Your mobile carrier does more than provide you with service. Some include tools to help you avoid spam and scams by blocking unwanted calls and texts. Tap or click here for more ways to avoid scams and spam.
But wait, there’s more! Major carriers are throwing in free limited-time or permanent subscriptions to streaming services as long as you keep your unlimited plan active.
Here’s what you can get with plans from the nation’s biggest carriers. Note that there are requirements to qualify for perks, such as setting up auto pay and having more than one active line at a time. Check with the carrier for details.
Verizon
Depending on the plan, Verizon offers a variety of free streaming subscriptions. Here’s what you get with the unlimited plans:
- 5G Start and 5G Do More: The two lower-priced plans include six months of one of the following: Disney+, discovery+, Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass. You also get six months of Apple Music. You’ll get about $100 of free streaming services for the first six months with these plans.
- 5G Play More: The next tier includes Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ and Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass for as long as you stay on the plan. You also get six months of discovery+ and Apple Music. You’ll get about $140 of free streaming services per year here, along with $155 of music and TV for the first six months.
- 5G Get More: Verizon’s top plan includes Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+, Apple Music and Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass for as long as you stay on the plan. You also get six months of discovery+. You’ll get about $360 in free streaming per year plus $85 of free discovery+ for the first six months.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s unlimited plans include more than just streaming services:
- Essentials: The base plan includes Paramount+ for one year, which usually goes for $50.
- Magenta: This is where things get interesting. The most affordable Magenta plan includes Netflix Basic for one screen for as long as you keep the plan. You also get Paramount+ for one year. If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll enjoy the four full-flight streaming sessions a year, plus unlimited in-flight texting & one hour of streaming. For the streaming services alone, you’re saving $50 on Paramount+ for the first year and $120 per year on Netflix as long as you stay on.
- Magenta MAX: The top-tier unlimited plan includes Netflix Standard for two screens and Apple TV+ for as long as you keep the plan. You also get Paramount+ for one year. For the first year, you save $50 on Paramount+ and $270 between Netflix and Apple TV+. Those with wanderlust will appreciate full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming.
NOTE: How much you get out of free in-flight streaming/Wi-Fi will vary depending on the airline and how often you fly. Out of pocket, you may pay as little as $7 per hour or $20+ for the entire flight. Some airlines offer monthly subscriptions for $50. That can help you decide if T-Mobile’s in-flight benefits are something you need.
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Sprint
Though Sprint is part of T-Mobile, you get different perks with the unlimited plans:
- Sprint ONE: You’ll have to start at the middle-tier plan to see any perks. With Sprint ONE, you get a subscription to Hulu and one hour of in-flight Wi-Fi plus unlimited texting as long as you keep the plan. You’re saving $80 per year with the free Hulu subscription.
- Sprint MAX: Step up to the max and get a subscription to Hulu and unlimited in-flight streaming and texting. You’re getting $80 of free Hulu per year.
Free in-flight Wi-Fi is excellent if you travel a lot and can save you $5 to $10 per hour or $20 per flight.
AT&T
Until recently, AT&T offered HBO Max free with most of its unlimited plans. At the time, they also had many more options. Now there are only three unlimited plans, and none of them offer any streaming subscriptions or in-flight benefits.
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