Is Mint Mobile Really Worth It?

Unless you've been living in a digital dead zone, you've probably sat through one of the ubiquitous Mint Mobile commercials with Ryan Reynolds telling you all about how Mint isn't like all the other providers. But is Mr. Reynolds telling the truth?

While it's hard to say whether Mint Mobile's quality is actually any better or worse than other providers -- opinions on the internet are decidedly mixed -- we can compare the prices. And although those prices aren't quite as good as the commercials imply, they're still competitive.

The regular monthly cost

Most Mint Mobile commercials are advertising the regular discounts for new customers. So you need to dig a little to get to the real monthly prices after those discounts expire.

Single plans

Mint prices are based on two factors: How much data you want, and how often you want to pay. The more you're willing to fork over at once, the lower your monthly cost:

Note that the prices above don't include taxes or fees.

So, if you want unlimited data, you're going to pay $120 every three months, which works out to a monthly cost of $40. However, if your finances can handle paying for a full year upfront, it'll cost $360, or just $30 per month.

Family plans

There aren't any extra special discounts for bundling multiple lines. You'll choose each line's plan individually, based on the prices in the chart above (plus any available discounts at the time). 

The main benefit of setting up a family plan versus individual lines for each family member is that you can manage all of your lines in one place.

Comparing other unlimited plans

In the greater scheme of things, Mint Mobile is pretty affordable, especially if you're willing to pay for it one year at a time. Here are the lowest rates I found from other providers (for a single line unlimited plan):

As above, these prices generally don't include taxes and fees. Moreover, these are the lowest prices I could find. Some require autopay, some require paying for more than one month at a time, and so on. If you start adding on extras, like streaming services, expect to pay even more.

Common Mint Mobile deals

As noted before, Mint Mobile almost always has some sort of new customer promo. I've regularly seen a deal to get a few months of service for free when you sign up for six months or more. These can be a great way to try out the service for a few months without having to fork over a ton of cash.

Keep in mind that these deals will include an auto-renew agreement that says you'll be charged the standard rate at renewal unless you cancel before your billing date. Be sure to cancel in time if you're not planning on keeping your Mint Mobile service.

Is the service any good?

Mint Mobile is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, meaning it doesn't have its own network towers. Instead, it operates using T-Mobile's physical network. In other words, if you have good T-Mobile coverage in your area, you should typically have good Mint Mobile coverage. 

Mint provides a coverage map on its website so you can double-check your area. In my experience, however, reception can be impacted by everything from how many trees are around to the composition of your home, so the best way to gauge the quality of your reception will be to try it out.

When it comes to the actual customer service from Mint, opinions seem to be similar to other providers. You can find plenty of complaints, but I also saw plenty of people saying they had no issues and were happy with their service. Your mileage may vary.

Other ways to keep your phone costs down

You don't necessarily need a budget service provider to save on cellphone plans. Try these other tricks.

Bundle your lines

Some providers offer much better rates if you bundle multiple lines into one plan. This won't work for singles, but can save you a lot as a family.

Use rewards credit cards

Cellphone service is an increasingly popular category for cash back rewards. These rewards credit cards all earn at least 3% cash back on purchases from cellphone providers:

• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
• U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card 
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
• U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®

Look for deals through your job or organizations

Some employers may offer discounted cellphone plans through their own partnerships. Alternatively, if you're a member of an organization, such as AARP or AAA, you may qualify for a deal through their discount portals.

A cellphone has become a basic necessity these days. But that necessity doesn't have to drain your bank account. Switching from a pricier provider to Mint Mobile could be worth it if you're in the service area and don't mind paying for multiple months at a time.