T-Mobile’s secret $25/month plan is tempting, but here’s why I won’t sign up

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Recently, we learned about a secret T-Mobile plan that costs just $25 per month, significantly undercutting every major US carrier. Before you rush out and sign up, however, you’ll want to make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting.

On paper, the offer sounds compelling and, in a vacuum, it really is. That said, there are a few caveats you should consider before making up your mind.

The Super Essentials Saver plan appears to offer all the features you’d get from T-Mobile’s standard Essentials plan. You get unlimited 5G data, the same 50GB of premium high-speed access, and unlimited  3G mobile hotspot usage running at 3G speeds. It even retains coverage in Mexico and Canada, alongside unlimited texting from the US to over 215 countries.

So, what’s the catch? There are a few minor “gotchas.” First, the $25 price tag doesn’t include taxes and fees, which typically add another $5 to $8 per line. You are also capped at a maximum of two lines, and there is no multi-line discount.

The biggest restriction, however, is that you must be a new customer and physically visit a Walmart store to sign up, as this offer is exclusive to the big-box retailer.

It’s currently unclear how long this promotion will last or whether there are any hidden downsides not immediately apparent on paper. While I haven’t found any major drawbacks compared to the standard $50 Essentials plan, be aware that you won’t see many (if any) promotional phone deals.

This lack of hardware promos has largely held true for the standard Essentials tier for a while, though occasional special deals have been available in the past. It’s safe to assume this Super Saver plan will be completely devoid of promotional phone upgrades, but only time will tell.