There’s a lot more to consider about these two carriers, and we’ll go over all of the juicy details—including plans, pricing, and performance—in this Mint vs. US Mobile review.
Data: Make sure you have enough data to support your streaming, scrolling, posting, and gaming needs. Price: There are tons of carriers out there offering all kinds of deals. Compare prices before locking in your new plan so that you don’t overpay. Coverage: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all run huge cellular networks. Check local coverage maps to make sure you’re on a network that’s strong in your area. Features: Get a plan with all the features you need—like hotspot data, international benefits, and HD video streaming.
This means that both companies are able to offer plans that are much cheaper than those offered by traditional carriers, like Verizon and AT&T. But it also means both carriers have relatively slow data speeds. The big differences between Mint and US Mobile’s plans are the prices, data allotment, and perks. Here’s everything you need to know, beginning with Mint.
Unlimited talk and text 5G network access Mobile hotspot data T-Mobile coverage
Each plan also comes with a certain amount of 4G LTE data, from 4–35 GB. Take a look at the prices in this chart. Then there’s the unlimited data plan, which is actually more like a 35 GB plan. Once you use more than that, your speeds will be reduced. While 35 GB is plenty of data for most people, it’s certainly not unlimited. All of Mint’s plans come with a risk of data deprioritization, which means that your data speeds can be slowed down when the network is busy. In short, Mint’s plans are a great deal for those who want a cheap plan with a decent amount of data. But those who need truly unlimited data or super-fast data speeds will probably want something different. Take Mint’s 15 GB plan. It goes from $25 to $45 after the first month! You have to sign up for 12 months of service to keep that low $25 price. Here’s a screenshot of the fine print on Mint’s website. Plus, US Mobile offers plans with less data or no data at all, including a free 75-minute plan (yes, it’s truly free after you apply a discount from WhistleOut and pay the $3.99 start-up fee). So what’s the catch? Why are US Mobile’s prices so low? One explanation is that the company’s data speeds are lower than Mint Mobile’s. While it’s impossible to get firm data on this (carriers don’t usually release information about their specific data speeds), many online reviews from customers talk about how US Mobile deprioritizes data more than some other MVNOs. This theory is backed up by the fact that Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network, which has baseline speeds that are higher than US Mobile’s parent network, Verizon. First of all, Mint’s unlimited plan actually has a data cap of 35 GB per month. Meanwhile, US Mobile’s unlimited plan is truly unlimited. You won’t have your data cut off or throttled because you use too much. On the other hand, Mint Mobile lets customers use their phone as a mobile hotspot for free. With US Mobile you have to pay an extra $10 a month for hotspot data. All in all, Mint’s unlimited data plan is probably the better deal for most casual users. But if you need truly unlimited data, then you should go with US Mobile. Both Mint and US Mobile have family plans available. But only US Mobile will actually give you a discount for adding additional lines to your account. For example, here’s what it looks like to get an unlimited data family plan with four lines from each of these companies. As you can see, Mint’s plan costs the same as if you got four separate unlimited plans (4 x $30), but with US Mobile you get a steep discount ($85 for family plan with four lines vs. $120 for four separate unlimited data lines). This means that Mint’s customers will be on the network with the fastest data speeds (though those speeds will be deprioritized) and the largest 5G infrastructure. Meanwhile, US Mobile customers will have the best nationwide coverage through Verizon. There are advantages to both, and you’ll have to decide which one is better for you. If you want to see how the coverage compares in your specific area, zoom in on these coverage maps. Here’s a look at some of the most popular devices sold by each company.
Plans: US Mobile has more plans (including a free plan) and its prices are generally lower. But Mint’s data speeds should be higher, and its unlimited data plan is $10 cheaper than US Mobile’s. Family plans: US Mobile is the clear winner when it comes to family plans. It offers some great discounts on additional lines. Mint, on the other hand, doesn’t offer any family plan discounts. Coverage and performance: You’ll experience data deprioritization with both Mint and US Mobile. However, Mint may offer faster data speeds in general because it’s on T-Mobile’s network. Both carriers should offer great coverage in metropolitan areas, but US Mobile’s Verizon-run network will get you better coverage in rural areas.
If you’ve made up your mind then you can sign up for Mint or US Mobile online. If you’re still on the fence, then maybe you should check out these other great plans.
