Mint Mobile Review

Mint Mobile Coverage

T-Mobile has strong network coverage in some parts of the country, but it doesn’t have a network that covers the country as well as AT&T or Verizon. With Mint Mobile, you’ll get the same coverage as T-Mobile. You can type in your zip code to see if Mint Mobile has coverage in your area.

Mint Mobile offers a free 7-day trial so you can try out the service and see if it works well for you. The 7-day trial offers 250MB of data, 250 texts, and 250 minutes of talk time. This is enough to test if Mint Mobile is a good fit for you.

Free calling to Canada and Mexico and free hotspots

Mint Mobile offers free calling to Canada and Mexico on all plans. T-Mobile also offers wifi calling and texting, which are great ways to stay connected when the mobile network coverage is poor.

Mint Mobile offers free hotspots. Hotspot usage is limited to a 5 GB cap with the unlimited plan.  On all other plans, hotspot usage will count against your data limit.

Cost

Mint Mobile doesn’t have a monthly plan. Mint Mobile offers three introductory plans that you can buy for three, six, or twelve months. Here’s a look at the current three-month offer.

• 4GB Plan: $45 for 3 months ($15/month)
• 10GB Plan: $60 for 3 months  ($20/month)
• 15GB Plan: $75 for three months ($25/month)
• Unlimited Plan (35GB): $90 for three months($30/month)

After your introductory period is over, you can sign up for 12 months to get the lowest rate. As you can see, Mint Mobile is considerably cheaper than other wireless providers.

Slower speeds when the network is congested

Like all MVNOs, your speed will be throttled if the network is congested. This can happen if you are in a crowded area such as a stadium or during peak hours. But most of the time, you will get the same speeds as post-paid T-Mobile customers.

Ryan Reynolds connection

You will notice that actor Ryan Reynolds appears in a lot of  Mint Mobile ads. He is not a paid actor promoting T-Mobile. He invested in the company in 2019 and is rumored to own about 25% of the company.

Customer service

Mint Mobile has excellent customer service through chat, phone, or email. But it doesn’t have any physical stores. I have never had to call customer service. Mint Mobile has an excellent app that allows you to monitor usage and make payments. You can contact customer service through the app, and Mint Mobile has helpful guides to help you set things up the first time you use it.

Disadvantages of going with Mint Mobile

• Mint Mobile doesn’t have a monthly plan. You have to buy multi-month plans, which may not work for everyone.
• Your service is deprioritized and you will see slower speeds when the network is congested.
• Customer service, while excellent, is limited to online and phone support. There are no physical stores you can walk into if you have a problem.
• Mint Mobile doesn’t offer discounts for multiple lines

Phone options

Mint Mobile has a wide variety of phones, and sometimes you can get a good deal if you buy a phone and a plan together. You can also bring your own phone to Mint Mobile, but make sure it’s compatible. You can find out if your phone is compatible by going to this link.

Bottom Line

Mint Mobile is a great option if you have good T-Mobile coverage in your area. You’ll get the same level of service as post-paid T-Mobile customers, and when the network is congested, your speed will be throttled but it shouldn’t happen too often. Another downside is that you have to buy multi-month plans to save money. Overall, Mint Mobile is a great way to save money and still be on a major carrier network.

Buying a phone through your mobile service provider

If you buy from a mobile carrier, it’s possible to get good deals on phones. But the drawback is that the phones will be locked to the carrier. Customers prefer to buy phones through their service providers because it’s easy to find a good deal.

Buying a phone directly from the manufacturer

If you bought the phone directly from the manufacturer, it’s possible to buy the phone unlocked. This allows you to switch carriers easily.

Note that not all devices work with all carriers. You can check your phone’s compatibility with a carrier on the carrier’s website.

How to check if your phone is locked

If you are not sure if you can phone is locked, you can go to imei.info to check. You can also call your cell phone carrier to check if your phone is locked to that provider.

What you need to know about unlocking policies

If you are on an installment plan, and you leave the carrier, your payments will be accelerated. So pay off the phone before you request unlocking if you plan to move to another provider.

Exceptions for military personnel

Almost all providers have lenient unlocking policies for military personnel.

Unlocking policies of top mobile service providers

Unlocking policies vary widely between carriers. Over the years, major telecom providers have loosened their unlocking policies. Some carriers such as Google Fi don’t lock phones anymore.

