If you bought one of the best Android phones unlocked, you could easily get a travel SIM or a carrier with better international support if you have the need down the road. If you're traveling, Mint Mobile has some options for you while Metro by T-Mobile only really has good support for Mexico and Canada. The Mexico and Canada packages also come with 5GB of roaming data making it a good option for someone that travels to one of these countries frequently. Mexico and Canada calling can be added for $5 each but you'll need to check other countries individually to see which plan you'll need. You can add a package to get these features. Metro by T-Mobile loses the edge here but there are still options. Source: Samuel Contreras / Android Central (Image credit: Source: Samuel Contreras / Android Central) This plan is also a great fit for families thanks to a steep discount on the fourth line making it the same cost as three lines. If you already pay for Amazon Prime, the difference in cost pays for itself easily. Still, the addition of Amazon Prime alongside 15GB of additional hotspot data on the $60 plan can make it a better deal for people with another device such as a tablet. Most smartphone users will want to step up to a plan with a larger data package.īoth of the unlimited plans get you a ton of data on your phone. You also can't add international calling features. The 2GB plan is the most barebones and doesn't offer any extras like a hotspot. You can save money by adding more lines to your account where each additional line costs less than the previous up to five lines. Metro's plans are more traditional in design.
You can also upgrade to the next plan up if you feel you'll need more every month in the middle of your billing cycle. You can add more high-speed data at a rate of $10 for 1GB or $20 for 3GB if you run out. However, while Mint Mobile throttles your data, Metro deprioritizes it meaning you can still get very fast speeds during off-peak hours. Both carriers offer an unlimited plan with 35GB of data before interruption. If you only need service on one line, Mint stays ahead, although Metro by T-Mobile makes a comeback with its discounts for multiple lines.
There really is no getting around how much money you can save with Mint if you are willing to buy six or 12 months. However, the key features that keep Metro by T-Mobile out front are the savings for multiple lines, that you don't have to buy in bulk, and the extras bundled in with the unlimited plans. For only one line, Mint Mobile is undoubtedly the better value. Both carriers also support 5G if you have a capable phone. Both networks run on the same T-Mobile network, so you can expect very similar levels of performance, meaning that the best fit for you really comes down to price and features.