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UScellular vs. Mint Mobile: Which carrier is better?

By
Allison Radziwon
September 26, 2024

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UScellular and Mint Mobile are popular carriers that offer cheap, high speed data. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

  • What the coverage of both carriers looks like
  • How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
  • The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Mint Mobile is on the T-Mobile network, while UScellular is on all networks – including their own!

UScellular and Mint Mobile are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Mint Mobile is an MVNO of T-Mobile, and UScellular uses infrastructure from all three big networks. They also have their own towers in select areas. 

Hand holding phone with Mint Mobile logo on the screen
Mint Mobile offers competitive pricing for unlimited talk and text plans. Their low-cost options make it easy to save money on phone bills.

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Mint Mobile and UScellular offer plans with multiple data options. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Mint Mobile offers several limited plans. UScellular offers premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. UScellular and Mint Mobile both deprioritize data on certain plans, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

UScellular Plans

UScellular offers several plans to choose from, with some including premium data and the option to bring your own device.

UScellular is unique, as it offers prepaid and postpaid plans. All except one of their prepaid plans include limited data. Otherwise, UScellular plans are postpaid. They all feature premium data as well. 

UScellular Plans

They offer two versions of their postpaid plans – promotional unlimited and unlimited evolved. Their promotional plans offer an option to bring your own device and a $10 Autopay discount, while their Evolved line offers a $5 Autopay discount and allow you to purchase devices with them. They encourage users to go with the Unlimited Evolved plan to save more money if there are multiple users on the account. 

UScellular Plans
UScellular Plans
The Unlimited Evolved collections. Image is courtesy of uscellular.com. 

If you purchase your phone from UScellular, your device will be locked for 120 days after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

Prepaid 2GB

This is the smallest plan US Cellular offers, and it gives you 2GB of premium data each month with included hotspot access. Once you run out of data, speeds slow to 2G and hotspot access stops completely. 

The Prepaid 2GB plan costs $25 per month. With this plan, you get 2GB per month for $12.50 per GB. 

Prepaid 5GB

This plan comes with 5GB of premium data as well as included hotspot access. After the cap, users get 2G speeds and hotspot access stops completely. 

This plan costs $30 per month, and you get 5GB per month for $6 per GB. 

Prepaid 8GB

This plan comes with 8GB of premium data as well as hotspot access. Once you use up the 8GB, speeds slow to 2G and you lose hotspot access. 

This plan costs $35 per month, and you get 8GB per month for $4.38 per GB. 

Prepaid Unlimited 

This is the smallest unlimited plan that US Cellular offers. It gives you 15GB of premium data each month with hotspot access included. Once you use 15GB, speeds slow to 2G and hotspot access stops. 

Prepaid Unlimited costs $40 per month. With this plan, you get 15GB per month for $2.67 per GB. 

Prepaid Unlimited Plus

As the biggest prepaid plan US Cellular offers, this plan gives you 35GB of premium data each month. It slows to 2G speeds after that limit. At 2G speeds, users can expect to still be able to send texts and emails or browse the internet, but playing games or streaming video will be difficult without WiFi. It also offers hotspot access that stops at the same cap. 

With this plan, you get 35GB per month for $1.57 per GB. 

Basic Unlimited (BYOD)

With this version, the plan also comes with 100GB of deprioritized data. It slows down to 3G speeds after the cap. This plan comes with 100GB of deprioritized data and is the smallest postpaid plan US Cellular offers. It doesn’t include hotspot access. Once you use up the 100GB, the plan slows down to 3G speeds. At this speed, users can still send texts and emails or browse social media, but playing games and streaming video may be slower without WiFi. 

This version of the plan allows you to bring your own device, and you can also purchase a hotspot add-on.

The BYOD version of this plan costs $40 before the $10 Autopay discount. With this plan, you get 100GB per month for $0.40 per GB. 

Basic Unlimited

With this version, the plan also comes with 100GB of deprioritized data. It slows down to 3G speeds after the cap. 

The plan costs $35 before the $5 Autopay discount.  With this plan, you get 100GB per month for $0.35 per GB. 

Everyday Unlimited (BYOD)

With Everyday Unlimited, users get 50GB of premium data each month. After 50GB, speeds slow to 3G speeds. This plan also comes with 25GB of hotspot data, and access stops at that cap. This version of the plan allows you to bring your own device. 

The BYOD version of this plan costs $50 before the $10 Autopay discount, and $40 after. At full price, you get 75GB per month for $0.67 per GB. 

Everyday Unlimited

This plan is the same as the other Everyday Unlimited plan, as it offers 50GB of premium data and 25GB of hotspot data. Speeds slow down to 3G after the 50GB cap, and hotspot access stops once you use that allotment. 

