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As an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), Mint Mobile could save you up to $600 a year on your cell phone bill when switching.
Powered by T-Mobile's network, Mint Mobile offers cheap cell phone plans without giving up quality coverage or features you love. In fact, you can also bring your own phone to Mint Mobile to help keep the costs low.
To us, it's a no-brainer with the cost and coverage. But keep reading to find out more about Mint Mobile's plans and the benefits and drawbacks to help you decide if switching to Mint Mobile is right for you.
1. Is Mint Mobile good?
Whether you're looking for a new phone plan or simply comparing what's available, Mint Mobile prepaid plans offer some great services that may fit your needs.
From my experience, I've found there are many benefits to being a Mint Mobile customer, such as an affordable selection of phones and reliable network coverage.
However, depending on what's important to you in choosing the right mobile service provider, I'll also share the things I don't like about Mint Mobile, especially their data speeds or limitations when traveling abroad.
Mint Mobile advantages
- Affordable plans
- Unlimited talk & text with all plans
- Mobile hotspot data use with all plans
- 5G access (for 5G compatible phones)
- Nationwide coverage
Mint Mobile disadvantages
- No multiline discounts
- 12 months plans have the best savings
- Data deprioritization during busy times
- Data throttling when data allowance reached
International roaming is one that doesn't really fit into either category as, technically, Mint Mobile does offer international roaming, but it comes at an extra cost.
While some carriers don't offer international roaming full stop, you can choose from a range of add-ons at an extra cost with Mint Mobile.
2. Mint Mobile cell phone plans
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mint Mobile 5GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $10/mo |
| Mint Mobile unlimited data plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | Unltd | $15/mo |
| Mint Mobile 20GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 20GB | $15/mo |
| Mint Mobile 15GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 15GB | $15/mo |
Mint Mobile offers a range of different plans, whether you're a light data user looking for a cell phone plan for calls and texts or an unlimited data plan option for plenty of streaming and internet use.
All of Mint Mobile's plans offer unlimited talk and text, and all include mobile hotspot data usage.
For a prepaid carrier, their options are slightly different. You opt to bundle for 3,6 or 12 months - with 12 months offering the best discount on your monthly price.
How to pick the best Mint Mobile plan
Unlike most prepaid carriers, Mint Mobile's service doesn't offer a month-by-month plan. You have to sign up for a minimum of 3 months.
As a new customer, you'll sign up for a 3-month plan at a low price, but to keep that cost, you'll need to sign up for their 12-month plan when your initial 3 months are up. Otherwise, your monthly cost will increase.
However, the good thing is your first 3 months give you the experience to see if you love Mint Mobile enough to sign up for their 12-month plan.
But if you'd still rather stick with the 3 or 6-month plan, you'll still be saving a significant amount of money compared to getting a plan with T-Mobile directly.
3. Mint Mobile 5G & 4G LTE coverage
Mint Mobile is an MVNO, which means they don't own their own network, but they're powered by one of the big guys. For Mint Mobile, this is the T-Mobile network. That means you get the same coverage and network quality as T-Mobile customers without having to pay the same high prices.
Now, of course, no network is perfect. There may be some areas where you don't get the best coverage or signal strength, particularly in more rural or remote areas. But overall, Mint Mobile's coverage on the T-Mobile network is pretty good.
If you're new to T-Mobile's network, you can check the Mint Mobile coverage map to find out if they have good coverage in your area.
T-Mobile's data speeds are impressive, according to the latest RootMetrics report, and with their expansive 5G infrastructure, it's only getting better.
However, let's not forget that there can be deprioritization during busy periods. This means your high-speed data could be slowed over peak times.
4. Mint Mobile unlimited data
Are you tired of being misled by 'unlimited' data plans?
Mint Mobile does offer an unlimited plan, but it clearly shows it has a 35GB allowance-that's pretty generous compared to some other providers out there.
So although you won't have overage charges, with a Mint Mobile unlimited plan, if you hit that 35GB of mobile data, your speeds will be slowed.
The average monthly data usage has increased over the last few years. However, taking advantage of the free, widely available Wi-Fi and making sure you're always connected to it when possible can help you reduce your data usage.