Verizon

Verizon phones are locked for 60 days but are unlocked automatically after the 60-day period. The policy applies to both prepaid and postpaid plans.

Visible

Visible is a Verizon-owned MVNO and Verizon’s 60-day policy on unlocking applies to Visible phones. So phones are unlocked after 60 days.

AT&T

AT&T will unlock your postpaid phone if it has been active for at least 60 days. If you have a prepaid service with AT&T, your service must be active for at least 6 months before your phone can be unlocked.

T-Mobile

If you have a T-Mobile postpaid plan, you can request unlocking the phone after 40 days. For prepaid plans, you must wait until 365 days before T-Mobile will unlock the phone.

Xfinity Mobile

If your phone is fully paid off, Xfinity Mobile will unlock your phone 60 days after activation.

Google Fi

If you buy a phone from Google Fi, it comes unlocked.  There is no need to call Google Fi to unlock your phone.

Unlocking through third party services

If you have a locked phone, the safest way to unlock a phone is through the carrier. If you call Customer Service, the representative will walk you through the steps to unlock the phone. Unlocking through the carrier also maintains the manufacturer warranty in most cases. If you qualify for the unlock, the carrier don’t charge a fee.

There are third-party Unlocking Services that will unlock your phone for a fee. Read reviews and ensure that you are dealing with a reputable company before you sign up. If you unlock your phone using a third party, your phone warranties may be void.

Bottom Line

You can move to another carrier by unlocking your phone. Carriers have different policies for unlocking. In almost all cases, the phones need to be paid off and your account needs to be in good standing. Your carrier will unlock the phone for free if you meet their requirements for unlocking. But there are also some third- party services that will unlock your phone for a fee. Do your research to confirm that these providers are trustworthy before using them.

Cheapest Google Fi plan is $20 and you will pay $60 for three months. The $100 bill credit will kick in after 3 months. If you have a referral code, you can get another $20 in bill credit. For example, if you get the Moto 5G Ace phone, you will spend $210 ($150 for the phone + $60 for 3 months of service) and get 6+ months of service depending on your data usage.

Here are the Motorola phone deals with this offer

Motorola 5G Ace – $149
Moto G Power (2021) – $99
Moto G Play (2021) – $49

Unlocking policy

• Google Fi does not lock its phones. But you have to maintain service for 90 days or you will pay the full cost for the phone.
• If you are planning to leave Google Fi after 90 days, do not remove the SIM during those 90 days. Otherwise, your 90-day clock will reset.

What’s good about Motorola phones

• Great value for the money
• Motorola doesn’t add bloatware. You can get a much better Android experience compared to other phones
• Motorola supports many network bands and comes in handy when switching between providers

What’s bad about Motorola phones

• Motorola provides limited OS and security updates (usually two years)
• Some phones have reception issues

Eligible Providers For Visible Port-in

AT&T
AT&T Prepaid
Boost Mobile
Consumer Cellular
Cricket Wireless
Google Fi
MetroPCS
Mint Mobile
Net10 Wireless
Page Plus Cellular
Republic Wireless
Spectrum Mobile
Sprint
Straight Talk
T-Mobile
T-Mobile Prepaid
Ting
Total Wireless
TracFone
US Cellular
Verizon
Virgin Mobile USA
Walmart Family Mobile
Xfinity Mobile

Visible Wireless Previous Offers

Visible Wireless has a 15-day trial (it’s free) for new customers. No credit card is required to sign up. But you will need an iPhone.

Compatible iPhones are Phone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone SE, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, that are running iOS 14+.

Visible has a $200 gift card offer if you buy the Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen 5G Smartphone (2022 Model).  The 64GB version costs $429.
128GB Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen 5G Smartphone –  $479
256GB Apple iPhone SE 3rd Gen 5G Smartphone – $579

Fine print 
Must port-in a number from an eligible carrier. See a list of eligible carriers below
Pay for 3 months of service ($25 per month if you join a party)
After 3 months, you will get a $200 gift card for Target, Amazon, Best Buy, and many others. See the full list of gift card options here.
Visible will automatically unlock devices after 60 days.

See above for a list of eligible providers for porting-in numbers to Visible. Note that Google Voice is not an eligible provider.

