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Home internet is one of those monthly costs you can't avoid, but what you can do is pick a provider that offers some benefits to soften the blow. You can currently get a new T-Mobile 5G Home Internet line and get your first month on T-Mobile. The amount will come through as a bill credit, though you'll still cover the tax. On top of that, you can get as much as $200 back for a limited time in the form of a virtual prepaid card within 7 weeks from your rebate submission.
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You can get the first month on T-Mobile on every one of T-Mobile's three home internet plans. How much cash you get back comes down to the exact plan you'll pick. The entry-level Rely plan costs $50 per month with AutoPay and it'll get you $100 back, and so will the mid-tier Amplified plan at $60 per month.
If you want the full $200 back, you'll need to get the top-tier All-In plan, which costs $70 per month. Do keep in mind that all of these prices come with taxes and fees on top. If you have a qualifying postpaid voice line on your account, T-Mobile will knock another $15 per month off, which brings the Rely plan down to an affordable $35 per month.
All three plans also come with T-Mobile's 5-Year Price Guarantee. That means the company won't change the price of your 5G internet data for at least five years while you stay on an eligible plan, though exclusions like taxes and fees still apply. Home internet rates are generally notorious for creeping up after the first year or two, so this perk is very useful if you want no surprise price hikes for a good while after you sign up.
Adam Doud/ZDNET
As for speeds, the Amplified and All-In plans will get you downloads of up to 398 Mbps and uploads of up to 55 Mbps. The Rely plan tops out at up to 354 Mbps for downloads. The All-In plan also comes with some extras, so those top-of-the-line savings are not all that you'll get. Hulu (with ads) and Paramount+ Essential are also included, along with T-Mobile's TechEdge Suite, which covers Advanced Cyber Security, 24/7 tech support, and a gateway upgrade after year three. If you're paying for either of those streaming services right now, this plan can basically absorb those costs into your internet bill.
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Getting the money back will take you a couple of steps. You'll need to register your code within 30 days of activating the new T-Mobile 5G Home Internet line, and within 7 weeks of doing that, you should get your virtual card, provided your line is active and in good standing. Your first-month bill credit should also show up within 2 bill cycles of signing up. You'll get 6 months to spend the card before it expires, and there's no cash access on it.
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