Network & coverage

Mint runs on T-Mobile's network, and since May 2024, T-Mobile owns Mint outright. Same towers, same 5G build-out: the largest 5G network in the U.S., with metro speed tests routinely over 200 Mbps and sub-30ms latency. The weak spots are T-Mobile's weak spots — pockets of the Mountain West, western Great Plains, and Appalachia. Mint can never out-cover T-Mobile: if T-Mobile fails at your address, so does Mint. Check the coverage map first.

The four plans (12-month rates)

• Mint 5GB: $15/mo ($180/yr): light users, kids, the cheapest legit second line in the U.S.
• Mint 15GB: $20/mo ($240/yr): the safe default; average users offload most data to Wi-Fi anyway.
• Mint 20GB: $25/mo ($300/yr): moderate streaming and hotspot use.
• Mint Unlimited: $30/mo ($360/yr): 35GB premium data, then slower speeds; 10GB dedicated hotspot.

New customers typically get any plan at $15/mo for the first 3 months. Every plan includes unlimited talk/text, free calling to Mexico and Canada, 5G, Wi-Fi calling, hotspot from your allowance, and free eSIM activation — no activation fee at all, versus up to $35/line at T-Mobile direct.

The fine print most reviews skip

• Taxes and fees are extra — add roughly 8–15% depending on your state; a $180 annual plan can run $200–210 out the door.
• The upfront cost is real: the headline rate requires paying 3–12 months at once ($180–360/year).
• The renewal trap: after your intro period, Mint defaults to the standard (higher) rate. Set a reminder 30 days before expiry and actively pick the 12-month renewal.
• Deprioritization: Mint customers rank below T-Mobile postpaid during congestion — noticeable at stadiums, airports, and events; invisible in routine daily use.

How Mint compares

vs Visible: Verizon network, truly unlimited, $25 paid monthly — better if you want Verizon or can't prepay; Mint Unlimited is ~$5/mo cheaper on annual terms. vs Ultra Mobile (Mint's T-Mobile-owned sibling): Mint is cheaper at every tier; Ultra wins if you call abroad (80+ countries free). vs Tello: cheaper for very light users ($5 floor); Mint wins on polish and annual predictability. vs Cricket: the opposite model: $55 with stores and AT&T priority. vs T-Mobile Prepaid direct: $40 unlimited buys full priority and T-Mobile Tuesdays, ~33% more for the same coverage.

For anyone paying $80–100 on a Big 3 postpaid plan without using the perks, switching to Mint is one of the simplest $700–900-a-year savings moves in personal finance.

— ShopCellPlans verdict

Who should pick Mint, and who shouldn't

Pick Mint if you're the cost-cutter leaving an unused-perks postpaid plan, a comfortable bulk buyer, a second-line user, a light-use senior or student, or a family in T-Mobile coverage (multi-line discounts stack on bulk pricing). Skip it if you need a physical store (Cricket), can't pay in bulk (Visible), live in a T-Mobile-weak zone, or burn 50GB+ of cellular data monthly.

How to switch

1. Verify coverage on T-Mobile's map: Mint matches it exactly.
2. Check your unlocked phone with Mint's free IMEI checker.
3. Get your account number and Number Transfer PIN from your current carrier: don't cancel anything yourself.
4. Pick a plan and cycle (12-month is always cheapest per month).
5. Activate: eSIM is instant; physical SIMs arrive in 3–5 days.
6. Wait for the port to finish; your old service ends automatically.