Mint Mobile for Seniors: Plans, Prices, and Reviews
Mint Mobile is one of the most affordable cellular providers, offering unlimited talk, unlimited text, and 5GB of data for $15 monthly. If you don't mind paying for multiple months of service in advance (a requirement for the lowest prices), then Mint is easily one of the best cellular providers for seniors.
In this review of Mint Mobile, we’ll take a closer look at how this prepaid provider performs. We’ll also review its special discounted plan for seniors and how it compares to other carriers.
Mint Mobile Pros and Cons
Mint Mobile Pros
- Highly affordable plans: With prices starting as low as $15 per month, Mint Mobile offers the most affordable cellular plans with unlimited talk and text, not to mention the added 5GB of data.
- No overage charges. Mint will slow your data speeds if you exceed your monthly allowance, but it will never hit you with overage charges.
- 5G access. All Mint Mobile plans offer access to 5G when available, giving users ultra-fast data speeds.
- 30-day trials. You can purchase a device through Mint Mobile, but you’ll also have the option to bring your own device to Mint’s service if your phone is unlocked.
- Easy activation: It's a breeze to activate your plan with the Mint Mobile app and one of their SIM cards. Without any help, we were able to activate our phone in about five minutes.
Mint Mobile Cons
- Deprioritization. Mint Mobile piggybacks on the T-Mobile network, so the provider may throttle your data speeds if a lot of nearby T-Mobile users are also using their cellular service.
- Upfront payments: To get the lowest prices from Mint, you’ll have to sign up for a 12-month plan, which requires upfront payments for the full year of service. For example, the 12-month 5GB plan — although it technically costs $15 per month — is actually a one-time $180 payment paid in full upfront.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking to save on your phone and plans, check out our list of senior cell phone discounts.
Mint Mobile Plans and Pricing
| Mint Mobile Plan | Starting Monthly Price* | Talk and Text Allowance | Monthly Data Limit** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mint 55+ | $15 per month | Unlimited | 5GB |
| 5GB | $15 per month | Unlimited | 5GB |
| 15GB | $20 per month | Unlimited | 15GB |
| 20GB | $25 per month | Unlimited | 20GB |
| Unlimited | $30 per month | Unlimited | 40GB |
*Monthly prices reflect monthly the cost of Mint Mobile’s 12-month plans.
Mint Mobile Plans for Seniors
For people 55 and older, Mint Mobile offers its Mint 55+ plan. For $15 per month ($45 paid upfront for three months, this plan includes unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data, and it requires no long-term contracts, only a three-month commitment. Additionally, with this plan, you can keep your current cell phone number.
Another feature of the Mint 55+ plan is that it gives you access to MinTech advisors. These service professionals can help you activate your phone and troubleshoot any issues related to your cellular service or devices. Think of it like free priority customer service.
How to Purchase Mint Mobile
To get started with Mint Mobile, visit the company’s website to view its plans, prices, and — if needed — the phones it offers. Mint Mobile provides the option of either using your own device (for which it’ll provide a free SIM card for eligible devices) or purchasing a new one. If you’re in the market for a new phone, we recommend taking a look at Mint Mobile’s offerings since the company constantly offers discounts on new phones when they’re paired with a 12-month plan.
Once you purchase a plan from Mint Mobile, the company will send you a SIM card that can be quickly inserted into your phone. Once installed, your service will be up and running.
FYI: Did you know some phones double as medical alert systems? To learn more, read our Jitterbug Flip review and Jitterbug Smart review.
Mint Mobile Prices
Mint offers three tiers of plans: three months, six months, and 12 months. The three-month plans are the most expensive, and the six and 12-month plans have increasingly discounted rates. The six-month unlimited plan costs $35 per month for unlimited talk and text, while the 12-month plan costs slightly less at $30 per month. Although the price difference for upgrading to a 12-month plan isn’t substantial, I’d recommend choosing it to get the best rates.
Mint Mobile does not require a long-term contract, not exactly, but it does require up-front payment for the entirety of your plan. If you want the 12-month unlimited plan, for example, you’ll pay a one-time fee of $360 when you sign up rather than 12 separate $30 installments.
When your plan period ends, Mint Mobile will contact you to renew your service, and you may pay for another three, six, or 12 months of cellular service.
