Mint Mobile vs. US Mobile Cell Plans Review

You might wonder why Mint and US Mobile are so cheap. It's because Mint and US Mobile are both mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which is just a fancy way of saying that they don’t own their own cellular networks. Instead, they lease bandwidth from larger network towers to bring service to their customers, but don't have to maintain them.

This means that both companies are able to offer plans that are cheaper and more flexible than those offered by traditional carriers, like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. Mint Mobile and US Mobile also typically offer prepaid plans, with limited-data or unlimited data plans.

US Mobile offers cell phone plans from $10 per month for varying levels of premium data ranging from 2GB to unlimited, while Mint Mobile offers cell phone plans from $15 monthly with 5 to 40GB of high-speed data. Both plans come with unlimited talk and text.

The big differences between Mint and US Mobile’s plans are the prices, data allotment, and perks. Here’s everything you need to know, beginning with Mint.

Mint Mobile has four plans on the market right now. You can purchase plans for three, six, or 12 months at a time. Each plan also comes with a certain amount of data, from 5–35GB. Take a look at the prices in this chart:

Mint Mobile offers cell phone plans from $15 to $30 monthly to start, with upfront payment required for the number of months you sign up for. All plans include unlimited talk and text, 5G network access, and mobile hotspot data taken from your data amount. All plans come with a varying amount of high-speed data. 

You can, technically, still use data after you reach your cap. But that data will be at 128Kbps speeds, which is not enough to do really anything (like stream your favorite song on Spotify or watch a YouTube video).

The Mint Mobile Unlimited data plan provides 35GB of high-speed data. Once you use more than that, your speeds will be reduced. While 35GB is plenty of data for most people, it’s certainly not unlimited.

All of Mint’s plans come with data deprioritization, which means that your data speeds can be slowed down when the network is busy. 

In short, Mint’s plans are a great deal for those who want a cheap plan with a decent amount of data. But those who need truly unlimited data or super-fast data speeds will probably want something different.

US Mobile offers a large range of plans compared to Mint. Users can choose between the Light Plan, By the Gig plans, or Unlimited plans, which offer 2GB to unlimited high-speed data. Plans can be paid monthly or annually, with the annual plan offering a 20% discount.

US Mobile offers monthly cell phone plans from $10 per month for 2GB on the Light Plan or By the Gig plan up to $44 monthly for the Unlimited Premium plan. Alternatively, you can save money by opting for an annual prepaid cell phone plan, with prices as low as $8 monthly. Dark Star annual plans are only available with new lines on Dark Star, but current customers can still switch during their renewal stage.

Plan terms differ between the Light, Warp, and Dark Star plans, including data allotment, data priority, and hotspot data.

For users seeking truly unlimited data, consider US Mobile's Unlimited Premium Dark Star plan. Dark Star plans are similar to US Mobile's Light Speed and Warp plans, but with enhanced features, including access to AT&T's network with an additional 250,000 miles of coverage, faster speeds, and increased hotspot data.

What makes US Mobile unique is that you can switch between all three major networks, so if you notice your coverage is getting weak, you can easily transfer to a different one. 

US Mobile uses the following names for the three networks: 

• AT&T’s network: Dark Star
• Verizon’s network: Warp
• T-Mobile’s network: Light Speed

If you want truly unlimited data, only US Mobile offers unlimited high-speed data with its Dark Star Unlimited Premium plan for as low as $29 monthly (with an upfront annual payment of $348).

Mint Mobile offers up to 35GB on its Unlimited plan, which costs $30 monthly for the first three months of service (paid upfront) or $25 monthly for 12 months of service (also paid upfront). So while you get a cheaper deal with Mint Mobile, your speeds slow down after you use 35GB of data.

For an easier comparison, look at the US Mobile Unlimited Starter plan that offers 35GB of high-speed data:

• The US Mobile Unlimited Starter plan costs $19 monthly on an annual Dark Star plan, or $25 monthly on a monthly plan.
• The Mint Mobile Unlimited plan costs $30 monthly on a three-month plan, or $25 monthly on an annual plan. However, after your first three months are up, your rates increase to $40 monthly. If you're on an annual plan, your rates increase to $30 monthly.

