We have been using Mint for several years with no real issues, but sometimes service is spotty at our new house which can get annoying. Our year is up soon so wanted to check out my options. Does anyone have any experience with any of the other discount Cell providers and what has your experience been like?

We only have 2 lines so no need for some crazy family plan.

Mint uses T-Mobile's network - so then you would need to steer clear of anyone using their network.

I'm in a similar spot. I also have two lines. Unfortunately, everything I do at work now requires MFA, which is done on my phone. I can't unlock my laptop without MFA. Because of that, it's important to me to have a "company store" to go to if my phone dies. It's happened a couple of times, and I have them setup the new phone for me. I hate dealing with cell phones.

I wound up at Cricket. First line was $55 monthly, and the additional line is $25. I get great reception. I'd love to save more money, but Cricket is the cheapest place I know of that has their own stores. I only use the phone for calls and the few texts that I get (plus work MFA).

Mint

We use Cricket, on ATT network. Made the switch when we realized T-Mobile service was terrible at our house in SA. Two phones, unlimited data, I think it's $90 a month.

GCRanger said:

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We use Cricket, on ATT network. Made the switch when we realized T-Mobile service was terrible at our house in SA. Two phones, unlimited data, I think it's $90 a month.

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You're overpaying though. I know mint is T-Mobile so won't work for you, but we pay less than $500 per year for 2 lines. If we can switch to US mobile and try out different networks for about the same price, we will. It appears us mobile is just slightly more, but still way less than the $1k you're spending.

I somehow managed to negotiate with AT&T who I think has the best service in my area. I pay about $80/mo and work gives me $50 towards that.

But I should say that I only have one line.

Cricket.

Runs off AT&T towers. I know you only have 2 lines, so maybe there's a cheaper option but in my case, I have 4 lines unlimited talk/text/data for $100/month total, no taxes/fees.

I haven't found anything close in price. Only thing that stinks is they don't really offer good deals on cell phones when you sign up, but my wife and I are always a generation behind on phones and just get used unlocked ones off Amazon/eBay.

Sea Speed said:

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We only have 2 lines so no need for some crazy family plan.

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Cells phones with lines.

Looks like Consumer Cellular is $65 per month for two phones w/unlimited data.

Plan I am looking at was like $23 per month I believe per line. Idk why i would need unlimited data when literally everywhere has wifi. My wife who doesn't even pay attention to that doesn't get close to using all her data. Current mint plan is $240 per year.

Looks like Cricket (uses AT&T towers) has a plan for $30
https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans

Visible (uses Verizon towers) has a plan at $275 per year, but it isn't clear how much a second phone would add to the cost. Surely it wouldn't double it?
https://www.visible.com/plans

Consumer Cellular starts at $35 per month with a 5% discount for AARP members.
https://www.consumercellular.com/shopping/choose/plan

Us mobile looks to be $43 per month total for 2 lines with 30gb of data, one month free and $100 visa gift card after a year. That's actually cheaper than mint and with us mobile you can apparently switch carrier service which is huge, per someone over on the nerdery.

jetch17 said:

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I switched from Motorola to PrimeCo

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No Boost! Mobile?

Can you get cellular one Apple watches on any of these discount carriers? Wanna say I looked at Mint and they don't support that - not a deal breaker but something to consider for me maybe.

I use Mint for 4 lines. Works fine for me. Don't miss a thing from Verizon.

jetch17 said:

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I switched from Motorola to PrimeCo

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Used to count my spokes, now these hoes count my inches

ATT prepaid $300 for the year

A few times a year, Visible gives you 24 months of unlimited for $20/month (all taxes and fees included). Usually it's $25.
You don't have to prepay, but if you do it's even cheaper.

Counterpoint said:

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A few times a year, Visible gives you 24 months of unlimited for $20/month (all taxes and fees included). Usually it's $25.
You don't have to prepay, but if you do it's even cheaper.

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interesting. You have experience with them?

I switched to Tello a while back. All the data I need and more for $25.

BaitShack said:

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I switched to Tello a while back. All the data I need and more for $25.

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What towers?

I think the underlying network is probably the biggest factor which is why US mobile makes sense, because you can switch networks if the one you're on doesn't work out.

I think I'm going to US Cellular (they're all over the Midwest) and switching from Cricket. Will drop my bill from $90 to $67 per month. Maybe I'll do that this weekend. Only drawback is having to buy two new phones. I've never had much luck switching my existing phone to a new provider.

Is your current phone unlocked? The problem with buying from cell providers is the phones aren't always able to be used elsewhere. Go on Amazon and take your pick of hundreds of models of u locked phones that are a few releases old. You don't strike me as the type that needs the latest and greatest. You can get out for next to nothing.

I have been using H2O for years now. They piggy-back on AT&T. Used it College Station, Wichita Falls and now Southern Minnesota. Rarely an issue. $28 and change per month for one line if you put it on automatic payment.

Sea Speed said:

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Counterpoint said:

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A few times a year, Visible gives you 24 months of unlimited for $20/month (all taxes and fees included). Usually it's $25.
You don't have to prepay, but if you do it's even cheaper.

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interesting. You have experience with them?

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Yes. I switched to them because I wasn't always receiving texts with Mint. I hated switching because I loved everything else about Mint, but that was REALLY annoying. I've been with Visible about a year on that special unlimited $20 with fees included plan.
Pros:
I receive texts!
Waaaaayy better coverage in big cities (at least the ones I've been to since switching).

Cons:
Not as good of coverage and more dead spots in BCS.
Doesn't seem to penetrate buildings as well if the signal is weaker.

They use Verizon towers . Don't know if that's a pro or a con, but I can't stress enough how great and fast their coverage was when was in big cities, compared to Mint. If you live in BCS and are receiving texts with no issues, I'd say don't switch. But that $20 deal plus actually receiving texts made it a no brainier for me. The incredible coverage when out of town is just a bonus.

With all of these options I am not sure why people even pay $100+ per month for one of the major carriers.

I got my current phone at Cricket. The phone before it did an Android update one morning and wouldn't start back up. This was on a work day. I went to the Cricket store because I needed a phone and needed it setup, quickly.