These two look similar on paper — both are T-Mobile-network MVNOs with no contract and no credit check — and are almost never the right answer for the same person. Fi is built for people who travel and want network failover; Mint is built to be the cheapest brand-name unlimited in the country.
Price
- Mint Unlimited — $15/mo on your first 3-, 6-, or 12-month term, then $40/mo. Mint 6GB is $15/mo intro, $25/mo after.
- Google Fi Unlimited Standard — $50/mo for one line, about $40/line at two.
- Google Fi Unlimited Premium — $65/mo for one line, about $60/line at two and $50/line at four or more.
- Both add taxes and fees on top; neither is all-in pricing.
| Mint Mobile | Google Fi | |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited, intro | $15/mo for your first 3, 6 or 12-month term | No intro rate |
| Unlimited, ongoing | $40/mo at renewal | Unlimited Standard $50/mo |
| Premium unlimited | Not offered | Unlimited Premium $65/mo |
| Two lines | Per-line prepay pricing | About $40/line on Standard |
| Premium data threshold | 50GB | 50GB Standard, 100GB Premium |
| Hotspot | Up to 20GB | 25GB Standard, 50GB Premium |
| Smaller plan | 6GB — $15/mo intro, $25/mo after | Flexible data option |
Data and hotspot
- Mint Unlimited — unlimited with a 50GB premium threshold, up to 20GB hotspot.
- Fi Unlimited Standard — 50GB before deprioritization, 25GB hotspot, HD video.
- Fi Unlimited Premium — 100GB before deprioritization, 50GB hotspot, HD video.
- On raw allowance, Mint Unlimited matches Fi Unlimited Standard's 50GB premium data at renewal for $10 less. Fi Unlimited Premium's 100GB threshold and 50GB hotspot are the standout numbers here — though Fi counts tethering against the same allowance.
Network and travel
Mint is T-Mobile only — Ultra Capacity 5G where available, and nothing when T-Mobile is weak. Fi runs T-Mobile as primary with Verizon and US Cellular failover, which matters in places where T-Mobile is thin. Internationally the gap is decisive: Fi Unlimited Plus includes full data and texting in 200+ countries with no day passes, while Mint includes free calling to Mexico, Canada, and the UK and little else.
Who should pick which
- Pick Fi Unlimited Plus if you travel internationally more than once a year. Day-pass roaming on any other carrier erases the price difference fast.
- Pick Fi if you're in a marginal T-Mobile area — the Verizon and US Cellular failover is the product.
- Pick Mint if you stay domestic and T-Mobile works at home and work. It's roughly half the price for comparable domestic service.
- Pick Mint if you can commit to a 12-month term upfront, which is where its economics are strongest.
- Pick neither if you want multi-network choice at a lower price: US Mobile Unlimited Premium at $32.50/mo lets you choose Verizon or T-Mobile at signup.
Every T-Mobile-network plan we track, ranked on price, premium data, and hotspot.
Best T-Mobile MVNO plans →
Jean Gilles has researched personal finance, consumer technology, and wireless pricing for over a decade. He founded ShopCellPlans in 2019 and writes every review on the site.
Frequently asked questions
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