PSA: Prepaid T-Mobile phone SIM cards do work on postpaid plans and on tablets – and they’re free once again
The last time T-Mobile had a free SIM card sale, I grabbed several for myself – two micro SIM cards and two nano SIM cards – just so I’d have some free backups lying around, just in case. However, there appeared to be some confusion by some readers on whether or not these SIM cards, specifically marketed for prepaid phone plans, would work on postpaid plans or on tablets. Some people insisted that they were only for prepaid phones, while others said that they would only work as a replacement on an existing postpaid phone line – not a new line. Some people even said that they wouldn’t work for LTE.
Let me set the record straight: I’m happy to confirm that yes, they work on both postpaid plans and on tablets, and T-Mobile is even offering them for free once again. Indeed, I’ve already taken one of these prepaid micro SIMs and activated it on a brand new postpaid tablet line on my account, and am happily chugging along on LTE. This confirms my previous statement that there is physically nothing different about these SIM cards other than the packaging they come in, and they will work with any plan and any device that is compatible with T-Mobile’s network.
To confirm, prepaid SIM cards that are marketed for phones:
- also work on tablets.
- can be activated on a postpaid account.
- can be used for brand new postpaid lines.
- can connect to LTE on postpaid lines.
Given this information, if you are a T-Mobile customer or are planning on becoming a T-Mobile customer in the near future, grab one of these cards. They are absolutely free for a very limited time, and doing this now will save you up to $10 later. There is also absolutely no reason to pay more for special tablet SIMs, since these phone SIMs work exactly the same on tablets.
Knowledge is power, folks. You’re welcome.
[T-Mobile]
Thanks for the helpful information. A few follow up questions.
1. If I just walk into TMoble and ask for sims will they give them to me without devices and/or setting up any account?
2..Can I activate a sim on a tablet and then plug it in/use it on my nexus as data only using VOIP?
3. Will TMoblie/ATT be able to detect I am using a tablet activated sim in my phone? Anyone have experience doing this? Please share.
Thanks
1 – this is online only.
2 – probably not. T-Mobile will recognize that you’re using a phone and not a tablet, but YMMV. You can use VOIP on a tablet, though.
3 – see above.
I just noticed the ad says web-only offer?
Woo! I’ll have to get another tablet someday to use this.
Hi John, thanks for the info! I got a prepaid sim for $0.99 (no current free promotion),
Can you please clarify how to add this sim card to a postpaid account without paying $10 for a new sim? I tried adding a mobile internet device to my existing tmo account but the system insists on adding a $10 sim card to my cart during the process.
I want to know one thing..
i’m using T-mobile postpaid sim card on an unlocked phone..I’m buying a prepaid samsung galaxy s3 from walmart.I want to know that does my Postpaid simcard work on the galaxy s3..i need your help please
Thank You