps on Rely and 170 to 498 Mbps on Amplified and All-In. Upload speeds are 12 to 55 Mbps.
- Verizon gives an "up to" figure per plan: up to 100, 150 or 300 Mbps. It does not publish upload speeds for 5G Home.
Both ranges are wide for the same reason. A 5G home connection shares the cell tower with everyone's phones nearby. Your speed depends on how strong the signal is inside your home, how far you are from the tower, and how many people are using that cell at the same moment. Evenings, when everyone streams, are usually the slowest time of day.
For most households the entry plans are plenty. A 4K stream needs a small fraction of 100 Mbps, and a video call needs less. Where 5G home internet falls behind is upload speed. If you upload large files for work, back up photos to the cloud or stream yourself, a fiber line with the same upload as download speed is a better fit.
Data, equipment and contracts
| T-Mobile 5G Home | Verizon 5G Home | |
|---|---|---|
| Data cap | None, but may be deprioritized above 1.2 TB a month | None |
| Equipment | Gateway included | Router included |
| Contract | None | None |
| Price guarantee | 5 years | 3 to 5 years |
| Phone line discount | $15/mo less with a T-Mobile voice line | Prices already assume a Verizon phone plan |
The 1.2 TB line at T-Mobile is not a cap. Your connection keeps working after that point, but your traffic gets lower priority than other customers' on a busy cell for the rest of the month. 1.2 TB is a lot: it takes many hours of 4K streaming every day to get there. Households that download large game libraries or run security cameras that upload around the clock are the ones who might reach it.
AT&T also sells 5G home internet, called Internet Air, at addresses where it has no fiber.
Who should pick which
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a good fit if
- you do not have a phone plan with Verizon, because T-Mobile's price is the same for everyone and published openly;
- you have a T-Mobile phone line, because $35 a month for the entry plan is among the lowest home internet prices in our internet comparison;
- you want the longest price lock: 5 years on every plan.
Verizon 5G Home is a good fit if
- you already pay Verizon for your phones, so the listed prices apply to you;
- T-Mobile's signal at your address is weak while Verizon's is strong. Coverage differs street by street, so it is worth checking both.
Look elsewhere if
- fiber reaches your address. Verizon Fios starts at $40 a month and Frontier Fiber at $29.99 a month for the first 12 months, both with the same upload as download speed. Our guide to fiber vs. cable vs. 5G explains the difference;
- you work from home with large uploads, or game competitively and need a steady connection in the evening;
- neither 5G service is available at your address. That is where satellite comes in.
When Starlink is the better choice
In rural areas without cable, fiber or a strong 5G signal, Starlink is often the only fast option. It works almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky. It costs more, though: Residential plans run $55, $85 and $130 a month for up to 100 Mbps, up to 200 Mbps and 400+ Mbps, plus equipment: $349 kit to buy, or a rental in some areas. Prices rose for new customers in May 2026. Starlink has no data cap but slows down when the network is busy, and it offers a 30-day trial.
If 5G home internet is available at your address, it is usually cheaper than Starlink. Starlink makes sense where it is not.
How to check what you can get
- Look up your address on the FCC National Broadband Map. It lists every provider that reports service at your home, including fiber and cable you might not know about.
- Run the address check on each provider's site. 5G home internet is approved per address, and the provider's own check is what counts.
- Compare the full monthly price, with or without your phone line, plus one-time charges such as T-Mobile's $35 device connection charge.
- Test it in the first weeks. Run speed tests in the morning and in the evening, in the rooms where you work and stream. Before you sign up, read the provider's return policy for the gateway, so you know how long you have to change your mind.
Check T-Mobile 5G Home Check Verizon 5G Home Check Starlink
Want to see every provider side by side? Our home internet comparison lists cable, fiber, 5G and satellite options with their price locks. If you already have internet and only want to pay less, start with how to lower your internet bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is 5G home internet as good as cable or fiber?
For browsing, streaming and video calls it is good enough for many households. It is less consistent than a wired connection: speeds depend on the signal at your home and on how busy the local cell is, and upload speeds are lower than fiber. If fiber reaches your address at a similar price, fiber is the safer choice.
Do I need a T-Mobile or Verizon phone plan?
Not for T-Mobile: its plans start at $50 a month with autopay for anyone, and drop to $35 a month with a T-Mobile voice line. Verizon only shows its 5G Home prices (from $60 a month) together with a Verizon phone plan, so check the price at checkout if you do not have one.
Is there a data cap on 5G home internet?
Neither T-Mobile nor Verizon sets a hard data cap. T-Mobile says customers who use more than 1.2 TB in a month may be deprioritized, which means slower speeds when the network is busy.
Can I use 5G home internet anywhere?
No. Both services are sold per address, because the provider has to have enough capacity on the cell that covers your home. A phone with good 5G at your house is a good sign, but only the address check on the provider's site decides whether you can sign up.
Facts checked against carrier and provider websites, FCC publications and independent network tests on October 31, 2026. Found something out of date? Let us know.