Did You Know: If you’re looking for a phone to use with Mint Mobile, check out our list of the best unlocked phones for seniors.
Extra Fees
With Mint Mobile, you won’t pay any one-time purchase (activation) fee, early termination fee, or data overage fee. There are no fees for late payment, since you’ll pay for your plan upfront. Plus, Mint Mobile offers free calling to Mexico and Canada and low rates to over 160 countries.
Rates differ by country and are subject to change, but upon checking the price of Algeria, at random, I found that calling a landline costs $0.05 per minute, calling a cell phone costs $0.70 per minute, and unlimited text is included for free.
Mint Mobile Network Coverage
Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network, which means it offers nationwide coverage to a majority of the United States. It also offers a wide range of 5G coverage for ultra-fast download speeds. The downside, however, is that T-Mobile users are prioritized in times of heavy usage, so your Mint Mobile speeds are subject to fluctuation.
If you’re at a football game where hundreds of other people are using their T-Mobile service, for example, your Mint Mobile service may take a backseat. In our experience, though, there was little in the way of slowed speeds if we stayed within our monthly data allowance.
Data Speeds
Mint Mobile data speeds will be the same no matter your plan and its term length. Typical download speeds range from 79 to 357 Mbps, while typical upload speeds will be 6-30 Mbps. Latency ranges between 17 and 32 ms. Remember, after reaching your monthly high-speed data limit, Mint will slow your data speeds.
Let’s compare T-Mobile’s typical speeds, for example:
- Typical download speeds: 79 to 418 Mbps
- Typical upload speeds: 6-31 Mbps
- Latency: 17-32 ms
Compared to T-Mobile, whose phone plans have typical download speeds of 79-418 Mbps, Mint Mobile’s speeds are decently fast. That said, T-Mobile offers truly “unlimited” plans with data thresholds.
Mint Mobile vs. T-Mobile
Mint Mobile piggybacks off T-Mobile’s network, meaning they share similar speeds and areas of coverage. There are some key differences, however, related to pricing and data allowance. Below, you’ll find a comparison of their most affordable unlimited plans. Mint Mobile is clearly the cheaper option, but the real cost is in the data throttling, not to mention the three-month commitment.
| Mint Mobile 55+ | T-Mobile Essentials 55+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price for One Line | $15 per month | $45 per month |
| Price Increases | After contract ends, potentially | After contract ends, potentially |
| 5G Access | Yes | Yes |
| Data Throttled | After 5 GB | After 100 GB |
| Long-Term Commitments | 3 months | None |
| Age Requirement | Must be 55 or older | Must be 55 or older |
Bottom Line
It’s hard to find a better affordable wireless provider than Mint Mobile. Mint can’t guarantee the consistently high speeds of T-Mobile senior plans, but it still offers unlimited talk, text, and data plans at incredibly low prices.
To learn more about our favorite cell phones and providers for seniors, check out our helpful guides and reviews.
Mint Mobile Frequently Asked Questions
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Are all Mint Mobile plans unlimited?
Technically, all of Mint Mobile’s plans offer unlimited talk, text, and data; however, most of their plans have a limit on high-speed data, and your speeds will be decreased to 2G after you’ve reached your limit.
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Does Mint Mobile have a senior plan?
The Mint Mobile 55+ plans are available exclusively for older adults, and they include unlimited talk, unlimited texts, and 5GB of high-speed data.
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Is Mint mobile trustworthy?
Mint Mobile offers reliable service at an affordable price. While it piggybacks off T-Mobile’s network, meaning your service may be deprioritized, we found this posed no issues in our testing.
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What are the negatives of Mint Mobile?
The main downside of Mint Mobile is that it piggybacks off T-Mobile’s network, so, in some instances, T-Mobile customers will be prioritized over Mint users, resulting in slowed data speeds.
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Is Mint mobile owned by Ryan Reynolds?
Ryan Reynolds is a partial owner of Mint Mobile. He purchased a large stake in the company in 2019.
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Who is the carrier for Mint Mobile?
Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network, including its 5G coverage.
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Does Mint Mobile have hidden fees?
Mint Mobile does not hit you with any hidden fees for activation, yearly dues, or overage charges. Its up-front pricing is transparent and covers the entirety of your service during your three-, six-, or 12-month period.
