Mint Mobile vs T-Mobile: Plans Compared

T-Mobile is a major carrier that offers a wide selection of postpaid plans aboard the company’s own national 4G and 5G networks. Mint Mobile is a smaller prepaid provider (or MVNO) that subleases space on T-Mobile’s powerful networks. Mint Mobile’s plans lack the perks of T-Mobile’s, but are far less expensive. 

In this article, we’ll compare the two providers to help you decide which makes the most sense to go with for your next cell phone plan.

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Mint Mobile vs T-Mobile: Similarities

• Both make use of T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G and 5G networks. 
• Both offer unlimited plans. 
• Both offer multi-line discounts, bringing the monthly per-line cost down for additional lines.
• Both offer trade-in deals for current flagship phones, from Samsung devices to Apple iPhones.

Mint Mobile vs T-Mobile: Differences

• T-Mobile’s plans are postpaid—meaning you pay for your service at the end of the month—whereas Mint Mobile’s are prepaid, and can be paid for in advance on a 3, 6, or 12-month basis. 
• Mint Mobile sells capped plans, while T-Mobile does not. 
• T-Mobile offers a selection of unlimited data plans, while Mint Mobile only has one.
• T-Mobile’s unlimited plans come bundled with perks like free Netflix, whereas Mint doesn’t offer any equivalent add-ons. 
• T-Mobile’s unlimited plans come with additional mobile hotspot data allotments; Mint Mobile’s hotspot data gets extracted from your primary monthly data allowance. 
• T-Mobile’s plans tend to be fairly steep in price, while Mint Mobile’s are very affordable. 
• T-Mobile includes taxes and fees in its advertised prices, while Mint Mobile does not. 

Mint Mobile vs T-Mobile: Unlimited Plans

T-Mobile has done away with its capped plan offerings, opting to go all-in on unlimited. As a result, the carrier now sells five different unlimited data plans: the entry-level Essentials Saver and Essentials, the mid-range Go5G, and premium Go5G Plus and Go5G Next. 

Essentials and Essentials Saver both include unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data allowances, while Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next feature varying amounts of decidedly faster 5G hotspot data. Additionally, the latter three of these unlimited plans come bundled with streaming perks like free Netflix and AppleTV subscriptions, and data in 210+ countries. 

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Mint Mobile sells a single unlimited plan for $30/month when you sign up for Mint’s 3-month introductory offer. This unlimited plan—one of the least expensive on the market—is data-cap free, includes a 10GB mobile hotspot allowance (although that data comes out of your overall monthly premium data allowance), and allows for free calling to Mexico and Canada. Since Mint’s unlimited plan is a more stripped back type of offering, we’d categorize it as entry-level (despite the carrier’s marketing of it as a premium plan). 

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? An unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data, but not all the data in an unlimited plan is necessarily of the high-speed variety. Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to include unlimited deprioritized data (data that slows down when networks are busy). Some plans include a small amount of high-speed data as well, while others don’t. Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped at a certain amount, and unlimited deprioritized data. The most pricy unlimited plans are where you'll find truly unlimited premium data.

Mint Mobile vs T-Mobile: Capped Plans

As mentioned, T-Mobile has axed its capped plan offerings in favor of unlimited data plans. Mint Mobile, on the other hand, sells three capped data plans consisting of 5GB, 15GB, and 20GB of data to use a month. 

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You have the option to pay for any of these plans upfront in 3, 6, and 12 month increments. Mint has rolled out an introductory 3-month price for all of the plans of $15/month as a way to hook in customers. Normally, the 5GB, 15GB, and 20GB plans cost $15/month, $20/month, and $25/month respectively when you sign up for 3 months. 

What Is a Capped Plan? Also sometimes called “By the Gig” plans, capped plans offer customers a set amount of data per month instead of unlimited data. All the data on capped plans is deprioritized, which means you may experience data slowdowns when the network is congested. Capped data plans can be a cost-effective alternative to unlimited plans if you don’t mind deprioritized data and know how much data you use in a typical month. The key is not to exceed your cap, as doing so can result in significant fees.

Mint Mobile vs T-Mobile: Coverage

T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks blanket the country, allowing customers to take advantage of the carrier’s fast and reliable cellular service. 

Mint Mobile makes use of T-Mobile’s national system of 4G and 5G networks to provide its customers with similarly reliable coverage. It's important to note, however, that Mint’s reliance on subleased network space can in some instances result in slightly inferior service. Major carriers tend to prioritize their customers ahead of those who use their networks via smaller carriers like Mint Mobile, at least in times of network congestion. 

To check Mint Mobile and T-Mobile coverage in your area, simply enter your address into the T-Mobile coverage map below. No need for a separate Mint Mobile coverage map—just use T-Mobile as a proxy.

Mint Mobile vs T-Mobile: Perks

T-Mobile is one of the best carriers to go with if you’re seeking extras to go along with your cell phone plan. All three of T-Mobile’s flagship plans— Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next—also include dedicated mobile hotspot data, while the latter two include free Netflix With Ads and Apple TV+ streaming subscriptions. Plus, these plans feature varying amounts of international privileges like free in-flight Wi-Fi and data access in 210+ countries. Note that Go5G Next gives you the option to upgrade your phone every year. 

As a low-cost prepaid carrier, Mint Mobile doesn’t have an equivalent perk system, nor do the company’s plans feature a whole lot in the way of extras. Keeping things stripped down is one of the ways that Mint Mobile is able to offer plans at such incredibly low prices. 

The Bottom Line

Signing up with T-Mobile means you get the full postpaid carrier experience, with great coverage, lots of perks, and the ability to pay for your service after you’ve received it on a monthly basis. It also means, of course, high prices: T-Mobile’s plans are some of the most expensive on the market. 

Going with Mint Mobile means forgoing these major carrier benefits for far lower prices. If you can do without generous hotspot allowances, massive premium data guarantees, and an abundance of extra perks, Mint’s low prices may be attractive enough to convince you to sign up. 

Still not sure which plan is right for you? Check out our article on what to look for in a wireless plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between T-Mobile and Mint Mobile?

T-Mobile is a major carrier with premium postpaid plans packed with perks like free streaming services and international data. Mint Mobile is a budget-friendly prepaid option that runs on T-Mobile’s network, offering lower-cost plans without the extras. 

Why did T-Mobile buy Mint Mobile?

T-Mobile said it bought Mint Mobile (and Ultra Mobile) to expand its prepaid options and learn from Mint’s direct-to-consumer success. With T-Mobile’s 5G network and resources, the company believes both brands can grow faster while keeping their unique vibe. Ryan Reynolds will also stay involved on the creative side. 

Can I bring my own phone to Mint Mobile?

If your phone was on AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, Simple Mobile, or Straight Talk, chances are it’ll work with Mint Mobile. In fact, most 5G or 4G LTE phones that take a physical SIM or support eSIM are compatible with Mint. You should be good to go as long as your device isn’t locked to another carrier.