• long running

[USA] 3 Months Free Trial "Network Pass" eSIM Unlimited 5G Data/Calls/Texts @ T-Mobile USA

1650

T-Mobile Network Pass allows you to try T-Mobile's 5G data network for up to three months for free, while keeping your existing service with your current carrier. All you need is an unlocked, eligible eSIM-capable phone, and to download the T-Mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store. Then you can experience unlimited high-speed data on the T-Mobile network, all with your own phone, phone number, and apps.

Doesn't need a credit card, no need for planning ahead (just download the app and away you go), no physical sim (you do need an eSIM phone).

Basically this just became the traveller's choice for phone data plan when visiting the US.

update: confirmed as unlimited talk, text, and data


See how T-Mobile’s network stacks up against yours with a free trial—before you switch. You can do it in minutes, right from your phone. Get started now.

Limited-time offer; subject to change. 5G device req'd to access 5G network. Data available for 3 monthly cycles for approximately 90 days. During congestion, customers on this plan using>50GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds until next monthly cycle due to data prioritization. Video typically streams on smartphone/tablet in SD quality. Tethering not available. Not for international use. Active non-T-Mobile service required; your carrier's terms also apply. You may need to upgrade when you switch to get full coverage. Coverage not available in some areas. Not for international use. See Network Management Policies and Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at T-Mobile.com for additional information

https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/network-pass

Related Stores

T-Mobile USA
T-Mobile USA

Comments

  • Any requirements such as US ID or anything like that?

    • +8

      US address only. I just used a hotel.

  • +2

    So useful for travellers, thanks OP for sharing

  • Wow, it used to be 30gb for 30 days

  • Hmm might try this for Samsung's GW4. Am able to make calls and send text (with Amaysim esim) but not receive calls.

  • +5

    Still love their welcome back advert, perhaps even more relevant nowadays:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo

    • Thanks for the share. That is incredible to see everyone's reactions and smiles

  • Is this one trip only?

  • Any idea if can setup the pass now, but activate at a later time? Was planning to sign up but not activate until our trip mid next year

  • +1

    The app isn't available on the AU App Store - will need a US iTunes account to download it

    • +1

      Same on Android. It must be checking location i guess

      • Developer ticks and unticks the countries/regions they want their app to be available to download in - not based on actual location.

  • "Not for international use"- i am going to canada next month. Any Canadian deals you guys know of?

    • Airalo, can get referral code on Reddit

    • +2

      Using 3 Hong Kong to roam in Canada is your best bet there. For 30 days validity, 10GB is $138 HKD ($25.91 AUD) and 20GB is $198 HKD ($37.17 AUD). Connects to the Rogers network.

      The same package work in Aus as well, so you can test it just before you leave for peace of mind if you want. Connects to Vodafone here.

      https://www.three.com.hk/prepaid/DIY/en/offer/travel

      • Thanks mate. How is the roger network in canada?

        • Wasn't bad around the Vancouver and Whistler area when I was there last in 2019. At the time it was the only network that worked in the SkyTrain tunnels, but I think Telus and Bell have caught up now.

      • Any issues using their esim card? Physical card could only be shipped to a Hong Kong address

        • +3

          No issues, QR code was emailed to me straight after payment. There's a subsequent that asks for ID, but you only need to go through the identify verification process if you want to use it in Hong Kong. Not required for roaming use.

          • @redactedusername: Late response, but would you know if the plan is active as soon as you purchase, or once you've set up the eSIM? Just wondering if I can purchase now and activate in a couple weeks, the FAQ's are a little vague.

            • @Skengman: Pretty sure it's active as soon as you purchase. Not 100% sure because I set up my eSIM and started using it straight away.

      • Currently in the States using this, one minor negative if it affects you is you can't use tiktok because it is banned in Hong Kong.

        Also T-Mobile's coverage at JFK's immigration area is so garbage - one bar - that I couldn't even load a webpage. I wasn't sure that the activation had actually worked until I left the airport.

        • Back in Australia now. If I had to, I actually wouldn't recommend using this SIM for anywhere outside Hong Kong. Along with the minor inconvenience I mentioned above with tiktok, I hit multiple occasions where being geotagged to HK caused problems on (mostly American) websites.

          There were several that outright blocked access because it thought I was trying to access from Hong Kong (these were mostly restaurant/food ordering websites) and I also had trouble buying transportation/concert tickets on a couple of occasions because my credit card billing address was Australian but the site had me geotagged as Hong Kong.

          Also just in general every google ad served on any platform was always Chinese/Hong Kong based which was just super weird and disorienting.

          There are probably VPN solutions for this but I am not au fait to their use with iPhone.

          All in all, for really only a savings in the region of $10 on a local or other SIM, this really wasn't worth it.

  • with your own phone, phone number…

    and

    Active non-T-Mobile service required

    Did you have to enter a US number to port in?

