Mint Mobile has carved out a niche for itself in the mobile carrier market by offering remarkably cheap phone plans, some starting as low as $15 per month. This affordability makes it an attractive option for individuals looking to cut down on their monthly bills. Recognizing the needs of a broader audience, Mint Mobile extended its reach in 2023 to include families. But does the Mint Mobile family plan truly deliver on its promise of value? Let’s delve into the details and determine if it’s the right choice for your family.
Understanding Mint Mobile Family Plans
Like all of Mint Mobile’s offerings, the family plan operates on the robust T-Mobile network and requires prepayment for service, with a minimum commitment of three months. As highlighted in our guide to T-Mobile plans, individual plans from major networks like T-Mobile can be pricier. So, how do Mint Mobile family plans stack up, and what exactly do they entail?
Setting up a Mint Mobile family plan involves selecting individual plans for each family member. This flexibility allows for customization; for instance, you could have some family members on the Unlimited plan while others with lighter data needs opt for the 5GB plan. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the available plans and their features:
| Plan | Cost | Talk & Text | Data | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint 5GB Plan | $75 for three months $120 for six months $180 for 12 months |
Unlimited | 5GB LTE/5G Access | Hotspot up to data limit |
| Mint 15GB Plan | $105 for three months $150 for six months $240 for 12 months |
Unlimited | 15GB LTE/5G Access | Hotspot up to data limit |
| Mint 20GB Plan | $135 for three months $210 for six months $300 for 12 months |
Unlimited | 20GB LTE/5G Access | Hotspot up to data limit |
| Mint Unlimited Plan | $120 for three months $210 for six months $360 for 12 months |
Unlimited | 40GB Premium Data Unlimited 4G/5G |
10GB Hotspot Access |
Mint Mobile mascot fox showcasing affordable family phone plans on a smartphone with money in the background
Currently, the Unlimited plan stands out as a particularly attractive option, especially with a limited-time promotion. Mint Mobile is offering all its plans at the same $15-a-month rate for customers who are part of a family plan. This means you can experience the unlimited data plan for three months at the same cost as the basic 5GB plan, offering incredible value for new family plan users.
But what about the savings typically associated with family plans? Many carriers offer discounts for each additional line added to a family plan. Regrettably, Mint Mobile does not follow this conventional discount model. There are no direct per-line discounts for a Mint Mobile family plan. So, why opt for a family plan at all? There are still compelling advantages:
- Simplified Account Management: Manage all lines conveniently under a single account.
- Access to Best Rates Without Annual Commitment: Enjoy the lowest per-month rates without the need to pay for a full 12 months upfront.
This last point is particularly significant. Mint Mobile generally requires prepayment in 3, 6, or 12-month increments, with the most substantial discounts tied to annual payments. For family plans with two or more lines, while a year-long service commitment is still in place to maximize savings, the payment structure is more manageable. Instead of a large annual lump sum, families pay quarterly, making Mint’s competitive pricing more accessible without a hefty upfront cost.
The Value Proposition: Are Mint Mobile Family Plans a Good Deal?
Considering Mint Mobile’s already aggressive pricing for individual accounts, it’s reasonable to expect more distinctive benefits for their family plans. Even a modest monthly discount per line, or perhaps loyalty rewards for long-term family plan subscribers, similar to Verizon Prepaid, would enhance their appeal. Such additions would make Mint Mobile’s family plans significantly more compelling in a competitive market.
As it stands, Mint Mobile family plans don’t offer substantial differences from standard individual accounts, apart from the convenience of quarterly payments at the best discount rates. However, this doesn’t negate the fact that the pricing remains highly competitive for certain users. Furthermore, with T-Mobile’s acquisition of Mint Mobile, there’s potential for service enhancements and expanded benefits in the future.
For families mindful of data usage, Mint Mobile provides some of the most economical rates available. A 5GB data plan for a family, at $15 per month billed quarterly, is exceptionally budget-friendly. To put this in perspective, Tello offers a 5GB plan at $19 per month, while Google Fi’s Flexible plan for four lines starts at $65, or $16.25 per line.
