As part of AT&T, Cricket Wireless comes with plenty of the perks of being backed by a leading telecommunications giant—like running on one of America’s largest 5G networks—at a fraction of the cost. In this comprehensive review, we’re covering all of the need-to-know details, including plans, perks, pricing and coverage to help you decide if Cricket Wireless is the cell phone carrier that can deliver the performance you expect at a price you prefer.
| Highlights |
|---|
| Enjoy Nationwide 5G Coverage on America’s Top Networks |
| Simple, Transparent Plans with Taxes and Fees Included |
| Bring Your Own Phone and Save While Keeping Your Number |
| Affordable Multi-Line Discounts for Families and Friends |
| Switch Easily and Start Saving in Just a Few Minutes |
About Cricket Wireless
Known for their transparent pricing, straightforward plans and reliable coverage, Cricket Wireless is a prepaid phone carrier owned and operated by AT&T that provides budget-friendly plans to millions of customers across the country.
Instead of long-term contracts, Cricket offers simple, pay-in-advance plans that include talk, text and even unlimited data all backed by the AT&T nationwide network—no credit checks needed. Customers can bring their own phone or buy one directly from Cricket, and plans are priced with taxes and fees already included, ensuring there are never surprises when the monthly bill hits.
Cricket Wireless has become a popular choice for savvy shoppers looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly phone plan backed by a major network—without the commitment and complexity of traditional carriers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong nationwide coverage on the AT&T network, including harder-to-reach rural areas | Data speeds can be slowed or deprioritized during network congestion |
| Fast download speeds and reliable service with leading 5G network | Limited phone upgrades and options compared to big carriers |
| Affordable prepaid plans with all-in pricing—taxes and fees included up front | Limited hotspot availability |
| Significant multi-line and multi-month plan savings; great for families | |
| Unlimited talk and text, plus unlimited data with most plans | |
| Extra perks like cloud storage, hotspot data and streaming services on some plans | |
| Bring your own phone or browse the latest models from popular brands | |
| No annual contracts or credit checks needed | |
| No overage charges or surprises—what you see is what you pay each month | |
| User-friendly app for easy account management | |
| Free 14-day trial with no credit card or commitment needed |
Cricket Wireless Plans and Pricing
As a subsidiary of AT&T, Cricket Wireless runs on one of America’s largest 5G networks, making it a no-brainer for anyone who wants the fast, reliable coverage AT&T is known for, at a manageable monthly cost.
Cricket Wireless includes an impressive amount of valuable perks as part of their four main plan choices, making it easy to find something to fit your specific needs and budget. Here’s an overview of what’s included with each plan:
| Sensible 10GB | Select Unlimited™ | Smart Unlimited™ | Supreme Unlimited™ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10GB of high-speed data | Unlimited data | Unlimited data | Unlimited high-speed data |
| Unlimited talk/text from U.S. to Mexico and Canada | Unlimited talk/text from U.S. to Mexico and Canada | Unlimited talk/text from U.S. to Mexico and Canada | |
| Hotspot Add-On Available | 15 GB Hotspot Data | 50 GB Hotspot Data | |
| 100 GB Cloud Storage | 150 GB Cloud Storage | ||
| Service applies in Mexico and Canada | Service applies in Mexico and Canada | ||
| Unlimited texts from U.S. to 200+ countries | Unlimited texts from U.S. to 200+ countries | ||
| HBO Max Basic (with ads) |
Cricket Wireless Free Trial
If you want to test out how Cricket Wireless will perform in your area before fully committing, they offer a convenient 14-day free trial. Simply download the tryCricket app on your existing Android or iOS phone and connect with friends and family to test out call quality, coverage and more. Cricket will even provide you with a separate Cricket phone number by way of either an eSIM or physical SIM card to use during your trial so you can take Cricket for a test drive without interrupting your current service.
Device Compatibility
With Cricket Wireless, you can choose to keep your own compatible device and port over your existing phone number or browse the latest phones from your favorite brands, like Apple, Samsung and Motorola. Cricket also offers exclusive multi-month plans with special pricing and perks for customers who bring their own devices.
To access all that Cricket 5G network has to offer, you’ll need to have a 5G compatible smartphone. You can easily check to make sure your current device will work with their helpful compatibility checker tool.
Cricket Wireless Coverage
Using the same towers as AT&T, Cricket Wireless runs exclusively on one of America’s largest, fastest 5G networks, providing impressive download speeds and reliable service to millions of customers across urban, suburban and rural areas.
