What is Mint Mobile, and is it worth it?

Mint Mobile stands out from other carriers not just because of its frequent ads on streaming services and podcasts, but also for the different approach it takes to wireless service. Mint specializes in low-cost plans, but the way to get the carrier's best rate is very different from the competition.

Unlike a lot of carriers who offer the best cheap cell phone plans by charging you on a month-to-month basis, Mint has customers pay in advance for anywhere from three to 12 months of service. The longer the commitment, the bigger the discount on your monthly cost, with anyone opting to pay a year in advance enjoying a rate that's a fraction of what you would have to pay for a similar amount of data elsewhere.

And that's why you'd turn to Mint over more established carriers like AT&T and Verizon. Commit to a year with Mint, and you'll pay a lot less on a monthly basis than you might with some of the other best prepaid phone plans, though it will require a large upfront payment to enjoy those savings. At least you can also bring any of the best unlocked phones that support GSM networks over to Mint, allowing you to use your current phone with the carrier's wireless service should you switch wireless providers.

We've compiled this summary of everything potential Mint customer need to know, covering topics from Mint's coverage and plans to devices the network supports. You can also jump to our look at the best Mint Mobile plans if you want to find out more about what you'll pay for service. Opt for Mint, and you take advantage of these Mint Mobile promo codes so you can make the deals even sweeter.

What network does Mint Mobile use?

Like many prepaid carriers, Mint is what's considered an MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator. MVNOs operate on the infrastructure of existing networks: in Mint's case, that network is T-Mobile. (We've got more on the prepaid vs. postpaid phone service differences if you want to explore that topic in greater depth as well as a look at what an MVNOs is.)

T-Mobile is a great choice for wireless coverage, as the most recent Opensignal report from January 2025 gives the carrier a clean sweep of its overall experience awards, which cover download and upload speeds. OpenSignal also ranks T-Mobile as the best for 5G download speed, coverage and availability. Rootmetrics is less positive about T-Mobile's performance, as the carrier places behind AT&T in national and state testing conducted during the second half of 2024. T-Mobile does offer the best 5G availability, according to Rootmetrics, though the testing firm gives the edge to Verizon on overall 5G service. Put it all together, and it adds up to fairly strong performance for Mint customers through T-Mobile's network.

One thing to note about Mint's performance — it's subject to slowdowns if T-Mobile's network is crowded, as the carrier will prioritize its customers over an MVNO. That's true even after T-Mobile's acquisition of Mint. In other words, Mint may be part of the T-Mobile family, but T-Mobile continues to treat it as a separate brand.

Of course, performance depends on coverage as well as Mint's availability in your area. To that end, Mint provides a map on its website that will help you determine if the service will work for you.

Mint Mobile 5G: What do you get?

T-Mobile offers nationwide 5G service, with 5G coverage reaching 330 million people in the U.S. And as noted above, 5G service is extended to MVNOs like Mint. If you've got a 5G phone for your Mint service, you can take advantage of T-Mobile 5G infrastructure as part of your plan.

As a Mint customer, you're free to bring one of the best 5G phones to the carrier, or select one through the service provider itself. Mint offers an extensive selection of 5G phones, including the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16. On the more affordable end, you'll find budget devices like the Pixel 8a.

What phones can you use with Mint Mobile?

As Mint operates on T-Mobile's GSM-based network, you're going to want a GSM-based phone to use it. Unlocked phones are typically geared for GSM networks, like AT&T and T-Mobile, rather than CDMA-based networks, like Verizon. These days, most phones that go on sale will be able to work through Mint on T-Mobile's network.

Fortunately, finding a good, inexpensive unlocked phone is easier than ever, and our best unlocked phones guide will help you settle on the handset that's right for you. If you already have a device you suspect might be compatible, you can plug its IMEI code into Mint's checker for confirmation.

Still, even after you've decided on the right phone, there are some steps you'll have to take to get everything up and running — from calls and texts to data. Follow the directions listed on Mint's FAQ page to ensure your Android device or iPhone is fully functional after you pop in the SIM card.

