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Boost Mobile vs. Mint Mobile vs. Consumer Cellular: Which Should I Choose?

Boost Mobile vs. Mint Mobile vs. Consumer Cellular: Which Should I Choose?

    If you’re looking for ways to save money on your phone service,you’ve come to the right place.Boost Mobile MVNO,Mint Mobile and Consumer Cellular are great for saving money while maintaining reliable service and data.What's the difference beteen Boost Mobile,Mint Mobile and Consumer Cellular?Mint Mobile vs. Boost Mobile vs. Consumer Cellular: which prepaid carrier is best for yor?What service is better than Boost Mobile?What is better than Consumer Cellular? What cell towers does mint mobile use? What carrier does consumer cellular use?Can I switch from Boost to Mint?Within this guide, you'll be able to compare Boost Mobile,Mint Mobile and Consumer Cellular coverage, features, plans and prices side-by-side, so you can decide for yourself which carrier offers the best deal.

Cover Photo:unsplash.com Kev Costello
 

Boost Mobile Review

Source:boostmobile.com

Boost is one of the most recognizable names in the no-contract cell phone world. Boost Mobile is used by two independent companies that are in Australia and the US. Boost Mobile’s headquarters is in Sydney. 

In the US, the way that Boost Mobile has tried to remain relevant is by marketing their products and plans to younger and trendier crowds. Their ad campaigns have featured hip-hop luminaries and sports figures. Among the faces that have appeared in their commercials over the years are Kanye West, Travis Barker, Nick Cannon, Ludacris, and Fat Joe. Their catchphrase, “where you at,” has become a part of popular culture.

Mobile runs off the T-Mobile network So, with Boost, you get slower download speeds and more limited phone carry over ability.hey offer some of the best deals on the market that almost rival MetroPCS. 

Boost Mobile Pros and Cons

ProsCons
  • T-Mobile (former Sprint) network.

  • 5G on all expanded coverage plans.

  • Lower priced data plans give you more data bang for your buck.

  • Multiple data plan options.

  • Unlimited music streaming.

  • Hotspot data with every plan.

  • Offers value family plans.

  • Great international add-ons.

  • Good selection of smartphones.

  • Works w/ most Unlocked GSM Phones.

Unlimited plan slowed at 35GB.

Weaker device compatibility.

Coverage in rural areas.

Mobile hotspot costs $49.99 extra.

Video streaming is low resolution unless you pay $20 extra per month.

Older devices stuck on Sprint.

Confusing network options.


Mint Mobile Review

Source:mintmobile.com

Mint Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that offers prepaid wireless plans. The service runs on T-Mobile's network and utilizes its cell phone towers, including 5G at no extra charge.

Mint Mobile has built itself on offering insanely good value as far as cell phone carriers go. And it's gotten quite the reputation as an up and coming carrier, thanks to the ads with actor and company owner Ryan Reynolds. Its wide variety of service offerings include international calling and roaming, and Wi-Fi calling and texting.Mint’s plans are some of the most affordable in the industry. You can think of them like the Costco of prepaid carriers. The more you buy, or in this case the longer you sign up for, the better overall price you get on your cell service. 

Now Mint Mobile has been recognized within the industry and has gained a positive reputation. As it stands heading into 2024, Mint Mobile currently offers the most value out of any cell phone carrier on the market.

Mint Mobile Pros and Cons

ProsCons
  • Operates on the nationwide T-Mobile network.

  • The plans are compatible with 4G and 5G LTE data.

  • Cheap prices.

  • The plans are simple.

  • It has flexible plans where users can use the data for three months, six months, and 12 months.

  • Friendly customer service.

  • Generous data allowances.

  • Works with most unlocked phones.

  • Risk-free trial.

  • Good international calling rates.

  • Won several awards for the best cell phone plans.

  • No Mint Mobile stores—online only.

  • There are no family plans.

  • Users have to use the data for at least three months.

  • The phone deals are limited.

  • Best savings reserved for longer bulk purchases, resulting in higher upfront costs.

  • Data speeds prone to slowing in areas of network congestion.

Consumer Cellular Review

1650003249788103.png

Source:consumercellular.com

Based in Portland, Oregon, Consumer Cellular has over 4 million customers, focusing on those 50 and older. The company is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), meaning it leases service from another carrier. In Consumer Cellular’s case, those carriers are AT&T and T-Mobile.When you sign up for service and enter your ZIP code, Consumer Cellular will determine which network will work best for you, and you’ll have access to that network’s towers. 

