Mint Mobile review: Unrivaled budget phone plans for those who value flexibility and dependable coverage

Mint Mobile is one of the frontrunners in the budget phone plan market, and it’s clear why. They have a robust marketing strategy, a movie-star-slash-business-mogul co-owner, and clear and concise plans that readily simplify the process of managing your phone plan. The plans can cost as low as $15 per month, with unlimited calling and texting for all plans as well as access to high-speed data through T-Mobile’s network across the US (not to mention free call and text to Canada and Mexico). 

In brief, Mint Mobile offers prepaid plans that allow users to manage their data easily. Mint features three-, six-, and 12-month plans, each with a low monthly rate. You’re able to adjust your plan at any time, so if you’d like to test-drive the service before committing to the full year, it’s a low financial stake. 

If you can sign up for a whole year, you’ll be able to save more. But at the very least, you can take advantage of a discounted rate for the first three months with Mint Mobile‘s new customer offer, a deal that makes for one of the best cheap cell phone plans you can buy currently. 

I tested Mint Mobile through an average week in New York City, testing the fundamentals: call quality, data speed and prices, and general coverage. I also took note of the setup process, plan offerings, and some other basics that one would look for when switching carriers.

Plan offerings and flexibility

Mint Mobile‘s plan offerings have always been geared toward those looking for savings on their phone plan. As of April 14, 2023, Mint increased the 5G/4G LTE data allotment on its plans while maintaining the same price: Its 4GB plan increased to 5GB, while its 10GB, 15GB, and 35GB plans each increased by 5GB. 

Currently, all of Mint Mobile’s three-month plans are available at the same rate of $15 per month for new customers. After those three months, the plans reset to their standard rates, as detailed below. 

Mint Mobile introductory 3-month plans

Plan and data allotment	Monthly price	Total price
5GB Plan	$15	$45
15GB Plan	$15	$45
20GB Plan	$15	$45
Unlimited (40GB)*	$15	$45

Mint Mobile 3-month plans

Plan and data allotment	Monthly price	Total price
5GB Plan	$25	$75
15GB Plan	$35	$105
20GB Plan	$45	$135
Unlimited (40GB)*	$40	$120

Mint Mobile 6-month plans

Plan and data allotment	Monthly price	Total price
5GB	$20	$120
15GB	$25	$150
20GB	$35	$210
Unlimited (40GB)*	$35	$210

Mint Mobile 12-month plans

Plan and data allotment	Monthly price	Total price
5GB	$15	$180
15GB	$20	$240
20GB	$25	$300
Unlimited (40GB)*	$30	$360

*Each of Mint’s Unlimited plans also includes 10 additional GB per month set aside for high-speed hotspot data, an increase from 5GB as previously offered.

Prices are, of course, subject to change. If you want to see the latest offers, head on over to our Mint Mobile plans and deals guide, which is regularly updated.

All of Mint’s prepaid plans include unlimited talk and text, free calling to Mexico and Canada from the United States, and Wi-Fi calling and texting. You’ll also get a free SIM card when you switch and you can use your 5G and LTE data access for a high-speed hotspot if you wish. 

It’s worth noting that once your monthly high-speed data cap is reached you’ll have slower data speeds — however, you’ll still have access to unlimited data at those lower speeds, so you won’t be entirely cast adrift if you meet your data max. 

Before signing up, you’ll want to confirm that your phone is compatible with Mint Mobile to begin with. Nearly all 5G or 4G LTE-supported phones that use SIM cards or eSIMs will be compatible. To be sure, you can use the compatibility checker provided on their site by entering your phone’s brand and model (or even better, your phone’s IMEI number — which you can find by dialing *#06# or in your phone’s settings). 

From there, your setup will be fairly straightforward, thanks to the “cleverness kit” that comes with your new SIM card. The kit includes instructions on how to keep your existing phone number, a QR code to easily download the Mint Mobile app, and refers you to additional tips located on their YouTube channel, which has a series of designated videos for setup assistance. 

Even after inputting your SIM card the Mint Mobile app will guide you through the basics of setup, with a quick overview of how to use the app as well as a few checkpoints that confirm whether you want to keep your preexisting phone number. The entire setup process takes less than five minutes, and the app assistance that walks you through setup is useful and informative.

If you’re unsure whether you’ll like the service, you can try Mint Mobile risk-free with their 7-day free trial. With 250 minutes, 250 texts, and 250MB of data included, the trial will allow you to see how it compares to your existing plan — and you can switch back to your previous plan at any time during the trial if it’s not for you.

