T-Mobile is increasing data caps, but there are a few catches

When T-Mobile introduced Binge On yesterday, they also announced that new data limits would come for customers. However, with that also came a few changes to some areas of their offerings, including pricing and Data Stash.

Under T-Mobile’s old system, the data plans were 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, and unlimited data, priced at $50, $60, $70, and $80 respectively. The new plans announced yesterday are 2 GB, 6 GB, and 10 GB, with the unlimited plan sticking around as well. But the prices have been increased for the 6 GB and higher plans, which will now cost $65, $80, and $95 respectively, along with other changes.

Here is the full breakdown of the plan changes that will take affect this Sunday, November 15th.

• 1 GB $50 per month plan—this plan will no longer be available.
• 3GB $60 per month plan—this plan will no longer be available.
• 5GB $70 per month plan—this plan will no longer be available.
• New 2GB plan—This plan replaces the 1 GB plan, but stays at $50 per month.
• New 6GB plan—This plan replaces the 3 GB plan, but increases to $65 per month.
• New 10GB plan—This plan replaces the 5 GB plan, but increases to $80 per month.
• Unlimited data plan— This plan increases to $95 per month.

So unless you’re on a 1 GB plan and want to double up to 2 GB, it will cost you more per month than before. That is especially true for users of the unlimited plan (which includes myself), where the hotspot increases to 14 GB from 7 GB, but at a cost of $15 more per month.

Families will be affected by the changes too, depending on the data amounts each line has. If all lines have the same amount of data, they will get the “Family Match” option, which decreases prices per line depending on the data amount. For example, for the 6 GB option, the additional lines will only cost $10 per line instead of $15. Here is the full chart of changes.

The Family Match only applies if every member of the family plan has the same amount of data. If even one member has a different amount, Family Match is not offered. So if you have one family member who uses a different amount of data than any other line, you’re out.

T-Mobile’s Data Stash feature, introduced last year, is also seeing some changes. Data Stash will now be capped at 20 GB total, which is changed from there previously not being a cap. This applies to all customers, not just people on the new plans. You can opt out until December 16th, but that causes another problem.

If you opt out from the Data Stash cap, you will not be able to take advantage of Binge On in any capacity, whether it’s video not counting at all or just being compressed. So while you won’t have a Data Stash cap, you won’t be saving data with Binge On.

If you’re an existing customer, the only changes you will see are the Data Stash cap. You can continue to use the old plans for the life of your account or until you want to upgrade. The data plans change this Sunday the 15th, so you have until then to choose an older plan if you’re a new customer. However, T-Mobile is also offering a special deal for new customers.

For new customers, T-Mobile will offer a fourth line for free. If a family of four chooses to use the 6 GB per line option, they will pay $120 total, or $30 per line. This is before any installments of course, so your cost will vary depending on what phones you choose to get.