Mint Mobile vs. T-Mobile: Which carrier is better?

Mint Mobile and T-Mobile’s postpaid plans are some of the most popular cell phone plan options on the market, as they offer great deals on quality service. 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:

• 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. 

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. No matter which carrier you choose, you’ll get network access through T-Mobile.

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 multiple months of service at a time, while T-Mobile offers premium data. 

Both carriers give you unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and shopping centers. T-Mobile also offers premium data, which doesn’t slow down even in high traffic conditions. 

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. 

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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 Plans

T-Mobile plans include varying amounts of data, numbers of lines allowed, and discounts. 

T-Mobile’s postpaid options include 6 plans. Their Essentials and Essentials Savings plans allow for up to 6 lines, Magenta and Magenta MAX allow for up to 12, and their GO5G and GO5G Plus plans allow for up to 8 lines. All T-Mobile postpaid plans are QCI tier 6. 

If you purchase your phone from T-Mobile, your device will be locked for 40 days after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price on Magenta MAX, Magenta, GO5G, and GO5G. The Essentials plan does not include taxes with the advertised price. 

T-Mobile also includes additional discounts for seniors, veterans and military, and first responders. 

Essentials

This plan is deprioritized after the premium data cap. 

The Essentials plan comes with 50GB of premium data, then unlimited deprioritized data afterwards. The plan also includes unlimited 3G hotspot data. With 3G speeds, users can expect 

The plan costs $65 per month, and $60 with Autopay. At full price, you get 50GB of premium data at $1.30 per GB. 

Magenta 

This plan gives you 100GB. 

This plan gives users 100GB of premium data access before slowing to deprioritized speeds. You also get 5GB of premium hotspot data before unlimited 3G speeds.  

The plan costs $75 per month, and $70 with Autopay. At full price, you get 105GB at $0.71 per GB. 

Magenta MAX 

This plan gives you unlimited data access. 

Magenta MAX is one of T-Mobile’s most popular and well known plans, as it gives users unlimited premium data access. This means that you get unlimited high speeds without worrying about deprioritization or data caps. 

The plan costs $90 per month, and $85 with Autopay.

GO5G 

This plan gives you premium data. 

This plan gives users 100GB of premium data before unlimited deprioritized data. Users also get 15GB of full speed hotspot data before slowing to unlimited 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $80 per month, and $75 with Autopay. At full price, you get 115GB of premium data at $0.70 per GB. 

GO5G Plus 

This plan gives you unlimited premium data access. 

GO5G Plus is one of T-Mobile’s biggest plans, as it gives you unlimited premium data. This means that you get unlimited full speed data without any cap or deprioritization. Users also get 50GB of hotspot data before slowing to 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $95 per month, and $90 with the Autopay discount. 

GO5G Next 

This plan allows you to switch phones every year.

GO5G Next is one of T-Mobile’s biggest plans, as it gives you unlimited premium data. This means that you get unlimited full speed data without any cap or deprioritization. You also get 50GB of premium hotspot data Once you run out of premium data, you get unlimited deprioritized hotspot data. 

What makes this plan stand out from GO5G Plus is that it allows you to get a new phone every year rather than waiting two years. Otherwise, the plans are the same. 

This plan costs $105 each month, but the autopay discount brings the price to $100.

Features

T-Mobile offers more features with their plans.

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. T-Mobile offers more features with their plans, like streaming and music perks. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Mint Mobile does not include this feature. All T-Mobile postpaid plans include domestic roaming capabilities. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Mint Mobile offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada included and roaming data at $0.06 per MB. All T-Mobile postpaid plans include talk, text, and roaming data in Mexico and Canada. The amount of roaming data varies per plan. For example, their GO5G Plus plan includes 15GB of high speed data, then unlimited data at 3G speeds. 

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. T-Mobile plans include international texting and international pay-per-use calling for $0.25 per minute. Magenta, Magenta MAX, GO5G and GO5G Plus plans include 5GB of full speed international data, and unlimited 3G data after the cap. 

Video Streaming Quality

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan streams at 480p Standard Definition, while their limited data plans stream at 4k Ultra High Definition. T-Mobile plans include international texting and international pay-per-use calling for $0.25 per minute. Magenta, Magenta MAX, GO5G, GO5G Plus, and GO5G Next plans include 5GB of full speed international data, and unlimited 3G data after the cap.

Streaming Services

T-Mobile includes free Netflix Basic for single line users and free Netflix Standard with 2+ line plans, as well as free AppleTV+, on Magenta MAX, GO5G Plus, and GO5G Next. T-Mobile’s Magenta and GO5G plans include free Netflix Basic and 6 months of AppleTV+. Mint Mobile does not offer this feature.

Cloud Storage

Mint Mobile and T-Mobile do not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from either carrier, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. 

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 does not offer this feature. T-Mobile offers Scam Shield Premium with GO5G Plus, GO5G Next, and Magenta MAX.

Free Trial

Mint Mobile offers a 7 day free trial. T-Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Customer Service 

Mint Mobile does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. T-Mobile has thousands of stores across the country.  

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. 

The Verdict

The better plan depends on what you need.  

Overall, T-Mobile and Mint Mobile offer very different plans. If you’re looking for all that a phone plan can offer, T-Mobile is the best choice with their GO5G and Magenta MAX plans. However, if you don’t need that much data or many included features, Mint Mobile is the better option for you.

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

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!