T-Mobile and Metro pinky swear not to jack up prices for 5 years with new plans

Nobody likes a bait-and-switch, especially when it comes to something as critical as your phone bill. Amid rising overall costs of living, consumers are paying closer attention than ever to their monthly payments. As Verizon improves perks and promises a three-year price lock to try and stop the bleeding, T-Mobile and its prepaid brand, Metro, are following suit with a slate of new plans aimed at cost-conscious users.

To lure customers, they even promise the price of “talk, text, and data” won’t go up for five whole years (Source: T-Mobile). So, is there a catch? Maybe, but it’s not a huge one, and the promise of a half-decade without service cost increases makes for some enticing deals.

T-Mobile’s newest plans and their perks

How they stack up against current offerings

T-Mobile proper is instituting a pair of new plans that build on its current top-tier offerings, Go5G Plus and Go5G Next. Both tack on additional hotspot data and T-Sattelite with Starlink connectivity, at a lower sticker price than the top two Go5G plans. Three lines of Experience More and Beyond will set you back $140 and $170 per month, respectively. Both include unlimited Premium Data, in-flight texting and Wi-Fi where available, plus Netflix, Apple TV+, MLB.TV, and the MLS Season Pass. You also get ad-supported Hulu and 250GB of hotspot data with the more expensive option.

Of particular note is the up-and-coming satellite network built on the Starlink low earth orbit constellation using Direct to Cell technology. Phones with the required hardware — like the Pixel 9 family — can send and receive text messages when there’s no cell reception, which could save a life in an emergency. It’s currently in beta, and T-Mobile explains you’ll eventually be able to use mobile data and make voice calls “in most outdoor areas where you can see the sky.” Experience More currently includes it until the end of 2025, with Experience Beyond promising it in perpetuity.

Metro by T-Mobile’s smaller scope and lower price

And what’s that catch, again?

Metro by T-Mobile is a flanker brand owned and operated entirely by the flagship carrier. It offers lower-cost plans with slightly fewer perks, but the new ones still come with the five-year guarantee of no price hikes. The Starter, Starter Plus, Flex Unlimited, and Flex Unlimited Plus tiers range from $25 to $35 per line when you sign up for four lines, and all but the Starter plan include unlimited 5G data. The two more expensive options include Amazon Prime, 8GB or 25GB of hotspot data, and yearly trade-in upgrades. The top-level plan also throws in unlimited texting to 210+ foreign locations, and optional $5 monthly connections for smartwatches and tablets.

With all that said, we’d be remiss to leave out the reason so many customers are up in arms over their mobile carriers these days. Remember the five-year “no price hikes” guarantee? That’s likely a direct response to subscriber outcry over the latest fee increases. And therein lies the rub, which current customers are probably screaming at their screen right now. Nothing prevents the carrier from jacking up associated fees, such as the “Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee,” which doesn’t actually apply to any particular regulation.

So, theoretically, T-Mobile (or Verizon, or any other company making a similar promise) could continue nickel-and-diming customers with a few cents here or a half-dollar there added to their bill. Presumably, the companies are aware of the backlash that’s generated so far, hence the breathless reassurance that the plan prices won’t go up. Given they’re such a hot topic of discussion, we’re cautiously optimistic those unspecified fee increases will take a rest for at least a while, lest T-Mobile continue to frustrate loyal customers. But only time (and T-Mobile) will tell.