I’ve been using Mint Mobile as my personal provider for the past year and a half now, and I realized I haven’t done an updated review of them.
A lot has changed since I first tried Mint way back in 2017. They’ve added new features, faster data speeds, and are now owned by Ryan Reynolds (who recently left all Mint customers a voicemail because I think he’s bored out of his mind. Poor guy).
Anyway, I now think Mint is one of the best deals out there. Let me explain.
Mint is a prepaid carrier known as an MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator. All this means is instead of building Mint cell towers all across the country and creating their own network, they operate virtually on another network for coverage. In Mint’s case, that network is T-Mobile.
Mint is known for disrupting the industry by offering insanely affordable plans starting at $15 for 3GB of data all thanks to their bulk-pricing model. You sign up for service by choosing how much data you want, either 3GB, 8GB, or 12GB, and choosing to sign up for either a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month plan. Naturally, the longer you sign up for, the better price you get and the more you save on your cell phone bill. You can get 3GB for $15, 8GB for $20, and 12GB for $25 with the 12 month options.
Suggested: How Mint Mobile Can Be So Cheap
The longer-term plans are great if you’re staying in one area for a longer time, such as if you’re a student in boarding school or college, or know you won’t be moving soon. And if you are moving or traveling, you’d just want to check T-Mobile coverage is good in the area you’re headed. In my case, I’m in an area with good T-Mobile coverage, so I feel confident signing up for a 12-month plan.
With Mint Mobile, you’ll enjoy identical coverage to T-Mobile customers. You’ll generally get the same fast data speeds and performance.
The two caveats are that:
I don’t think many people will notice these minor caveats (I know I haven’t), and I’ve been generally very pleased with my experience on Mint Mobile. Data speeds have always been fast for me, and domestic roaming only impacts a few locations (that I haven’t traveled to yet).
The first big improvement with Mint Mobile since my original review in 2017 is that they now offer uncapped data speeds on T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G networks.
Previously, Mint had a 20Mbps data speed cap. This was still plenty fast from my testing, but it’s nice the cap has now been removed for full-speed LTE data.
Along with fast LTE speeds, Mint Mobile secretly supports T-Mobile’s 5G network. I tested them out on my Galaxy S20 Plus and was surprised to see a 5G icon in my status bar. T-Mobile’s 5G Network is about 20% faster than its LTE network with its current Sub-6 GHz 5G deployment. You won’t notice a huge improvement, but you’ll still average faster speeds, lower pings, and less congestion on T-Mobile 5G.
And you may have just heard that T-Mobile merged with Sprint. This will help them make the T-Mobile network stronger, faster, and more reliable than ever before. Honestly, I do think this will help T-Mobile compete with the likes of AT&T and Verizon.
The second big area Mint saw improvements in is with the experience for iPhone users. Previously, you had to enter APN Settings, or access point name settings. These configure how your phone connects to the cellular network and enable features like group messaging, picture messaging, and cellular data to work properly on your device. You only had to enter Mint’s custom APN settings once, but doing so was a hassle and potentially unfamiliar for a lot of people.
Thankfully, since September 2018, Mint made it so APN settings are configured automatically for iPhone users. All you need to do is pop in your SIM card and everything will be set-up and working properly. Android users may still need to enter the APN settings, and if that’s you, you can follow along with my full tutorial linked in the video description.
The third area Mint had huge improvements in were their features. They now offer completely full-feature service on the T-Mobile network. This includes support for visual voicemail on iPhone and Android, VoLTE, WiFi Calling, the mobile hotspot, 5G access, and now even international calling and international data roaming. You can add international roaming credit to your account, and Mint will deduct from this credit in a pay-per-use basis for minutes texts and data. While I don’t recommend Mint for international use, I’m pleased this option is available if you need it in a pinch.
Finally, there is the Mint Mobile application. This got a major redesign just a few weeks ago, and I love it. You now see your remaining data front and center (previously you had to tap to check your remaining balance), and you can more easily manage your plan. You can quickly see when your next payment is and how much is due.
You also have the option to change plans. With Mint, you can upgrade your plan to one with more data any time you want, even in the middle of your billing cycle. You’ll just pay a prorated difference between your current plan and your new plan. This came in handy for myself last summer when I realized I needed more than 3GB of data. I was easily able to upgrade to the 8GB option, and the changes took effect almost immediately. Unfortunately, if you’d like to downgrade your plan, the changes take effect on your next billing cycle.
Getting support got easier too. Mint now has a dedicated support page. You can start a conversation with an agent, or visit Mint’s FAQ page for answers to common questions.
If you opt for the chat support, you’ll first be greeted by a bot that can answer common questions. Tap on suggested quick replies to find the answer you need. If you ask a question that it can’t answer, it’ll pull in a human customer care agent. You’ll see up top your position in the queue and your estimated wait time.
I was connected with an agent in just a few minutes and asked how to enter APN settings on an Android phone, which judging from the popularity of my video tutorial seemed like an appropriate question to ask. The rep was nice, quick to respond, and helpful. He provided all the information I needed. Every support experience will be different, but I do think it’s great Mint is providing live chat support directly within their application.
The last tab in the application is the account tab. Here you can add more data, buy international roaming credit, change your payment method, view your transaction history, and manage your account preferences.
Overall I think the update improves the design and functionality of the app, and makes the Mint experience that much better.
And that’s why I use Mint. They have full-speed LTE data on the T-Mobile network with support for 5G coverage on compatible phones. APN settings are now automatically configured for iPhones, and Android phones will get a text message to quickly set them up. Major features like VoLTE, WiFi calling, and the personal hotspot are all fully supported on Mint, and they have a clean new app design.
Mint offers premium features at a budget price, and that’s why I use them as my personal provider. If you live in an area with good T-Mobile coverage and don’t need unlimited data, I recommend you give Mint a try. I think you can help you reduce your cell phone bill, and that’s what I’m all about.
If you’re interested in trying Mint Mobile, check out their plans below.
Watch the video below to see how to get set up and activated on Mint Mobile. I even show you how you can keep your existing number and port it to Mint Mobile.
