Here’s the short answer up front. Twigby sells discount plans that are great for those that don’t need a lot of high-speed data. Meanwhile, T-Mobile’s plans cost more but they also offer more: faster data speeds, higher data caps, and more perks. If you’ve already heard all you need to hear, then you can sign up for Twigby or T-Mobile online. But if you want to learn more about these two carriers’ plans, prices, and performance, then read on.
Data: Get a plan with enough data to support your streaming, gaming, working, and scrolling habits. And remember, some carriers have faster data than others. Price: Look at comparison charts (like the ones from WhistleOut in this review) and customer reviews to be sure you’re getting the best deal available. Coverage: There are three major networks in the US—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Check coverage maps to see which one is best in your area. Features: Not all mobile plans come with features like hotspot data, HD video streaming, and family plan discounts. Be sure you’re getting the perks you need.
Some of the issues that you might run into with Twigby include: a lack of customer service, subpar coverage, and no special perks. But the biggest drawbacks for most people will be the slow data speeds and price changes, which we’ll talk about more right now. But the biggest problem with MVNOs isn’t actually the coverage. It’s the data speeds. The company that owns the network will often slow down customers on MVNOs when the network is busy, prioritizing its own customers. This is called data deprioritization. Twigby customers can experience data deprioritization at any time. That means you won’t have super reliable data for streaming video, Zooming in for a work meeting, or owning n00bs in PUBG Mobile. This means that the $17.50 plan that gives you 10 GB of data will actually end up being $35.00 a month! Yikes.
Essentials: This is the cheapest T-Mobile plan, and it comes with some drawbacks. Just like with Twigby, your data on this plan will be subject to deprioritization when the network is busy. Plus your video streaming quality will be capped at 480p. Magenta: With this plan you’ll get 5 GB of high-speed 4G LTE hotspot data. Plus, you’ll have a data cap of 100 GB per month! That’s more than most people need. Magenta MAX: You can truly max out with 40 GB of hotspot data, worldwide data coverage, 4K video streaming, a free Netflix subscription, and no data cap!
One big benefit of all these plans is the network performance. According to data we gathered from over 100,000 mobile customers, T-Mobile has the fastest data speeds in the industry! But only one of these two carriers actually offers real family plans, and it’s T-Mobile. While Twigby technically lets you add more than one line to a single account, you won’t get any discounts or extra features for doing so. Just feast your eyes on this comparison between a T-Mobile family plan and a Twigby plan with four lines. Take a look at these coverage maps to see how each company’s network looks in your neighborhood. Both Twigby and T-Mobile will hook you up with a decent price on a new phone. T-Mobile tends to have deals on new flagship devices, like the iPhone 12 or Galaxy S20, while Twigby tends to sell cheaper phones, like the iPhone SE (2020). Take a look at the most popular phone deals from each carrier in the charts below.
Plans: T-Mobile offers unparalleled performance in almost every category: data speeds, perks, and data caps. But it costs a pretty penny. Twigby’s plans come with less data and slow speeds, but you can get one for under $20 a month. Family plans: T-Mobile clearly wins this category. It offers amazing deals on powerful family plans, saving you money and hassle. Meanwhile, Twigby doesn’t have any discounts or perks for adding extra lines. Coverage and performance: When it comes to network coverage and speeds, T-Mobile wins out over Twigby every time. Plus, it gives you access to a rapidly expanding 5G network.
In short, Twigby is a good option for those who don’t care about having limited coverage and slow data. It might be perfect for your younger kids (who shouldn’t be playing mobile games all day anyways). For everyone else, there’s T-Mobile. Read Full Twigby Review | View Twigby Plans | Read Full T-Mobile Review | View T-Mobile Plans We used comparison charts from WhistleOut, online reviews, and our own proprietary data from over 100,000 mobile customers to evaluate the overall value of each carrier and to make recommendations for different kinds of users. Overall, we spent several working days reading, analyzing, and writing this Twigby vs. T-Mobile review. If you’re curious, you can learn more about our reviewing process in this article.