Coverage area

Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s networks, so their coverage maps are the same. Mint offers a coverage map tool on its site that you can use to check if your address is covered by its network — and if it is, you’ll be able to do anything from talk and text to downloading and streaming HD video over high-speed data. 

From my testing experience, Mint’s coverage far outperformed my personal carrier, AT&T, in terms of coverage, and I was thus able to do a lot more with my data than I usually can. This wasn’t necessarily a surprise, since I live in New York City and it’s generally known that T-Mobile works better in urban areas than AT&T, but the difference was significant.

Where AT&T had me covered inconsistently and unreliably across most of my testing locations, Mint proved to be more dependable in its coverage in each — including at Insider’s office in Manhattan, on a walk through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, and at visits to some of my favorite coffee shops. From each location I was able to easily send a text or make a phone call with no issues.

I’ll mention again that the coverage map will be a useful tool for any prospective Mint Mobile customer, however, because coverage will vary depending on location and should be paramount in your decision to switch carriers.

Service reliability and speeds

For my own testing of Mint’s service reliability, I viewed and downloaded posts from some of the most-used apps on many people’s phones: YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. I had a promising start — Rihanna’s Superbowl Halftime performance loaded perfectly on YouTube with no buffering — but I began to encounter issues when I moved to Instagram and later to TikTok. 

On Instagram I experienced minor loading issues, but they went away quickly and I was able to browse as usual, with all but the first few posts loading readily as if I were connected to a Wi-Fi network. 

I had more issues with TikTok, however, where each video took a few seconds to load across the board. While it was only a matter of a second or two of buffering time, those seconds make a difference when discussing an app with a primary focus on instantaneous generation of content. Though the app worked perfectly when connected to Wi-Fi and the loading time over data was still very minimal, if you’re one to scroll through TikTok while on the go, you may grow tired of this barrier to immediacy.

In testing phone and video calls, I had mixed results. Phone calls had zero issues — I had reliable service, good call quality, and overall the service works. Video calls were a different story, and this was the only point in my testing where I noted a result that as a user would have truly bothered me. The call, made over Google Meet while I was connected via a full 5G connection, was grainy and the audio lagged consistently. I again tested this against a Wi-Fi connection, still using Google Meet, and the graininess and lagging had fully resolved. 

I’ve attributed the poor call quality to deprioritization, an unfortunate byproduct of Mint’s use of T-Mobile’s network that means that T-Mobile customers have faster data speeds in comparison to Mint in congested areas.

Customer support

With Ryan Reynolds at the helm, Mint Mobile‘s advertising, user interface, and customer support are really where the company shines. Straightforward language, readily available FAQs and other support, and a user-friendly app all serve to create a cohesive and uncomplicated experience as a Mint customer. 

From the jump, Mint’s advertising has appealed to its audience directly and simply, and they carry this attitude throughout the customer journey if you have questions as you go along. The app includes a data usage indicator on the home dashboard to keep track of your usage each month, and you can easily make payments or adjust your plan through the app as well. 

From a user standpoint, it’s refreshingly simple to manage your plan and make changes when you need. The online chat support and phone support are responsive as well, with almost no wait time (a first for a mobile carrier support line in my own experience) and agents who are well-versed in their subject matter and friendly as well.

How does Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan work?

Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan is one of the cheapest unlimited data plans out there, starting at $30 per month (or $15 per month for new customers). Technically “unlimited data” means 40GB of high-speed data. After 40GB, you’ll still have access to data, but at significantly slower speeds.

This is generally true for unlimited data plans across the market, though Mint’s plan is more cost-effective than most competitors. Google Fi Wireless’ high-speed data caps at 35 GB for its $50 per month unlimited plan, and Tello Mobile’s unlimited plan caps at 25GB for $29 per month. Visible Wireless’ Visible+ plan is the lone “budget” unlimited plan that provides a slightly better deal, with 50GB of high-speed data for $35 per month with a current promotion. 

As of April 14, 2023, Mint’s unlimited plans also have access to 10GB of monthly hotspot data (an increase from a previous 5GB allotment). This falls in the middle of the range of hotspot data services offered by Mint’s main competitors: Comparable unlimited plans from Google Fi Wireless and Tello offer only 5GB of hotspot data, while Mint is far surpassed by Visible’s two comparably priced unlimited plans, which both include unlimited hotspot data. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mint Mobile has emerged as a compelling choice for the budget-conscious consumer who seeks reliable mobile service without compromising on quality. With its innovative pricing model, strong network partnership, and customer-centric approach, Mint Mobile has solidified its position as a formidable player in the mobile carrier industry. For individuals who value affordability and are willing to explore alternatives, Mint Mobile presents an enticing proposition, making it a worthy consideration for your mobile connectivity needs.