If you use the internet like me, you have probably seen Ryan Reynold’s funny commercials on Mint Mobile. You know, the ones where he claims to save you money on internet bills. It often made me wonder: Is Mint Mobile good for wireless savings?
As young working class American adults, we are always looking for ways to save money in almost everything. This is from trying to save on groceries to figuring out the cheapest cellular network out there. It is the hallmark of our every existence- scourging for cheap deals to make life easy in the midst of this inflation.
Would you agree?
Well, I got curious and I started digging to see whether I could switch to Mint mobile. What I found was astounding, because Mint Mobile has some great deals competing with other cellular networks. Here is what to know about the network which will save you money.
How Does Mint Mobile Work
So, what is the catch with mint mobile?
The network offers bulking buying. You buy months in advance as compared to monthly payment. This includes 3, 6 and 12 months mint plans for wireless savings.
Simply put, the more months you buy, the greater the discount you get. As a new customer, you will get a 3-month introductory rate. Here is a table below summarizing mint mobile discounted rate of three months for new customers.
| Mint Mobile 5GB plan | Mint Mobile 15GB plan | 30GB | Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint 1 month plan (introductory offer for 3 months) | $15 | $20 | $25 | $30 |
The above rate is only for anyone who got in through the introductory offer. After the end of three months, these rates change. To keep the same rate for the duration of your stay with Mint Mobile, you have to sign up for one year of plan.
For example,
To keep your monthly $15 on 5GB data plan, you have to opt in for Mint mobile 12 months plan. It will cost you $180 upfront payment. Do you understand Mint’s bulk buying and savings now?
How Much Is Mint Mobile After 3 Months?
As I mentioned earlier, your bill will change as soon as the promotion period is over. This is because the 3-month introductory offer is at a discounted rate. Here is how much you pay for a typical Mint mobile 5GB, 15GB, 30GB and unlimited plans after the promotional offer period.
| Mint Mobile 5GB plan | Mint Mobile 15GB plan | Mint mobile 20GB plan | Unlimited Mint mobile plan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months plan | $25 monthly ($75 advance pay for 3 months) | $35 ($105 advance pay for 3 months) | $45 ($135 advance pay for 3 months) | $40 ($120 advance pay for 3 months) |
| 6 months plan | $20 monthly ($120 advance pay 6 months) | $25 ($150 advance pay 6 months) | $35 ($210 advance pay for 6 months) | $35 ($210 advance pay for 6 months) |
| 12 months plan | $15 ($180 advance pay for 12 months) | $20 ($240 advance pay for 12 months) | $25 ($300 advance pay for 12 months) | $30 ($360 advance pay for 12 months) |
As per Mint mobile policy, the advance payment is the total payment you pay for each plan chosen. This is required. This is what differentiates Mint mobile from other networks. You prepaid in order to save on your monthly cell phone bill through discounts.
Why Is Mint Mobile So Cheap?
How is Mint mobile so cheap, my dear reader?
Mint mobile is cheap, because of its prepaid service creates buck savings for its users. The network offers you discounts, when you buy months in advance. These discounts are very competitive compared to other networks. It is what makes mint mobile so cheap.
You and I know networks like AT&T AND Verizon charge more than the above Mint mobile plans for cellular services. Hence, why I think Mint is designed for the young American working class adults in mind. This is why I am taking my time to write a Mint mobile review for you.
Mint Mobile International Plans
Mint mobile is good for wireless savings, while traveling internationally. Its international plans include a roaming pass to about 180 countries in the world. This feature includes high-speed internet data, call and text. The plan is divided into 1-day, 3-day, 10-day and 30-day for purchase.
Here is a table below summarizing its plans for anyone trying to save money on international calls, while traveling outside of the United States Of America.
| Day Passes | International Call Time (minutes) | Texts | Internet Data | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day | 60 minutes | 60 texts | 1GB of high speed data | $5 |
| 3-day | 200 minutes | 200 texts | Unlimited, additional 3GB high speed data | $10 |
| 10-day | 500 minutes | 500 texts | Unlimited, additional 10GB high speed data | $20 |
| 30-day | 100 minutes | 100 texts | No internet data | $5 |
These above international plans are eligible in 180 countries, so I recommend calling to inquire whether the country you intend to travel is amongst these. Also, these plans will not work in cruises or airlines. So, when should you activate Mint International?
You can activate it, when you arrive where you are traveling to.
After you have purchased any of these plans, just text ACTIVATE to 6700 for activation. You can either do it on the website or use your phone. Be sure to turn on the call roaming setting on your phone, so the international calling roaming will work.
Looking at the above international plans, you will agree with me that Mint can save money on vacation on a low-income budget.
Who Owns Mint Mobile?
T-mobile bought Mint mobile in 2023 for $1.35 billion. I was actually surprised to learn Ryan Reynold who is the face of its commercials is not the owner. He was a minority stake holder in 2019 though, prior to the buy out by T-mobile.
The Mint mobile ownership by T-mobile gives it a big coverage in the United States of America. What this means, is mint has nationwide coverage. The company claims to be the largest 5G network in the US.
Mint Mobile Coverage Map
Mint mobile uses the same cell towers as T-mobile network. As a result, the network customers have unrestricted access to its 5G and 4G LTE infrastructures. Mostly, mint mobile runs on 5G network. So, that means not every phone may be compatible for its 5G network, when you are attempting to switch to mint mobile.
To check whether your phone is compatible, you can go to Mint Compatibility.
Furthermore, you can use the same link to access mint mobile coverage maps. All you need is to put in your zip code. You will see be shown the coverage in your city or zip code. I recommend setting up the network if the coverage is good in your location.
The last thing you need is to have a poor network coverage after buying a plan. Am I right?
Where To Buy Mint Mobile SIM Cards?
You can buy Mint mobile SIM card in some stores. These include Target, Best Buy or Walmart. Not only these physical stores, but some online stores like Amazon sell it too. Finally, you can get a Mint mobile SIM card from the company’s website.
After the SIM card arrives, you can activate it easily. Read how Mint mobile activation work for the website’s guide on how you can activate a mint mobile SIM card. This is especially, when you are keeping your current carrier’s number and phone.
Pros and Cons Of Mint Mobile
Mint mobile is good for wireless savings, but it is not without its shortcomings. This is the same with every other cellular network out there. Here are my take on the downsides of using Mint versus its good sides.
| Advantages Of Mint Mobile | Drawback Of Mint Mobile |
|---|---|
| You can bring your own phone into the network as long as the phone is not locked. | No brick and mortal store to walk to help you resolve issues. |
| It is very affordable. | Prepaid plans. Despite its affordability, not everyone wants to pay in advance. |
| It has a 7-day free trial for you to get a feel of its service prior to sign up. | Network may slow down during congestion periods. |
| Its cheap international plans to 180 countries reduce traveling costs and save you money on international calls. | Compared to other big networks, it has limited customer services. |
If you are not deterred by the downsides of using Mint, then it is meant for you. Mint is budget-friendly. This is especially, when you are tired of paying a lot on phone bills.
Is Mint Mobile Worth It?
I sincerely believe mint mobile is one of the best cheap cellular networks out there. This is because it is made with young working class American adults on mind. It is worth looking into.
Mint Mobile is actually good for wireless savings. Unless you are not okay with prepaid plans or its lack of physical stores, it may not be for you. If you are an avid traveler like me, I would say to get it because no other American cellular network beats its international plans!
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