Quick answer: According to the FCC, you should allocate at least 25Mbps per person for everyday tasks like browsing and HD streaming. Increase this to 50Mbps per person for those in your household who stream in 4K, work from home or like to game on a regular basis.

You’re curled up on the sofa streaming your favorite series, and suddenly the image freezes. You’re downloading a large file, but find yourself stuck staring at the dreaded spinning circle. Or your work video calls lag whenever your teen is streaming

If any of these glitches sound familiar, it’s a sign that your internet isn’t fast enough for your family’s needs. It might be time to fork over the extra money for a faster plan or, better yet, switch to a provider that offers fast speeds without the higher price.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet uses T-Mobile’s cell towers to deliver blazing-fast home Wi-Fi nationwide. It offers download speeds up to 498Mbps, plenty for a large family, and it has zero annual contracts, data caps and equipment fees. For a limited time, you can even score your first month on T-Mobile [1] and get up to $200 back [2]. Bundle your internet with a T-Mobile voice line and you can unpack even bigger savings.

How to calculate your current home internet speed in 3 steps

Internet speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps), and indicates how fast data travels to and from your devices. To test your household’s internet speed:

1. To get an accurate reading, turn off every other device on your network before testing — background usage skews the result. 
2. Connect the specific device you want to test (phone or laptop) using the Wi-Fi or ethernet connection you’re actually trying to measure. 
3. Run a standard online speed test to check three metrics: download speed, upload speed, and latency (ping).

How much bandwidth does your family need?

How much internet speed you require depends on several factors, including how many people are in your household and your go-to online activities, according to the FCC. It’s good practice to allocate roughly 25Mbps per person for basic everyday tasks like HD streaming, scrolling socials and browsing. Increase that to 50Mbps per user if people in your household stream in 4K or work from home.

A few rules of thumb for households:

• A stable 100 to 200Mbps internet connection is widely considered a solid baseline for small households.
• A 200Mbps connection or higher generally allows a family of four to thrive online, supporting lag-free multi-device streaming, virtual learning, remote video calls and smart home devices. 
• T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a fast, affordable solution for families, delivering typical download speeds ranging from 133 to 498Mbps, depending on your local signal strength and network congestion.

If your internet speeds are up to par but you’re still getting weak signals in some parts of the house, moving your Wi-Fi router could help. If your devices are throttling when everyone is online at the same time, it’s time to upgrade your plan to a faster speed. 

An unlimited T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan for you

T-Mobile offers three tiers of internet plans so you pay only for what you need. All plans include fast download speeds ranging from 133 to 498Mbps, plus unlimited data, zero annual contracts, a 5-year Price Guarantee [3], plus a 5G Gateway device that’s easy to set up in minutes. Just plug it in, connect via the T-Life app and look at the LED display for details on signal strength and system status. If you need help, T-Mobile’s award-winning customer support team is available 24/7.

Here’s a breakdown of T-Mobile’s three home internet tiers:

Deals on T-Mobile 5G Home Internet 

T-Mobile is currently offering several promotions [4] that help you save even more on your unlimited 5G home internet.

• Get a month of 5G Home Internet on T-Mobile: Sign up for unlimited T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and get your first month on T-Mobile [1] and up to $200 back [2].
• Bundle with a T-Mobile voice line and save: Bundle any T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan with a T-Mobile phone plan and you’ll save an additional $15 on your internet each month. You’ll get the Rely plan for $35 a month, Amplified for $45 a month and the loaded All-In plan for $55 a month (with AutoPay), not including applicable taxes and fees.

FAQ

How do I test my home internet speed accurately?

Disconnect unnecessary devices, connect your phone or laptop via your Wi-Fi or ethernet and run a standard online speed test to measure your download, upload and latency metrics.

What internet speed does a family of four need?

A family of four generally thrives on speeds between 100 and 300Mbps, which supports simultaneous multi-device streaming, virtual learning, remote video calls and gaming.

What counts as a good internet speed for everyday home use?

A speed of 100Mbps is widely considered a solid baseline for average households, while 200Mbps or higher provides extra headroom for large families and simultaneous gaming, downloading and other intense online tasks.

What speeds do I need when bundling internet with a phone plan?

Mobile lines and home internet operate on independent bandwidth streams. Keep your Wi-Fi speeds around 100 to 300Mbps to ensure your household devices fire quickly and efficiently, regardless of your mobile network usage.

Is special equipment or professional drilling required for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet?

No, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet requires no cable installation or external drilling. A 5G Gateway device is included at no extra cost. Simply plug in your gateway and use the T-Life app to get online in 15 minutes. 

Are there data limits or annual contracts with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet?

No, all T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plans include unlimited data with no annual contracts and a 5-year Price Guarantee [3].

Disclosures
[1] Via bill credit; plus tax.
[2] Via prepaid Mastercard. Allow 7 weeks from rebate submission
[3] Exclusions like taxes & fees apply.  
[4] All prices shown above are accurate at time of publication with a voice line and AutoPay. Plus taxes and fees.