Mint Mobile vs. Republic Wireless: Which carrier is better?

Mint Mobile and Republic Wireless are popular prepaid carriers that offer good deals for their new customers and existing users. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s compare them and see which is better.

Before you decide which carrier to choose, check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan that works for you!

In this article, we plan to discuss the details of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Coverage & Reception

Mint Mobile is on the T-Mobile network, while Republic Wireless is on the AT&T and Dish networks. 

Mint Mobile and Republic Wireless are both mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Mint Mobile is an MVNO of T-Mobile, while Republic Wireless is an MVNO of AT&T and Dish. 

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Mint Mobile offers specific data amounts, while Republic Wireless offers a customizable plan. 

Both carriers give you unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. However, Republic Wireless does not offer specific data allotments with their plans, only a plan that allows you to pay per GB of data you use. Meanwhile, Mint Mobile gives you several data buckets to choose from. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and shopping centers.

Mint Mobile Plans

Mint Mobile offers 4 plans, each with multiple options for lengths of service.

Mint Mobile offers plans ranging from 5GB to Unlimited (40GB) data, giving customers more options to meet their needs. Mint Mobile only offers 3, 6, or 12 month plans to sign up for. However, your data is reset every month. Their current New Customer Offer allows you to purchase a 3 month plan at the best deal. Mint Mobile also offers a deal where you can get 6 months of free service if you purchase a phone and a 6 month plan. Mint Mobile allows up to 5 lines on one account, each with their own customizable plan data to draw from.

As a T-Mobile MVNO, Mint Mobile is on tier 7 of 9 Quality of Service Class Identifiers (QCIs).

This indicates the priority level of the carrier on T-Mobile’s network compared to T-Mobile specific plans. This means they’re at a higher priority compared to MVNOs on Verizon or AT&T’s networks. As such, you may experience higher speeds while being deprioritized than other MVNOs.

Mint Mobile keeps your phone locked for the first year after purchase. After, you must request to have your phone unlocked. Taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

5GB

5GB of full speed data is included before you get unlimited data at slow speeds. 

This plan gives you 5GB of data and mobile hotspot access. The plan is again deprioritized, then slows down to 2G speeds after the 5GB allotment. With 2G speeds, users can expect to send text messages and emails or scroll the internet, but streaming video or playing games will be difficult. Hotspot data comes from the 5GB and stops after hitting that amount. The plan costs $15 per month and $45 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 5GB for $3 per GB.

15GB 

You get 15GB of full speed data, then unlimited slow data. 

This plan gets you 15GB of full speed data and mobile hotspot data. This plan is also deprioritized and slowed down to 2G speeds after 15GB. Your hotspot data comes from the 15GB allotment and stops after 15GB. The plan costs $20 per month and $80 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 15GB at $1.33 per GB. 

20GB

This plan also gives you unlimited slow data after 20GB. 

As it says in the name, you get 20GB of full speed data. This plan is deprioritized, however, and it slows down to 2G speeds after you reach the 20GB cap. The plan also includes mobile hotspot capabilities. Data comes from the 20GB allotment and stops after hitting that amount. The plan costs $25 per month and $75 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 20GB at $1.25 per GB. 

Unlimited

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan gives you 40GB before slowing down speeds. 

With Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan, you get 40GB of data. Your data is deprioritized, and it slows down to 3G speeds (512 kbps) after 40GB. At 3G, you can still send texts, send emails, and scroll through social media without too many issues. Streaming video might be a bit slower. While this may be a negative for those who use large amounts of data, most users use about 20GB of data per month or less, according to Ericsson Mobility. This plan also gives you 10GB of mobile hotspot data, allowing your phone to become a WiFi connection for other devices. Data stops after 10GB. 

The plan costs $30 per month, or $90 for the first 3 months. After that, the price is $40 per month. To get the same $30 per month deal, you need to buy 12 months worth of service. At this rate, you get 50GB at $0.60 per GB. 

Republic Wireless Plans

You’ll get the advertised price of their plans if you are a Dish TV subscriber.

Republic Wireless offers 3 different plans – one flexible and two unlimited. You can have up to 5 lines on one account with this carrier. All plans are deprioritized and require Autopay to use the service. Autopay does not include a discount. 

However, the fine print states that the advertised price is only available for those with a Dish TV subscription. If you do not have a Dish TV subscription, you may pay up to double the advertised price. 

If you purchase your phone from Republic Wireless, your device will be sold to you already unlocked after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

1GB/By the Gig 

This plan offers 1GB included and then $5 per GB of extra data. 

This plan comes with 1GB of data, but the plan is flexible and allows you to add more for $5 per GB. After you run out of data, your access stops. Users with this plan do not have access to slower speeds after the cap. All plan data you buy is also accessible as mobile hotspot data. 

The plan costs $20 per month and includes the first GB. However, you pay $40 per month without Dish TV. 

Unlimited

This plan gives you 20GB before slowing down your speeds. 

This plan gives you 20GB of high speed data. After the cap, your speeds slow down to 3G. Sending emails and texts or browsing the internet still works, but streaming video and playing games will be more difficult. This plan also gives you 10GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap. 

The plan costs $30 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $1.00 per GB. However, you pay $60 per month without Dish TV, which would be a rate of $2.00 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus 

This plan gives you 35GB of high speed data before slowing down. 

As Republic Wireless’s biggest plan, you get 35GB of full speed data, before unlimited data at 3G speeds. The plan also comes with 20GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 55GB at $0.73 per GB. However, you pay $80 per month without Dish TV, which would be $1.45 per GB. 

Features

Mint Mobile offers more international capabilities, while Republic Wireless offers more domestic roaming capabilities.

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. For example, Republic Wireless offers the ability to connect to other networks while traveling domestically, but Mint Mobile offers more international connection capabilities. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Mint Mobile does not include this feature. All Republic Wireless plans include domestic roaming data capabilities. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Mint Mobile offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada included and roaming data at $0.06 per MB. All Republic Wireless plans include texting to Mexico and Canada, but only their Unlimited Plus plan includes talk, text, and data capabilities for these areas. 

International Connection

Mint Mobile gives you international text included, while international talk and data are pay-per-use. International talk is $0.25 per minute, while international data is $0.20 per MB. All Republic Wireless plans include international text, but not international talk or data. 

Video Streaming Quality

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan streams at 480p Standard Definition, while their limited data plans stream at 4k Ultra High Definition. All Republic Wireless plans stream with 4k Ultra High Definition. 

Streaming Services

Mint Mobile and Republic Wireless do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Mint Mobile and Republic Wireless do not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from Mint Mobile, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. Republic Wireless only offers this possibility through Affirm. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

Mint Mobile and Republic Wireless do not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

Mint Mobile offers a 7 day free trial. Republic Wireless does not include this feature, but they do offer a 30 day money back guarantee. 

Customer Service 

Mint Mobile and Republic Wireless do not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. 

Mint Mobile and Republic Wireless are digital-only carriers, meaning they only offer customer support online and over the phone. Mint Mobile offers chat support 24/7 and support over the phone at (800)-683-7392 from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST every day of the week. Republic Wireless also offers support over the phone at (866)-550-9843 from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET daily. 

The Verdict

Mint Mobile offers better deals overall, even with the Dish TV deal Republic Wireless offers. 

If you don’t sign up for Dish TV before signing up for Republic Wireless, their plans are more expensive than several on the market. Even with the Dish TV offer that Republic Wireless offers to its users, Mint Mobile offers better deals in comparison. Mint Mobile also offers higher data allotments than Republic Wireless with their Unlimited plan. Overall, Mint Mobile is the better deal for people looking for cheap and reliable phone service. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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