T-Mobile’s Free Streaming Perk Is Already in Your Plan. Are You Paying for It Anyway?

I recently broke my own self-imposed streaming rule and opted into a free trial of Apple TV. What can I say? I’m a huge Matthew Rhys fan and wanted to watch “Widow’s Bay.” I know from experience that I never finish a series within a one-week free trial, but I got Apple TV anyway, despite the fact that I already pay for Netflix and Hulu. Matthew, look what you made me do!

Then I found out that T-Mobile, my cell phone provider, quietly added free and almost-free streaming services in some of its popular cell phone and internet packages. Am I spending more money on streaming than I need to? Are you?

According to our most recent survey on streaming fatigue, 55% of Americans use free, ad-supported streaming services like Tubi because they can’t justify paying for multiple platforms. People report using savings strategies on at-home entertainment that include YouTube and Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST), rather than expensive ad-free streaming.

It’s like shiny object syndrome — you want to watch what you don’t subscribe to. This level of choice, along with its price tag, turns the simple pleasure of watching TV into a head-scratching, budgeting marathon filled with monthly opt-ins and cancellations.

I’ve been a T-Mobile customer for quite a few years and currently have the legacy Simple Choice cell phone plan, which started at $50 per month. This bare-bones plan doesn’t include any streaming services, and while it does give me other perks like MLB.TV (yay!), SiriusXM, and concert discounts, it doesn’t save me a nickel on my streaming habit. Since I spend too much on at-home entertainment, I'm looking into other T-Mobile plans to see if they can save me from myself.

I’m currently spending $33.97 a month on three streaming services:

• Ad-supported Hulu: $11.99
• Ad-supported Netflix: $8.99
• Apple TV (which doesn’t offer an ad-supported option): $12.99

Is there a T-Mobile cell plan upgrade in my future?

T-Mobile offers two unlimited cell phone plans that include multiple streaming services:

• The Experience Beyond plan at $100 a month for one line includes Hulu and Netflix Standard with ads at no cost. It also offers Apple TV for $3.00 a month. This plan includes all my current streaming services for a value of $30.97. But at $103 a month, it would still cost me more than what I currently shell out for phone and streaming.
• The Experience More plan at $85 a month for one line includes Netflix Standard with ads at no cost plus Apple TV for $3.00 a month (no Hulu with this one). This plan has a streaming value of $18.98 a month — about $5.00 more than my current costs, and it doesn’t even include my favorite Hulu shows, so it’s also a no-go.

Most people don’t have a phone bill as low as mine. If your current bill is higher than my legacy plan, switching may make sense. There’s also an added savings of $15 or more a month for you (based on number of lines), if you verify you’re in one of these groups:

• Age 55+
• Military and veterans
• First responders

These discounted plans include the same deals on streaming services. If you’re thinking of making a switch, you’ll like that all of these plans come with a five-year price guarantee.

T-Mobile offers three main 5G Home Internet plans. The most expensive plan, All-In Home Internet at $70 a month, comes with Hulu and Paramount+ Essential. 

Paramount+ Essential costs $8.99 a month and is ad-supported. It gives you tons of on-demand content, plus some live sports. If this deal is calling your name, bundle with a voice line and AutoPay to get 5G Home Internet starting at $35/month.

Currently, T-Mobile doesn’t offer any streaming perks with its fiber internet plans.

Even though most of us are trying to slim down our budgets, it's pretty much a given that streaming costs won’t come down any time soon. If T-Mobile’s deals don’t work for you, rotating your services and seeking out free or almost-free viewing options may be the way to go. And hey, there’s always Scrabble. 

Read more: https://www.reviews.org/tv-service/are-your-streaming-subscriptions-worth-it/ 

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