Visible is one of the best MVNOs

Visible is a Verizon MVNO that uses Verizon towers to provide mobile phone service. You can get 5G coverage if you have a compatible phone and Verizon offers 5G in your area. Visible costs only  $25 per month for unlimited calling and unlimited data if you can join a party of 4 or more. There are Facebook groups and Reddit forums that allow you to join a party. If you have any concerns about joining a group of strangers, there is nothing to worry about. No personal data is shared among party members and you are only responsible for paying your portion of the bill.

In addition to unlimited calling and data in the US, Visible members can call Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Island from the US for free. If you have a compatible eSIM device, you can activate your service in about 15 minutes without waiting for the physical SIM card by mail.

Disadvantages of Visible Wireless

Even though Visible uses Verizon towers, Visible customers will be deprioritized if the network is congested. What this means is that your data speed will be temporarily slowed down. This happens during peak hours but thankfully you will receive good speeds most of the time. Visible also reduces all streaming to 480p.

Bottom Line

Visible is a great way to save money on wireless bills. Verizon network will give you nationwide coverage and good speeds most of the time. Visible is one of the better MVNO deals on the market considering the quality of service you get.

What makes this offer interesting is that it is available to existing customers irrespective of the Xfinity Mobile plan. Even if you are on the $15 per month 1GB plan, you can still get $250 off on an iPhone. Most wireless providers need a minimum dollar plan to qualify for these kinds of offers.

Phones qualifying for this offer

New customers get a $250 device credit over 24 months. Existing customers get a $250 Visa gift card

Apple iPhone 12  – $24.17/month for 24-Months after Device Credit ($580.08 Total)
Apple iPhone 12 Pro – $31.25/month for 24-Months after Device Credit ($750 Total)
Apple iPhone 11 -$14.58/month for 24-Months after Device Credit ($349.92 Total)
Apple iPhone XR – $10.42/month for 24-Months after Device Credit ($250.08 Total)
Apple iPhone SE – $6.25/month for 24-Months after Device Credit ($150 Total)

Existing customers

Existing customers get a $250 Visa prepaid gift card if they purchase the qualifying phones. The gift card appears in your shopping cart when you check out. So you can be certain that you will get the gift card. Xfinity says it will take 16-18 weeks to get the gift card. Keep in mind that the credit card expires 180 days after it is issued.

New Customers

For new customers, the $250 Off on select iPhones is offered as a device credit over 24 months. If you transferring your number from another wireless provider, you must complete the port-in within 30 days of the phone purchase.

Advantages of Xfinity Mobile

Xfinity Mobile is a Verizon MVNO that uses Verizon cell phone towers to provide cell phone service. Xfinity Mobile’s prices are a fraction of what Verizon charges and will allow you to save money on cell phone bills. Though there are some trade-offs (such as lower prioritization during peak usage), most users won’t see any difference between Verizon and Xfinity. You must be an Xfinity internet subscriber to sign up for Xfinity Mobile.

Xfinity allows family members to share a plan. For example, if your family doesn’t use a lot of data, 2 or more family members can share the $15 plan (1 GB data, unlimited calling, and text). That is an excellent deal compared to what other wireless companies offer.

If you need more data, a 3GB data plan costs $30, and a 10GB data plan costs $60. All data plans can be shared and include 5G data. If you need a line with unlimited data, that costs $45 per line (unlimited lines cannot be shared).

But people with a thin credit history and those recovering after a financial mishap struggle to increase their credit scores. But even if these people pay their utility and phone payments on time, credit bureaus don’t give them credit by increasing their credit scores.

What is Experian Boost?

Experion Boost is a free service that helps consumers improve their credit score by showing on-time payments for their utility and phone bills. Utility bills include gas, water, and electric bills. Phone bills include internet, wireless, and phone bills. Netflix was recently added.  Experian has plans to add other streaming services in the future.

Experian claims that 100 million consumers will benefit from this service. The average credit score went up by 10 points as a result of using Experian Boost.

How does Experian Boost work?

You must give access to your bank account so that Experian Boost can check your bank transactions for utility and phone payments.  The on-time payments for utility and phone bills will be reported on the Experian credit report.  The on-time payments will also be used to calculate credit scores.

Experian Boost only uses positive data points that boost your credit score. If you had missed a utility payment, that will not be reported.  This is different from how credit scores usually work where on-time and missed payments are both reported.

Note that this product works by pulling data from your bank account. If you pay your phone bills or utility bills through a credit card, Experian Boost will not work for you.

How to get your updated credit scores through Experian Boost?

