Mint Mobile and T-Mobile Prepaid are popular prepaid carriers with some of the best coverage in the country. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s compare them and see which is better.
In this article, we plan to discuss the details of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:
Mint Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. 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 T-Mobile Prepaid is a specific section of T-Mobile’s own plans.
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.
Both carriers give you unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Each offers a variety of plans to choose from to meet your needs. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and shopping centers. T-Mobile Prepaid also offers premium data, which is data that doesn’t slow down due to network traffic congestion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
T-Mobile Prepaid offers 3 different plans, one being limited data and the other two unlimited. You can have up to 5 lines on these plans. The QCI value of these plans is 6, which is the highest tier.
You can purchase If you purchase your phone from T-Mobile Prepaid, your device will be locked for 12 months after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price.
T-Mobile Prepaid’s only limited plan has 10GB of premium data. After you use 10GB, your access to data stops. The plan also includes mobile hotspot access that uses the 10GB and again stops once you use this amount.
The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 10GB at $4 per GB.
This plan gives you access to 50GB of premium data, which then becomes unlimited but deprioritized. You also get mobile hotspot access, which is limited to 3G speeds at all times. 3G speeds allow you to scroll social media and send texts or emails, but streaming video or playing games will be slower.
The plan costs $50 per month. At this rate, you get 50GB at $1 per GB.
This plan, like their other unlimited prepaid plan, gives you 50GB of premium data. Data becomes deprioritized after the 50GB. You also get 10GB of extra premium data dedicated to mobile hotspot access. After you use the 10GB, data slows to 3G speeds.
The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 60GB at $1 per GB.
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. Mint Mobile offers more included international access, while T-Mobile Prepaid offers other features with their plans.
Mint Mobile does not include this feature. All T-Mobile Prepaid plans offer domestic roaming capabilities.
Mint Mobile offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada included and roaming data at $0.06 per MB. T-Mobile does not offer talk, text, or data included for Mexico and Canada, but they offer an add-on for access at an additional $5 per month.
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. T-Mobile Prepaid does not offer international text and data, but an add-on is available for international talk (when you’re in the United States) for $15 per month.
Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan streams at 480p Standard Definition, while their limited data plans stream at 4k Ultra High Definition. Both of T-Mobile Prepaid’s unlimited plans stream at 720p High Definition, and their 10GB plan streams up to 4k Ultra High Definition.
Mint Mobile and T-Mobile Prepaid do not offer this feature.
Mint Mobile does not offer this feature. T-Mobile Prepaid offers a subscription to Music Unlimited with all three of their prepaid plans.
Mint Mobile and T-Mobile Prepaid do not offer this feature.
If you buy a phone from either carrier, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time.
Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.
T-Mobile Prepaid offers scam protection on all three of their plans, which filters calls and blocks spam callers. Mint Mobile does not offer this feature.
Mint Mobile offers a 7 day free trial. T-Mobile Prepaid does not offer this feature.
Mint Mobile is a digital-only carrier, 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. T-Mobile offers several stores across the country, and users can find the closest one with their store locator. They also offer customer support online with their website live chat, their support website for common questions, and over the phone at 1-800-937-8997.
When it comes to price per GB, Mint Mobile offers better deals than T-Mobile Prepaid. However, if you’re looking for more data or a guarantee that you won’t experience deprioritization, T-Mobile Prepaid is also a solid choice.
We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.
Yep, we offer premium wireless service on the T-Mobile® 5G Network, the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in our dewi coverage areas, you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.
Nope, it’s pay as you go.
Yeah! You put your card on file and prepay each month so that you never experience any disruption.
Yep, but it’s super easy to unlock your device as long as it’s paid off. Chat with us and a real human can help you here.
We have some recommendations on what we think you should get, from iPhones to Droids. Check out our list here which includes affordable places online to get a good deal.
It means we are building a phone network that is powered by the people. Your neighbors put small radios on their roof and help extend the phone network to cover deadzones™ and get even faster speeds. Right now our DeWi network is available in Austin, but we’ll be expanding to other cities REALLY soon. Learn more about DeWi here.
Great question. If you’re in Austin, TX, you’ll install 2 new SIMs. The REALLY nationwide SIM as your first SIM, which will give you voice / text & data on the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network powered by T-Mobile®. Your 2nd SIM will give you access to the REALLY DeWi network in Austin, TX, which you’ll prioritize when available so that you get even faster speeds and better coverage. Depending on your device, you may be able to install eSIMs via a QR code.
Yep, we are powered by T-Mobile®, the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in Austin, TX you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.
The plan is unlimited, but once you reach 20GB you may experience slower speeds depending on network usage.
You get 10GB of hotspot data per month, but can add more if you need to.
You can chat with us, text us, or login to your account to top off. It only takes a few seconds.