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If you’ve seen the ads for Mint Mobile featuring actor Ryan Reynolds, you may be wondering if the low-cost cell phone service provider is worth the savings.
The short answer is that yes it’s a good service, but it’s not for everyone.
I’ve tested more than a dozen cheap phone plans over the past few years. Mint Mobile offers among the best plans and pricing, features and app experience in the wireless industry.
In this article, I’ll share the pros and cons of the service to help you decide if you should sign up. Let’s dive in!
Mint Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that offers prepaid wireless plans. The service runs on T-Mobile’s network and utilizes its cell phone towers, including 5G at no extra charge.
Actor Ryan Reynolds is not just a spokesperson for Mint Mobile. He’s an owner.
Reynolds purchased an ownership stake in Mint Mobile in November 2019. In a press release, Mint said that “Reynolds will help with Mint’s communications and marketing efforts as well as strategic decision-making.”
The carrier got its start back in August of 2016. It was known as Mint SIM when it first launched.
Since Mint Mobile relies on T-Mobile to provide network coverage, your experience with the service will depend heavily on how T-Mobile performs where you live.
Enter your ZIP code on Mint’s website to confirm voice and data coverage where you live, work and travel.
If you’re happy with your existing network (Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile), I recommend that you look for a low-cost cell phone service provider that uses that network.
In the case of Mint Mobile, that’s T-Mobile.
Enter your ZIP code on Mint’s website to confirm voice and data coverage where you live, work and travel.
If you’re happy with your existing network (Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile), I recommend that you look for a low-cost cell phone service provider that uses that network.
In the case of Mint Mobile, that’s T-Mobile.
I’ve tried out the service in three cities where T-Mobile’s network is strong. I can only recall one dropped call during my four separate tests of Mint Mobile dating back to 2018.
Data speeds are sometimes inconsistent, but it’s always been usable from my extensive testing.
Mint Mobile now supports 5G. When I tested the 5G data speeds in South Florida using the Speedtest app, I recorded download speeds as high as 309 Mbps with my iPhone 12.
When using the 4G LTE network, I’ve averaged download speeds around 20 to 25 Mbps.
When you sign up for a low-cost carrier like Mint, you can expect your data speeds to be slowed down during times of network congestion.
But even when my speeds temporarily dropped to 5 to 10 Mbps, I could still stream video on my phone.
Mint Mobile offers four main plans that work out to as low as $15 a month, but there isn’t actually a monthly plan. You must buy plans for either three, six or 12 months at a time.
The introductory plans are for three months. Take a look at the regular pricing:
Taxes and fees vary depending on your location. You can see the additional charges during the checkout process before you place your order on MintMobile.com.
The wireless provider is known to offer limited-time deals on introductory plans that can save you money, such as buy three months of service and get three free.
After the introductory period, single-line members can lock in the lowest price by signing up for a 12-month plan.
Meanwhile, family plan accounts with two or more users get the best pricing while paying for service three months in advance, not a full year. Mint’s family plan launched in May 2022.
The Unlimited plan is great for single people. Several other discount cell phone service providers have unlimited plans for $25 a month, but they require you to be in a family or group plan.
For those on the fence, Mint Mobile offers a starter kit and says all plans have a 7-day money back guarantee.
All Mint Mobile plans include unlimited talk and text. Your high-speed data limit (4G LTE and 5G) varies depending on the plan that you choose.
Plans also include:
With the service, your data is never cut off completely. If you go over your high-speed data for the month, speeds will be reduced until the next month.
But if you prefer, you can purchase add-on high-speed data from within the carrier’s app.
Mint Mobile has improved its phone offerings over the years. At last check, there were more than 60 phones available for sale on its website including Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices.
I’ve noticed that Mint Mobile has started to bundle phones and plans. For example, Mint has offered six months of free service when you purchase a new Apple iPhone and a 6-month plan.
With Mint, you can also buy a new phone elsewhere and bring it to the service or keep your existing phone.
Before you sign up, confirm that your phone is unlocked and compatible with Mint Mobile. To do so, visit this page on Mint’s website and enter your phone’s IMEI number.
Mint Mobile is able to keep its prices low because it doesn’t have physical stores. For people who depend on in-person customer support, that’s going to be a drawback.
On the other hand, customer service is available by phone, chat and email for those who need it.
Mint Mobile’s setup process is very simple, even if it’s your first time switching to a low-cost carrier. When you sign up, you’ll receive a colorful activation kit with instructions.
Mint also has video tutorials to help you activate your service and either transfer your number or request a new one.
Your activation kit will include a physical SIM card. You can also get started with eSIM if you have a compatible device.
If you need further assistance, the redesigned Mint app is the place to go. From there, you can get chat support or find the customer service phone number.
The app is also the best place to monitor your data usage. Take a look:
Since Mint Mobile’s plans have high-speed data limits, the app will help you see how much data is remaining for the month and when your data renews.
Elsewhere in the app, you can complete tasks like making a payment and changing your payment method.
Mint Mobile doesn’t offer all of the premium perks that T-Mobile is known for, but it does have cheap phone plans that can substantially lower your cell phone bill.
If you want T-Mobile’s network for a lower price, I highly recommend Mint Mobile.
ProsConsAffordable multi-month plansNo monthly plan option5G available at no extra chargeDeprioritization during network congestionEasy activation and setupNo physical storesSolid app experience
There are other alternatives to T-Mobile’s postpaid plans. Metro by T-Mobile and Tello are two prepaid options that you may want to consider, especially if you prefer to pay monthly.
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