Metro by T-Mobile (formerly MetroPCS) Roaming Rates & Information
Metro by T-Mobile has been around since 1994 (then an independent company, MetroPCS). Having been around so long, consumers may associate Metro with the outlandish roaming fees cell phone carriers used to charge whenever you were outside of your carrier’s network and had your phone connected to another compatible network.
What many consumers might not know is that domestic roaming charges are essentially a thing of the past. Most U.S. cell phone carriers have reciprocal roaming deals with each other that ultimately allow customers to hop on to compatible networks when outside the reach of their main network free of charge. Metro hasn’t been left behind and are part of these deals.
International roaming has its own story. Getting onto a foreign network while traveling can cost you a lot of money in roaming charges if you don’t have an international plan or add-on set up on your phone. Through Metro’s World Calling add-on, you can save yourself from inordinate roaming fees.
Metro by T-Mobile Domestic Roaming Rates
As has become pretty standard in the U.S. cellular market, MetroPCS does not charge a fee for domestic roaming. However, with a quick glance at their fine print, you can see that Metro may slow, restrict, suspend, or terminate your service for “significant roaming”. Unfortunately, the former MetroPCS doesn’t give us an idea of what constitutes a significant roaming about, but to be safe, you should consider Metro’s network coverage in the areas you are most commonly going to use your phone before you purchase one of their plans. This will help ensure that most of your usage will be on their network and not roaming.
Metro by T-Mobile International Roaming Rates
Metro is able to offer international roaming through agreements with various carriers around the world. Fees for international roaming vary depending on the country you are in and the network being used.
International roaming charges can add up quickly. You might want to purchase Metro’s World Calling add-on feature for $10 which includes:
- 200 talk minutes when calling from select countries
- 200 texts from select countries
- Up to 200MB of data in select countries
These numbers are modes, but for the low price it may be the ideal international option for travelers who aren’t going to spend a lot of time on their phones.
Why Choose Metro by T-Mobile for Your Next Cell Phone Plan
Metro by T-Mobile might not have the best international roaming features but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the right carrier for you. Metro has the advantage of being one of the older MVNOs around. In other words, they tend to know what they are doing.
Pros
- Runs On T-Mobile's trusted network
- Selection of plans to fit your data usage needs
- Prices below major carriers’ average prices
- Per line discount on plans with multiple lines
- Perks such as Google cloud storage and Amazon Prime subscription available with select plans
Cons
- International roaming add-ons are lacking
- Prices are on the high end for MVNOs
- Network speeds may be slowed down in favor of T-Mobile customers
- Poor coverage in rural areas
Metro by T-Mobile Vs Other Prepaid Carriers
To get a better idea of how Metro by T-Mobile stacks up against its competitors—especially when it comes to domestic and international roaming—take a look at the table below.
| Carrier | Network | Price Range (per month) | Domestic Roaming Included | International Roaming Included |
| Metro by T-Mobile (formerly MetroPCS) | T-Mobile | $30-$60 | Yes | Via add-on feature |
| Boost Mobile | Sprint | $35-$80 | 50 minutes of talk (data and text not available) | Via add-on feature |
| Cricket | AT&T | $25-$60 | Not available | Mexico and Canada only |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | $15-$25 | Not available | Varying rates per minute/MB in select countries |
You can see here that when it comes to domestic roaming, Metro does have the edge over Cricket, Boost, and Mint. Although it is important to remember that too much domestic roaming might affect your service with Metro. The nice thing about Boost is they give us an actual limit.
As for international roaming, Metro’s services don’t quite stand out as particularly good or bad when compared to its competitors. Although they do seem to have a better option than Cricket who only has international roaming available in Mexico and Canada.