If you already have a phone that you're happy with, or you're a savvy deal hunter who knows how to find good deals on unlocked phones, T-Mobile is offering an affordable prepaid plan that includes all of the essential services. It's called the Metro by T-Mobile BYOD (bring your own device) plan and all that it requires from you is to bring your own phone.
Metro by T-Mobile Plan: Unlimited 5G Talk, Text, and Data for $25
The Metro by T-Mobile plan offers one line of unlimited talk, text, and 5G data for $30 for the first month and $25 per month afterwards with AutoPay. Taxes and fees are already included. You're guaranteed this price for 5 years, although being a prepaid plan, you're free to opt out at any time. In addition, you get perks like Scam Shield, which enables Caller ID and blocks or redirects spam calls, and T-Mobile Tuesdays, a program that gives you access to freebies and exclusive discounts every Tuesday. Note that speeds may slow if you go over a soft cap of greater than 35GB per month.
If you already have a phone and don't expect to replace it every year or two, the Metro by T-Mobile BYOD plan will save you money in the long run. Whereas the Metro BYOD plan only costs $25 per month, Metro's least expensive Unlimited plan costs $40 per month (although it does supply a free 5G phone). You can opt into an even higher-tier $50/mo plan to be eligible for discounted phone upgrades every 12 months. However, that also means you're paying an extra $20-$30 per month – which totals out to an extra $240-$360 per year – on your phone bill. If you stick with the BYOD plan and hold onto your phone for at least three years, you could be saving over $1,000 on your bill.
Note that some exclusions apply. See details at MetrobyT-Mobile.com.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.