What are the best Mint Mobile plans?

We've got a summary of the best Mint Mobile plans, but here's a look at how long-term commitments help you save money at Mint versus the prepaid competition which tends to offer plans that let subscribers go month to month.

New and existing customers can opt for 5GB, 15GB, 20GB and unlimited data plans. Mint has changed its unlimited data option, removing a 40GB cap on high-speed data — now it's a truly unlimited plan that allows you to use as much data as you want without having to worry about slowdowns (other than the slowdowns that can occur when T-Mobile's network is congested, that is). Unlimited subscribers still get 10GB of hotspot data with their plan.

Mint Mobile 5GB plan: Mint's most affordable plan
The cheapest plan at Mint Mobile costs just $15/month and gives you a generous allotment of 5GB of data. Be aware that the $15 rate applies for your first three months of service. After that, you'll need to sign up for a year of service — which costs $180 — to keep your monthly rate at $15.

The company's three-month introductory offer guarantees the same monthly rate that 12-month subscribers ordinarily pay. That's $15 per month for 5GB, $20 for 15GB, $25 for 20GB and $30 for Mint's unlimited plan.

When it comes time to renew, if you want to sign up for another three months, your bill could jump considerably. Here's what you can expect to pay after your first plan ends:

Returning customers who opt for a three-month plan will pay an additional $30, $45 or $60 up front, compared to their first bill. Even if you buy six months at a time, you'll still see a monthly rate increase of between $5 and $10. The only way to continue paying the same rates you enjoyed as a new subscriber is to sign up for a 12-month commitment.

It's also worth noting that once you pass your monthly data allotment for a tiered plan, you're throttled to 2G speeds. You can purchase more data if you like, either through Mint's website or by texting "UPDATA" to 6700.

Ultimately, if you're going to make Mint your permanent carrier, you'll need to be comfortable paying the full year in advance to get the lowest rate. After the initial three-month discount, the regular three-month rates are not as compelling when compared to what you'd pay at rival carriers.

How does Mint Mobile's unlimited plan work?

Mint launched an unlimited data plan in 2020 that's only slightly more expensive than its tiered options, making it one of the best unlimited data plans out there. It's even forced other MVNOs to adjust their pricing. Visible used to charge $40 for its unlimited plan, but now it has a basic unlimited offering at $25.

Mint Unlimited Data Plan: Unlimited data for less
At $30/month, Mint offers one of the least expensive unlimited data plans you'll find. The catch is you'll need to commit to a year of service — a one-time payment of $360 — to enjoy that low monthly rate.

As we've noted, Mint's unlimited data plan no longer comes with a data cap on high-speed data. You can now use as much data as you want without any penalty to data speed.

Some caveats remain with the unlimited data plan at Mint, though. Unlimited customers have their video streams capped at standard-definition, 480p quality; this limitation doesn't exist for tiered data plans. Unlimited subscribers get 10GB of hotspot data at 4G/5G speeds; on other plans, you draw from your monthly data allotment for hotspot data.

Mint also launched a service where you can let the carrier log your monthly data usage. The idea is that unlimited users can see how much data they consume each month and adjust to a lower cost plan if they're not regularly using enough to justify Mint's unlimited service.

Does Mint Mobile offer family plans?

Mint offers family plans though it's a little bit different than what other carriers do. Get a plan with multiple lines at most carriers, and the per-line charge will drop as you add additional people. For instance, at T-Mobile, you'd pay $75/month for one line of the carrier's Go5G unlimited data plan, but two lines would cost $130 total, or $65 a line. Right now, T-Mobile waives the cost of a third line of Go5G, so four lines total $155/month or $38.75 for each line.

There's no such discount at Mint, where everyone on a Mint Mobile family plan pays the same per-line amount while getting the same discounted rate. Say you and another person in your family both get 5GB plans at the 12-month rate. You'll both pay $15 a month for a total monthly cost of $30 (though you will have to pay for a year upfront).

