Two of the perfect pay as you go carriers, in contrast

In case you’re on the lookout for a substitute for AT&T, T-Cellular, and Verizon, there are quite a lot of pay as you go carriers obtainable within the US. Some are small impartial corporations; others belong to telecoms or one of many three main mobile networks. Two of the extra in style pay as you go carriers are Seen and Mint Cellular. Each are recognized for providing quite a lot of worth, however there are quite a lot of variations between the 2. On this information, we evaluate Mint Cellular vs Seen that will help you resolve which provider is best for you. 

It must be famous that Seen is definitely owned by Verizon, whereas Mint Cellular is an impartial firm (for now) and is partially owned by actor Ryan Reynolds. With that out of the best way, let’s begin by having a look at a chart that reveals how plans, pricing, knowledge, and perks evaluate. From there, we’ll break down every part and offer you slightly extra perception into the variations. 

If all that issues to you is saving cash, Mint Cellular wins the battle right here however not and not using a catch. Not like Seen, Mint Cellular requires you to pay for both 3, 6, or 12 months of service prematurely. The perfect financial savings are undoubtedly discovered within the 12-month plans, which might vary from $180/yearly to $360/yearly. Translating that right into a month-to-month charge, that’s like paying round $15 to $30 a month for service. 

Don’t fear; you don’t have to leap proper into paying a complete yr directly to see the perfect charge. Mint Cellular presents an introductory 3-month plan that reductions all the way down to the identical low charges you’d see with the yearly plan. As soon as the primary three months are up, you’ll must pay extra for the following three months or improve to a six or 12-month plan for higher charges. 

In case you don’t thoughts the concept of paying as soon as after which forgetting about it for a complete yr, Mint Cellular makes quite a lot of sense. It’s in all probability much less of deal when you solely wish to follow the three or six-month plans. Sadly, the financial savings additionally begin to evaporate once we discuss limitless knowledge. 

Mint presents three totally different restricted knowledge plans and only one limitless choice. In the meantime, Seen is all in on limitless knowledge with two totally different plans. In case you evaluate Mint Cellular’s solely limitless plan (at $30 month-to-month) to Seen ($30 month-to-month), you’ll pay the identical with Seen, however you don’t must fork out $360 unexpectedly to pay for a yr.

Service can be related between the 2, although Seen is definitely actually limitless — I’ve personally used 80-100GB in a single month with out problem. You will note deprioritization at instances with each carriers, which we’ll discuss in higher element a bit additional down this information. Seen’s dearer plan presents limitless precedence knowledge, so if the perfect speeds matter to you, it’s an awesome deal. You additionally get improved worldwide calling choices at no cost.

On the finish of the day, we’d say Mint and Seen are tied for pricing and worth. Mint has the benefit when you don’t use quite a lot of knowledge, as its pay as you go restricted knowledge plans are very nicely priced. Nonetheless, Seen is the winner for these fascinated by limitless knowledge. 

Mint Cellular and Seen are each pay as you go companies, however Seen’s guardian firm is Verizon. This implies it technically owns its personal towers. Mint Cellular is in talks to affix T-Cellular, however for now, it’s merely an impartial firm that licenses entry to T-Cellular’s community. That is referred to as an MVNO (cell digital community operator). In actuality, this doesn’t make an enormous distinction when it comes to protection or reliability, nevertheless it does imply Seen has a bit extra management over the community it makes use of than Mint Cellular does. 

There are actually execs and cons for every provider in relation to protection. Let’s begin with Seen.

Seen is backed by the world’s extra intensive community. Verizon tends to be a dependable choice for each metropolis dwellers and rural of us, although it’s not with out useless zones. Whereas postpaid Verizon accounts have the benefit of roaming preparations to fill in any holes, the identical received’t apply to Seen’s pay as you go service. The excellent news is it’ll hardly ever be a difficulty. 

I stay in the course of nowhere, Missouri, and have traveled throughout the Midwest extensively. In my time, I’ve discovered the service hardly ever has useless zones, however there are some areas in Nebraska and Kansas particularly that actually solely are served by US Mobile. 

