Mint for Kids Review: The Best Starter Phone Plan for Tweens & Teens?

It starts with “Mom, can I borrow your phone real quick?” …and suddenly your tween is begging for their own line.

Getting your kid their first phone plan can feel like a big deal. You want them to stay connected, but you also don’t want your monthly bill to look like a second mortgage. That’s where Mint for Kids swoops in.

Mint Mobile just rolled out a new plan designed just for families — affordable, flexible, and parent-approved. Let’s break it down.

What Is Mint for Kids?

Think of it as a starter pack for your mini-me’s phone life. 📱

• Plans start at $15/month (intro 3-month offer).
  
  
• Runs on the nation’s largest 5G network (yep, the same as adults).
  
  
• Parents activate, manage, and oversee everything from the Mint app or website.
  
  
• No marketing messages sent to your kid.
  
  
• Bring your own phone/number OR grab their very first device with Mint.

Basically: the same Mint service you know and love, repackaged for kids.

The Good Stuff: Why Parents Will Love It

Here’s where Mint Kids really shines:

✅ Wallet-friendly – $15/month is cheaper than a family pizza night.
✅ Real coverage – Your kid gets the same reliable service you do.
✅ Parent oversight – You control the account, payments, and can check data usage anytime.
✅ Flexible plans – Start small (5GB) or go big (Unlimited). Adjust as they grow.
✅ No contracts – Change it up whenever you need to.

Bonus: They even have bundle deals — like snagging a Samsung or Google Pixel with 2 years of Unlimited service for one flat price.

Where It Could Be Better (But Still a Win)

Okay, real talk:

• No built-in parental controls. Mint suggests apps like Bark, Life360, Google Family Link, or Apple Screen Time.
  
  
• Intro pricing only lasts 3 months. After that, you’ll pick the full-price plan that fits best (still way cheaper than the Big Three).

Not dealbreakers, but worth knowing. And honestly? For a kid’s first phone plan, Mint’s checks in more boxes than most carriers even try to.

FAQ

How much does it cost?
Mint for Kids starts at $15/month for the first 3 months (you’ll pay $45 upfront). After that, you can switch to whatever plan length makes sense for your kiddo.

What network does it run on?
Mint runs on T-Mobile’s 5G network — so your kid gets the same coverage as adults.

Who manages the account — me or my kid?
You do! Parents activate the plan, make payments, and see usage details. Kids just use their phones — no sneaky upgrades or marketing texts headed their way.

Can I see how much data my kid is using?
Yep! Log into the Mint app or website anytime and check their dashboard.

Can I bring my kid’s current number?
Totally. You can transfer an existing number or get them a brand-new one.

Are there parental controls?
Mint doesn’t include built-in parental controls, but they recommend a few solid apps: Bark, Life360, Google Family Link, and Apple Screen Time.

Can I add multiple kids?
Yes! You can manage up to 5 Mint Kids plans from your account.

What if my kid outgrows their plan?
You can upgrade to a bigger data plan anytime. Downgrades only happen at renewal, but switching up is easy.

Can I switch a Mint Kids plan into a regular Mint plan later?
Yep. Just reach out to Mint’s customer care and they’ll help you move it over.