However, the landscape shifts slightly when comparing unlimited family plans with prepaid competitors. Ignoring temporary promotional pricing, a long-term unlimited plan from Mint Mobile averages around $30 per line for four lines, totaling $120 per month. This $30 per line rate is still quite competitive and often surpasses prepaid family plan offers from providers like Metro by T-Mobile and Cricket Wireless.
Conversely, traditional postpaid carriers often excel in family plan discounts. While a single postpaid line can be significantly more expensive than prepaid options, carriers like T-Mobile offer basic plan rates as low as $25 per line for four lines. However, it’s worth noting that these basic “Essential” tiers may not offer a superior experience compared to prepaid services. For enhanced network prioritization and added perks like Netflix, you’d need to upgrade to T-Mobile’s Go5G plan, which costs around $38.75 per line for four lines. This is more expensive than Mint Mobile, but includes prioritized data and extra benefits.
Ultimately, Mint Mobile emerges as a strong contender for families seeking a prepaid plan and wishing to avoid the commitment of a postpaid contract. However, if you’re open to postpaid options from major carriers, you might find comparable or even better overall value, particularly when considering the added perks and potentially better network prioritization they provide.
Intrigued? Explore Mint Mobile’s family plan options further and consider if it aligns with your family’s needs and budget.
Mint Mobile Family Plan Alternatives: Exploring Other Budget-Friendly Options
Google Fi Wireless logo displayed on a smartphone screen, a SIM card and ejector tool beside it, representing Google Fi as an alternative family plan provider.
If maximizing savings is your top priority for a family plan, alternatives like Google Fi, Cricket, and US Mobile are worth exploring. Google Fi and Cricket utilize T-Mobile’s and AT&T’s networks respectively, while US Mobile operates on both Verizon and T-Mobile networks, offering network flexibility. While numerous prepaid family plans are available, these three consistently rank among the top alternatives to Mint Mobile.
Here’s a concise overview of what these Mint Mobile alternatives offer:
Google Fi Wireless at a Glance
Google Fi Wireless is an excellent choice for families seeking the lowest possible rates, especially for unlimited data. As you can see, an unlimited plan for four lines can be as low as $80, equating to just $20 per person monthly. Similar to Mint Mobile, Google Fi leverages T-Mobile’s extensive network. Additionally, Fi also utilizes US Cellular’s network, which can be advantageous in areas with stronger US Cellular coverage, particularly in the Midwest. Overall, Google Fi provides a comparable experience to Mint but with potentially lower unlimited plan pricing and additional features.
See more plan details below:
| Plan | Flexible | Simply Unlimited | Unlimited Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Flexible $20/mo + $10/GB per month for 1 line $35/mo + $10/GB per month for 2 lines $50/mo + $10/GB per month for 3 lines $65/mo + $10/GB per month for 4 lines $80/mo + $10/GB per month for 5 lines $95/mo + $10/GB per month for 6 lines |
Simply Unlimited $50 per month for 1 line $80 per month for 2 lines ($40 per line) $90 per month for 3 lines ($30 per line) $100 per month for 4 lines ($25 per line) $125 per month for 5 lines ($25 per line) $150 per month for 6 lines ($25 per line) |
Unlimited Plus $65 per month for 1 line $110 a month for 2 lines ($55 per line) $135 per month for 3 lines ($45 per line) $160 per month for 4 lines ($40 per line) $200 per month for 5 lines ($40 per line) $240 per month for 6 lines ($40 per line) |
| Talk & Text | Flexible Unlimited | Simply Unlimited Unlimited | Unlimited Plus Unlimited |
| Data | Flexible $10 per GB used until you reach limit | Simply Unlimited Up to 35GB of free, unmetered data | Unlimited Plus Up to 50GB of free, unmetered data |
| Hotspot | Flexible Full-speed at $10 per GB rate | Simply Unlimited 5GB of Wi-Fi hotspot tethering per person | Unlimited Plus Full-speed included |
| International | Flexible Free calls from US to Canada and Mexico. On an iPhone, when you travel outside of the US, tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot options are not available. |
Simply Unlimited Free calls from US to Canada and Mexico No international calls, texts, and data outside the US, Canada, and Mexico |
Unlimited Plus Free calls from US to over 50 countries. Unlimited data and texts in over 200 countries or regions. |
| Extras | Flexible Data free after per-month limit | Simply Unlimited None | Unlimited Plus 100GB of Google One storage for each group plan member. One year of YouTube Premium per user at no additional cost. |
For a more detailed comparison, refer to our comprehensive Google Fi plans guide.