Mint Cellular, then again, makes use of the T-Cellular community. Whereas it’s not as intensive as Verizon’s community, it’s getting very shut. T-Cellular has achieved a beautiful job spreading LTE and 5G to almost each nook of the US. Even in rural areas like Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, I’ve no hassle utilizing T-Cellular or any MVNO that works with its towers. Identical to Verizon, you’ll run into pockets the place protection is non-existent, so it’s at all times good to test the Mint’s official protection map to verify the provider can be match for you. 

General Seen has a slight benefit in relation to protection, however the hole is way smaller than it was once. 

Let’s discuss knowledge. We already talked about that Seen is actually limitless knowledge. You need to use it as a lot as you need. The identical doesn’t apply to Mint’s Limitless plan. You’ll even have simply 40GB of prioritized knowledge, however after that, speeds drop all the way down to 600Kbps. In case you depend on your cell knowledge as your most important path to the web, Seen could be the higher selection.

After all, we additionally must think about prioritization. You would possibly leap to the conclusion Seen could have increased prioritization on Verizon’s community, just because Seen is owned by the latter. That’s not essentially true.

Seen’s base plan may be very a lot recognized for deprioritization. It’s gotten higher through the years, however in main cities, you’ll completely see slower speeds throughout instances of congestion. For instance, once I journey to St Louis, I usually could have hassle getting greater than 1-3Mbps throughout peak hours of the day. Fortunately in rural areas, that is much less of an issue, and I are inclined to common 5-10Mbps throughout congested instances. In case you don’t care about speeds and simply need tons of information, Seen’s base plan is a good selection. 

Need prioritized knowledge? You’ll wish to get Seen Plus. This offers you limitless prioritized knowledge, although it’ll nonetheless see some decrease speeds throughout instances of congestion when in comparison with a postpaid Verizon plan. That stated, it is going to be very minimal. I upgraded to Plus for a couple of months to check out the variations, and I’ll say that my Seen Plus line was at all times very near my spouse’s Verizon postpaid line. Slower however nearly negligibly so. It’s additionally value mentioning solely the Plus plan will provide you with entry to Verizon’s sooner wideband 5G community. 

Now Mint Cellular may not be owned by T-Cellular, nevertheless it really will get fairly strong speeds. I’ll be trustworthy; I’ve solely not too long ago began to make use of Mint Cellular once more after briefly taking part in with it for a couple of months again in 2020 or so. Nonetheless, in my checks, I’ll say that Mint tends to get a lot better common speeds than Seen’s base plan. In the meantime, Seen Plus tends to supply related speeds to Mint Cellular’s plans. 

It’s actually arduous to say which choice is healthier right here. If you would like Seen base, Mint Cellular could have the win right here. In case you’re eager about Seen Plus, it turns into a a lot tougher resolution. Let’s name this one a tie. 

Neither Seen or Mint is thought for providing a bunch of perks or extras, as each preserve issues fairly easy. Each carriers offer you free calling to Mexico and Canada. Mint additionally presents low charges for calling 160 further international locations on all its plans. Seen Plus provides a couple of further perks like limitless discuss, textual content, and knowledge when visiting Mexico and Canada, worldwide calling from the US to 30+ international locations, and worldwide texting from the US to 200+ international locations. 

Turning to promotions, Mint usually runs specials reminiscent of its present Google Pixel 7 deal. In case you convey your quantity over to Mint, you’ll get a Pixel 7 for simply $199, plus half off in your 12 months of service. For instance, the 4GB plan and the Pixel 7 would solely price you $289 in whole. The corporate additionally presents gadget financing and quite a few different telephones at discounted costs.

