T‑Mobile makes it easier to get cell service while visiting the US

Starting May 18, the company will offer passes ranging from 7 to 30 days, priced between $25 and $50. Here’s how they break down:

• 7-day pass ($25): Unlimited talk and text in the US, Mexico, and Canada; 50GB of premium data and 14GB of hotspot data in the US; 5GB of high-speed data in Mexico or Canada.
• 10-day pass ($30): Same talk, text, and 50GB premium data; hotspot bumps up to 20GB in the US; 5GB of high-speed data in Canada or Mexico.
• 14-day pass ($35): Same calling and data perks as the 10-day; hotspot increases to 28GB in the US.
• 30-day pass ($50): Same as the 14-day but with 50GB of hotspot data and, obviously, a longer window of access.

The T-Mobile pass also includes access to T-Mobile Tuesdays, which could mean a few other freebies like discounted gas and discounts at select restaurants and other businesses.

The new options appear to be pretty convenient, but I’d caution running to T-Mobile before doing your homework, at least if saving money matters more to you. There are plenty of other travel SIM options out there, and some of them could end up significantly cheaper in some situations.

For those staying closer to a month, you might also want to consider traditional prepaid options. You’ll find options for much less than the $50 T-Mobile is charging, and many of them are fairly easy to sign up for, even if you don’t live within the US.