What Network Does Mint Mobile Use

Mint Mobile is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator that specializes in offering new mobile phones and pocket-friendly phone plans. It has been around since 2016 but gained massive popularity after Ryan Reynolds acquired it in 2019.

The company’s distinct business strategy and vigorous marketing have propelled it to be one of the leading providers of low-cost data plans. Mint allows customers to pay for subscriptions ranging from three to twelve months, and in turn, they offer discounts that will enable you to save on costs.

They also have a ‘Bring Your Own Phone Program’ that allows you to enjoy their reliable network with any device you own. What network does Mint Mobile use? This article dives into detail about it. Additionally, it will look at the plans that Mint Mobile offers, their customer service, and network coverage.

Mint Mobile Network

As mentioned before, Mint Mobile is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. This means it does not have the network infrastructure to provide coverage to its customers. They don’t have any physical stores or cell phone towers. So, what network does Mint Mobile use? It utilizes T-Mobile’s network to distribute cellular services to its consumers.

As a result, Mint Mobile customers enjoy a similar calling, texting, and data usage experience to T-Mobile customers. If you reside where there is T-Mobile coverage, you can also get Mint Mobile coverage.

You cannot purchase SIM cards or phones because they don’t have any physical stores, but they will ship them to you once you make an order. Alternatively, you can use a T-Mobile phone to access the network since they use the same network towers.

Mint Mobile 4G Network Coverage

Currently, T-Mobile and, by extension Mint Mobile have the third best Network 4G coverage in the country, only being surpassed by Verizon and AT&T. You can comfortably use Mint Mobile in urban areas. However, the network is still weak in the majority of rural areas. Below is a tabular representation of the top carriers in terms of network coverage.

4G LTE Coverage

Service Provider4G LTE Network Percentage Coverage
Verizon70%
AT&T68%
T-Mobile62%

Mint Mobile 5G Network Coverage

Mint Mobile and T-Mobile lead the way when it comes to 5G Network coverage. If you have a 5G-capable handset, then Mint Mobile might be your best bet. Even though the 5G network is still in its infancy, Mint Mobile is doing all it can to ensure they stay ahead of the pack. Here is a table showing the carriers with the highest 5G network coverage.

5G Network Coverage

Service Provider5G Network Percentage Coverage
T-Mobile53%
AT&T29%
Verizon12%

How are Mint Mobile’s 5G Data Speeds

Although Mint Mobile has the highest 5G network coverage, the speeds have not yet attained the level they are expected to. This is because T-Mobile went for a low-band spectrum to cover more ground. Consequently, the data speeds were a bit compromised.

However, the company has constantly been working to increase the speeds for its users. In 2020, they unveiled the 2.5GHz 5G spectrum, which greatly improved data speeds.

How Can You Check Mint Mobile Coverage in Your Area

It is advisable to check if Mint Mobile network is available in your area before you purchase any of their plans. Checking for coverage is also important when traveling to a different state or location, and you still want to confirm if you can use Mint Mobile. The procedure is pretty straightforward:

  • Visit Mint Mobile website.
  • Input your ZIP code in the ‘Check the coverage in your area’ box near the top of the page.
  • Click the orange button labeled ‘Let’s Go’ beside it.
  • Enter your street address besides the ZIP code on the next page and press ‘Continue’
  • The results will show you if the coverage is poor, fair, good, or excellent in your area.

Mint Mobile Data Deprioritization

Although Mint Mobile customers share the same network as T-Mobile users, it has a little downside. When you purchase cheaper mobile plans from Mint-Mobile, you should know that they come with a data deprioritization feature.

This is where your data speeds are significantly slowed when too many people are using the network simultaneously. Priority is given to customers who purchased the more expensive plans from the major carrier, T-Mobile. They will continue to enjoy fast data speeds despite the network being congested.

Data deprioritization is very common among Mobile Virtual Network Operators. It’s the small price you have to pay to access more affordable phone plans. You should keep this in mind when joining Mint Mobile. However, the benefits might outweigh the extra cost.

Mint Mobile Plans and Pricing

Mint Mobile has subscriptions that last for 3, 6, and 12 months, unlike other network carriers whose subscriptions last for a month only. This enables you to avoid the cost of renewing plans every month and enables you to save in the long run. Mint Mobile only allows you to subscribe for at least three months when trying out their service.

There are four data plans that you can choose from when you sign up for Mint Mobile’s service: 4GB, 10GB, 15GB, and unlimited. All these data plans come with unlimited talk and texts. Below are the pricing and features of the data plans offered by Mint Mobile:

1. The 4GB Monthly Data Plan

This plan will cost you $15 per month when you subscribe for the first time. You can choose the 3, 6, or 12-month subscription. It consists of the following benefits.

  • Nationwide coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 5G and 4G LTE networks, whichever is accessible.

2. The 10GB Monthly Data Plan

You will only pay $20 monthly when you subscribe to this plan for 3, 6, or 12 months. After that, you can reap the following benefits.

  • Nationwide coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 5G and 4G LTE networks, whichever is accessible

3. The 15GB Monthly Data Plan

This plan costs $25 per month and comes with the following benefits.

