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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteYes. T-Mobile completed its acquisition of Mint Mobile’s parent company, Ka’ena Corporation, on May 1, 2024. Mint still operates as a separate prepaid brand, and a $15 plan remains available. However, the regular $15 option is the 5GB tier—not a permanent unlimited-data price. Any $15 unlimited offer is a promotion with eligibility, term and renewal conditions.
The practical issue is that Mint quotes many plans as a monthly equivalent while charging the full three-, six- or 12-month term upfront, with taxes and fees added at checkout.
What T-Mobile actually bought
T-Mobile announced its agreement to acquire Ka’ena Corporation on March 15, 2023. Ka’ena’s businesses included Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile and Plum. After regulatory review, the transaction closed on May 1, 2024, giving T-Mobile control of the company and its brands. The closing announcement said Mint and Ultra would join the T-Mobile family while continuing as separate brands and business units.
The FCC transaction document describes T-Mobile acquiring control and indirect ownership. T-Mobile’s subsequent 2025 Form 10-K identifies Ka’ena as a wholly owned subsidiary.
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#1 Best Overall
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk, text, and data delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. Data speeds may slow after 50GB when network is busy but data is unlimited. Videos stream at 480p.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
- WHY YOU SHOULD GET IT: Mint Mobile took what’s wrong with wireless and made it right. We re-imagined the wireless shopping experience and made it easy and online.
Is Mint now just T-Mobile prepaid?
No. Ownership and the customer-facing service are different things.
- Corporate owner: T-Mobile controls Mint through Ka’ena.
- Brand and billing: Mint continues to sell its own plans, support its own customer journey and use its own prepaid terms.
- Network: Mint is an MVNO using T-Mobile’s wireless network; it does not operate a separate nationwide radio network.
- Other T-Mobile prepaid brands: Metro by T-Mobile and Connect by T-Mobile remain separate offerings with different plan structures.
Buying Mint does not automatically make someone a T-Mobile postpaid customer. It does not automatically add postpaid perks, postpaid billing, roaming access or network priority. Those depend on the Mint plan and its terms.
The $15 promise: what it did and did not mean
When the acquisition closed, T-Mobile announced a “$15 Commitmint” saying Mint would continue to make a $15-per-month plan available to new and existing customers. That was a commitment to keep an entry-level price point—not a promise that every tier, or unlimited service, would always cost $15.
Rank #2
- We recently increased high-speed data allotments on every plan (but kept the same low pricing)! You may see a 5GB sticker on the front of your 6GB SIM Kit, rest assured your plan will have all 6GB of data loaded each month.
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk and text + 6GB of 5G-4G LTE data each month delivered on the nation's largest 5G network.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
On the Mint plans page checked August 18, 2026, the standard $15 plan is the 5GB tier. A headline advertising unlimited service at $15, when available, should be read as an introductory or limited-time promotion. Mint’s promotion terms can restrict such offers to new customers, a specified initial term or a particular purchase path; renewal generally uses the applicable standard rate. Read the promotion terms before treating a promotional price as ongoing.
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Current Mint prices observed in August 2026
The following are monthly-equivalent prices shown on Mint’s standard plans page on August 18, 2026. The amount due is the term price before taxes and fees; offers can change by customer status, device, location and promotion.
| Data tier | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5GB | $15/month equivalent $45 upfront |
$20/month equivalent $120 upfront |
$15/month equivalent $180 upfront |
| 15GB | $20/month equivalent $60 upfront |
$25/month equivalent $150 upfront |
$20/month equivalent $240 upfront |
| 20GB | $25/month equivalent $75 upfront |
$35/month equivalent $210 upfront |
$25/month equivalent $300 upfront |
| Unlimited | $30/month equivalent $90 upfront |
$35/month equivalent $210 upfront |
$30/month equivalent $360 upfront |
Mint states that taxes and fees are extra. Thus, “$15 per month” does not mean a $15 monthly bill: selecting the three-month 5GB plan means paying $45 plus applicable taxes and fees at purchase. Check the live plans page for the amount charged today and the renewal price shown for your account.
Rank #3
- We recently increased high-speed data allotments on every plan (but kept the same low pricing)! You may see a 15GB sticker on the front of your 17GB SIM Kit, rest assured your plan will have all 17GB of data loaded each month.
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk and text + 17GB of 5G-4G LTE data each month delivered on the nation's largest 5G network.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
What unlimited means on Mint
Unlimited is not the same as unlimited high-priority data, unlimited hotspot or unrestricted video quality.
- Mint’s current disclosure says unlimited customers who use more than 50GB in a month may notice reduced speeds for the remainder of that cycle in some locations when the network is busy.
- The general disclosure says hotspot access can be up to 20GB on the unlimited plan; the plan-specific allowance controls.
- Video streaming may be limited to approximately 480p or standard definition.
- Coverage and speeds vary by location, device and congestion. Using T-Mobile’s network does not guarantee the same priority, roaming or performance as T-Mobile postpaid.
