If you’re thinking about switching phone carriers and wondering whether Cricket Wireless is actually worth it, I’ve been there, too.
I wanted something affordable without giving up coverage or dealing with contracts. So I spent some time figuring out what Cricket offers, and here’s everything you should know
Table of Contents
What Is Cricket Wireless?
Cricket is a prepaid carrier. It’s owned by AT&T, which means you’re using AT&T’s network without paying AT&T prices. Sounds good, right?
The plans are paid upfront. No credit checks, no contracts, and no extra fees or taxes tacked on later. What you see is what you pay. That’s one of the things I liked the most.
Cricket’s Plans and Pricing
They’ve kept it simple with four main plans:
- $30/month – 5GB of high-speed data
- $40/month – 10GB
- $55/month – Unlimited
- $60/month – Unlimited + 15GB mobile hotspot + ad-supported Max streaming
If you’ve got more people in your household, the savings get better. For example, you can get 3 unlimited lines for $90/month, which breaks down to just $30 each. That’s solid.
And again, you’re not stuck in a contract, so if you’re not happy, you can switch anytime without paying some weird penalty.
How Cricket Works?
Once you choose a plan, you either pop in a physical SIM card or activate an eSIM if your phone supports it. You keep your number. Your phone works the same.
The only real change? Your bill is lower.
No tech headaches. No retail store hassles. It took me less than 10 minutes to activate.
Coverage and Speed: Any Catches?
Cricket uses AT&T’s network, and honestly, that’s a big plus. The coverage is reliable across most of the US.
But yeah, here’s the fine print:
- ✅ 5G is included at no extra cost
- ⚠️ Speeds may slow down during network congestion (unless you’re on the $60 plan)
- 📉 If you hit your data limit on the 5GB or 10GB plan, your speeds drop to 128 Kbps
- 🔁 Unlimited plans don’t have a hard cap, but speeds might slow during busy hours
So if you’re a heavy data user or want super-fast speeds all the time, it might not be ideal. But for everyday stuff like browsing, calls, texts, and occasional streaming—it’s fine.
What About Travel?
If you go to Canada or Mexico, good news: unlimited plans include roaming there. You get the same data, calls, and texts as if you were in the US.
But—outside of North America, there’s no international roaming. So if you travel abroad often, this might not work for you.
Should You Switch to Cricket?
Cricket is a yes if:
- You want no surprises on your bill
- You’re fine with slightly slower data at peak times
- You’re looking for multi-line savings
- You just want something simple that works
Cricket is a maybe not if:
- You travel overseas a lot
- You use mobile hotspot regularly and want it on cheaper plans
- You’re super picky about speed and performance
Video Guide:
My Final Thoughts
Cricket isn’t trying to be fancy. And honestly, that’s the point. It’s simple, reliable, and affordable. That works for me. I’m not looking for the fastest speeds in the world—I just want a plan that doesn’t mess with me or charge extra every other month.
If you’re on a budget or just tired of big carrier games, Cricket might actually be what you need.
Hope this breakdown helped. If you’re using Cricket or thinking about it, feel free to drop a comment and let me know which plan you’re eyeing.
Related FAQs
Does Cricket support Wi-Fi calling?
Yes, but it depends on your phone. Most modern iPhones and Android phones support Wi-Fi calling with Cricket.
Can I upgrade my phone with Cricket?
You can, but Cricket doesn’t have phone financing like other carriers. You’ll usually need to buy the phone outright or bring your own.
