T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Both ISPs offer super low rates, so it comes down to convenience and speed.
Nov 4, 2024 | Share 
Provider Comparisons (Versus)
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Best for convenience
T-Mobile- Customer rating: 4.1/5
- Price: $50.00–$70.00/mo.*
- Speed: 72–245Mbps
- Internet type: 5G fixed-wireless
- Data cap: Unlimited
- Contract: Month-to-month
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Best for speed
Ziply Fiber- Customer rating: 3.8/5
- Price: $20.00–$900.00/mo.†
- Speed: 100–50,000Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber, DSL
- Data cap: Unlimited
- Contract: Month-to-month
*w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks, including data prioritization.
†For new residential customers only. No annual contract required. Prices shown are before taxes and fees and require autopay and paperless billing.
Compare T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber head to head
Having to choose between T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber is a good problem to have. Both are top-notch providers, but they have different strengths. On the one hand, you have T-Mobile’s super convenient (and competent) 5G Home Internet, and on the other, you have Ziply Fiber’s intensely fast speeds.
T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet was 2023’s top-rated internet service in our annual customer satisfaction survey, probably because everything about it is easy. The installation is a breeze, the terms are straightforward, and the service quality is excellent. If you want no-hassle internet, this is as good as it gets.
Ziply Fiber’s big advantage comes from its good value plans and high bandwidth; it offers incredibly fast connections for low monthly rates. And with all that speed also comes the unrivaled reliability and symmetrical bandwidth of fiber internet.
Which of these heavy-hitters is right for you depends on your priorities; do you want effortless internet service or the fastest speeds? Regardless of your choice, you’re gonna get a good deal. These ISPs have some of the best rates in the country.
Pros and cons: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
Pros:
- Easy setup
- Low pricing
- No price hikes
- No rental fees
Cons:
- Not as fast as fiber internet
Pros:
- Extremely fast speeds
- Low pricing
Cons:
- Price hikes after 12 months for select plans
- Potentially expensive installation
- Equipment rental fee
Want to know if T-Mobile or Ziply Fiber are in your area? Enter your zip code below to find out.
Plans and pricing: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
With T-Mobile, you get everything for a flat $50–$70 per month: fast speeds, unlimited data, and an internet gateway are all included. There’s only one plan to choose from, but that’s good. T-Mobile is going for a simplified, plug-n-play internet service, which pulls it off with flying colors.
The same $50–$70 will get you a swift multi-gigabit connection with Ziply, complete with all the usual fiber internet perks. The trade-off is you get some of the usual ISP annoyances like wires, rental fees, and a more involved (and possibly expensive) installation process.
T-Mobile plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited | $50.00† | 72–245Mbps | View Plan |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plus | $70.00†| 72–245Mbps | View Plan | |
*w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
†w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks, including data prioritization.
AT&T is in the process of transitioning away from older technologies like DSL and expanding its fiber network. This is good news for people with access to AT&T Fiber since you can get a great deal on its fiber plans.
If you live in a rural area, though, you can still get AT&T’s Fixed Wireless Internet, which is designed for internet users living in places where few internet options are available.
T-Mobile’s all-inclusive internet plan comes with unlimited data, a month-to-month contract, a free internet gateway (modem/router combo) rental, and the easiest onboarding and setup process out there. The biggest drawback is the speed. T-Mobile won’t give you the multigig connections you can get with Ziply Fiber, but most customers can’t even utilize that much speed anyway. There’s no benefit to purchasing more internet bandwidth than you need.
Ziply Fiber plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | View on Ziply Fiber site |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSL Internet | $50.00/mo.* | Up to 115Mbps | View plan |
| Fiber 100/100 | $20.00/mo.† | 100Mbps | View plan |
| Fiber 300/300 | $30.00/mo.† | 300Mbps | View plan |
| Fiber Internet Gig | $50.00/mo.† | 1,000Mbps | View plan |
| Fiber Internet 2 Gig | $60.00/mo.§ | 2,000Mbps | View plan |
| Fiber Internet 5 Gig | $80.00/mo.§ | 5,000Mbps | View plan |
| Fiber Internet 10 Gig | $300.00/mo.§ | 10,000Mbps | View Plan |
| Fiber Internet 50 Gig | $900.00/mo.§ | 50,000Mbps | View Plan |
* For 12 months for new customers with paperless and autopay
† For new residential customers only. No annual contract required. Prices shown are before taxes and fees and require autopay and paperless billing. One-time introductory price for first 12 months. Afterwards, standard pricing applies.
For new residential customers only. No annual contract required. Prices shown are before taxes and fees and require autopay and paperless billing. Standard month to month pricing.
Ziply Fiber has some of the fastest internet plans in the U.S., reaching speeds up to 10Gbps. To make things even more interesting, Ziply Fiber pairs its fast speeds with very competitive pricing. Every one of the fiber plans packs some serious value for what you’re paying.
For example, with the Fiber Gig plan, you get 1,000Mbps for $50 per month, which is 200Mbps of bandwidth for every $10. That’s one of the best rates you can get on an internet plan. All fiber plans come with unlimited data too.
Lastly, Ziply Fiber’s plan roster sports a good variety. Don’t need gig speeds? Grab the Fiber 300 plan and get rock-solid internet service for just $30 per month. You won’t find a better deal than that.
Deals and promotions: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
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*Limited-time offer; subject to change.
†Fiber Gig: For new residential customers only. No annual contract required. Offered through 11/30/23 for 2 Gig: Free first month of internet service; free professional installation ($90 value). CAT 6 wiring required for some installations. Network Management Policy.