Here are the steps you need to follow to get your updated credit scores

• You sign up for an Experian Boost account
• Connect your bank account
• Give a few minutes to scan bank account for utility and payments
• Get updated scores in real-time (it took me 5 minutes)

Experian Boost can be removed anytime

If you are not comfortable with the Experian Boost, you can remove the service anytime using the website.

Experian Boost does not work with all credit scores or models

Experian Boost works with FICO 8, FICO 9, VantageScore 3, and VantageScore 4. If your lender uses a different model or report, then the lender may not see your improved scores.

Disadvantages of using Experian Boost

Some lenders may see phone and utility payments on your credit report and assume that those are part of your debt. Experian says that it is working with lenders to make sure that they see these payments as positive payments rather than debt.

UltraFICO Vs Experian Boost

Both UltraFICO and Experian Boost both improve credit scores by including data not previously included to calculate credit scores.

UltraFICO score is based on how responsible you are with your checking, savings, or money market account. The credit scores are based on your account balances, how long you have had the accounts, and whether there are any overdrafts on your accounts.

Experian Boost is based on your on-time bill payments of utility and phone bills.

Experian Boots and UltraFICO, though they use different consumer information, can give lenders a better understanding of the consumer’s finances. UltraFICO tells lenders about the cash flow information whereas Experian Boost informs them about additional payment history.

Xfinity Mobile’s By The Gig plan is one of the best values among MVNOs because your service is comparable to Verizon’s post-paid service but costs only a fraction of Verizon’s post-paid plan.

Xfinity Mobile’s Unlimited Plan deprioritizes your data speeds when the network is heavily used. Data deprioritization is when your cell phone carrier slows down your data speeds temporarily because the network is congested.

Xfinity Mobile is a Verizon MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). Xfinity doesn’t own any cell phone towers.  It just buys capacity (data and voice) from Verizon at wholesale rates and then resells the capacity to consumers.  So Verizon has the incentive to give the highest priority to direct Verizon customers and not so much its resellers.

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How to avoid deprioritization with Xfinity Mobile

There are two ways to avoid deprioritization with Xfinity Mobile

• Sign up for their By the Gig plan
• Have a 5G comptabile phone. It doesn’t matter what plan you are on, as long as you have a 5G phone, you will get a higher priority

How bad is Xfinity Mobile’s prioritization?

If you are in a crowded stadium and there are thousands of Verizon users around, your speeds are likely to be slow.  Your videos might buffer and apps may respond slowly.  But that doesn’t happen often.  For most users, there is no network congestion most of the time and they will get high data speeds comparable to Verizon users.

Most Xfinity mobile users will only occasionally encounter data deprioritization and slower speeds.  Just be aware that Xfinity slows down data speeds before you sign up to avoid surprises. It’s not just Xfinity mobile, every MVNO (eg. Boost, Mint, Total Wireless, etc.) does it.

Advantages of using Xfinity for cell phone service

Xfinity Mobile’s plans involve no-contract.  They are also cheaper and more flexible than Verizon’s plans.  In fact, you could save up to 50% compared to Verizon’s post-paid plans.  By signing up with Xfinity mobile, you are making a trade-off between cost and data prioritization.  I have had Xfinity Mobile for a few years and hardly see my data speeds slowed down.

What is the difference between throttling and deprioritization?

Data throttling occurs when you exceed your plan’s limits and your data speeds are slowed down.  Beyond the data limits of the plan, many plans will move you to 2/3G speeds which are very slow.  This is very different from data prioritization where your data speeds will be reduced from the first day of your billing cycle if the network is congested.

Can you avoid deprioritization?

When you sign up with an MVNO like Xfinity Unlimited plan, you sign up for deprioritization during peak usage. There is no way to get around that.  There are no tricks or hacks to overcome slower speeds.

If you want no deprioritization, you should consider moving to Xfinity Mobile’s By The Gig plan or Verizon post-paid plan.  But these plans can get very expensive and are unnecessary for most people.

If you are on the Unlimited plan, Xfinity gives you the option to buy an HD Pass for $20 to avoid a temporary slowdown in speeds when the network is heavily used.

Bottom Line

When you sign up with Xfinity Mobile’s Unlimited plan, you will experience slower speeds when the network is busy and congested. But that doesn’t happen often.  Your data speeds will be fine 99% of the time. But you will be paying less with Xfinity Mobile compared to Verizon and the trade-off is worth it.