It’s actually almost unimaginable to beat Mint’s promotions, however Seen comes shut. It presents tons of particular promotions, together with making an attempt Seen free for 15 days. There’s additionally a promotion the place you get $20 off whenever you persuade a good friend to affix Seen. As for cellphone offers, you may commerce in any cellphone that isn’t suitable with Seen for a TCL 30 LE or Orbic Pleasure. These are fairly fundamental smartphones, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a pleasant freebie. There are additionally offers like gadget financing and the choice to commerce in a cellphone that’s 50% paid for in trade for a brand new one. 

So who does it higher? Mint Cellular’s Pixel 7 deal is admittedly arduous to beat, and so when it comes to promotions, it takes the cake. After all, Seen provides you a couple of extra advantages for worldwide calling and has a number of fascinating promotions as nicely. Nonetheless, we’ve got to provide this one to Mint Cellular. 

Seen is suitable with just about each main cellphone offered in the US and presents a variety of manufacturers reminiscent of Samsung, Google, Apple, and Motorola. There are additionally little guys like TCL and Orbic too. This consists of flagships just like the Galaxy S23, Pixel 7, and iPhone 14. You may try their full record of telephones on the Seen web site.

Mint Cellular presents an equally spectacular vary, together with a couple of manufacturers you received’t discover on Mint, like Alcatel and OnePlus. You might have a couple of methods you may man. You may get a “Telephone Deal” that features six months of free service and pays upfront or by a cost plan by way of Affirm. The place Mint Cellular has a bonus is that it’s community is GSM primarily based. Merely put, there are extra unlocked telephones that work with Mint than you’ll discover with Seen. It’s because Seen’s CDMA/5G networks require a couple of particular bands that not all telephones trouble to incorporate. 

No matter which service you select, you’ll be capable of convey your present cellphone or purchase a brand new unlocked one, so long as it’s suitable with the community. For extra cellphone choices, try our information to the perfect Android telephones and finest low cost telephones.

So who has the higher choice? It’s just about a tie right here too, although Mint Cellular is the higher choice for individuals who wish to convey an unlocked cellphone onboard. You’ll discover extra choices and fewer complications. 

If I needed to choose a winner primarily based on service alone, I’d give this one to Seen regardless of the official tie. A few of that is admittedly a bit biased, as I’ve been utilizing Seen for years. Actually although, all of it comes all the way down to limitless knowledge. Seen is a greater choice right here when you don’t thoughts paying a bit extra for the Plus plan. It’s additionally good to not must pay for a full yr’s service upfront.

Now, when you want a brand new cellphone? Mint Cellular’s Pixel 7 deal is admittedly arduous to beat. In case you are fascinated by a restricted plan or don’t thoughts slightly deprioritization, Mint Cellular continues to be a strong selection. The actual fact you solely must pay annually can be seen as a bonus for some. Get your taxes again, and pay your cellphone off. Easy.

General, Mint goes to be cheaper. The worth ranges are actually shut, although, and there are actually some areas of the nation the place having Verizon entry goes to be a greater match than T-Cellular. 

Backside line, each companies are nice, simply in numerous methods. You may’t go flawed both means. If you would like the quickest high-speed knowledge, Seen’s Plus is the only option. In case you’re trying to economize or wish to pay upfront as a substitute of month-to-month, Mint Cellular is the winner. Not impressed by Mint Cellular however on the lookout for one thing cheaper than Seen? Make sure you try our information to the perfect low cost cellphone plans. 

Who am I, and why must you belief me?

My title is Andrew Grush, and I’ve been with Android Authority in a large number of various capacities for over a decade. My expertise within the cell trade dates again a couple of years sooner than that. Whereas I’ve quite a lot of areas of experience, I satisfaction myself on being the type of man who by no means settles and is at all times making an attempt new issues. That applies to carriers as nicely. I’ve used T-Cellular, Verizon, AT&T, Seen, Google Fi, Cricket, US Cellular, Mint Cellular, and several other different carriers for prolonged durations on and off all through the years.

I’m additionally often buying SIM playing cards from pay as you go carriers with a purpose to see how they evaluate to the large gamers within the area. Once I write about pay as you go and postpaid companies, you may make certain that I’ll have precise real-time expertise and insights.