Mint Mobile is a contract-free cell phone service that offers premium plans at low prices! This is a game-changer for those who are tired of paying huge cell phone bills.
With Mint Mobile, their plans are competitive and they have excellent coverage though the T-Mobile network, which includes 5G access. In fact, as of 2024, Mint is now a subsidiary of T-Mobile.
In this Mint Mobile review, we’ll go over what’s included in Mint Mobile’s different plans, and whether or not they’ll be a good choice for your next cell phone plan. Let’s dive in!
Quick Summary
- Unlimited talk, text, and data for $30 per month
- Unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada
- 7-Day Money Back Guarantee
Mint Mobile Details | |
|---|---|
Product Name | Mint Mobile |
Plan Lengths | 3,6, and 12 Months |
Pricing | $15 to $40/Month |
Network | T-Mobile |
Promotions | 7-Day Money Back Guarantee |
Who Is Mint Mobile?
What Do They Offer?
Mint Mobile focuses on offering low cost cell phone service - with a huge focus on simplicity. They offer robust plan options (including unlimited talk, text, and data) at very affordable prices.
Mint Mobile doesn’t own a cellular network. Instead, it uses T-Mobile’s network. This makes Mint a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Mint also doesn’t have any physical stores. It’s one way it can keep costs down and pass those savings onto its customers. Being an MVNO also means that Mint doesn’t have to spend money maintaining a cellular network infrastructure.
Mobile Plans
Mint Mobile has four different plans. It quotes all of its plans with a monthly price but you pay for 3, 6, or 12 months at a time. Every plan includes:
- Unlimited talk & text
- Nationwide coverage
- Uses 5G or 4G LTE, whichever is strongest
- Free calling to Mexico and Canada
- Free mobile hotspot (used through a mobile hotspot-enabled phone)
- Wifi calling and text
- Free 3-in-1 SIM card
Plans are broken down by the amount of data that you plan to use. The Intro 3-month plan is just that, an introductory plan. After your first 3-months, you can keep the same low intro price by renewing into a 12-month plan.
Data | 3-Month Plan | Renewal Price | 6-Month Plans | 12-Month Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5 GB | $15 | $25 | $20 | $15 |
15 GB | $20 | $35 | $25 | $20 |
20 GB | $25 | $45 | $25 | $25 |
Unlimited | $30 | $40 | $35 | $30 |
It’s important to point out that Unlimited does mean unlimited data but it will be throttled on speed after a certain usage. Once you pass 35GB, you’ll be throttled to slower speeds. Videos will stream at 480p. Hotspot on the unlimited plan is capped at 5GB (all other plans don’t have this cap).
Coverage
Mint’s coverage will be the same as T-Mobile’s coverage. You can check your street address on Mint’s website. T-Mobile is ranked second in national coverage behind Verizon by comparecellular.com.
7-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Cell phone coverage maps are just estimates. You never really know the quality of any coverage until you’re in a specific location and can try it out.
Mint Mobile lets you do exactly that. If at any point during the first 7 days of using the service you’re not happy, you can get a full refund for what you paid (minus S&H). You don't even have to send the product back.
Coming Soon!
Free Roaming in Canada
In May 2024, Mint announced that they will be rolling out two new features in the near future. The first is Free Roaming in Canada. This will allow Mint Mobile users to receive unlimited talk and text, along with 3GB of high-speed data, when travelling in Canada. This will be offered at no additional coast, and will renew monthly.
Scam Screener
Another upcoming feature, Mint Mobile's new Scam Screener, will display a "Scam Likely" message when users receive a phone call that Mint Mobile deems to be a scam. Users will also see other labels, such as "Telemarketing", "Nuisance", and more, making it easier to screen unwanted calls. As with Free Roaming in Canada, this feature will be available at no additional cost.
Compatible Phones
Mint Mobile’s network is GSM-based, which means it can run unlocked phones. This is different from Verizon’s CDMA-based network, which is not so friendly to unlocked phones. If you’re bringing over a handset that was previously used on Verizon’s network, 5G and LTE should be fine but calls.
Certainly, confirm the compatibility of your phone with Mint Mobile first.
You can check your phone’s compatibility on Mint’s website at https://www.mintmobile.com/byop/.
A large variety of phones can be purchased through Mint as well. Many of the phones on their site have 0% financing available.
Is It Worth It?
If you are looking for a mobile phone service, Mint Mobile is certainly worth checking out. It’s competitive plan options at great prices make it a top contender. It’s also why we have it listed on our list of the best cell phone plans.
Some things to be aware of is that MVNOs can get disconnected from the network when there’s lots of traffic. You’ll need to be in an area that has good coverage.
But customer service is a strength of Mint Mobile. If you need help, you can call them at (800) 683-7392 or use their online chat service.
With that being said, if you are fine with their pricing plans and network, Mint Mobile is a good deal. It’s competitive plan options at great prices should make it a top contender for your next mobile phone plan.
Mint Mobile Features
Plan Lengths | 3, 6 and 12 months |
Pricing | Intro 3-Month Plan
Regular 3-month plan:
6-month plan:
12-month plan:
|
Data Cap On Unlimited Plans | 35 GB (afterwards speed are throttled and video is streamed at 480p) |
Hotspot Data Cap | 5 GB |
Network | T-Mobile |
Wi-Fi Calling And Text | Yes |
International Calling | Free calls to Mexico and Canada |
Accepts Unlocked Phones | Yes |
Phone Financing Available | Yes |
Customer Service Phone Number | 1-800-683-7392 |
Customer Service Hours | 7 days a week, 5 am-7 pm (PST) |
Mobile App Availability | iOS and Android |
Promotions | 7-Day Money Back Guarantee |
Mint Mobile Review
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Pricing and Fees
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Ease of Use
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Customer Service
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Coverage Area
Overall
Summary
Mint Mobile offers nationwide coverage and affordable plans starting at $15 per month for 3 GB of data and $30 per month for unlimited.
Pros
- Affordable prepaid plans (no long-term contracts)
- Nationwide coverage on T-Mobile network
- 7-day trial with money back guarantee
- 5 GB of mobile hotspot
Cons
- No multi-line discounts
- Potential for network deprioritization
- No physical stores
Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.
He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared toward anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.
He has been quoted in major publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, ABC, NBC, Today, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Claire Tak