Mint Mobile lets customers pull from their regular data allotment for hotspot data. With US Mobile's Unlimited Starter and Unlimited Premium plans, users get 10GB or 20GB of hotspot data. With shared data plans, you can purchase hotspot data.

If you’ve got multiple people in your family who want the same type of cell phone plan, then you really should bundle together with a family plan. A family plan can cut your costs way down and make paying your bills easier. You can set up multiple lines with Mint Mobile or US Mobile, but only US Mobile offers discounts and perks.

US Mobile offers multi-line discounts when you have the By the Gig plan. If you opt for 2GB of data, you get the first plan for $10 and additional lines for $8 each, sharing the 2GB data.

There are also multi-line perks when you have more than three lines in your US Mobile Unlimited Premium account. Perks include free entertainment subscriptions to Apple TV Plus, Disney bundle (Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus), Netflix Standard, Max, and more.

Mint Mobile on the other hand, doesn't offer any multi-line discounts, although you can combine multiple lines on one account.

As we mentioned above, both Mint and US Mobile are MVNOs that don’t operate their own cellular networks, but rather rent the bandwidth from major providers. This means you can get a more affordable plan with the same coverage as major providers.

Mint uses T-Mobile towers and US Mobile uses T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T towers. 

This means that Mint’s customers will be on the network with the fastest data speeds (though those speeds will be deprioritized) and the largest 5G infrastructure. Meanwhile, US Mobile customers have the option to switch between networks depending on which one works best in their area. Having access to Verizon mean they also get the best nationwide coverage, which is especially useful for rural residents. 

If you want to see how the coverage compares in your specific area, zoom in on these coverage maps.

Buying a brand-new smartphone can set you back a thousand bucks or more. But it doesn’t have to. Taking advantage of phone deals when you’re signing up for a new plan can save you hundreds. Both Mint and US Mobile sell new phones at decent prices (though Mint has a better selection).

Here’s a look at some of the most popular devices sold by each company.

That’s it for our in-depth review of Mint and US Mobile. Now it’s up to you to decide which carrier is best for you. Here’s a quick recap to help you make up your mind.

• Plans: Mint Mobile's $30 Unlimited plan costs less than US Mobile's Unlimited Premium plan. Both offer unlimited data, but Mint caps premium-speed data at 35GB, while US Mobile provides unlimited premium data with the Dark Star network option. Want to save money? Go with Mint. Need more than 35GB of fast data? Choose US Mobile. 
• Family plans: US Mobile is the winner when it comes to family plans because multi-line plans unlock discounts and subscription perks. Mint doesn't offer any family-plan perks besides convenience.
• Coverage and performance: You’ll experience data deprioritization with both Mint and US Mobile. However, US Mobile offers coverage on all three major networks, so you can take your pick at which network you want to use.

Before we dive into our in-depth review, let’s talk about the basics. What do you need to look for when choosing a new phone plan?

• Data: Make sure you have enough data to support your streaming, scrolling, posting, and gaming needs.
• Price: There are tons of carriers out there offering all kinds of deals. Compare prices before locking in your new plan so that you don’t overpay.
• Coverage: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all run huge cellular networks. Check local coverage maps to make sure you’re on a network that’s strong in your area.
• Features: Get a plan with all the features you need—like hotspot data, international benefits, and HD video streaming.

We take our responsibility as reviewers seriously. When we analyze cell phone carriers for reviews, we use all available information—including proprietary data from over 100,000 mobile customers—to make informed and unbiased recommendations to our readers. We looked at all of US Mobile's and Mint Mobile's plans, price comparison charts, and third-party sources like OpenSignal.

In addition to industry research, we connect with real users of each brand, using customer experience as well as our own personal experience. We analyze US Mobile and Mint Mobile policies and performance so we can provide the most honest and helpful recommendations to our readers.