    • You can just type in a random one

      • That'll never happen

    • +1

      If the random number doesn't work, you can try making a free google voice number. OR you can use this to get a number: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/723026

      although bc i travel there a lot, i buy any cheap sim plan and forward it to my google voice number.

      • Google voice would then work as a regular phone with this data plan then yeah?

  • One challenge is you can't switch your iTunes account to the USA if you have any iTunes credit on your Australian account.

    I haven't tried myself, but you might be able to get around this by creating a new iTunes account, setting it to USA, downloading the app and then logging back into your Australian account. Can anyone confirm?

    • +3

      Can confirm this works. I just moved to America this week and needed the USA App Store to download the Google FI app to activate my new service. That is exactly what I did.

      • Thanks!

      • Got a question not relevant to this thread, but do hope you or someone else can help. Have an account at Bank of America, but app not available on Android AU app store. I wonder if setting up an iTunes US account will solve this problem? Thanks.

        • if the app is in the US Android app store then this should work.

  • +1

    “Tethering not available“. Fail.

    • Hmm…. How can they block it on unlocked handset? 🤔

      • +1

        It’s part of the network profile config

    • Yeah the US is real skint with its tethering - even on fully postpaid accounts. They’ll often advertise unlimited data but then only allow 2-5gb of tethering etc

      • how do they identify tethering ? or just block after 2 GB per day ?

        • +1

          Simplest way is a different APN is assigned on the phone for tethering. More complicated way is deep packet inspection (DPI) where they examine the packet headers and see if its being NAT'd or not.
          Tethered data is also treated differently, usually uncapped speed whereas handset data is subject to traffic-shaping which T-Mo is notorious for once you go over the 50GB/mo.

    • You'll find that tethering is unavailable on most US mobile plans

  • +5

    I used a free trial with a telco called Visible when I went to the USA a couple of months ago. Worked perfectly, didn't require any ID or payment, just an address

    • Thanks - I think I'll do this! Visible include tethering too, which is neat.

  • Shame Australia doesn't do anything like this

    • +3

      Plenty of free or $1 monthly plans available. Felix, Kogan, Amaysim, Optus, Gomo etc.

      • Gomo has ceased operation. No free or $1 plan with Felix. The other $1 SIM cards seem to all require a top up before you can use them.

    • +1

      aus has heaps of cheap or free trials

    • +3

      Try gomo , free esim for one month

  • wait so Im going overseas next week I cant use this can I?
    Is there any other free Sim recommendations?

  • +1

    Gr8! All I need now is a flight!

  • +1

    My husband and daughter were unable to activate it for some reason when they went in August. Signed up for Airalo instead

  • Not sure if still the case but there were always crazy specials over there, I think the most I paid for decent plan was $8/m

    Will definitely try to use this next year.

    • +3

      That's interesting because I found the opposite in the US - it made me actually think AU had pretty decent plans for the data etc.

      Even mint mobile which is the provider of choice for your super frugal, FIRE people was $25 month for 15gb and that was the bottom of the barrel.

      Maybe things have changed, I haven't been back over there since pre-pandemic

      • +1

        Basically you're right for standard services but you just have to keep your ear to the ground because there are always special deals popping all the time. Sometimes they are hard to find on US telco sites though, they seem to make them as unnavigable as possible so you just end up on the most expensive standard deals page.

        Often the deals are hosted on special unique websites that you need to have seen the advert for to go to.

      • I'm talking a few years ago, just checked for deals now and they're all gone, you'll be lucky to find anything consistent for $10/m

        $15/m should be doable though.

  • -1

    Thanks OP.

    I changed my iTunes country to US and was then able to download TMobile appp from appstore and complete the setup. However, after adding the mobile plan, I can see network is not recognised and is currently in “No Service” status.

    Is there any other way to confirm the plan has been activated? I am travelling to US at the end of this month. Hoping to get this work after I land there…

    • +1

      How can it work if you're not in the US?

      No service means it's likely going to work when you land and get out of the airport.

  • Basically this just became the traveller's choice for phone data plan when visiting the US.

    This link states you do actually get:

    three months of unlimited talk, text, and data for free

    • I was curious if you got a local number.

  • Thanks OP. Perfect timing for my upcoming trip

  • I sideloaded the app, but netowrk pass says "coming soon"…

  • Anyone managed to get this working?
    I was able to download the app from the iTunes store with an Aus account, so no issues there. Heading to USA towards end of year so don't want to try activating yet.

  • Got this working easily on two iPhones. Installed app on iPad though and there’s no Network Pass option in it. Anyone gotten it working with iPad? It’s a Pro with an active SIM in it.

    • Does the 3 month trial start from when you set it up or when you first use it in the USA?

      • I'm still in AU, but it seems to be from when you set it up. Leaving in a couple of weeks.

    • The offer is for phones only - not tablets.
      Supported devices here - https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/network-pass

  • Just curious how this works in conjunction with your existing service? I assume I would turn data roaming roaming off for Telstra and use the eSim for data. Is that right? That way phone calls and texts would still come through from my Australian number, but I would not be charged for using data?