Cricket Wireless at a Glance
Cricket offers a range of family plans, with their most affordable unlimited data plan priced at just $100 for four lines, or $25 per line. For added features like hotspot access and the ad-supported Max streaming service, Cricket’s Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot plan is available for $130 for four lines. While not the absolute cheapest Mint Mobile alternative, Cricket is similarly priced and includes extras, such as streaming perks, not commonly found elsewhere in this price range.
See more plan details below:
| Plan | 5GB | 10GB | Cricket Unlimited | Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 5GB $30 per month |
10GB $40 for one line $70 for two lines $90 for three lines $110 for four lines |
Cricket Unlimited $55 for one line $80 for two lines $90 for three lines $100 for four lines |
Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot $60 for one line $90 for two lines $110 for three lines $130 for four lines |
| Talk and Text | 5GB Unlimited HD Voice and Wi-Fi Calling |
10GB Unlimited HD Voice and Wi-Fi Calling |
Cricket Unlimited Unlimited HD Voice and Wi-Fi Calling |
Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot Unlimited HD Voice and Wi-Fi Calling |
| Data | 5GB 5GB of 4G LTE or 5G data |
10GB 10GB of 4G LTE or 5G data |
Cricket Unlimited Unlimited high-speed 4G LTE or 5G data |
Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot Unlimited 4G LTE or 5G data |
| Streaming | 5GB Standard Definition 480p |
10GB Standard Definition 480p |
Cricket Unlimited Standard Definition 480p |
Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot Standard Definition 480p |
| Hotspot | 5GB Not available |
10GB Not available |
Cricket Unlimited For $10 extra |
Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot 15GB included |
| International | 5GB Not available |
10GB Available |
Cricket Unlimited Texts to 37 countries Canada and Mexico usage (must not exceed 50%) |
Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot Texts to 37 countries Canada and Mexico usage (must not exceed 50%) |
| Perks | 5GB None |
10GB None |
Cricket Unlimited None |
Cricket Unlimited + 15GB hotspot Ad-supported Max subscription 150GB Cloud Storage |
US Mobile at a Glance
US Mobile matches Cricket’s base unlimited plan pricing at $100 for four lines and offers even greater plan flexibility with limited data options and shared data plans for families with varying data needs. While Google Fi may offer slightly more competitive pricing on some unlimited plans, US Mobile closely rivals it and distinguishes itself with Verizon network support. This Verizon option is particularly beneficial for users in areas where T-Mobile’s network coverage might be less robust, providing access to Verizon’s extensive “Big Red” network.
See more plan details below:
| Plan | Shared Data | 2-25GB Plan | Unlimited Basic | Unlimited Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Shared Data $9 per line + $2 per GB |
2-25GB Plan $12 for 2GB $15 for 5GB $20 for 15GB $25 for 25GB |
Unlimited Basic $35 for one line $20 per line for 4 |
Unlimited Premium $45 for one line $30 per line for 4 |
| Talk & Text | Shared Data Unlimited | 2-25GB Plan Unlimited | Unlimited Basic Unlimited | Unlimited Premium Unlimited |
| Data | Shared Data At $2 per GB |
2-25GB Plan 2-25GB | Unlimited Basic 40GB of 5G/LTE | Unlimited Premium 100GB of 5G/LTE |
| Hotspot | Shared Data At $2 per GB |
2-25GB Plan Up to plan limit | Unlimited Basic 5GB hotspot data | Unlimited Premium 50GB hotspot data |
| International | Shared Data For purchase | 2-25GB Plan For purchase | Unlimited Basic For purchase | Unlimited Premium Up to 10GB international data |
Postpaid Options: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile at a Glance
Of course, value isn’t the sole determinant when choosing a family plan. Postpaid carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile offer a suite of additional perks, often superior customer service, and other advantages that might justify a slightly higher cost. Here’s a quick comparison of the most affordable and best value plans from each of these major carriers:
| Plan | AT&T Unlimited Starter | AT&T Unlimited Premium | Verizon myPlan Unlimited Welcome
