Mint Mobile vs. Google Fi vs. Visible: Full Comparison & Verdict 2024
When it comes to picking a wireless provider there are plenty of options beyond AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.If you feel like you’re paying too much for your cellular service, consider using a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) instead of the more expensive major mobile vendors.These providers don't actually run their own cellular networks.Instead,most are what's called MVNOs (or mobile virtual network operators) that partner with the larger carriers and piggyback off of their networks.
When it comes to cheap, great value prepaid phone plans three companies really stand out right now - Mint Mobile,Visible Wireless and Google Fi.Who has better coverage Mint or Visible or Google Fi? Which is the cheapest MVNO?How do you know which is better for you when factoring in things like value, speed, and perks?We’ll get into all the nitty-gritty details in this article.And a few tips to help you choose the perfect cell phone plan.
What Is Mint Mobile?
Founded in 2016, Mint Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that offers prepaid wireless plans. Its wide variety of service offerings include international calling and roaming, and Wi-Fi calling and texting.Now Mint Mobile has been recognized within the industry and has gained a positive reputation.
Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s network and utilizes its cell phone towers, including 5G at no extra charge. As it stands heading into 2024, Mint Mobile currently offers the most value out of any cell phone carrier on the market.
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What Is Google Fi?
Google Fi, formerly Project Fi, is a MVNO telecommunications service by Google that provides telephone calls, SMS, and mobile broadband using cellular networks and Wi-Fi. Google Fi uses networks operated by T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular(T-Mobile - which has since bought Sprint - and US Cellular) . You just need to use Fi with a smartphone that's either "designed" for Fi or "compatible" with Fi. This can be an unlocked Android, Pixel, or even an iPhone.
Beyond cellular and data coverage, Google Fi is all about streamlined billing. You pay one fee per month for unlimited talk and texting, plus a flat rate per gigabyte of data after that. There's also a level called "Bill Protection", which effectively caps your charges every month and therefore serves an unlimited plan. You can also do international data and calling with Fi, and there's no additional cost for data use or texting.
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What Is Visible?
Visible is an all-digital wireless carrier owned by Verizon. The app-based phone service runs on Verizon’s 4G LTE Network. Visible gives you unlimited talk, text, and data plus access to the nation's best coverage, all at a fraction of the price of Verizon, its parent company.
Visible supports many of the latest Verizon devices, so you’re hardly starved for your choice. Wi-Fi calling is available on some phone models. Most iPhone models are supported, along with a limited selection of some popular Android choices, like the Galaxy S21 series and Pixel 5 series.
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Mint Mobile vs. Google Fi vs. Visible: Comparison Side by Side
1.Coverage
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network to provide coverage and data, and lucky for us, T-Mobile offers one of the best networks in the country. T-Mobile covers about 94% of the country.Chances are you’ll have coverage, but there are a few pockets where signal can get spotty—particularly in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West region.Enter your ZIP code on Mint’s website to confirm voice and data coverage where you live, work and travel.
Google Fi
If you live in a T-Mobile or US Cellular coverage area, then you have nothing to worry about. But you can double-check using this tool.
Visible
Verizon powers Visible, and over the years, Verizon's established itself as having the best coverage across the United States compared to every other carrier out there. Especially if you live in a rural area, chances are Verizon's got your back where other networks drop the ball.
It's worth mentioning that Visible does not support 3G and does not get access to Verizon's roaming partners. If you're currently on Verizon and have great coverage, it's worth double-checking the map anyways.
4G coverage:
Despite the growth of 5G (and how carriers are marketing it), 4G LTE is still the dominant network in the country. Verizon has long been the reigning king of 4G, while T-Mobile has trailed behind in third (after AT&T).
In fact, both Mint,Google Fi and Visible have strong coverage in pretty much all of the heavily populated cities of the country. It's the rural areas where you're likely to see a difference, with Visible/Verizon showing up much stronger there.
5G coverage:
If you're only looking at 5G, though, T-Mobile is a clear winner. Most modern phones support T-Mobile's entire LTE network.T-Mobile got a bit of a jump start in the 5G race and in the relatively young days leads the industry with its coverage. But not everybody has a 5G-compatible phone yet. Plus, the current state of 5G is still more like a slightly upgraded 4G instead of the true 5G we're expecting in the near future.
That said, we think Visible and Verizon’s network is the current winner in this category.
2.Pland and Pricing
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile offers four main plans that work out to as low as $15 a month, but there isn’t actually a monthly plan. You must buy plans for either three, six or 12 months at a time.
5GB | 15GB | 20GB | Unlimited | |
3 months | $15/mo | $20/mo | $25/mo | $30/mo |
6 months | $20/mo | $25/mo | $35/mo | $35/mo |
12 months | $15/mo | $20/mo | $25/mo | $30/mo |
There’s no doubt that Mint offers some of the best cheap plans on the market. But the company’s advertised prices can be a little bit deceiving. Most of the prices that you see from Mint are introductory. After your first month, these prices can increase.
Mint Mobile now also offer family plans starting at $15/mo per line(Minimum of 2 lines | Maximum of 5 lines).Click here to view details.
Google Fi
Google Fi has two unlimited plans and a flexible plan. Each plan comes with unlimited calling and texting to numbers in the United States, free calling to Mexico and Canada (or 50 countries with Unlimited Plus), and data in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In addition, with each plan, you can save money by bringing additional lines, with the cost per line coming down per line with up to four lines.