    • +1

      Routes data through the eSim, but you can still get hit with roaming charges if you receive calls on your Aussie number. So be careful of that.

      I used it entirely while over there (phone/data/etc), but you still have your Oz sim to receive SMS (eg for OTPs, 2FA).

      If making calls back to Australia, I used VOIP calling.

  • I tried setting this up but it keeps saying my details have already been used? Unless im doing something wrong i dont see how thats the case. I also struggled with the Visible plan as it said my IMEI is incompatible.

    • Same, not sure how to bypass this. Tired many addresses

      • What worked for me was setting up a Google Voice number that has a US number. I believe the reason it keeps giving this issue is because of the number used. I also put in a random address in the US and it eventually worked!

  • +1

    Using this deal right now in USA. Had it setup back in Oz.
    Connection was active right after I landed in LA.
    Also incoming and outgoing local calls works fine.
    5g availability is scarce, some time data speed is 300-400Mbps and sometimes it is just 9-10 Mbps.

    Overall very happy with it, thanks again OP

    • 👍🏽

    • nice one! what did you need to set up when in Oz, before you board for US?

  • It's saying my device isn't eligible, also tried it on my wife's device and same thing? Any ideas whats wrong or any work around I can try?

  • +3

    Just some feedback on this as just got back from US yesterday after using for three weeks. I eventually got eSIMS for an iPhone 12 and iPhone 14.

    Registering:

    1) Had to use a gmail or .com address as it didn't like the .com.au email addresses
    2) Used my Hotel address as suggested and it didn't like that (maybe someone had used it before?) so had to search for random hotels and kept trying addresses till I got one (in combo with email above)

    After registration, it was pretty much smooth sailing and got call and data coverage in most areas (it's a bit like Voda - reasonable coverage in the city but poor in the outskirts/bush) but since I didn't pay anything for it - was great. Having an incoming/outgoing USA cell number while traveling was VERY handy

    Thanks again OP for the find and the post - helped us out and wicked bargain!! :)

    • incoming/outgoing USA cell number

      So this gave you calls not just data?

    • 👌🏽

  • +2

    Thanks OP for the post!

    At Honolulu at the moment. I can confirmed that I have data, able to make local outgoing/incoming calls. Unable to call internationally. Speed is 5GUC on my iphone 13.

    Agree with dvddirect, register using gmail rather than .com.au emails. For my address, using hotel address as well.

    • Did you register in Australia or Hawaii?

  • Did any one face the issue when checking eligibility? Keeps saying I need an e-Sim compatible device, however I am using an iPhone 13 Pro. Is it something to do with setting up whilst still in aus? Should I wait till I’m in the states?

    • i’m having the same issue. trying to connect in Aus before I go but it keeps wanting to compare my 5G and says ‘Bummer. Unfortunately Umlaut doesnt have data for your carrier.’ (im with optus)

      Anyone know a way around this?

      • Same here. Hopefully someone can guide to a fix. Leaving for USA in a couple of weeks.

        • +2

          Figured it out. Need to be connected to a USA VPN

  • +1

    Got it to work via USA VPN as mentioned by @AshSet

    • Can anyone share more info on how they are getting it to work from Aus using a US VPN?

      I am using an Oppo Find X3 Pro, got the app via APK, start up Surfshark with a US location, try to set it up, but it fails at the 'Check my eligibility' part. When you click on 'What makes my phone eligible?', it talks about checking to see if your phone has an existing carrier, which I assume is where mine is failing as obviously I don't have an existing US carrier.

      How are others getting around this from Aus?

      • +1

        See my comments below, I think Surfshark servers are flagged by T-Mobile…

        • I tried with a free account on Proton, still no good, I am falling at the same hurdle noted above.

          Has anyone else got it working on android?

      • I got it to work via my Getflix VPN account on an iPhone 13, just had to make sure the OS was up to date. AU carrier is Telstra and had physical sim in whilst doing it but perhaps try removing yours as well if still having issues.

        • did you need to download the app or sign up via tmobile website on your phone (VPN)?

  • On an iPhone XS Max. I get all the way to "Let's get you FREE data", I accept the terms and click start now. And it throws the Uh-Oh error page. VPN is on, connected to wi-fi and have tried multiple US servers, have a physical Australian sim in my phone. Will keep trying over the coming days, has anyone successfully navigated that error?

    • It seems like all the Surfshark servers are flagged by T-Mobile, I installed Proton VPN and it worked first try.

  • +2

    Here is another added benefit: if you are flying United Airlines, they give free wifi to eligible T-Mobile customers. Well, I typed in the number t-mobile gave me earlier today when starting this 3 month service and it worked. I’m posting this from the flight with the now free wifi. Not sure if it works on the long haul international flights, but does on domestic.

    Btw, I activated everything just after I arrived in the US. Was pretty easy. I had a Google voice number from a long time ago. They never called or texted it to verify.

  • I tried with both Getflix and Proton VPN, it's not working. Has anyone had any luck recently?

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