If you’ve been thinking about switching to Mint Mobile but you’re not quite sure whether it’s a smart move, you’re in the exact position I was in three years ago. At the time, I was paying $85 a month to one of the big carriers for an unlimited plan. The service was fine, I had some perks, and I didn’t really hate my plan… but something in my gut told me I was overpaying.

So I did what most people do: I went straight to Google. That search eventually led me to Mint Mobile — a company I had never heard of, offering unlimited talk, text, and data for $30 a month, or a basic plan for as low as $15.

It sounded too good to be true.

Three years later, I can confidently say: I’m still with Mint Mobile — and I’m still happy. But like every budget carrier, there are pros and cons you absolutely need to know before switching.

This is my fully honest review after three years of daily use, road trips, flights, international travel, hotspot use, and more.

Why I Switched to Mint Mobile

The decision came down to one thing: money.

My old $85/month plan added up to over $1,000 per year. When I realized Mint Mobile offered a similar unlimited plan for $30/month — or just $360/year — the savings were too big to ignore.

And unlike a lot of “cheap” carriers in the past, Mint wasn’t cutting corners in ways that mattered to me. Unlimited talk, unlimited text, and unlimited data all sounded like what I was used to… and for one-third the price.

Of course, I assumed there had to be a catch.
And the number one catch I expected was: “Once they get acquired by T-Mobile, prices will skyrocket.”

But to my surprise…

Pricing Has Stayed EXACTLY the Same — Even After the T-Mobile Acquisition

When T-Mobile purchased Mint, I was convinced the first thing they’d do is raise prices. It just felt inevitable.

But here’s the surprising part:

Mint Mobile’s pricing has remained exactly the same for three years straight.

The plans today are still:

• $15/mo – 5 GB
• $20/mo – 15 GB
• $30/mo – Unlimited

No “new pricing structure.”
No sudden jump to $45 or $50 per month.
No hidden upgrades bundled into your plan.

Mint Mobile’s “too good to be true” pricing stayed true.

Network Performance: Better Than Expected

Mint Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network, which means:

• No Mint-specific towers
• No Mint-specific stores
• No retail overhead
• No upselling

They pass the savings directly to you.

But the most important question is: How’s the actual coverage?

Talk & Text

After three years:

• I have never had a dropped call.
• Call quality is consistently clear.
• Text messages send instantly, including iMessage and SMS.
• The only issues I’ve ever had were in extremely remote, wooded areas — where any carrier struggles.

In everyday use, talk and text have been flawless.

Data Speeds

To be fair: T-Mobile prioritizes their own postpaid customers during peak congestion. That means, occasionally, you’ll see slower speeds on Mint.

But here’s the reality from my experience:

I regularly get 50–70 Mbps download speeds, which is more than enough for:

• YouTube
• GPS
• Streaming music
• Podcasting
• Facetime
• Browsing

In fact, I’ve had multiple situations where Mint Mobile’s cellular data was faster than public Wi-Fi at coffee shops or airports.

That’s not something I expected from a budget carrier.

Real-World Data Test

Here’s a recent speed test I ran with Wi-Fi turned off:

• 64.3 Mbps download
• 5.99 Mbps upload

No, it’s not gigabit fiber.
But it’s absolutely enough for any normal phone activity — including streaming HD content while driving long distances.

On road trips I often:

• Stream YouTube Music
• Run YouTube videos in the background
• Use Apple Maps
• Listen to podcasts

During all of that, I’ve had zero interruptions.

International Travel: Surprisingly Good (With a Catch)

Mint recently added free roaming in Canada, which is fantastic. If you travel there, your phone works exactly the same as it does in the U.S.

For anywhere else, Mint offers “Mint-ternational” passes:

1-Day Pass — $5

• 60 minutes talk
• 60 texts
• 1 GB data

3-Day Pass — $10

• 200 minutes
• 200 texts
• 3 GB data

10-Day Pass — $20 (my preferred choice)

• 500 minutes
• 500 texts
• 10 GB data

I’ve used the 10-day pass in Mexico and Spain, and it worked perfectly for:

• GPS
• WhatsApp
• Light browsing
• Occasional phone calls

It’s predictable and budget-friendly — no surprise bills waiting for you when you get home.

Downside:
You can’t buy data “à la carte.” You must buy a 1-day, 3-day, or 10-day bundle.