Unlimited Plus | Simply Unlimited | Flexible | |
1 line | $70 ea | $60 ea | $20 ea + $10/GB |
2 lines | $60 ea | $45 ea | $18 ea + $10/GB |
3 lines | $50 ea | $30 ea | $17 ea + $10/GB |
3 lines | $50 ea | $30 ea | $17 ea + $10/GB |
4 lines | $45 ea | $30 ea | $17 ea + $10/GB |
5 lines | $45 ea | $30 ea | $16 ea + $10/GB |
6 lines | $45 ea | $30 ea | $16 ea + $10/GB |
What sets Google Fi's Simply Unlimited plan apart from the other two is that it offers fewer perks and a price that's somewhere between the two. This plan doesn't include any hotspot data.The plan doesn't offer a data-only SIM like the other two, nor does it offer unlimited texting, calling, or data when traveling abroad—whereas, with the Unlimited Plus plan, you're able to roam for free. With the Flexible plan, you'll pay the same rate as you would for data domestically. The Simply Unlimited plan is a great choice if you need a lot of data and not much of anything else.
Visible
Verizon is making some big changes to its Visible cell service.Now, new and existing Visible customers can choose between two new unlimited plans, Visible and Visible+.Visible is a similar offering to the old Visible plan, only now it costs $30/mo instead of $40. For Visible+, a couple of additional features and upgrades will cost you $45/mo.These plans are designed for single-line users, not families. There is no multi-line discount.This is the plan details below.
Plan | Network | Hotspot | The Extras | Price |
Visible |
| Unlimited |
| $30/mo |
Visible+ |
| Unlimited |
| $45/mo |
Both plans include talk and text from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico. But the premium plan features additional international talk, text and data roaming access compared to the base plan.
Taxes and fees are included in both prices on these plans, Both plans are also live right away, in case you want to sign-up. Visible supports eSIM now as well, so if you were interested in trying them, you can do so without a physical SIM card.
3.International Calling
Mint Mobile
Free calling to Mexico and Canada now included. Plus enjoy super-low rates to over 160 countries worldwide.
Google Fi
Google Fi works in over 200 countries, with no additional cost for data or texting. Calls cost around $0.20 per min to any number while abroad. (Tip: you pay lower rates when calling over Wi-Fi). Go here full the full list of international rates.
Visible
Previously Visible did not include any international calling & texting. They do now offer calling and texting to four locations: Mexico, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
4.International Roaming
Mint Mobile
If you’re looking to go abroad, you can use Mint services overseas by purchasing international call credits and roaming credits. UpRoam allows you to purchase credit to use your Mint services overseas, including outside of Canada and Mexico.
Google Fi
Google Fi is well known for its robust roaming options, and if you travel outside the U.S. regularly, it can keep you connected without forcing you to change SIM cards or worry about absurd costs.
Visible
Visible also did not include any international roaming service.
5.Speed and Perks
Mint Mobile,Google Fi and Visible utilize speedy nationwide 5G networks, although it's worth noting that being prepaid carriers, they are subject to 'deprioritization' when the parent networks are subject to heavy traffic.
That said, which offers the speediest service? And which one has the best perks for making the most of that fast data?
MVNOs don’t typically offer the best perks. Visible and Google Fi,and even Mint aren’t exceptions to this rule.
6.Mobile Hotspot Data
MVNOs are not particularly the best options when it comes to mobile hotspots, i.e., using your phone as a portable Wi-Fi.Quite frankly, if mobile hotspot is a priority for you, look at the major cell phone carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon).
Mint and Visible do include mobile hotspot in their plans. Visible offers unlimited hotspot data with the big caveat that speeds are limited to 5Mbps. Mint includes 5GB of dedicated mobile hotspot data in its unlimited plan. With the Mint limited plans, any mobile hotspot will count against your overall data limit.
Google Fi allows you to use mobile hotspot up until you reach your plan’s data limit or priority data limit if you have its Unlimited Plus plan. It doesn’t allow tethering on its Simply Unlimited plan.
Neither Mint nor Visible's hotspot options stand out as excellent. The 5Mbps, while not horrifically slow, might get in the way of streaming video or playing games. Meanwhile, if you're a heavy data user, you might blow through Mint's 5GB in no time.
If you prioritize speeds for your hotspot Google Fi is the way to go. If you need as much data as possible, Visible has the plan for you.
7.Phone Compatibility
The three MVNOsare compatible with many of today’s big-name cell phones. However, it’s important to note that Google Fi is still in beta with the iPhone, meaning you’ll have to take extra steps to set up your iPhone and might not get the full benefits of the carrier’s service. Google Fi, not surprisingly, works best with Android (Google’s mobile operating system) phones and features special software that automatically connects these phones to its best network and Wi-Fi hotspots.
The Verdict
Mint Mobile | Google Fi | Visible | |
Coverage | ★ | ||
Price | ★ | ||
High-speed data | ★ | ||
Family plans | ★ | ||
Phone Compatibility | ★ |
How to Choose a Cell Phone Plan?
Data: Know how much data you need each month and get a plan that gives you what you enough (but not too much more). Remember, not all data is created equal, so be sure your carrier has data speeds that match your needs.
Price: You may think you’re getting a good deal, but there’s no way to know until you look at the competition. Compare prices before signing up so you don’t have to switch later.
Coverage: The three major networks run by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offer pretty great coverage. But one may have better service in your area. Check out the coverage maps to see which is best.
Features: Do you want to use your phone as a mobile hotspot? Do you enjoy extra perks, like free subscriptions to streaming services? Do you need international coverage for your business travel?
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