Mint Mobile vs. Straight Talk vs. Cricket: Which Should I Choose?
If you want to choose a cheap phone carrier for your wireless service,the MVNO carrier may be a great option.They don't build and operate their own networks and instead utilize other carriers' networks like AT&T or T-mobile.But these MVNO carriers can also provide a more streamlined experience and keep costs down.But when it comes to searching for the best MVNOs, there are some common mistakes that we are likely to commit.There are many great no-contract, prepaid carriers like Mint Mobile,Cricket,Straight Talk and more.Thanks to savvy marketing and well-built, affordable plans, Mint,Straight Talk and Cricket may be the two leading MVNO carriers at present.Mint Mobile vs. Straight Talk vs. Cricket:which is better for you?How to choose the best phone plan?In this guide, you'll be able to compare Mint Mobile,Cricket Wireless and Straight Talk coverage, features, plans and prices side-by-side, so you can decide for yourself which carrier offers the best deal.
Mint Mobile Review
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. Mint Mobile users can expect the same ability to make and receive calls that T-Mobile’s customers experience. Best of all, Mint Mobile offers some of the cheapest unlimited data plans in the wireless market. But before you get too excited, know that your data speeds can throttle while using a prepaid carrier like Mint Mobile.As it stands heading into 2025, Mint Mobile currently offers the most value out of any cell phone carrier on the market.
Mint Mobile pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
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Mint Mobile plans and pricing
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.
Plan | Inclusions | Price |
4GB Data Plan |
| $15/mo |
10GB Data Plan |
| $20/mo |
15GB Data Plan |
| $25/mo |
Unlimited Data Plan |
| $30/mo |
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Straight Talk Review
Straight Talk is a TracFone brand that primarily targets data-hungry, individual users on a budget. It has 25 million users and is known to be the largest no-contract cellular provider in America.
This MVNO operates on the networks of the big four cellular providers including T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. The preferred network depends on coverage in your area.
It has around 800 stores in 15 countries worldwide. Today, straight talk is offering phones, devices, service plans, mobile hotspots, and other phone payment plans.Having a joint venture with Walmart makes it easier to act as an exclusive retailer which allows customers to purchase goods and services straight from Straight Talk.
Straight Talk pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
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Straight Talk plans and pricing
When it comes to plans, Straight Talk has options for everybody. As a matter of fact, this is the major selling point for Straight Talk that makes it popular among the competitors.
Plan | Inclusions | Price |
Basic Phone Plan(Nationwide) |
| $30/mo |
Unlimited International Plan |
| $60/mo |
Unlimited Plan(Nationwide + Calls to Canada & Mexico) |
| $90/mo |
Platinum Unlimited Plan(Nationwide + International) |
| $65/mo |
Gold Unlimited Plan (Nationwide + Calls to Canada & Mexico) |
| $55/mo |
Silver Unlimited Plan(Nationwide + Calls to Canada & Mexico) |
| $45/mo |
Bronze Unlimited Plan(Nationwide + Calls to Canada & Mexico) |
| $35/mo |
Cricket Wireless Review
Cricket wireless is one of the Biggest Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in the country.It was founded in Chicago in 1999. They are currently headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and they have 5,000 retail stores nationwide.
The company is also praised for its healthy marketing budget and chances to save money all year round. The company is currently owned by AT&T and sells phone services on AT&T’s network.
Easily one of the most affordable and largely preferred budget mobile carriers, Cricket Wireless comes as an easy to use and versatile service that makes sure that there is something for everyone.Owned by the widely known and used AT&T, Cricket Wireless comes with cheap plans that are mostly ideal for people who have high internet needs but who are on a budget.
Cricket pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
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Cricket plans and pricing
Cricket has four main rate plans that all include unlimited talk and text in the U.S. The main difference is data, with the first two data plans being limited to 8Mbps. The cheaper unlimited plan is limited to 3Mbps, while the most expensive unlimited plan isn't limited in speed. 3Mbps is close to what you could expect on 3G as far as speed.Taxes and fees included in pricing.
