Who Has the Best 5G Home Internet?
This 5G internet provider delivers stacks of perks that turn a good deal into a great one
Oct 23, 2024 | Share 
Brand Guides, Provider Reviews
Switching to 5G home internet gets you some serious perks—like unlimited data, no contracts, and free equipment. That doesn’t mean much if the service doesn’t hold up, but we’re glad to report that it does.
In 2023, customers gave 5G home internet higher ratings than any other type of internet service, even fiber, in our customer satisfaction survey. It’s not too surprising, really. 5G internet plans tend to be significantly cheaper than the competition, offer better terms, and—since it’s completely wireless—streamline the installation process so you can avoid messy wiring, scheduling a service appointment, and fewer fees.
Now that we know 5G home internet definitely works, it’s time to figure out which service provider does it best. We’ve analyzed the plan details of the country’s best 5G home internet providers. They all offer pretty good value, but this deep dive will go into how one ISP in particular has been the most aggressive in creating the best deal possible.
-
Best Overall
- Customer rating: 4.1
- Price: $50.00–$70.00/mo.*
- Speed: 72–245Mbps
- Data cap: No cap
- Contracts: No contract
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Best for Speed
- Customer rating: 4.0
- Price: $60.00–$80.00/mo.† w/ Auto Pay
- Speed: 300–1,000Mbps
- Data cap: No cap
- Contracts: No contract
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Best for AT&T bundles
- Customer rating: 4.0
- Price: $60.00/mo.§
- Speed: 75–225Mbps
- Data cap: No cap
- Contracts: No contract
*w/ Auto Pay.
§ AutoPay and paperless billing required. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. . Service subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. Offers may be modified, or discontinued, at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply to all offers.
† Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon’s terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
The universal perks of 5G home internet
As we break down the differences between the major 5G providers, it’s important to note that switching to 5G home internet is a win regardless of which ISP you choose.
Here are some things all of these 5G home internet plans have in common:
- Fully wireless setup (no cables or appointments)
- Unlimited data
- No contracts
- Free internet gateway (no rental fees)
- Cheap pricing
Aside from the fully wireless service delivery, these perks have nothing to do with 5G technology—they’re just generous policies from ISPs, but why?
Despite its success with the customers who have tried it, 5G home internet remains at a disadvantage because most people aren’t familiar with it yet. Consequently, ISPs are looking to jump-start these new services with some tempting deals, but it won’t last forever. If you’re considering switching over to 5G home internet, now’s the time.
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Switching to 5G is cheap and easy
Along with low pricing and perks, 5G provides additional conveniences for an extra smooth ISP transition. Risk-free trial periods, early termination fee credits, and nondisruptive installs mean you can try out 5G without risking a dime or going a single hour without internet service.
| Provider | Risk-free trial | Early termination fee credit | Self-install |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | 15 days | Up to $750 | Free, wireless |
| Verizon 5G Home | None | Up to $500 | Free, wireless |
| AT&T Internet Air | None | None | Free, wireless |
Plan comparison
The biggest differences between 5G home internet plans are the speeds, and if you’re looking for the most speed for the money, Verizon has a leg up. But don’t count the other guys out just yet: T-Mobile and AT&T are potentially easier to install and maintain. Plus, there’s more to consider, like customer ratings and bundle discounts.
| Package | Price | Speed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet Air | $60.00/mo.§ | 75–225Mbps | |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | $60.00/mo.† w/ Auto Pay | Up to 300Mbps | View Plan |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Plus | $80.00/mo.† w/ Auto Pay | Up to 1,000Mbps | View Plan |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited | $50.00/mo.* | 72–245Mbps | View Plan |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plus | $70.00/mo.* | 72–245Mbps | View Plan |
*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.
§ AutoPay and paperless billing required. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. . Service subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. Offers may be modified, or discontinued, at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply to all offers.
† Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon’s terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
Customer ratings
T-Mobile received the highest ratings in our customer satisfaction survey, not just among 5G providers but out of all providers. T-Mobile’s price ratings are particularly impressive, as they’re the best we’ve ever seen from a major ISP. It’s not a total surprise, though, as the value of T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet impressed us from day one.
T-Mobile’s customer service ratings were also particularly high. One of the biggest takeaways from our latest survey was that good customer service was one of the most important factors for people to be satisfied with their internet plan. But we also found that good customer service doesn’t necessarily mean really nice phone reps and fancy chat features. It’s more about providing a service that takes care of itself, and, by and large, that’s exactly what T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet does.
| Provider | Overall | Speed | Price | Reliability | Customer Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| T-Mobile | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| Verizon | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
Data from our 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey.