Consumer Cellular lets you tailor a plan to your data usage without needing to buy any more than you need. You can also save money with an AARP membership and family plan options for up to three lines. In addition to affordable plans, Consumer Cellular is known for advertising its friendly customer service.

Consumer Cellular Pros and Cons

ProsCons
  • Uses AT&T and T-Mobile networks.

  • Affordable plans for light data users.

  • AARP discount.

  • Simple, easy-to-understand plans at low cost.

  • Top-ranked customer support.

  • Device payment plan.

  • Good for less tech-savvy users.

  • Automatic upgrade feature.

  • Small plan selection.

  • Expensive unlimited plan.

  • Unlimited plan slowed at 35GB.

  • Limited phone selections.

  • May not offer the newest phones.

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Boost Mobile vs. Mint Mobile vs. Consumer Cellular: Comparison Side by Side

1.Network Coverage

  • Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile is owned by Sprint and, for years, has used the Sprint network exclusively, and most Boost Mobile customers still do. T-Mobile purchased Sprint and, by extension, Boost Mobile. Recently, Boost Mobile started offering coverage on what it's calling the Expanded Network, although it's just the T-Mobile network. If you have a compatible phone, you can use that network. If you find Sprint's services to be superior in your area, you can still use the Nationwide network.

Source:boostmobile.com

>>Check coverage map

  • Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile also 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.

1650008874588249.png

Source:mintmobile.com

>>Check coverage map

  • Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular uses two networks—AT&T and T-Mobile. That should give you adequate coverage across the US and possibly even zippy 4G LTE or 5G speeds. But with a mix of AT&T and T-Mobile, you’ll likely only see your cell signal drop if you’re out West, in the far Northeast, or in the mountainous areas of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

1650009042437512.png

Source:consumercellular.com

>>Check coverage map

2.Plans and Pricing

  • Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile plans start at $15.Plans on this network are available in 2GB, 5GB, 10GB and 35GB sizes. There are two 35GB plans coming in at $50 and $60 per month with 12GB and 30GB of mobile hotspot data, respectively.All of the plans on this network include mobile hotspot data.Mix & Match any line to create your own family plan.

Unlike Mint Mobile, Boost allows its users to pay month by month–there’s no need to buy months in bulk. They also offer unlimited plans.

1650009499858270.png

Source:boostmobile.com

  • New customers only. 

  • 5G service requires a 5G capable device. 

  • 5G not available in all areas. 

  • After monthly data allotment is exceeded, your data speeds will be reduced for the remainder of the month.

The cheapest 2GB and 5GB plans are only available to new in-store customers at these rates. If you're more interested in the Expanded Network, you can choose between two 35GB plans with additional lines available at a discount. The $50 unlimited plan is limited to SD quality video streaming. If you want crisper videos, you'll want to go with the $60 plan. 

>>Click here to view plan details

  • Mint Mobile

Mint offers data plans featuring 4GB, 10GB, 15GB and unlimited buckets of data as low as $15 a month.All plans come with unlimited text and talk, so you will never have to pay anything extra for using those features. However, the difference in pricing between the plans comes down to how much data you plan on using each month. But there isn’t actually a monthly plan. You must buy plans for either three, six or 12 months at a time.


4GB10GB15GBUnlimited
3 months$15/mo$20/mo$25/mo$30/mo
6 months$20/mo$25/mo$30/mo$35/mo
12 months$15/mo$20/mo$25/mo$30/mo

All plans include:

  • Unlimited text and talk.

  • Free calling to Mex & Can.

  • Free mobile hotspot.

  • Wifi call & text.

  • Free 3-in-1 SIM card.

  • 5G high speed data.

The longer the package, the lower the monthly rate. Your first three months are charged at the lowest rate for your plan, after which you can renew with any of the packages at the higher renewal rate. If you plan on staying with Mint for a long time, renewing at the 12-month rate will save you the most money—but you'll also be paying for all 12 months upfront.

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 plan details

  • Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular offers six different prebuilt plans ranging from $20 to $55 per month, which includes the $5 autopay discount. All of the plans include unlimited talk and text,with multi-line accounts of up to three lines available. 


