Mint Mobile
T-Mobile MVNO, prepaid 3-month bulk
Type: MVNO · Network: T-Mobile · Official site
Our take on Mint Mobile
What’s good
- Cheapest mainstream unlimited plan in the US ($30/mo on annual)
- 12-month annual plans drop the per-month rate ~30% vs monthly billing
- Runs on T-Mobile — broad mid-band 5G coverage in metros
- Multi-line discount applies on top of annual pricing
- Includes 5GB hotspot tethering on the 15GB+ tiers
What’s not
- Annual upfront commitment is real — no pro-rated refund if you switch mid-cycle
- Hotspot capped at 5–10 GB before slowing to 600 Kbps
- Customer support is app/web first; phone support is limited
- Unlimited tier deprioritizes after 35 GB during congestion
Best for: Users with stable usage who can commit annually and want T-Mobile coverage at the lowest possible price.
Not for: Users who change carriers often, or who tether laptops daily.
Plans
Compare with similar carriers
Frequently asked questions
- What network does Mint Mobile use?
Mint Mobile is an MVNO that runs on the T-Mobile network. Coverage is identical to T-Mobile postpaid in any given location, since both ride the same towers and spectrum. Speeds during congestion may be slightly lower because MVNO traffic is deprioritized vs the underlying carrier's postpaid customers.
- Is Mint Mobile an MVNO or MNO?
Mint Mobile is an MVNO — a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. They lease wholesale capacity from T-Mobile and resell it under their own brand at typically lower prices.
- What is the cheapest Mint Mobile plan?
The cheapest Mint Mobile plan we have on file is 5GB at $15.00/month. See the plans table above for the full list.
- Where can I check Mint Mobile coverage?
Mint Mobile rides the T-Mobile network, so its coverage is the same as T-Mobile's. We have a county-level coverage map at /coverage/mint-mobile, derived from public FCC Broadband Data Collection data. Enter your ZIP to see strong/fair/poor/none classification at your specific address.
- How do I switch to Mint Mobile from another carrier?
Sign up at https://www.mintmobile.com, choose "transfer my existing number," and provide your current carrier's account number, port-out PIN, and billing ZIP code. Most ports complete in 15 minutes to 4 hours. Never cancel your old service before the port completes — it usually closes automatically. See our switching guide for the full walkthrough.
- Can I bring my own phone to Mint Mobile?
Yes — Mint Mobile supports BYOD. Your phone needs to be unlocked (carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first by the original carrier) and band-compatible with the underlying network. Activation is via eSIM or physical SIM depending on the device and carrier.
- Does Mint Mobile support 5G?
Yes. Mint Mobile supports 5G via the underlying T-Mobile network — sub-6 GHz (low-band + mid-band/C-band) on most plans. mmWave 5G availability depends on the specific plan tier and your phone's hardware. Speeds in the 200–700 Mbps range are typical on mid-band 5G in covered areas.