Wireless coverage can vary, even within the same area, so the best way to see if Cricket will work for you is to verify your address using the convenient online map available on their website. Since 5G may not be available everywhere, Cricket also extends coverage through their 4G LTE network. Select urban areas and spaces can also access Cricket 5G+ network for an even better experience.
While most average users will find the Cricket 5G network download speeds sufficient for daily use, Cricket does impose high speed data limits on some plans and can even temporarily slow, or throttle, customers during high network congestion. If you plan to regularly stream, game or work on your smartphone outside of WiFi, you may want to opt for the Cricket Supreme Unlimited plan for the best performance and unlimited high-speed data.
Cricket Wireless Support
In addition to a robust online help center featuring FAQs and articles to answer a variety of questions about Cricket Wireless, you can also:
- Chat with a virtual assistant 24/7
- Call or chat with a live Cricket representative seven days a week
- Download the myCricket App for easy account management anywhere
- Visit an authorized Cricket Wireless retailer near you
How Cricket Wireless Compares to the Competition
Here’s a look at how Cricket stacks up against other top services on the market today:
Cricket Wireless vs. Mint Mobile
Both popular prepaid mobile carriers, Cricket Wireless and Mint Mobile offer customers cost effective phone plans that you won’t find from the major carriers. Cricket runs on the AT&T network, which means strong nationwide coverage and consistent speeds, plus simple unlimited plans with taxes and fees included and significant savings for multi-line accounts. Mint Mobile, powered by T-Mobile’s network, can be cheaper upfront, but requires paying for several months in advance (three to 12 months at a time) and may have more variable performance depending on your area. Overall, Cricket is a better pick if you value predictability, ease of use and dependable service that’s significantly less than most major carriers without sacrificing quality.
Cricket Wireless vs. Visible
For single users who value simplicity with just a few plans to choose from, Visible is a popular choice. Visible is powered by the Verizon network, which has strong coverage in certain parts of the country, but falls short when compared to the AT&T nationwide network that Cricket Wireless runs on, making Cricket more accessible and reliable for more people across America. Cricket Wireless also includes strong perks, like extended service in Mexico and Canada, cloud storage and streaming with HBO Max with Ads. Plus, Cricket offers more plan variety and better savings for families with special multi-line deals, making it a better choice for those looking for flexible plan options with plenty of perks.
Bottom Line: Why We Love It
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, hassle-free phone plan with strong coverage and no surprise fees, then Cricket Wireless is worth seriously considering. Their plans include all-in pricing for more predictable monthly bills, and their multi-line and multi-month prepaid plans are especially appealing to families or anyone looking to maximize savings without sacrificing valuable perks, like unlimited data, cloud storage and international access. As part of the AT&T umbrella, Cricket customers get access to the same reliable nationwide network that covers nearly 98 percent of the country, making it possible for more people to talk, text and surf for a reasonable monthly price.
FAQs
Not exactly. Cricket is owned by AT&T and uses the same network, but it’s a separate prepaid brand with simpler plans, fewer extras, and generally lower prices than AT&T postpaid offerings. In exchange, Cricket customers may experience slower data prioritization compared to AT&T postpaid customers, but many users find the savings worth that trade-off.
Cricket offers unlimited talk, text and data on its main plans, but there are a few caveats. Depending on the plan, your data speeds may be capped or slowed during times of network congestion. Higher-tier unlimited plans generally include faster data and extras like mobile hotspot access, making them a better choice for heavy data users.
No. Cricket is a prepaid carrier, which means you pay up front for service (usually month to month) with no annual contracts or credit checks required. This makes it a flexible option if you don’t want to be locked into a long-term agreement, and you can change or cancel your plan at any time without penalties.
Yes, you can bring your own phone as long as it’s unlocked and compatible with AT&T’s network. Cricket provides an online compatibility checker to make this easy, and most newer smartphones—including iPhones and many Android devices—will work without issue.
Featured In
Featured In
Methodology
The Consumer Rating Difference
Behind Our Best Mobile Phone Ratings
We make choosing the best mobile phone plan easy with expert reviews and rankings.
Here’s the methodology behind our ratings:
Comprehensive Overviews
From preferences to pricing & more, we cover all you need to know about mobile phone plans in our detailed reviews.
Pricing Details
We break down how much the mobile phone plan costs, noting everything that’s included for the different price points.
Mobile Phone Comparisons
With so many different mobile phone programs available, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. We compare different brands based on your preferences.