  • Nationwide coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 5G and 4G LTE networks, whichever is accessible

4. The Unlimited Data Plan

The unlimited data plan requires you to pay $30 monthly to enjoy these benefits.

  • Nationwide coverage
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 35GB of 5G and 4G LTE networks, whichever is accessible

To save more, you should go for the unlimited data plan. Although you will pay more upfront, you will save in the long run. Additionally, it is advisable to go for the 12-month subscription. This is because Mint Mobile increases prices slightly once your 3-month or 6-monthly trial period ends and you want to renew.

Mint Mobile knocks down your data speeds to 2G once your data packages are exhausted. However, you can easily recharge through the website or send a text with the code ‘UPDATA’ to 6700.

The Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan

The unlimited data plan offered by Mint Mobile is the most budget-friendly you will currently find on the market. But is this plan really unlimited? Well, it is unlimited in the sense that at no point in time will your data ever be cut off. However, once you go past the 35GB threshold, your data speeds will be bumped down to 2G.

Mint Mobile’s unlimited data plan also restricts the quality of video streams to 480 pixels. The hotspot data you receive when subscribing to the unlimited plan is also capped at 5GB. Luckily, Mint Mobile has a feature that lets you see how much data you consume each month. This will help you determine if you should continue with the unlimited plan or try a cheaper one

Can You Get Family Plans at Mint Mobile

The Mint Mobile Family plan is not like other conventional family plans. Most carriers offer you multiple lines and reduce the cost of each line for each extra person to a certain limit. For example, Visible Wireless will charge you $40 per line every month when you subscribe to their unlimited plan. They will then lower the cost to $25 per line monthly when you subscribe to a family plan of four people.

Mint Mobile, on the other hand, charges everyone the same amount of cash in their family plan. However, they will offer you identical discounts. For example, if two family members get the 4GB data plan, their overall cost will amount to $30 monthly.

The great thing about the Mint Mobile Family Plan is that you can mix data plans. For instance, one family member can get the 15GB data plan while the other a 4GB one. This is suitable for people with different data consumption but still want to save when purchasing phone plans.

Mint limits the minimum number of lines that you can purchase under their family plan to 2 and the maximum to 5.

How to Sign Up for Mint Mobile’s Service

Mint Mobile has made it very simple to sign up for their service so you can start enjoying their network. You can follow the procedure below, and you will be a new Mint customer in no time.

  • To start, go to Mint Mobile official site, and from the homepage, pick a plan that will suit you from the ones available.
  • Here you can bring your own phone, but first, it needs to be one of Mint Mobile Compatible phones.
  • If your phone is compatible, you can add a SIM card kit to your shopping cart. Mint Mobile offers free shipping for the first 3 to 5 days. Anything past that, you will need to pay $15. The only additional cost you will incur is a $5.63 recovery fee and taxes.
  • After that, you can input your billing and shipping address and proceed to checkout.
  • After placing your order, your SIM card kit will be sent to the address you entered.
  • Once you receive the SIM card, you need to activate it using the Mint Mobile app that you can download online.
  • Create a Mint account on the app by inputting your name and email address. Follow the instructions provided to configure your settings, and you will be able to start using Mint Mobile’s network.

Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone Program

Mint has a ‘Bring Your Own Phone’ policy that allows you to use your current device on their network so long as it is compatible with their network. To check the compatibility of your phone, you should:

  • Visit Mint Mobile website BYOP page.
  • Input your phone’s brand and model in the compatibility checking tool and click “Check Phone”.

Alternatively, you can use your device’s IMEI to check for compatibility.

  • Retrieve your device’s IMEI by dialing *#06#.
  • Proceed to the phone compatibility check tool and input the IMEI in the “Enter your phone’s IMEI” box.
  • Click “Check Phone”.

Both methods will display results showing whether your phone is compatible or not.

Bottom Line

Despite not being in the industry for long, Mint Mobile has managed to catch up with its competitors by offering plans at favorable prices. Additionally, they have an extensive network coverage that enables them to reach several customers across the country.

If you’re looking for a telecommunication company that will enable you to save on the costs of purchasing data plans, then Mint Mobile is the right one. However, you should be prepared for lower data speeds when the network is crowded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Carrier Does Mint Mobile Use?

Mint Mobile is a cell phone plan provider that uses T-Mobile’s network. This means that both T-Mobile and Mint Mobile users share the same network, with the price being the only difference.

Can You Keep Your Phone number When You Switch to Mint?

Yes, you can. Mint Mobile allows you to switch to their service and retain your current number. You can port your number to their network using the ‘Transfer My Number’ option.

Is Mint Mobile’s Coverage Good?

Mint Mobile’s coverage is great since they utilize T-Mobile’s network, and T-Mobile has one of the best coverage in the country.

Can You Get Access to a 5G Network at Mint Mobile?

Yes, Mint Mobile provides a 5G network to its customers. However, you need a 5G capable handset to access it. You also need to be in an area where there is T-Mobiles coverage.

Related Articles