Mint Mobile and Visible are two of the best-known budget carriers, and each is owned by the network it runs on: Mint by T-Mobile, Visible by Verizon. The choice usually comes down to which network works better where you live, and whether you'd rather prepay or pay monthly.
Mint vs Visible at a glance
| Mint Mobile | Visible | |
|---|---|---|
| Network | T-Mobile | Verizon |
| Cheapest plan | $15/mo, 6GB (12 months upfront) | $25/mo, unlimited |
| Unlimited | $30/mo on 12 months; new customers $30/mo for 3 months | $25 (Visible), $35 (Visible+), $45 (Visible+ Pro) |
| How you pay | Prepay 3, 6 or 12 months | Monthly, or yearly on Visible's annual plans |
| Taxes and fees | Extra | Included |
| Hotspot on unlimited | Up to 20GB high-speed | Unlimited at 5 Mbps (Visible), 10 Mbps (Visible+), 15 Mbps (Visible+ Pro) |
| Premium data | 50GB, then slowed when busy | None on Visible; all data on Visible+ and Visible+ Pro |
Price
For unlimited data, the two are close once taxes are counted. Mint Unlimited is $30 a month on a 12-month term, plus taxes and fees. Visible's base plan is $25 a month with taxes included, and you can cancel any month. Mint is cheaper only if you use little data: its 6GB plan is $15 a month on a 12-month term.
Network and speed
Coverage is the bigger difference. Mint uses T-Mobile's network, which tends to be strongest in cities and suburbs. Visible uses Verizon's, which often reaches further into rural areas. Check both carriers' coverage maps for your home and work addresses before choosing.
On busy towers, Visible's base plan is slowed before other Verizon customers at any time. Mint Unlimited gets 50GB of premium data a month before it can be slowed. Visible+ and Visible+ Pro have premium data with no monthly cap.
Which to choose
- Choose Mint if T-Mobile is strong where you live, you use under 17GB a month, or you're happy to prepay a year to get the lowest price.
- Choose Visible if Verizon covers you better, you want to pay month to month with taxes included, or you need a lot of hotspot data.
Frequently asked questions
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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.