You’ve come to the right place if you’re trying to decide which of the available Mint Mobile plans is best for you. Since everyone has a different budget and use case, we’ve gathered a tonne of helpful advice as well as our opinions on the current Mint Mobile plans available to assist you in making the best decision. For a prepaid carrier, Mint Mobile actually offers a surprising number of alternatives, both affordable and limitless.
With Mint Mobile plans, less data generally translates into lower costs, although of course, you’ll want to take your actual needs into account. Based on typical usage requirements like surfing, social media, and video streaming, we’ve offered suggestions for each plan.
All Mint Mobile plans include the company’s little unusual pricing structure. Simply said, you may purchase data in blocks of three, six, or twelve months, with the longer plans typically averaging out to lower monthly rates. You must pay for your plans in full up front with Mint Mobile(opens in a new tab), so be ready to spend a sizable sum all at once to obtain the best pricing overall.
When it comes to Mint Mobile plans, upfront payment may be a bit of a bummer for some people. It does have the benefit of long service periods during which you essentially pay nothing at all, and all without being bound by a contract. We think it’s worthwhile, especially given that Mint Mobile currently has some of the most affordable prepaid plans(opens in new tab) available.
In terms of value, Mint Mobile plans currently stand out from those of the competitors in more ways than just pricing. Additionally, all subscriptions include free 5G internet, mobile hotspots, and even calls to Mexico and Canada. There are numerous Mint Mobile phones that only require a SIM card to function because all GSM-compatible phones are also compatible with Mint Mobile.
Let’s start by going through every detail of the current Mint Mobile plans, including their costs and the ideal customers for each one. Then, we’ll go into frequently asked questions concerning this service. You can skip to this section by utilizing the helpful navigation links at the top of the page.
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Price Information About Mint Mobile Plans
As you can see from the information above, there are 4 different data plans accessible to you. You may purchase each of them in increments of 3, 6, and 12 months, with a unique introductory deal only available to new customers.
Although there is a lot of information to read, the idea is very straightforward: purchase your plan in yearly increments to receive the average lowest monthly pricing.
Even if you choose a yearly plan at Mint Mobile, you must pay for your subscription upfront. As a result, even though you will end up saving more money overall, you should anticipate spending more up front for the lowest plans.
The sole exception to this rule is if you’re purchasing a family plan with two or more lines; in this case, you’ll always pay the least expensive “yearly” cost, even though the plans only last for three months at a time.
We’ve addressed how much data you’ll need and how many months you should buy in the FAQ section just below if you’d like a little more guidance on which plan to choose.
What Is Included in Mint Mobile Plans?
No matter how much data or how many months you purchase, the following are included in all Mint Mobile plans:
- No-limit texting and talking
- Mobile hotspots that are free (5GB cap on unlimited)
- Speeds of 5G and 4G LTE, if appropriate
- Free messages and calls to Mexico and Canada
Unlike other carriers, Mint Mobile’s plans don’t typically include a wide range of extras or benefits, such as subscription services, which are frequently bundled with many cell phone plans. Having said that, Mint Mobile does provide some extensive features, especially considering the price.
To begin with, all Mint Mobile plans come equipped with unlimited talk and text, so you won’t have to worry about running out when you have those extended family conversations.
All Mint Mobile plans include free calls to Mexico and Canada, as well as access to unlimited free mobile hotspots (with a 5GB cap on the unlimited plan). You should always use WiFi connections when available, and fortunately, Mint Mobile also offers full Wi-Fi texting and calling.
The fact that all Mint Mobile plans include 5G connectivity is an additional great benefit. Even if prepaid carriers are starting to use this more frequently, it’s still pleasant to see. So, if you’re equipped with a 5G smartphone, get ready for some very fast data.
Do You Actually Require This Much Data?
A good query! When deciding which of the Mint Mobile plans will work best for you, this is without a doubt the most crucial aspect to take into account.
Although each user’s data usage varies greatly, it’s fortunately relatively simple to calculate how much you use each month and make future plans. Here is what we would initially advise as a broad guideline for data allowances:
- Less than 5GB of data per month is used for email and messaging.
- Internet usage: 5GB per month
- 10GB per month for social media and streaming music
- 10GB or more per month for streaming HD video
Checking your data consumption through your smartphone settings, which is possible on both Apple and Android devices but significantly different for Apple users, will help you to pinpoint the issue even further.
This should help you estimate how much of your data usage is cellular as opposed to WiFi. Checking this should reveal this information. If you have an account login, most carriers also provide data use reports via their websites.
You might be surprised by how little cellular data you’ll need if you plan on using a Wi-Fi connection, especially if you’re simply going to be reading your emails and texts. The 4GB Mint Mobile plan should be adequate for that, but if you intend to stream music or do a lot of browsing, it’s definitely worth upgrading to the 10GB allocation.
You should probably buy the 15GB plan if you’re going to be streaming videos or monitoring a social media site with a lot of data usage (like Instagram). As an alternative, the unlimited data plan can be the best option for you if you’re a heavy user and don’t have access to Wi-Fi.
Are There Family Plans Available from Mint Mobile?
Yes. The option for a family package with up to five lines is new for early 2022 at Mint Mobile (opens in a new tab). You can mix and match each line depending on your data needs, then you’ll pay upfront for three months for each line.
