This page is sponsored by T-Mobile in paid partnership with WhistleOut.
Keep up with the whole family on the nation's largest 5G network.
Back-to-school season means it's time to get your kids the smartphone they've been asking for. While they want to keep up with their friends, you're looking for a way to stay connected with them throughout the day and make sure they stay safe.
T-Mobile offers the nation's largest 5G network, which is one of the most reliable options for service that keeps you connected with your family. There are also features like T-Mobile FamilyMode that allow parents to monitor their kids' screen time, see their live location, and manage their internet usage.
For college students ready to leave their parents' phone plan, T-Mobile is also introducing brand-new student rates on its most popular postpaid plans. Eligible students can score phone service for as low as $30/month on the Essentials Saver with Student Savings 2.0 plan, making this one of the cheapest phone plans available for college students.
Here's how T-Mobile can keep your family connected and safe as the kids head back to school or off to college this year.
How does T-Mobile keep families connected?
Image: T-Mobile
The Uncarrier keeps your family connected through its incredibly strong coverage. T-Mobile has the nation's largest 5G network, meaning it offers you faster speeds in more places than any other wireless carrier. Plus, T-Mobile has access to T-Satellite, which brings the power of Starlink's satellite array to offer coverage to T-Mobile's customers when they're away from a regular tower.
Whether your kids are at school, at practice, visiting the mall, or off the grid camping with friends, you can rest easy knowing they'll have a signal to get in touch when they need you.
What is T-Mobile FamilyMode?
Some parents worry that once their kids have a smartphone, they won't want to put it down. The good news is that T-Mobile has tools to help parents manage screen time with its FamilyMode feature.
FamilyMode is a digital hub that allows parents to monitor their kids' location and online activities through their smartphones. Parents can see live locations, limit screen time, set content filters, and even manage internet access. All of this is designed to help kids develop healthy screen habits while still staying in touch with their family and friends. FamilyMode starts at $10/month and requires an eligible postpaid plan.
How to switch your family to T-Mobile
If you're ready to switch to T-Mobile, the process is easy whether you're bringing your current device or buying new phones for the kids. The Uncarrier also makes it easy if you're a college student getting your own phone plan for the first time.
If you're switching to T-Mobile and bringing your own device, you don't even need to visit a store. The whole process can be completed online or in the T-Life app at your own convenience.
For most carriers, all you have to do is:
- Go to T-Mobile's online IMEI checker
- Go into your device settings and find your IMEI number
- Plug the IMEI number into the checker
- If it's compatible, make a new T-Mobile account
- Make sure your device is paid off and unlocked from your current carrier
- Select a new T-Mobile plan and activate it using your current phone number
If you need a new device, T-Mobile typically offers excellent device deals for new customers and you don't even need a trade-in. New customers can score phones like the iPhone 17, Samsung Galaxy S26, or Google Pixel 10 for free when selecting an eligible postpaid plan. These deals are available both online and in the T-Life app, making it easy to score new phones for the whole family.
T-Mobile's best family plan deals
If you're ready to switch to T-Mobile, you'll need to pick the right plan for your needs. T-Mobile has plenty of options for your family, whether they're heavy data users or just need to stay connected.
The Essentials Saver plan is a cheaper option for families that includes unlimited talk and text and 50GB of premium data for just $100/month ($25/line) with four lines. College students can get a one-line Essentials Saver with Student Savings 2.0 plan for just $30/month. It's a great option for families and students looking to stay connected on a budget.
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T-Mobile
Essentials Saver 2.0
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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The Experience More plan includes unlimited premium data and a large 60GB high-speed mobile hotspot allotment, which will easily meet the needs of most customers. It also offers free Netflix, a discounted $3/month Apple TV+ subscription, up to 5GB of high-speed international data, and is eligible for a device upgrade every two years. For college students looking for savings, the Experience More with Student Savings 2.0 plan is just $65/month for one line. Pricing starts at $170/month for a four-line family plan ($42.50 per line). It's a great choice for families looking for entertainment perks or who need a lot of data.
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T-Mobile
Experience More 2.0 | Family Plan
$170.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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The Experience Beyond plan is built for power users who need a ton of mobile data and want a lot of perks. It includes truly unlimited premium data and an unlimited mobile hotspot with 250GB of high-speed data. It also offers free subscriptions to Netflix and Hulu, a $3/month Apple TV+ perk, and up to 15GB of high-speed international data. It also includes great perks not available with other plans, like free satellite coverage through T-Satellite and yearly device upgrades. The college student rate for Experience Beyond with Student Savings 2.0 plan is just $80/month for one line. Pricing starts $215/month ($53.75/line) for a family plan with four lines. It's the best choice for families who do data-heavy tasks like working from home, mobile gaming, or streaming on the go.
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T-Mobile
Experience Beyond 2.0 | Family Plan
$215.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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