2 Gig Fiber: For new residential customers only. No annual contract required. Offered through 11/30/23 for Fiber Gig: Free first month of internet service; free professional installation ($90 value); free upgrade to Whole Home WiFi when leasing a Ziply Fiber router. Upload comparison: Based on Ziply Fiber Gig plan to major cable providers’ 1GIG or 1.2 GIG cable service with upload speeds of 35 Mbps.
Service may not be available in all areas. Speeds shown are for wired connections. Observable speeds will vary.
Want to know if T-Mobile or Ziply Fiber are in your area?
Take a look by typing in your zip code below.
Extra fees: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
| Package | Equipment Fee | Installation Fee | Other Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | None | $35.00 activation fee | Varies by state |
| Ziply Fiber | $10.00/mo. | $90.00 | 9% of past-due balance ($10 max) |
T-Mobile has a leg up here with no equipment rental fee and a cheaper installation. Though Ziply Fiber has an expensive install, you may be able to get free installation as a new customer. But there’s no getting around the rental fee unless you buy your own router.
Customer ratings: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
| Package | Overall Rating | Speed | Price | Reliability | Customer Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 4.1 | 4 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| Ziply Fiber | 38. | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
Data from 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey.
T-Mobile received higher customer ratings in every category. To be fair, T-Mobile scored higher than all national ISPs in our annual customer satisfaction survey. T-Mobile’s low rates and overall simplicity resonated well with customers.
Best bundles
| Package | Internet Speed | Mobile | Price | View on T-Mobile site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Go5G Plus + Home Internet | Up to 245Mbps | Unlimited mobile data, talk, and text. | $120.00/mo.* | View Plan |
*Not available in all areas. Savings with $20 monthly bill credit. Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying credit, voice line, and unlimited Home Internet line required. Existing customers must visit myT-Mobile.com. Credits may take up to 2 bill cycles; credits will stop if you cancel any lines or change plans.
Bundling T-Mobile 5G Home Internet with an eligible mobile plan can save you up to $20 monthly on your internet bill, bringing it down to just $30 per month. The downside is that the eligible mobile plans tend to be expensive. Neither T-Mobile nor Ziply Fiber have TV and internet bundles.
Internet types: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
| Package | Internet type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 5G fixed-wireless | View Plans |
| Ziply Fiber | Fiber | View Plans |
T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet falls under the umbrella of fixed-wireless internet. This internet type uses cell towers to transmit internet signals to your home. Fixed-wireless’ biggest advantage over other service types is its convenience. Since it’s fully wireless, there’s no need for cables, technician installations, or any significant network maintenance on your end. For now, wired services like fiber and cable internet still have a performance edge over fixed-wireless, but once that gap narrows, fixed wireless could take over much of the internet market.
Ziply Fiber uses a fiber-optic network to deliver internet signals to customers. Ziply’s service is what’s called a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service, meaning you get a high-bandwidth fiber connection straight to your home. It’s the fastest and most reliable kind of internet connection you can get, period.
Data caps: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
| Package | Data Cap | Details |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Unlimited | View Plans |
| Ziply Fiber | Unlimited | View Plans |
Both T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber internet plans include unlimited data. There’s no need to track your usage, and you’ll never get any data overage fees.
Contracts: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
| Package | Contract length | Details |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Month-to-month | View Plans |
| Ziply Fiber | Month-to-month | View Plans |
T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber stick to flexible month-to-month contracts. You can cancel services at any time without any early termination fees. Additionally, T-Mobile gives you a big contractual advantage: an indefinite price lock guarantee. Your T-Mobile monthly internet rate is guaranteed to never go up, though there are some exclusions for taxes and fees.
Select Ziply Fiber plans only guarantee their rates for 12 months. Others don’t lock the price at all; it could go up anytime. That’s just part of a flexible month-to-month contract, though. You gotta take the bad with the good.
Installation: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
| Package | Installation options | Details |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | $35 activation fee; self-installation | View Plans |
| Ziply Fiber | $90 professional installation | View Plans |
T-Mobile has the easier and cheaper installation. Technically, the installation is free, but there is an activation fee that’s due when you sign up. The installation itself couldn’t be easier: Plug in the gateway and follow the instructions on the mobile app. The whole process takes about 15 minutes. The app even helps you find the best spot in your home for the router. Check our T-Mobile install guide for a full rundown.
Ziply Fiber’s installation is potentially expensive, but you may be able to get the fee waived as a new customer. Fiber internet almost always requires a professional installation.
Availability: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
According to the FCC, T-Mobile is one of the ISPs with the widest reach. Its coverage area spans the entire continental U.S., serving all lower 48 states. Ziply Fiber’s availability is limited to the Pacific Northwest, with service available in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.
To see if T-Mobile or Ziply Fiber is in your area, enter your zip code below:
Final call: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber
These are two of our favorite ISPs. You can’t go wrong either way. But which should you choose? Well, it depends.
Ziply Fiber’s FTTH connections will likely perform better than T-Mobile’s fixed-wireless. If speed and service quality are your top priorities, choose Ziply Fiber.
If you have average bandwidth needs and want the easiest internet experience there is, T-Mobile is the way to go.
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
More about T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber
Author - Austin Aguirre
Austin worked as a broadband technician installing and troubleshooting countless home internet networks for some of the largest ISPs in the U.S. He became a freelance writer in 2020 specializing in software guides. After graduating with a BS in technical communication from Arizona State University, he joined the team at HighSpeedInternet.com where he focuses on home network improvement and troubleshooting.
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