This plan costs $45 per month before the $5 Autopay discount. At full price, you get 75GB per month for $0.60 per GB. 

Even Better Unlimited (BYOD)

This is the biggest plan US Cellular has to offer. It gives its users unlimited premium data and 50GB of hotspot data. Once you reach the hotspot cap, your access stops completely. This version of the plan allows you to bring your own device. 

The BYOD version of this plan costs $60 before the $10 Autopay discount. 

Even Better Unlimited

This is the same plan as the BYOD version of Even Better Unlimited. It offers unlimited premium data and 50GB of hotspot data that stops at the cap. 

This plan costs $55 per month before the $5 Autopay discount. 

Mint Mobile Plans

Mint Mobile offers 4 plans, each with multiple options for lengths of service.

Mint Mobile offers plans ranging from 5GB to Unlimited (40GB) data, giving customers more options to meet their needs. Mint Mobile only offers 3, 6, or 12 month plans to sign up for. However, your data is reset every month. Their current New Customer Offer allows you to purchase a 3 month plan at the best deal. Mint Mobile also offers a deal where you can get 6 months of free service if you purchase a phone and a 6 month plan. Mint Mobile allows up to 5 lines on one account, each with their own customizable plan data to draw from.

As a T-Mobile MVNO, Mint Mobile is on tier 7 of 9 Quality of Service Class Identifiers (QCIs).

This indicates the priority level of the carrier on T-Mobile’s network compared to T-Mobile specific plans. This means they’re at a higher priority compared to MVNOs on Verizon or AT&T’s networks. As such, you may experience higher speeds while being deprioritized than other MVNOs.

Mint Mobile Plans
Image courtesy of Mint Mobile’s website

Mint Mobile keeps your phone locked for the first year after purchase. After, you must request to have your phone unlocked. Taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

5GB

5GB of full speed data is included before you get unlimited data at slow speeds. 

This plan gives you 5GB of data and mobile hotspot access. The plan is again deprioritized, then slows down to 2G speeds after the 5GB allotment. With 2G speeds, users can expect to send text messages and emails or scroll the internet, but streaming video or playing games will be difficult. Hotspot data comes from the 5GB and stops after hitting that amount. The plan costs $15 per month and $45 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 5GB for $3 per GB.

15GB 

You get 15GB of full speed data, then unlimited slow data. 

This plan gets you 15GB of full speed data and mobile hotspot data. This plan is also deprioritized and slowed down to 2G speeds after 15GB. Your hotspot data comes from the 15GB allotment and stops after 15GB. The plan costs $20 per month and $80 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 15GB at $1.33 per GB. 

A young woman focuses on his phone, appearing engaged with the content displayed, in the midtown
Mint Mobile provides flexible plans that can be purchased in 3, 6, or 12-month increments. This gives customers freedom and control over their commitments.

20GB

This plan also gives you unlimited slow data after 20GB. 

As it says in the name, you get 20GB of full speed data. This plan is deprioritized, however, and it slows down to 2G speeds after you reach the 20GB cap. The plan also includes mobile hotspot capabilities. Data comes from the 20GB allotment and stops after hitting that amount. The plan costs $25 per month and $75 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 20GB at $1.25 per GB. 

Unlimited

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan gives you 40GB before slowing down speeds. 

With Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan, you get 40GB of data. Your data is deprioritized, and it slows down to 3G speeds (512 kbps) after 40GB. At 3G, you can still send texts, send emails, and scroll through social media without too many issues. Streaming video might be a bit slower. While this may be a negative for those who use large amounts of data, most users use about 20GB of data per month or less, according to Ericsson Mobility. This plan also gives you 10GB of mobile hotspot data, allowing your phone to become a WiFi connection for other devices. Data stops after 10GB. 

The plan costs $30 per month, or $90 for the first 3 months. After that, the price is $40 per month. To get the same $30 per month deal, you need to buy 12 months worth of service. At this rate, you get 50GB at $0.60 per GB. 

Features

UScellular offers more features than Mint Mobile.  

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. UScellular offers more features with their plans overall, but Mint Mobile offers a free trial.  

Domestic Roaming Data

UScellular offers domestic roaming data on their plans, while Mint Mobile does not include this feature.

Mexico & Canada Connection

UScellular offers talk in Mexico and Canada on all plans except their Prepaid 2GB and 5GB plans as well as text and data on all unlimited plans. Mint Mobile offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada included and roaming data at $0.06 per MB.

International Connection

Mint Mobile gives you international text included, while international talk and data are pay-per-use. International talk is $0.25 per minute, while international data is $0.20 per MB. UScellular does not include this feature.  

