T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?

Compare T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber head to head

Having to choose between T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber is a good problem to have. Both are top-notch providers, but they have different strengths. On the one hand, you have T-Mobile’s super convenient (and competent) 5G Home Internet, and on the other, you have Ziply Fiber’s intensely fast speeds.

T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet was 2023’s top-rated internet service in our annual customer satisfaction survey, probably because everything about it is easy. The installation is a breeze, the terms are straightforward, and the service quality is excellent. If you want no-hassle internet, this is as good as it gets.

Ziply Fiber’s big advantage comes from its good value plans and high bandwidth; it offers incredibly fast connections for low monthly rates. And with all that speed also comes the unrivaled reliability and symmetrical bandwidth of fiber internet.

Which of these heavy-hitters is right for you depends on your priorities; do you want effortless internet service or the fastest speeds? Regardless of your choice, you’re gonna get a good deal. These ISPs have some of the best rates in the country.

Pros and cons: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

Jump to: Plans and pricing | Extra fees | Customer ratings | Bundles | Internet connection types | Data caps | Contracts | Installation | Availability

Jump to:

• Plans and pricing
• Extra fees
• Customer ratings
• Bundles
• Internet connection types
• Data caps
• Contracts
• Installation
• Availability

Plans and pricing: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

T-Mobile plans and pricing

AT&T is in the process of transitioning away from older technologies like DSL and expanding its fiber network. This is good news for people with access to AT&T Fiber since you can get a great deal on its fiber plans.

If you live in a rural area, though, you can still get AT&T’s Fixed Wireless Internet, which is designed for internet users living in places where few internet options are available.

T-Mobile’s all-inclusive internet plan comes with unlimited data, a month-to-month contract, a free internet gateway (modem/router combo) rental, and the easiest onboarding and setup process out there. The biggest drawback is the speed. T-Mobile won’t give you the multigig connections you can get with Ziply Fiber, but most customers can’t even utilize that much speed anyway. There’s no benefit to purchasing more internet bandwidth than you need.

Ziply Fiber plans and pricing

Ziply Fiber has some of the fastest internet plans in the U.S., reaching speeds up to 10Gbps. To make things even more interesting, Ziply Fiber pairs its fast speeds with very competitive pricing. Every one of the fiber plans packs some serious value for what you’re paying.

For example, with the Fiber Gig plan, you get 1,000Mbps for $50 per month, which is 200Mbps of bandwidth for every $10. That’s one of the best rates you can get on an internet plan. All fiber plans come with unlimited data too.

Lastly, Ziply Fiber’s plan roster sports a good variety. Don’t need gig speeds? Grab the Fiber 300 plan and get rock-solid internet service for just $30 per month. You won’t find a better deal than that.

Extra fees: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

T-Mobile has a leg up here with no equipment rental fee and a cheaper installation. Though Ziply Fiber has an expensive install, you may be able to get free installation as a new customer. But there’s no getting around the rental fee unless you buy your own router.

Customer ratings: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

T-Mobile received higher customer ratings in every category. To be fair, T-Mobile scored higher than all national ISPs in our annual customer satisfaction survey. T-Mobile’s low rates and overall simplicity resonated well with customers.

Best bundles

Bundling T-Mobile 5G Home Internet with an eligible mobile plan can save you up to $20 monthly on your internet bill, bringing it down to just $30 per month. The downside is that the eligible mobile plans tend to be expensive. Neither T-Mobile nor Ziply Fiber have TV and internet bundles.

Internet types: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet falls under the umbrella of fixed-wireless internet. This internet type uses cell towers to transmit internet signals to your home. Fixed-wireless’ biggest advantage over other service types is its convenience. Since it’s fully wireless, there’s no need for cables, technician installations, or any significant network maintenance on your end. For now, wired services like fiber and cable internet still have a performance edge over fixed-wireless, but once that gap narrows, fixed wireless could take over much of the internet market.

Ziply Fiber uses a fiber-optic network to deliver internet signals to customers. Ziply’s service is what’s called a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service, meaning you get a high-bandwidth fiber connection straight to your home. It’s the fastest and most reliable kind of internet connection you can get, period.

Data caps: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

Both T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber internet plans include unlimited data. There’s no need to track your usage, and you’ll never get any data overage fees.

Contracts: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber stick to flexible month-to-month contracts. You can cancel services at any time without any early termination fees. Additionally, T-Mobile gives you a big contractual advantage: an indefinite price lock guarantee. Your T-Mobile monthly internet rate is guaranteed to never go up, though there are some exclusions for taxes and fees.

Select Ziply Fiber plans only guarantee their rates for 12 months. Others don’t lock the price at all; it could go up anytime. That’s just part of a flexible month-to-month contract, though. You gotta take the bad with the good.

Installation: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

T-Mobile has the easier and cheaper installation. Technically, the installation is free, but there is an activation fee that’s due when you sign up. The installation itself couldn’t be easier: Plug in the gateway and follow the instructions on the mobile app. The whole process takes about 15 minutes. The app even helps you find the best spot in your home for the router. Check our T-Mobile install guide for a full rundown.

Ziply Fiber’s installation is potentially expensive, but you may be able to get the fee waived as a new customer. Fiber internet almost always requires a professional installation.

Availability: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

According to the FCC, T-Mobile is one of the ISPs with the widest reach. Its coverage area spans the entire continental U.S., serving all lower 48 states. Ziply Fiber’s availability is limited to the Pacific Northwest, with service available in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.

Final call: T-Mobile vs. Ziply Fiber

These are two of our favorite ISPs. You can’t go wrong either way. But which should you choose? Well, it depends.

Ziply Fiber’s FTTH connections will likely perform better than T-Mobile’s fixed-wireless. If speed and service quality are your top priorities, choose Ziply Fiber.

If you have average bandwidth needs and want the easiest internet experience there is, T-Mobile is the way to go.

Methodology

Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.

More about T-Mobile and Ziply Fiber

• T-Mobile Internet Review
• Ziply Fiber Internet Review