But compared to the old days of getting charged $100+ after international travel, this is night and day.

Mint Mobile’s App: The Weakest Part of the Entire Service

If there’s one thing I genuinely dislike about Mint Mobile, it’s the app.

Here are the main issues I’ve run into:

• It randomly locks me out, even with the correct password.
• It sometimes forces a one-hour lockout after failed attempts — even if they weren’t actually “failed.”
• Password resets are more frequent than they should be.
• Customer service acknowledges the app is buggy.

The desktop version works fine, but the app is frustrating if you need to:

• Change plans
• Manage your account
• Update your device

This is the biggest area where Mint feels like a “discount” carrier.

Buying New iPhones Through Mint Mobile

Here’s something I didn’t expect: Mint Mobile gave me faster access to new iPhones than Apple.

When the iPhone 17 Pro launched, Apple inventory was sold out everywhere. Mint, on the other hand, had units available.

I was able to:

• Buy an unlocked iPhone directly through Mint
• Receive it within a few days
• Finance it with Affirm at 0% for 18 months

The phone was not carrier-locked, which was a huge plus.

It was one of the easiest upgrade experiences I’ve ever had.

Mint Mobile for Home Internet (Newer Feature)

Mint recently introduced a new option similar to T-Mobile Home Internet:
Mint Mobile Home Internet, powered by a plug-in hub.

I haven’t personally switched to it yet, but based on the cellular speeds I get indoors, it could be a solid low-cost option for people who:

• Live in apartments
• Don’t need insane download speeds
• Want unlimited data at home

For most creators, gamers, or heavy downloaders, fiber or cable will still be better — but Mint’s home internet is worth watching.

The Downsides: What You Should Consider Before Switching

Every carrier — especially budget ones — has tradeoffs. Here are the key ones with Mint:

1. No Physical Stores

This is a dealbreaker for some people.

If something goes wrong, your only options are:

• Phone support
• Chat support
• The app (when it works)

If you prefer in-person help, Mint is not for you.

2. You Pay Upfront

To get the best pricing, you pay 12 months in advance.

For the unlimited plan, that means:

$360 upfront + tax.

For some people, that’s a lot to drop at once.

But here’s the financial reality:

$360 is equal to about 4–5 months of what I used to pay AT&T.

Now I get 12 months of service for that same price.

3. No Monthly Bill = No Proof of Address

This one is niche but real:

Mint Mobile does not send you a monthly bill.

So if you’re applying for:

• A driver’s license
• A loan
• A mortgage
• Certain government documents

…and you need proof of address, you cannot use Mint like you can with AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile.

This has annoyed me more than once.

Hotspot Performance: Better Than Expected

Mint’s unlimited plan includes 20 GB of hotspot data per month.

This sounds small, but in real use it’s been incredibly helpful. I’ve used my hotspot when:

• Airport Wi-Fi was terrible
• A coffee shop network was overloaded
• I needed to download an app on a plane
• My home internet went down

I even once hotspotted my iPad during takeoff to download something I forgot. Worked flawlessly.

For travel, emergencies, or remote work, this is a huge perk.

So… Is Mint Mobile Worth It? (My Final Verdict After 3 Years)

After three years as a daily user, here’s my honest answer:

Yes — Mint Mobile is absolutely worth it for most people.

Here’s why:

The Pros

• Huge cost savings
• Strong T-Mobile network performance
• Reliable talk, text, and data
• Consistent speeds
• Great international options
• Easy eSIM activation
• Access to new phones
• No surprise bills
• 20 GB hotspot included

The Cons

• The app is unreliable
• No physical stores
• Upfront annual payment required
• No monthly bill for proof of address

For me personally, the savings — combined with reliable performance — make staying with Mint Mobile a no-brainer.

Will I switch carriers?

No.
Not anytime soon.

Mint Mobile gives me everything I need for less than half of what I used to pay. In three years, I’ve saved well over $2,000, and I haven’t sacrificed anything that matters.

Thinking About Switching?

If you’re considering giving Mint a try, you can use my referral link below — it will save you money on your first plan and helps support the channel:

👉 http://fbuy.me/rZ-eK

Whether you’re trying to cut your monthly expenses or just curious about trying a new carrier, Mint Mobile is one of the best value options on the market today.

Thanks for reading — and if you want the video version of this review, check it out below.

— Amir (ARK Overload)