Mint Mobile Senior Phone Plan Review 2024

The Buying Experience With Mint Mobile

Like its virtual towers, Mint has no actual physical brick-and-mortar stores, so purchasing your plan is done online. But even if you like getting help from a live human, like we did when we reviewed T-Mobile, don’t stress just yet. Getting set up with Mint is actually a piece of cake. Their website is a breeze to use.

That isn’t to say that getting set up with Mint doesn’t take a few steps. It does. So I’ll start at the very beginning with a few quick pre-purchase checks you’ll want to make before you enter your credit card information.

Before you sign up for your Mint plan, check the coverage in your area.

Checking Mint Coverage in Your Area

As you can see from the map above, Mint has pretty good coverage. Still, it’s better on the East Coast and could be spotty in the rural West. When I typed in my ZIP code — I’m on the East Coast but not in a big city — I was good to go. I recommend you do the same.

Mint Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means it piggybacks off the infrastructure of another mobile provider; in this case, T-Mobile. In other words, when you make a call with Mint, you’re actually connecting to one of T-Mobile’s towers.

Running the Mint Phone Compatibility Checker

Rather than pushing new phones with multi-year contracts on new customers, Mint Mobile lets you bring your own phone. Personally, I love this. Or, rather, I love my iPhone.

So I was relieved I didn’t have to buy a phone through Mint to use their service. (You can if you want. More on this below.) I just brought my own phone, or BYOP, as they say at Mint Mobile. But first, I had to make sure it was compatible and unlocked.

Unlocked phones, by the way, are just phones not tied to any particular carrier. For instance, if I had signed a three-year contract with Verizon for my iPhone, I couldn’t have taken that phone and started using Mint. That phone would have been locked. Mine was fine. One check down.

The final check — phone compatibility — was easy with Mint’s phone compatibility checker (see below). I just typed in my brand and model, and voilá. Now I was ready to select a Mint plan.

Mint’s phone compatibility checker came in handy when I wanted to see if I could “bring” my phone with me if I signed up with Mint.

Purchasing Your Mint Mobile Plan

Mint’s plans are prepaid, so you must pay for your minutes (and data) in advance. Purchasing my package was easy. I just clicked “shop plans,” chose my plan (the Unlimited Plan for $30 per month), and gave Mint my credit card details. I was now on Team Mint. Or almost. I still had to wait two to three days for Mint to deliver my 3-in-1 SIM kit. Then I had to activate it. Next-day air delivery was an option, too, for an extra $15.

Buying in Bulk Can Help You Save

Remember that when you sign up for Mint, you’re selecting a three-month plan with a new customer rate. After the first three months, you’ll have the choice between committing for a three-month, six-month, or 12-month period. Mint Mobile intentionally designed its plans so that the longer you commit, the cheaper the monthly rate will be. Not bad. We’d recommend buying in bulk (12-month periods) for the best rates.

Beware of the Data Cap

One thing to note is that Mint’s Unlimited Plan isn’t actually unlimited. However, unlike other mobile carriers, they’re not trying to hide this. If you exceed 35 GB of data — your monthly allowance — you’ll experience lower 2G speeds with 480p video until the end of your billing period.

Just for the record, 480p video, while technically standard definition, won’t disrupt your mobile experience. 2G speeds could be a pain, say, if you’re on your way to visit the grandkids in Topeka and Google Maps is still back in Kansas City.

But there are plenty of ways to save data so this never happens. You can use Mint’s Wi-Fi Calling and Text feature when you’re at home or on trusted networks.

Activating Your Mint Mobile Plan

When my SIM kit arrived in the mail, making my iPhone usable involved two main steps: entering my activation code and transferring my phone number. Like the purchasing process, the SIM activation process is handled online via the Mint Mobile website. My only caveat? Pay attention when you’re activating your SIM because this involves your phone number, and you don’t want to create any headaches for yourself there. Ready?

To get started with Mint, first you’ve got to activate your SIM.

First, I clicked the “Activate” tab at the top-right corner of the Mint website (just to the left of “Log In”).

Next, I located the card Mint sent me in the mail (the one with my SIM stuck to it), flipped it over, and found my activation number. It’s the 11-digit number on the top right. I typed that number into the website, double-checked it (always double-check!), and hit enter.