5. Mint Mobile family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint Mobile 5GB | $15 | $30 $15/line | $45 $15/line | $60 $15/line |
| Mint Mobile 15GB | $20 | $40 $20/line | $60 $20/line | $80 $20/line |
| Mint Mobile 20GB | $25 | $50 $25/line | $75 $25/line | $100 $25/line |
| Mint Mobile Unlimited | $30 | $60 $30/line | $90 $30/line | $120 $30/line |
Although Mint Mobile doesn't offer any discounts on multiple lines, you can still create a family plan of up to 5 lines. You can mix and match any of Mint Mobile's plans so each family member can pick a plan that suits their needs.
And it's easy to keep track of them all in the Mint Mobile app.
6. Mint Mobile features
7. Mint Mobile customer service
- Mint Mobile Trustpilot rating: 3.3 stars - Average
- T-Mobile Trustpilot rating: 1.4 stars - Bad
- AT&T Trustpilot rating: 1.3 stars - Bad
- Verizon Trustpilot rating: 1.2 stars - Bad
Want to read what other users are saying? Check out our Mint Mobile customer reviews.
8. Bring your own phone to Mint Mobile
If you love your current phone, Mint Mobile allows you to bring your own phone. As long as it's unlocked and compatible. To check for compatibility, you just need your phone's IMEI number.
9. Mint Mobile phones
However, Mint Mobile phones offer an incredible selection of the newest models available, including the latest iPhones and Samsung phones. And the best thing is you can pay for your phone at a low monthly cost, interest-free.
10. Mint Mobile activation
Mint Mobile makes sign-up quick and easy, and it's all done online.
Once you've picked your plan, they'll send your Mint Mobile SIM kit in the post. Or, if you're looking for an eSIM, you'll be sent a QR code to set up your SIM straight away.
To delve deeper, you can read more with our Mint Mobile review.
Mint Mobile FAQs
Mint Mobile operates on the T-Mobile network, so switching to Mint Mobile could save you hundreds on your bill if you have coverage in your area. Mint Mobile plans start from around $15 a month, and their unlimited plan is half the price of Verizon's.
If you sign up with the new customers' 3-month bundle, then after 3 months, you'd need to sign up for 12 months to be able to keep the same costs. If you only signed up for another 3 or 6-month bundle, the price would go up.
If you purchase a physical SIM card, it could take a few days for the SIM card to be sent and then to activate it. If you choose an eSIM, your switchover could take minutes.
You can cancel within 7 days of activation for a refund of the purchase price. However, to cancel your plan after the 7 days, you would need to wait until the end of your chosen commitment, whether that's 3,6, or 12 months.
Recap: Should you switch to Mint Mobile?
Mint Mobile is an MVNO that offers cheap cell phone plans, saving customers up to $600 a year.
Switching is a no-brainer if you're looking to cut the costs of your cell phone bill. Powered by T-Mobile's network, Mint Mobile plans offer affordable prices without any sacrifices.
You can bring your own phone or choose from a selection of phones that can be paid for at an affordable monthly price.
The only downside to Mint Mobile is that data speeds may be deprioritized during busy periods.
Mint Mobile FAQs
- Mint Mobile Compatible Phones List
- Mint Mobile Customer Service FAQs
- Does Mint Mobile have a Free Trial?
- Does Mint Mobile have Unlimited Data?
- How to Activate Mint Mobile eSIM
- How to Activate Mint Mobile SIM Card
- How to Get a Free Mint Mobile SIM Card
- How to Sign Up for Mint Mobile
- How to Switch to Mint Mobile
- What is Mint Mobile? Is it Worth it?
- What Network does Mint Mobile use?
- Where to Buy a Mint Mobile SIM Card
Mint Mobile info
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | 1550 Scenic Avenue Suite 100 Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1420 |
| Employees | 150-200 |
| Customer service | (800) 683-7392 |
| Support | Mint Mobile customer service |
| Website | Mint Mobile's Website |
| Wikipedia | Mint Mobile's Wikipedia |
| Mint Mobile's Facebook | |
| Mint Mobile's Twitter |