Each line will be charged at the same ‘yearly’ rate as if you had purchased a single line for the whole year. The cheapest cost is conceivable with the advantage of a shorter commitment.
Let’s say you want Mint Mobile’s three-line unlimited package. You will pay $30 each month, per line, for three months under the current arrangement, which works up to $270 upfront. Although the upfront cost is substantial, as previously mentioned, you essentially receive each plan for the same amount as if you had purchased a full year of each separately.
Is the Unlimited Mint Mint Mobile Plan Truly Unlimited?
You should be aware of a few restrictions before signing up for the Mint Mobile unlimited data plan and paying for an entire year’s worth of data at once, as is the case with all Mint Mobile plans.
First off, there is a soft cap on data usage, which means that after 35GB of usage, speeds will start to be throttled all the way down to 128KB/s. The 128KB/s is still a very, very generous allotment, but it’s nothing when compared to the 4G or 5G speeds you’ll get for free each month. It’s sufficient to check and send messages, maybe do a little light browsing, and that’s about it for context.
Your mobile hotspot allocation is also subject to a soft maximum of only 5GB of 5G/4G speeds, and Mint only allows for standard definition (480p, not 1080p like high definition) video streaming.
Since Mint Mobile is a prepaid provider, plans may be “deprioritized” when the parent network is busy. To guarantee its own customers have the greatest speeds possible, T-Mobile may decide to slow down your data if there is a lot of congestion. This will greatly depend on the volume of traffic in your local area.
Mint Mobile Add-Ons to Plans
Although Mint Mobile doesn’t provide many service add-ons, there are a few options to extend the life of your subscription when you need it.
Mint provides an option to add more high-speed data if your monthly allowance has been used up. You will be able to purchase an additional 1GB or 3GB of data through these for $10 or $20, respectively, and use that additional data allowance for the duration of the current 30-day plan cycle.
Mint Mobile will still be able to serve you if you intend to travel abroad, but you will have to pay an additional fee. The prices vary per nation. With the help of an add-on service called UpRoam, you may add an international roaming balance to your account; if you don’t use it all up within a month, the remaining amount won’t expire.
Should I Receive Three, Six, or Twelve Months?
Determining the best way to pay for Mint Mobile service can be challenging because the costs might differ dramatically depending on whether you pay for a year at once or a few months at a time. Furthermore, whether you choose a 3, 6, or 12-month plan with Mint, you will need to be able to make a higher upfront payment despite the reduced monthly costs.
Try the initial introductory 3-month period at the lowest fee before deciding if you’re ready to commit to a full year of service, is our advice. Go for a year if you’re content after that and decide you want to stay together forever.
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By paying for service for a full year at once, a significant price advantage is achieved. For instance, if you select any 6-month plan and use it for a year (i.e., pay for the 6-month plan twice), you would spend the same amount or more than you would have if you had chosen the next higher tier plan and paid for 12 months upfront. If you decide to pay for 3 months at a time rather than annually, the cost you’ll spend can virtually quadruple.
Paying in full may be more expensive, so you might try starting with a less expensive plan to reduce your cell bill for three months, and then using the money you saved during that time to help pay for one of the longer, better-value plans.
How Do the Proposals from Mint Mobile Compare to Those of The Opposition?
While Mint Mobile plans are great, they’re not the only inexpensive prepaid alternative you should look into. Here at TechRadar, we constantly compare the top cell phone plans(opens in a new tab) available, so these are some honorable mentions.
If you’re specifically seeking an inexpensive prepaid unlimited subscription, Visible Plans(opens in a new tab) provides a really, really tempting alternative to Mint. Although the most recent Visible plan costs $40, or $10 more than Mint, it includes absolutely unlimited mobile hotspots and has no soft restrictions on speed after data usage.
Additionally, Visible has a fantastic “Party Pay” mechanism that enables you to combine your account with those of up to three additional customers to receive discounts on each line. This is similar to a family plan in that it allows you to party with anyone, not just family members.
If you’re looking for a network that uses the main T-Mobile network, Metro by T-Mobile is another affordable choice. Metro is somewhat more expensive than Mint at $50 for its unlimited subscription, but there are no additional costs or taxes, making it one of the more affordable options available.
Given that Metro offers nearly identical service to Mint, including 5G connectivity, 35GB of priority data, 480p video streaming, and 5GB of hotspot data, it is absolutely worth taking into account. Additionally, adding an additional line costs only $20, making it a perfect choice for couples in especially.
Consider T-Magenta(opens Mobile’s in new tab) unlimited plan if you’re signing up for a family plan with three or more users. While larger carriers don’t typically provide tremendous value, T-Mobile offers pretty substantial reductions — coming out to just $35 per person with four lines or $32 with five lines — and includes a third line for free on all family plans.
Due to additional taxes and fees levied by Verizon and AT&T, as well as the fact that T-Mobile offers somewhat greater streaming service benefits, this package narrowly edges over both carriers’ lowest unlimited plans.
As always, choosing T-Mobile over Mint will provide you with “priority” 5G connectivity and prevent your connection from being slowed down during periods of high traffic. Naturally, this would depend on your specific circumstances, but the majority would consider the cheaper prepaid plans to be more than worth the trade-off for slower speeds.