Activating your Mint SIM online is easy peasy. Just make sure you’ve got that number right.

Next, I was on the “New or Existing Number” screen. I wanted to keep my existing number, as most of us do, so I clicked “Transfer an existing number.” (If I wanted a new number, that would have been easy, too. I’d just have clicked “Get a new number.”)

This is the point where I needed the login info from my current carrier. I had to enter it here — along with my phone number and a few other details — so Mint could take over my phone number.

After that, I was pretty much done. I just popped open my SIM tray and inserted my new SIM. Then I waited 24 hours for my confirmation text. (It actually arrived in about 10 hours.) Now, I was officially on Team Mint!

As far as setups go, Mint’s is pretty straightforward. But if you zoned out when you saw “activation code,” check out Mint Mobile’s activation tutorial. It’s got a cute little fox and plenty of visuals to keep you focused.

Choosing a Cell Phone

Mint Mobile is pretty slick and definitely cheap, but you still need to find a phone that makes you happy. If you’re going to bring your own phone, you’re set. On the other hand, if you’re considering trying something new, here are two of our favorites. Both are available directly via Mint Mobile.

Apple iPhone SE

Mint Mobile offers the Apple iPhone SE 64 GB for $429. Although this is not a 5G phone, it has other smart features to compensate. It’s equipped with a 4.7-inch retina display to help seniors navigate important apps with ease.

Testing out the iPhone SE

Plus, with a 12 MP rear camera and 7 MP front camera, you can take as many vivid photos as you’d like when the grandkids come over. It also has a smart fingerprint sensor button so that seniors with limited mobility or arthritis have easy access to apps and other features. Mint Mobile often runs promotions on iPhones, so be on the lookout!

Our favorite features for seniors:

• Large icons
• Long battery life
• Lightweight (5.2 ounces)
• Fingerprint-resistant coating
• Water-resistant
• Digital zoom up to 3x
• Siri capabilities
• Fingerprint sensor

Samsung Galaxy A12

The Galaxy A12 is available directly from Mint Mobile for $180. Other things seniors will like about the Galaxy A12 besides the price? One, the camera quality is excellent; it comes with five (yes, five) different cameras that work together to take stellar photos of vacations and grandkids. Two, you can unlock your phone with your finger, so say goodbye to passwords (and snooping grandkids breaking into your phone). And you get a big 6.5-inch high-definition display for easy reading, with advanced accessibility features. The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a 4G/LTE phone so you won’t get 5G speeds. In addition, this phone is M3/T4 hearing aid compatible, which is a plus for seniors who want to connect their hearing aids to their phones.

Our favorite features for seniors:

• M3/T3 hearing aid compatible
• Huge 6.5-inch screen
• Speech-to-text and text-to-speech
• Fingerprint unlock
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Long battery life
• 34 hours of talk time
• Long-lasting battery life

Nationwide Coverage

Coverage is obviously a key factor to consider when choosing a mobile carrier. The good news here is that Mint’s 5G coverage (which it borrows from T-Mobile) is knock-your-socks-off great with coverage in 42 percent of the U.S. For comparison, this clobbers AT&T (18 percent) and Verizon (11 percent) and will only be getting better.

5G coverage isn’t just strong with Mint, it’s available on all Mint plans. Compare that to AT&T’s Cricket Wireless, which offers 5G on its top-tier plans only.

For 4G/LTE, Mint isn’t bad by a longshot at 62 percent coverage,1 but it lags behind AT&T (68 percent) and Verizon (70 percent). The silver lining (if you’re a city slicker) is that Mint is better in urban areas, especially on the East Coast.

Contracts and Warranty

Contracts

Mint Mobile plans are prepaid and pay-as-you-go, so you aren’t locked into a contract. You just pay upfront for your package (three months, six months, or 12 months). When that period is over, you have the option of renewing. (You can also program your plan to auto-renew.)

Mint plans come with a seven-day money-back guarantee when you order a plan from their website or app. If you’re unsatisfied, Mint will refund your entire purchase, plus fees and taxes (but not delivery).

Warranty

All new phones purchased through Mint Mobile come with a manufacturer’s warranty from the original date of sale, while refurbished devices have a 60-day warranty. This warranty covers things like product defects and software issues, but it won’t cover issues caused by normal wear and tear or aging.

