Mint Mobile vs. Visible: Which MVNO carrier is best for you?

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  All fees included

  Visible
  

  Visible by Verizon is a prepaid carrier with two completely unlimited plans. Both plans use the Verizon network with 5G access, though only the more premium Visible+ plan comes with Ultra Wideband speeds. Both plans also have unlimited hotspot data, which means you can keep a laptop or tablet online with just a single Visible plan.

  Pros & Cons

  • Truly unlimited data on the Verizon network
  • Unlimited 5Mbps hotspot data (10Mbps on Visible+)
  • Taxes and fees are included

  • Base plan lacks full 5G speeds
  • Weaker phone compatibility than Mint

  From $25/month
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  Multi-month savings

  
  Mint Mobile
  
  

  Mint Mobile has won over a lot of customers with its simplicity and excellent compatibility. However, it’s still a tough sale for those who want truly unlimited data or live in rural areas. Mint Mobile uses the T-Mobile network with full 5G access on all plans, so all customers need to do to find the best Mint plan is figure out how much data they use.

  Pros & Cons

  • Great 5G coverage on T-Mobile
  • Multi-month and multi-line savings
  • Excellent phone support

  • You must buy at least three months
  • Taxes and fees are extra

  From $15/month

If you’re looking for a new phone plan, Mint Mobile may seem like the freshest choice, but if you’re a heavier user, Visible may be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Visible keeps its plans simple, offering unlimited data (even with hotspots) on Verizon’s network. On the other hand, Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan offers unlimited data but only 10GB of hotspot data, and on cheaper plans, hotspot data usage is shared with your overall bucket balance.

Saving money with either of these carriers comes down to how much data you actually need. Mint Mobile’s data bucket plans are great for lighter users who keep their phone on Wi-Fi, but if you need more than 15GB of data, you can save with Visible. Not only that, but you only need to pay for Visible one month at a time, and taxes and fees are included in the cost.

Mobile carrier features

Visible is owned and operated by Verizon and runs exclusively on Verizon’s LTE and 5G networks. Visible’s plans are so simple that they feel like proof of concept for Verizon’s current postpaid plans. And with some recent upgrades to the Visible+ plan, it’s a better deal than ever. Visible’s base plan is simple, with an unlimited data set as a lower priority than Verizon’s plans, but it is still fast enough for most people. Visible+ adds 50GB of premium data for faster speeds, better international support, and a faster mobile hotspot. Visible+ even includes data for Apple Watch (though not other smartwatches, unfortunately).

Mint Mobile offers four data plans: 5GB, 15GB, 20GB, and Unlimited. T-Mobile owns Mint Mobile and provides all of its coverage with full 5G support. Mint Mobile also sells data for multiple months at a time, the shortest term being three months. However, you can save more by purchasing six or 12 months at once, with the best rates for those paying for the whole year.

Mint Mobile also offers hotspot data on all its plans, so you can use it on your phone or tablet. The three smaller data plans can use all their data with the hotspot, though the unlimited plan comes with a separate 10GB hotspot balance.

Mobile coverage and reception

Visible uses Verizon’s LTE and 5G network for coverage, so for many Americans, coverage will be excellent. Verizon’s 5G network is continuing to grow, with Verizon hurriedly deploying its C-band coverage across the country, but compared to T-Mobile, Verizon still hasn’t caught up. Verizon has fast 5G coverage in a lot of cities now, but you’ll still likely see LTE while driving or if you live in a rural area.

Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile LTE and 5G for coverage, meaning it has the country’s largest and fastest 5G network behind it. T-Mobile got a head start on mid-band 5G deployment thanks to the valuable 2.5GHz spectrum it received from its purchase of Sprint. This allowed T-Mobile to blast ahead while AT&T and Verizon were waiting for the C-band spectrum to clear countrywide. Make no mistake, Verizon is spending big to close the gap, but T-Mobile’s 5G lead is huge.

One thing that 5G can’t fix is dead zones. Verizon has a strong reputation for rural coverage, so there’s a good chance it’s the better choice if you’re the type of family with a second fridge in the garage. Check Visible’s coverage map, as well as Mint Mobile’s coverage map to make sure you’re covered before signing up. While Verizon is generally stronger in rural areas, there are a lot of factors that can affect coverage, so you’ll need to find the best option for your area.

Both of these carriers also offer free trials. If you’ve got an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone, you can try out Mint Mobile for seven days to make sure you’ve got a good signal. Visible also offers a free trial, so you can make sure it’s a good fit as well.

Phone compatibility

Visible supports a wide range of Androids (and iPhones) that support Verizon’s network bands and VoLTE. Most of the best Android phones will work on Visible. Enter your IMEI in Visible’s compatibility tool for confirmation.