Video Streaming Quality

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan streams at 480p Standard Definition, while their limited data plans stream at 4k Ultra High Definition. UScellular includes 1080p HD resolution on Prepaid Unlimited Plus and Even Better Unlimited, 720p HD resolution on Prepaid Unlimited and Everyday Unlimited, and 480p SD resolution on all other plans.

Streaming Services

Mint Mobile and UScellular do not include this feature.  

Cloud Storage

Mint Mobile and UScellular do not include this feature.  

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from either carrier, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

All UScellular plans offer spam protection included. Mint Mobile does not offer this feature.

Free Trial

Mint Mobile offers a 7 day free trial. UScellular does not include this feature.   

Customer Service 

Mint Mobile does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support, while UScellular offers stores across the country. 

Mint Mobile is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Mint Mobile offers chat support 24/7 and support over the phone at (800)-683-7392 from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST every day of the week. UScellular offers several stores across the country, which can be found through the store locator. They also have chat and phone support at (888) 994-9400. Hours vary depending on your timezone. 

The Verdict

The best provider depends on what you need out of a phone plan. 

UScellular’s largest plans have a similar price per GB as Mint Mobile. However, Mint Mobile’s limited plans offer a better price per GB. If you need a big plan with more features, UScellular is the better deal, but Mint Mobile is cheaper overall.

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!

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UScellular Prepaid 2GB

Prepaid 2GB
data
2GB premium
Hotspot access
All plan data (access stops at 2GB)
Best for:
Lightest data users
More Details

UScellular Prepaid 5GB

Prepaid 5GB
data
5GB premium
Hotspot access
All plan data (access stops at 5GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

UScellular Prepaid 8GB

Prepaid 8GB
data
8GB premium
Hotspot access
All plan data (access stops at 8GB)
Best for:
Light data users
More Details

UScellular Basic Unlimited

Basic Unlimited
data
100GB deprioritized
Hotspot access
Not included
Best for:
Heavier data users
More Details

UScellular Prepaid Unlimited

Prepaid Unlimited
data
15GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (access stops at 15GB)
Best for:
Light to average data users
More Details

UScellular Everyday Unlimited

Everyday Unlimited
data
50GB premium
Hotspot access
25GB
Best for:
Heavier data users
More Details

UScellular Even Better Unlimited

Even Better Unlimited
data
Unlimited premium data
Hotspot access
50GB
Best for:
Heaviest data users
More Details

UScellular Basic Unlimited (BYOD)

Basic Unlimited (BYOD)
data
100GB deprioritized
Hotspot access
Add-on available
Best for:
Heavier data users
More Details

UScellular Prepaid Unlimited Plus

Prepaid Unlimited Plus
data
35GB premium
Hotspot access
All plan data (access stops at 35GB)
Best for:
Heavy data users
More Details

UScellular Everyday Unlimited (BYOD)

Everyday Unlimited (BYOD)
data
50GB premium
Hotspot access
25GB
Best for:
Heavier data users
More Details

UScellular Even Better Unlimited (BYOD)

Even Better Unlimited (BYOD)
data
Unlimited premium data
Hotspot access
50GB
Best for:
Heaviest data users
More Details

Mint Mobile 5GB Plan

5GB
data
5GB full-speed data
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 5GB)
Best for:
Light data users, those who mostly use WiFi
More Details

Mint Mobile 15GB Plan

15GB
data
15GB full-speed data
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 15GB)
Best for:
Light-average data users
More Details

Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

20GB
data
20GB full-speed data
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 20GB)
Best for:
Average data users
More Details

Mint Mobile Unlimited Plan

Unlimited
data
40GB high-speed data, unlimited data at 512 kbps (3G speeds)
Hotspot access
10GB mobile hotspot data
Best for:
Heavy data users
More Details

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your questions,
answered

does this phone service work everywhere?

Yep, we offer premium wireless service on the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in our dewi coverage areas, you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.

is there a contract?

Nope, it’s pay as you go.

is this prepaid?

yep! You put your card on file and prepay each month so that you never experience any disruption.

does my phone need to be unlocked?

Yep, but it’s super easy to unlock your device as long as it’s paid off. Chat with us and a real human can help you here.

what if I want a new phone?

We have some recommendations on what we think you should get, from iPhones to Droids. Check out our list here which includes affordable places online to get a good deal.

what does decentralized wireless (dewi) mean?

It means we are building a phone network that is powered by the people. Your neighbors put small radios on their roof and help extend the phone network to cover deadzones™ and get even faster speeds. Right now our DeWi network is available in Austin, but we’ll be expanding to other cities REALLY soon. Learn more about DeWi here.

can I keep my phone number?

yup! you can port your current number in a snap. need help? hit up your VIP concierge.