Plan | Inclusions | Price |
5 GB Data Plan |
| $30/mo |
10 GB Data Plan |
| $40/mo |
Unlimited Plan |
| $55/mo |
Unlimited + 15 GB Mobile Hotspot Plan |
| $60/mo |
Mint Mobile vs. Straight Talk vs. Cricket: Comparison Side by Side
1.Features
Mint Mobile | Straight Talk | Cricket | |
Network | T-Mobile | T-Mobile, AT&T & Verizon | AT&T |
5G access | All plans | All Plans | Top unlimited plan only |
International texting | Not included | Included with unlimited international plans | Included with unlimited plans |
Mobile hotspot | ✓ | Not available with all plans and networks | Additional fee |
Multi-line discounts | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Multi-month Discounts | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
International Roaming | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
Taxes/fees included | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Bring Your Phone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Keep Your Number | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer Service | 24/7 | 8 am to 11:45 pm - 7 days | 24/7 |
2.Plans and Pricing
Mint Mobile | Straight Talk | Cricket | |
Cheapest Plan | $15/mo (for 12-month bundle) for 4GB of data and unlimited talk/text | $30/mo for 2GB of data and unlimited talk/text | $25/mo (auto-pay) with 2GB of data and unlimited talk/text |
Most Expensive Plan | $30/mo for unlimited data and unlimited talk/text | $90/mo for unlimited data,unlimited nationwide + calls to Canada & Mexico and 15GB hotspot data | $55/mo (auto-pay) for unlimited LTE and 15GB of mobile hotspot |
Most Popular Plan | $20/mo (first three months prepaid, $35/mo thereafter) for 10GB of data and unlimited talk/text | $40/mo for 10GB of data and unlimited talk/text | $35/mo (auto-pay) for unlimited LTE when you bring your own device (speeds throttled at 22GB) |
The plans on Straight Talk ranges from Basic to more advanced and expensive plans. With the basic plans, you will have to count minutes and watch your data usage.
Mint, on the other hand, offers 3, 6, or 12-month billing cycles. The more months you bundle into a Mint pay period, the more you save.For people that are sure to stay with the Mint Services for long, you can pick the 12 months plans. The annual plans give users a better chance to save money.
Cricket offers fairly straightforward unlimited talk and text plans with varying allotments of 4G LTE data. All plan prices are flat fees, with taxes and fees included. It charges monthly and offers a $5 discount when customers enroll in autopay.
3.Coverage
Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile network to provide their services. This shows that you will only benefit from the service if you can get T-Mobile coverage in your area. Luckily, Mint Mobile is very competitive and they have increased their coverage with time.
Cricket uses the AT&T network, which will work well for the majority of Americans. You should check out the coverage map to be sure.
Straight Talk, on the other hand, has an advantage over Mint mobile and Cricket because it uses the top 4 carrier networks in the country. Straight Talk uses networks from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. This shows that you can easily use any of the simcards to get the services. It doesn’t matter where you live, there’s always a provider near you. In case you have more than one alternative, then Straight Talk will help you pick the right network.
Coverage can vary depending on your location. Start by entering your address and checking the coverage maps on websites:
Which is Best for You?
From a purely price-conscious perspective, Mint Mobile is the better option, especially if you have an unlocked phone of your own. T-Mobile's network is solid, and Mint Mobile's plans are straightforward. So long as you are willing to sign up for three months or longer at a time, you get a lot more data for your money.But still, Mint Mobile cannot match the unlimited Straight Talk’s plans for heavy users and cord cutters.
Cricket plans tend to be more expensive than those you get from mint, but with unlimited multiple lines the price is significantly lower. It’s hard to recommend a slow unlimited plan to most people, but if you need to connect the whole family, cricket is also of great value in the top plan.
Moving on to Straight Talk, you can get unlimited options on any network. The company offers a wide range of plans. This means that you can choose the best plan depending on your needs and preferences from 5GB to unlimited data and even international options. Users also have chances to choose which of the four major networks to use.With Straight Talk, you can save a lot of money if you pick the annual and semi-annual plans.
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