For hotspot details, see Mint’s unlimited-hotspot help page. Mint’s terms and conditions also reserve the ability to change prices and features.
What changed for customers after the acquisition
T-Mobile said Mint and Ultra could benefit from its 5G network scale, supplier relationships, distribution and operational resources. The announcement also mentioned additional features, including Scam Shield-related protections, and the possibility of broader device availability.
Rank #4
- We recently increased high-speed data allotments on every plan (but kept the same low pricing)! You may see a 20GB sticker on the front of your 23GB SIM Kit, rest assured your plan will have all 23GB of data loaded each month.
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk and text + 23GB of 5G-4G LTE data each month delivered on the nation's largest 5G network.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
Those are corporate-level benefits, not a guarantee that every Mint customer receives every T-Mobile feature. A feature described as forthcoming in 2024 should not be assumed to be universally available in 2026 without checking the current plan description.
What did not automatically change
- Mint customers did not become T-Mobile postpaid subscribers.
- Mint plans did not become month-to-month bills paid in arrears.
- Existing customers did not automatically receive a new-customer promotion.
- Hotspot limits, video policies, congestion management and roaming terms did not disappear.
- Using the T-Mobile network does not make Mint’s service identical to every T-Mobile plan.
Is Mint a good value for your use?
Light-data users
The 5GB plan is the clearest case for Mint. If your usage is mostly Wi-Fi, navigation, messaging and occasional streaming, the $15 monthly equivalent can be attractive—provided you can prepay at least $45 plus taxes and fees for three months.
Moderate-data users
The 15GB and 20GB tiers offer more room without moving to unlimited. Compare the term price with your actual usage and verify hotspot needs before choosing a higher tier.
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Best Value
- STAY CONNECTED WORLDWIDE: Unlimited calling from the U.S. to 90+ international destinations including India, Mexico, Canada, China, the U.K. and more.
- RELIABLE NATIONWIDE COVERAGE: Enjoy 8GB of high-speed 5G/4G LTE data on the T-Mobile 5G Network.
- TRAVEL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA: Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada plus international roaming credit.
- BRING YOUR OWN PHONE: Activate your compatible unlocked phone with the included 3-in-1 SIM card or eSIM. Keep your number or get a new one.
- NO CONTRACTS: Prepaid wireless with no annual contracts, no credit checks, and no hidden fees.
Heavy data and hotspot users
Unlimited may work for ordinary phone use, but the 50GB congestion threshold and hotspot limit matter if you regularly tether a laptop, stream video away from Wi-Fi or need consistent performance in crowded areas.
International travelers
Mint can be a poor fit if extensive international roaming is central to your budget. Compare the exact roaming countries, rates and data allowances with a plan designed around international use.
Families and month-to-month shoppers
Prepaying several months on one line is different from managing a conventional family account. If you need multiple lines, store support or monthly billing, compare Metro by T-Mobile and other postpaid or prepaid family offers rather than focusing only on Mint’s single-line monthly equivalent.
Before switching: a practical checklist
- Confirm that your phone is unlocked and supports Mint’s required network bands.
- Check whether the device is still tied to another carrier’s installment agreement.
- Verify eSIM or physical-SIM compatibility for your model.
- Check T-Mobile coverage at home, work and your regular travel routes.
- Collect the old carrier’s account number and transfer PIN; make sure the account and phone number details match exactly.
- Keep the old service active until the number port finishes and calls, texts and data work on Mint.
- Review the term price, taxes, renewal rate, hotspot allowance and refund rules before paying.
- Save access to banking and authentication methods, because SMS codes can be delayed during a port.
Common porting failures include an incorrect transfer PIN, a mismatch in the old account information, a locked phone, eSIM activation problems and delayed MMS configuration. If the number remains partly active on both services, do not cancel the old line; contact Mint support while retaining access to the old carrier.
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| Service | Useful when you want | Main trade-off to check |
|---|---|---|
| Connect by T-Mobile | T-Mobile network access with a direct monthly prepaid structure | Different data limits and fewer Mint-specific term promotions |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Retail stores, multiple lines and a conventional prepaid experience | May not match Mint’s lowest monthly-equivalent price for a light single-line user |
| Visible | Monthly billing and an unlimited-focused Verizon-network option | Coverage and plan rules differ; smaller Mint data tiers are not the same proposition |
| US Mobile | Network choice and more customizable plans | More decisions about networks and plan rules |
| Google Fi Wireless | International service and Google ecosystem integration | Often not the lowest domestic prepaid price for a single-network user |
Bottom line
T-Mobile owns Mint because the Ka’ena acquisition closed on May 1, 2024, but Mint remains a distinct prepaid brand. The $15 promise survived as a low-cost plan, and the standard $15 option observed in August 2026 is 5GB. Unlimited service at $15, when advertised, is promotional rather than a permanent guarantee. Decide based on the data tier, upfront term payment, taxes, renewal price, coverage and congestion rules—not the monthly-equivalent headline alone.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