To get the best 5G coverage on Visible, your phone should support 5G bands n2, n5, n66, and n77. If you live in an area with mmWave Ultra Wideband coverage (and signed up for Visible+), you can get faster speeds with bands n260 and n261. It’s important to note that bringing a phone purchased from a carrier like AT&T may not be fully compatible, so it’s still a good idea to check for compatibility, even if it has all the required bands.

Mint Mobile supports most unlocked phones thanks to T-Mobile’s network. You can check Mint Mobile’s compatibility tool to be sure, but if you bought your phone unlocked in the past couple of years, you’re probably good to go. Mint Mobile is even a good fit if you have a phone that’s not designed for the U.S. market, like the Nothing Phone 2a. To make the most of T-Mobile 5G, your phone should support bands n71 and n41. T-Mobile can deliver faster speeds using carrier aggregation with n71, n41, and n25 in some areas; however, T-Mobile has some spotty mmWave coverage with n260 and n261.

Plans

The network means nothing if you can’t get the right phone plan. Mint Mobile has many data choices, so you can pick exactly what you need. Visible keeps things much simpler with just two plans, and both are unlimited. If you’re looking for truly unlimited data, Visible is the clear champion.

Visible’s plans

Visible has two unlimited plans starting with the base Visible plan for just $25 per month. You can also pay $275 annually, which works out to a savings of $25. This plan can access nationwide 5G, which offers speeds similar to LTE and unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps. Included are unlimited domestic talk and texts, plus calls and texts to Mexico and Canada.

Visible+ upgrades your data speeds with access to Ultra Wideband 5G, which includes Verizon’s fast C-band coverage. Visible+ also has 50GB of premium data. If you live in a dense area, you may have noticed data speeds plummeting during peak times; premium data helps to alleviate this. Visible+ also comes with unlimited hotspot data with double the speed at 10Mbps. Visible+ comes in at $45 per month, or $395 per year, which works out to $145 saved.

Visible+ also adds unlimited roaming with 2GB of high-speed data per day in Mexico and Canada, international calling to 30+ countries and international texting to 200+ countries. With this plan, you can also save $10 per month on Verizon Home Internet. ​​​​

If you’re looking to save on Visible and don’t want to mess with annual payments, you can get the base plan for $20 per month for 24 months with code “CHAMP”. You can get Visible+ for $35 per month with the same code. After tow years, you’ll need to pay the full amount, but since you won’t have a contract, you’ll be able to use that opportunity to shop around again.

Mint Mobile plans

Mint Mobile has four data plans that all include unlimited talk and text, free calls to Mexico and Canada, and hotspot data. Most of the time, the smallest 5GB plan will work for lighter users or users with Wi-Fi access. If you need more, you can pick the 15GB or 20GB plan. You can also check your last phone bill to get an idea of how much data you typically use. Here’s a tip; if you’re trying to save, start with a smaller plan and upgrade if needed.

Mint’s Unlimited plan will appeal to heavier users who regularly use more than 20GB of data monthly. This plan comes with truly unlimited data, so your speed won’t be throttled if you go above a certain limit. You also get 10GB of high-speed hotspot data, so you can keep your other devices connected when you’re on the go.

All Mint Mobile plans can be purchased for three, six, or 12 months at once, with the best monthly rates coming with the longer terms. If you’re looking for maximum savings and have the money, buying the year is your best bet. You can, at least, get your first three months at the 12-month rate, so you’re not on the hook for too long if it doesn’t work out. Mint Family is also available if you’re bringing over multiple lines, and while the prices are the same, you can get the 12-month discounted rate with only a three-month renewal, making it easier to pay for.

Mint Family allows you to bring up to five lines to Mint Mobile, and while there’s not technically a multi-line discount, you get Mint’s best rate renewed every three months. This makes Mint Mobile more accessible to families since they won’t need to pay for multiple 12-month plans at once with the best Mint Mobile phones. If you’re not sure how much data you need, this will give you a good opportunity to see your typical usage in the Mint Mobile app. Just be sure to select the best plan for your usage before renewing.

Which is right for you?

Visible is the best overall value thanks to its unlimited data and no-nonsense savings. There’s no need to scramble to bring multiple lines, you don’t need to buy multiple months, and Visible’s unlimited data is actually unlimited. If you’re looking for a simple data plan and don’t want to count how many gigs you’re burning away, Visible makes a ton of sense. While T-Mobile’s 5G speeds are better, Verizon’s coverage on Visible will still be plenty for most users.

Mint Mobile has a lot to offer, and no doubt, it’s an incredible value for light to average users. Mint has also updated the data buckets included with its plans on a fairly regular basis, and its new sizes are more competitive than ever. With Wi-Fi usage at home, even heavy users could get by on Mint’s largest plan. Fast 5G on T-Mobile will also be compelling to those heavy users.

Mint’s strong phone compatibility means you have many more Android phones to choose from, including the best budget Android phones. Mint’s plans also give you much more flexibility than Visible’s two plans, so if you don’t use a lot of data, you can save a lot compared to Visible’s plans.