Mint Mobile Phone Plans at a Glance

* These prices represent introductory offers for new customers.

Mint Mobile has a reputation for simple plans without smoke and mirrors; it’s a key part of how they design their service. However, it’s worth noting that the prices in our table are for the first three months of service. The good news is that if you move directly into a 12-month plan with Mint, those rates will stay the same.

Mint Mobile Plan Details

Mint 55+ Senior Plan

Cost

Mint Mobile has evolved over the years to meet the needs of older adults. In 2021, the carrier launched its first 55+ plan. If you’re looking for an affordable cell phone plan, Mint 55+ is a great place to start. For $15 per month and no contracts, you’ll get unlimited nationwide talk and text, plus perks like free mobile hotspots and 5G speeds. If you enjoy clear calls with free 5G access and no hidden fees, you’ll like this new budget-friendly senior plan by Mint Mobile.

Plan Features

This plan is great for older adults on a tight budget or those who are more tech-averse, as its service is designed for those who want a simple, no-fuss plan. With Mint 55+, you get exclusive access to help from MINTech advisors for free (valued at $15), which includes full-service activation and help to transfer your existing number and service. Other features of this senior cell phone plan include unlimited nationwide talk and text, plus free international calling to Mexico and Canada.

5 GB for Budget Users

Cost

At just $15 per month (prepaid for 12 months after the first three months), Mint’s 5 GB plan is a real disruptor in the cellular market. Even Google Fi, Mint’s closest competitor, can’t hold onto Mint’s coattails here at $60 per month for 4 GB of data.

Who’s this plan for? In short, Mint’s 5 GB plan is a great option for seniors on a budget who are comfortable using Wi-Fi hotspots and just want to email, browse, and use Google Maps on the go.

Plan Features

As with all of Mint’s plans, you get unlimited talk and text, access to T-Mobile’s plentiful towers (5G and 4G/LTE), and Wi-Fi calling and text. This plan comes with 5 GB of data. After that, you pay by the gig. I could easily see my data usage and add more data to my plan through the Mint Mobile app.

Tracking data usage in the Mint Mobile app

15 GB and 20 GB for Moderate Users

Cost

At $20 and $25 per month for 15 GB and 20 GB, respectively, Mint’s mid-range plans are great for those who don’t want to be locked into a phone contract. Even if you currently subscribe to Comcast and can take advantage of Xfinity Mobile’s bargain pay-by-the-gig plans, you’re still paying more for less data; i.e., $30 per month for 3 GB.

Who’s this plan for? Mint’s 15 GB and 20 GB plans will give you more breathing room with your data if you’re the “out-and-about” type and don’t want to be constantly searching for Wi-Fi to chat, surf, and stream (within limits).

Features

With Mint’s heavier plans, you get everything included with the 5 GB plan — unlimited talk and text, T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G/LTE network, and Wi-Fi calling and text — but much more data.

Unlimited for Heavy Users

Cost

Mint’s Unlimited plan costs $30 per month (if you pay for 12 months upfront after your first three months). That gives you 40 GB of data. Mint’s closest competitor in the “huge data” tier is AT&T’s Cricket Wireless.

For comparison, at $25 per month, Cricket’s unlimited package is actually $5 cheaper, and there is no 12-month commitment. That said, while Cricket doesn’t throttle speeds once you reach a data cap, it keeps all speeds down to 8 Mbps, which may be annoying. The one advantage Cricket offers that Mint can’t match is partial coverage of Canada and Mexico.

Mint Mobile Unlimited will be a good fit for older adults who do a lot of heavy lifting on their phones: downloading and uploading family photos wherever they are, chatting on the go, driving grandkids around while streaming Netflix in the backseat, etc.

Features

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan is the top of the line. As with all of Mint’s plans, there are no bells and whistles, just unlimited talk and text, solid 5G and 4G/LTE coverage via T-Mobile, and Wi-Fi calling and text. The difference here is you get up to 40 GB of data per month. Do you need it?

Well, you can find out by using Mint’s data meter, which will make suggestions according to your data usage. Just remember that you can’t get your money back like you can with Google Fi if you don’t use up your monthly allowance.