I Tested Both Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile: Here’s What Actually Matters

I never thought I’d spend a Saturday morning comparing mobile phone plans, but here we are. After years with one of the “big three” carriers and a growing frustration with my bill creeping toward $90/month, I finally decided it was time for a change. I didn’t need all the bells and whistles. I just needed a plan that was affordable, reliable, and didn’t come with surprise fees.

Two names kept coming up during my research: Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile.

At first glance, they seemed pretty similar. They’re both prepaid carriers, both use the T-Mobile network, and both offer plans for a fraction of what I was used to paying. But after trying both — yes, I actually used each for a few weeks — I found that they’re built for very different types of people.

So here’s what I learned, no fluff, just the real stuff that matters when you’re trying to pick a plan you won’t regret later.

Why I Tried Both

I started with Ultra Mobile. A friend of mine recommended it because she uses it to stay in touch with her family in India. She said the international calling features are unbeatable, especially for the price.

Then I tested Mint Mobile after seeing one of those cheeky ads with Ryan Reynolds. I figured if it’s good enough for Deadpool, maybe it’s worth checking out.

I used each SIM for about three weeks — long enough to test call quality, data reliability, and general usability.

Coverage and Data: No Surprises

This was probably the least exciting part — and that’s a good thing. Both carriers use T-Mobile’s network, and in my area (just outside Denver), I had great service with both. Full bars most of the time, consistent 5G when I was downtown, and decent LTE coverage in the suburbs.

If you’re in a major city or a decently populated town, you’ll likely get the same experience with either carrier. But check your zip code on their coverage maps if you’re rural — just to be safe. 

Ultra Mobile: A Lifesaver for International Callers

Let’s talk about Ultra Mobile first.

What really stood out? The international calling. Right out of the gate, I could call my cousin in France without adding anything to my plan. No extra fees. No weird dial-around codes. It just worked.

Here’s what’s included with most plans:

• Free calls to 80+ countries
• Free international texting
• Low rates for countries not included

If you talk to people outside the U.S. often, this is a massive advantage. You don’t have to juggle apps like WhatsApp or pay for extra credits.

The downside? The data plans aren’t quite as cheap as Mint, and there’s no “bulk discount” if you want to prepay for the year. It’s just straight month-to-month. That could be a plus or minus depending on how you look at it. 

Mint Mobile: Best Deal If You Can Prepay

Now, Mint Mobile is different. It’s not built around international calling — it’s built around saving you money if you’re willing to buy in bulk.

Instead of paying monthly, you buy 3, 6, or 12 months at once. The longer the term, the cheaper it gets.

I went with the 3-month trial first. I picked the 15GB plan at $25/month. Everything worked as advertised. Streaming, video calls, uploading photos — smooth.

Here’s the thing: after your first 3 months, you’ll only keep that low price if you upgrade to a 12-month plan. That means dropping around $300 upfront. It’s a lot in one go, but when you break it down, it’s way cheaper per month than what you’re used to with traditional carriers.

I get that not everyone can (or wants to) pay upfront. But if you can, Mint really delivers. 

Apps and Account Management

This might sound small, but it made a difference.

Mint Mobile’s app is hands-down better. It’s clean, fast, and makes everything easy — from checking data usage to renewing plans. You get reminders, you can upgrade instantly, and it never felt clunky.

Ultra Mobile’s app was okay. Functional, but not quite as intuitive. It felt a little older in design. You can still do what you need to do, but it’s not as smooth. 

Customer Support: A Tie, Kind Of

I contacted both support teams with basic questions — just to see how responsive they were.

Mint’s live chat answered me in under 2 minutes. It was a bot at first, but I got a human quickly. They answered my question and even sent me a follow-up by email.

Ultra Mobile took longer — about 10 minutes on chat, and it felt a bit more scripted. Still, they did answer my question clearly. If you’re not in a rush, it works fine. Just not lightning-fast.

What About the “Unlimited” Plans?

Quick note here: both Mint and Ultra offer “unlimited” data, but like most budget carriers, that’s capped. You usually get 35–40GB of high-speed data before they slow it down.

For me, I rarely even hit 15GB because I’m always on Wi-Fi. But if you stream a lot on mobile data, keep that cap in mind.

The Verdict: Which One’s Actually Better?

It depends on who you are.

Choose Ultra Mobile if:

• You need international calling included in your plan
• You don’t want to pay upfront
• You like having the option to switch or cancel monthly

Go with Mint Mobile if:

• You want the lowest price possible
• You’re okay prepaying for 6 or 12 months
  You don’t need built-in international features

Personally, I stuck with Mint Mobile after trying both. It just made more sense for my lifestyle — and my budget. But if I had family abroad or wasn’t ready to prepay for a year, I would’ve happily stayed with Ultra. 

Final Thoughts

The good news? Both Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile are light years ahead of the overpriced, bloated plans the big carriers are still selling.

What surprised me most wasn’t how much I saved — it was how little I had to give up. My coverage didn’t get worse. My speeds didn’t drop. And I’ve saved hundreds already this year just by switching.

So whether you go with Ultra Mobile or Mint Mobile, the bottom line is this: you’ve got better options now. All you have to do is pick the one that fits your life.