Data caps
| Plans | Data cap |
|---|---|
| AT&T Internet Air | Unlimited (with throttling) |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited & 5G Home Internet Plus | Unlimited |
| Verizon 5G Home & 5G Home Plus | Unlimited* |
* Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon’s terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
Each of these major 5G providers includes unlimited data with their 5G home internet plans. AT&T’s data policy does include a disclaimer that your connection may be throttled to ease network congestion, which is a bit of a bummer.
Contracts
T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon don’t have traditional annual contracts, so you can cancel your 5G Home Internet service at any time without fees. You even get protection against price hikes for a certain amount of time via a guaranteed monthly rate, but the length varies depending on the ISP. T-Mobile has the most generous policy—you can keep your inexpensive rate indefinitely.
| Provider | Price Guarantee |
|---|---|
| AT&T | 1 year |
| T-Mobile | Indefinitely |
| Verizon | 2 years (5G Home) or 3 years (5G Home Plus) |
5G home internet and mobile combos
| Provider | Savings | Details | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | $20.00/mo.† | Get $20 off AT&T internet air with eligible wireless service. | |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $20.00/mo.* | Get T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited for $40 when you bundle with a Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, or Magenta Max phone plan. | View Plan |
| Verizon 5G Home and 5G Home plus | Up to $35.00/mo.** | Get up to $35 off Verizon 5G Home internet plans when you bundle with select 5G mobile plans and choose Auto Pay. | View Plan |
† AutoPay and paperless billing required. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. . Service subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. Offers may be modified, or discontinued, at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply to all offers.
* Not available in all areas. $30/month for Home Internet on accounts with a qualifying premium voice line and AutoPay discount using eligible payment method.
** with Auto Pay & postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Plan prices include taxes and fees. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon’s terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
Verizon offers the most savings with up to $35 off your monthly internet bill. All bundles require you to bundle with an eligible phone plan, and not all plans are eligible. In fact, providers tend to reserve discounts for their most expensive mobile plans.
Installation
| Provider | Self Install | Pro Install | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet Air | Free | $99.00 | |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | Free | Not offered | View Plan |
| Verizon 5G Home and 5G Home plus | Free | $99.00 | View Plan |
One of the best things about 5G internet is how easy it is to set up. There are no cables required. All you have to do is power up the gateway and follow the instructions on the app. Usually, you’re up and running in about 15 minutes.
The easy setup makes things easier, for sure, but cheaper too. AT&T Internet Air, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, and Verizon 5G Home all come with free self-installation options (T-Mobile does charge a $35 one-time activation fee). Granted, you can still opt for an expensive pro install from Verizon or AT&T, but we don’t recommend it.
A quick word about Verizon 5G Home installation: Some installations require a receiver in addition to the internet gateway. This receiver remains permanently stuck to a window pane. The signal boost added by this big antenna may explain why Verizon’s speeds are faster than the others, but it also puts a ding in 5G’s convenience factor. The receiver is a bit more of a process to install, leaves a big piece of equipment stuck on your window, and may mean you can’t open the window anymore, depending on how much slack you have on the receiver’s power and networking cables.
See our 5G home internet install guides for more details on how easy it is to get started:
How To Set Up Verizon 5G Home Internet
Equipment
Each of these services comes with a free rental internet gateway. If desired, you can use your own router, but you’ll have to use the ISP’s gateway as a modem. The gateways are small and low profile, which is good because your service quality depends on you placing the gateway in an ideal location relative to your nearest 5G cell tower.
Availability
According to the FCC, T-Mobile has the best availability, with coverage for about 70% of households in the U.S., including thorough coverage of nearly every metro area. Verizon covers about 17% of U.S. households but still has great availability in and around most major cities. AT&T’s Internet Air has the least availability, with just a little more than 0.5% coverage of U.S. homes. Nevertheless, AT&T has good coverage in the South, Midwest, and California.
Winner: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet has too many wins to ignore. It’s got all the usual 5G perks like fast speeds, free equipment, unlimited data, mobile bundle discounts, and no contracts. But it doesn’t stop there; T-Mobile also has the best customer ratings, best availability, easiest setup, and the best policies (like the indefinite price guarantee).
Verizon offers faster speeds at the same price, but it’s not that much faster. It loses points for the clunky receiver that remains permanently stuck to a window. AT&T Internet Air speeds are adequate for most, but its bandwidth limits are too close for comfort for some households. T-Mobile’s 245Mbps speeds sit right in the internet speed sweet spot for most customers: Enough for heavy use from multiple simultaneous users, but also not overkill like gig connections that cause you to waste money on speeds you couldn’t possibly use.
Lastly, our first-hand experience with the service during our T-Mobile 5G Home Internet review was excellent. T-Mobile’s speeds were consistently above its 245Mbps advertised max, outages were very rare, and the signup, setup, and maintenance couldn’t have been better. It’s no wonder customers voted T-Mobile 5G Home Internet as the best internet service in America in 2023.
FAQ
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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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