Is Mint Mobile's Home Internet a Game-Changer or Just Another Option?
Mint Mobile recently unveiled its new home internet service. We break down how it works so you can determine if it's a great value for your needs.
Home internet is a necessity for many, and an expensive one at that. The average cost of home internet is $78 per CNET. That's right in line with my experience, as I pay $80 for a 1-gig fiber internet plan with Frontier.
If you want to cut costs, there's a new internet provider on the block. Mint Mobile recently announced its home internet service, called MINTernet.
I'll break down how the service works. Additionally, I'll compare its service with other cellular providers offering home internet plans to determine if Mint Mobile's service is worth the switch for you.
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Mint Mobile's new service keeps things simple and affordable
When searching for an internet provider, costs and ease of use are at the top of my list. These are two things Mint Mobile does exceptionally well.
Let's start with costs. If you have a Mint Mobile cellular plan, you can save $10 off its home internet service, bringing the initial cost down to $30 for the introductory three-month period. If you don't have cell service with Mint Mobile, you can still get the plan for $40 for three months, which is about half of the average internet bill.
After the first three months, the service costs depend on a few factors. This table breaks them down:
Months prepaid | With Mint Mobile cellular | Without Mint Mobile's cellular |
|---|---|---|
3 months | $40 | $50 |
6 months | $35 | $45 |
1 year | $30 | $40 |
Along with costs, ease of use is imperative. Unlike other internet providers, with whom you have to schedule an installation appointment, then another for them to bury the line in your yard, Mint Mobile simplifies the process. They'll send you a wireless gateway (with expedited shipping) that you plug in, connect your devices, and the service is ready to go.
How does Mint Mobile's service work?
Mint offers 5G internet connection through T-Mobile's network, meaning before signing up for service, you'll want to check T-Mobile's coverage map to ensure you'll receive the higher speeds.
Next, you'll want to see if the service is in your area. Visit Mint Mobile's website and enter your address to see if coverage is available. If it is, you can sign up for service online within minutes. If you want to cancel service later, there are no early termination fees.
What happens if you try the service and dislike it? No worries, you have a 14-day money-back guarantee, making it a risk-free way to see if its connection speeds are adequate for your online needs.
How fast is the network? It depends on where you live. Mint Mobile says you can experience download speeds from 133 to 415 megabits per second (Mbps), with upload speeds of 12 to 55 Mbps. The download speeds are comparable with what you probably receive through your service provider now.
How does Mint Mobile compare with other internet providers?
Here's a breakdown of how Mint Mobile's home internet compares with other services:
Provider | Price | Download speed | Usage before speeds throttle |
|---|---|---|---|
Mint Mobile | $30-$50 | 133-415 Mbps | 1.0 TB |
T-Mobile | $50 | 87-415 Mbps | 1.2 TB |
Verizon | $50 | Up to 25 Mbps | 150 GB |
Every mobile internet provider has a data cap. If you reach the data threshold for the month and there's network congestion during peak usage, they'll lower the connection speeds of the users exceeding it.
Also, to be fair to Verizon, my location only qualified for the Lite plan. But even the Lite plan pales in comparison with what you receive in terms of value, data allowance and download speeds Mint Mobile offers.
Is Mint Mobile's home internet a good deal?
It depends on your needs. If you want to cut costs and you're in their service area, it makes sense to give them a try.
Their download speeds are favorable to other cellular providers offering home internet, and even without the phone plan discount, you're still paying well below what you would with a regular internet provider. The only issue is you'll have to pay at least three months in advance, and the best savings force you to prepay for a year of service.
The good news is that you have a risk-free way of trying it out. You can test speeds for two weeks, and if it doesn't work for you, you can return the gateway and get your money back.
For the price and the features, this is one of the better buys I've come across, if it works for your needs.
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