1 line2 lines3 lines
1 GB Data Plan$20/mo$40/mo$55/mo
3 GB Data Plan$25/mo$45/mo$60/mo
7 GB Data Plan$35/mo$55/mo$70/mo
10 GB Data Plan$40/mo$60/mo$75/mo
15 GB Data Plan$45/mo$65/mo$80/mo
Unlimited Data Plan$55/mo$75/mo$90/mo

All plans include:

  • Unlimited Talk & Text

  • Cellular Data

  • Premium Nationwide Coverage

  • 5G Access at No Extra Cost

  • Paperless Billing

  • Convenient Automatic Bill Payment

  • Award-Winning Customer Service

If you don’t need data with your phone plan, Consumer Cellular offers an additional option. On the plans page, you can click “I Don’t Need a Data Plan” to see a $45 per month talk-only phone plan that offers unlimited minutes.

>>Click here to view plan details

3.Customer Service

  • Boost Mobile

Where Boost Mobile seems to have the edge is in the number of brick-and-mortar locations that they have around the country. They have about 8,000 location.Boost has a rather large knowledgebase with a lot of information that you can use to fix settings on your phone, change your plan, update your phone, and so on. 

  • Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile really connects with its customers! It’s one of the most down-to-earth brands on the market.Mint has also shown great customer service in its day-to-day dealings with its customers. Many customer reviews rave about how friendly and helpful the staff is when they’ve called with questions or issues.

Of course, there are negative reviews. Some users who went through Best Buy have tried Mint promotions and then not received the deals they signed up for. That’s not cool.But overall, Mint seems to be one of those rare companies that excel at giving people what they want.

  • Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular is well-known for advertising friendly customer service.To contact Consumer Cellular, you can visit the website to chat with an agent or call Consumer Cellular at (888) 345-5509 any day of the week between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST.

4.Phone Compatibility

Boost Mobile,Mint Mobile and  Consumer Cellular offer customers the option to either buy a new phone or bring a compatible device.If you want to keep your current phone, it must be unlocked. Locate your device’s IMEI number to check compatibility.

Though Boost Mobile uses the former Sprint network and should technically work with Sprint phones, many cannot be activated on Boost Mobile. For the most part, you will need a compatible Boost Mobile phone.

Mint Mobile has a clear advantage over Boost when it comes to supported phones. Because it uses T-Mobile's GSM network, it will work with nearly any unlocked phone supporting its bands. So as long as your phone is 4G LTE and VoLTE friendly, you shouldn't have an issue.

Consumer Cellular offers an impressive array of phones, ranging from simple flip phones to the latest offerings from Samsung, Motorola, and Apple. I can safely say that they have something to satisfy almost any taste or need. 

5.Features


Boost MobileMint MobileConsumer Cellular
NetworksAT&T & T-MobileT-MobileT-Mobile
Data Speed5G & 4G LTE5G & 4G LTE5G & 4G LTE
Mobile Hotspot

Bring Your Phone
Keep Your Number
Customer Service

Mon-Fri: 4am - 8pm PST

Sat-Sun: 4am - 7pm PST

5 am to 7 pm - 7 days

Mon–Fri:5am to 6pm (PDT)

Sat-Sun:6am to 5pm

(PDT)

Taxes/fees includedXX
WiFi Calling
Multi-line DiscountsX
Multi-month DiscountsXX
International Calling✓(Mex & Can)✓(Canada & the Caribbean)
International RoamingX

The Verdict: Which is Best for You?

Boost Mobile has a wide variety of plans and offers some of the best add-on services of any carrier, especially when it comes to international perks. Boost has also solved one of its biggest problems (weak coverage) by adding the T-Mobile network. With its new array of plans and various data options, pretty much anyone can find a good fit with Boost Mobile.

With Mint Mobile, it's easy to find the right plan and save money with a longer service term. So whether you need the full 35GB of data on its unlimited plan or can get by on the 4GB plan, you'll get one of the best monthly rates out there with Mint Mobile.

Consumer Cellular also offers a wide range of plans that make sense to many people, whether you need only talk and text or a lot of data. With an AARP discount and savings for up to three lines. Consumer Cellular can be a great option. Still, even with these savings, Mint Mobile will be cheaper if you're willing to pay for the whole year upfront.

How to Choose a Cell Phone Plan?

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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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