Mint also lets family plans mix and match data allotments, something you can't do with T-Mobile's unlimited plans. So one person could get unlimited data at Mint while another is assigned 5GB. It's an attractive approach for parents who might want to restrict just how much data their kids get every month, while saving money in the process.

What special features does Mint Mobile offer?

If you're looking to try out Mint for yourself, thankfully you can do so without risk. The carrier has a seven-day money-back guarantee, where you can get a full refund (minus shipping and handling) within a week if the service doesn't work for you.

In terms of other benefits, Mint is a mostly bare-bones service — though you're still able to add to your LTE or 5G data allotment whenever you're approaching the cap. An extra 1GB runs for $10 and another 3GB is $20. Additionally, if you're traveling overseas, the carrier offers international roaming data at those same prices. Calls to Mexico and Canada are free.

While many carriers charge extra for mobile hotspot usage, Mint includes that privilege for its subscribers for free, which is very handy. After not initially supporting visual voicemail, Mint now allows it. Likewise, Wi-Fi calls and texts are permitted for devices with those features. Most newer Android devices and iPhones support service over Wi-Fi (Mint offers a full list on its website) though it may have to be activated first via your phone's Settings menu.

Mint Mobile's competition

Mint Mobile is one of many MVNOs out there and it faces fierce competition from more traditional month-to-month pre-paid options. But the ones to look out for if you are thinking about Mint are Visible, Xfinity Mobile, and Tello.

Visible's claim to fame is its affordable unlimited plans, which start at $25. Throw in the fact that Visible uses the network of parent company Verizon, and it's a pretty attractive option if Verizon's coverage is strong in your area.

Xfinity Mobile uses Verizon's network, too. The catch is you need to be a Comcast subscriber to even qualify for Xfinity mobile service. But if you're in that group, you can get a pretty good deal on wireless service. Xfinity Mobile's best plan charges $45/month for unlimited data, but if you add a second line, your per-line cost drops to $30, as Xfinity essentially charges $20 for each extra line. That makes Xfinity a better choice than Mint for families.

As for Tello, it charges $25 for unlimited talk, text and data, and you don't have to buy a year in advance to get that rate, just like Visible. But like Mint, Tello uses T-Mobile's network.

Another alternative is Boost Mobile, which operates its own network (though it does use AT&T and T-Mobile to extend coverage where its towers can't reach). Boost competes on price, with an unlimited data plan that starts at $25/month — a rate Boost guarantees so long as you remain a customer. Boost's $25 plan is pretty bare-bones in terms of perks, with a 30GB cap on premium data each month.

What do customers say about Mint Mobile?

Mint has gotten favorable feedback for its inexpensive rates and simple user experience. However, if you have to call up customer service, the experience may be less than ideal. Subscribers on the Mint Mobile subreddit have cited poor support, especially compared to the Google Fi network, which prides itself on speedy replies and availability through multiple social channels. To make matters worse, the lack of a brick-and-mortar presence means Mint customers have fewer resources at their disposal, should something go wrong.

As far as network performance is concerned, users have cited slower speeds, on average, for Mint Mobile when compared to T-Mobile. This likely has to do with Mint's customers being deprioritized in favor of T-Mobile's own base. That's not a unique phenomenon for prepaid users, who almost always end up playing second fiddle to postpaid subscribers. However, some Mint customers say they've reached peak speeds from time to time, possibly when network conditions were less congested.

Mint Mobile: Verdict

Like most prepaid wireless networks, Mint does sacrifice some comforts — such as readily available customer support and the best possible data speeds — for a lower monthly cost.

Still, Mint's bulk sales model helps it achieve some of the lowest prices in the industry. And if you can put up with occasionally slowed-down data and having to go to community forums to solve some problems on your own, Mint shouldn't let you down. Make sure you check our Mint Mobile coupons for the latest discounts and promo codes, and the best Mint Mobile plans for which plan will suit you best.

Conversely, less savvy users, or those in search of more perks, would be better-advised to take a look at Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless or Boost Mobile — carriers that charge more for the same data, but provide more consistent performance as well as premium features.