Cricket Wireless
AT&T-owned prepaid MVNO
Type: MVNO · Network: AT&T · Official site
Our take on Cricket Wireless
What’s good
- AT&T-owned — deprioritization is gentler than third-party AT&T MVNOs (H2O, Lyca)
- Strong retail presence; Cricket and AT&T own-stores can both service Cricket accounts
- US-based phone support, walk-in account help available
- $60 unlimited tier includes mobile hotspot and 5G access
- No contract; bring your own phone with eSIM or physical SIM
What’s not
- Higher prices than T-Mobile-network MVNOs (Mint, US Mobile) for similar tiers
- AT&T mid-band 5G coverage is narrower than T-Mobile's — full-speed 5G fewer places
- Hotspot capped at 15 GB on the unlimited tier
Best for: Users who want AT&T's network with retail support at prepaid prices.
Not for: Users in T-Mobile-strong metros who would get faster mid-band 5G on a T-Mobile MVNO.
Plans
Compare with similar carriers
Frequently asked questions
- What network does Cricket Wireless use?
Cricket Wireless is an MVNO that runs on the AT&T network. Coverage is identical to AT&T postpaid in any given location, since both ride the same towers and spectrum. Speeds during congestion may be slightly lower because MVNO traffic is deprioritized vs the underlying carrier's postpaid customers.
- Is Cricket Wireless an MVNO or MNO?
Cricket Wireless is an MVNO — a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. They lease wholesale capacity from AT&T and resell it under their own brand at typically lower prices.
- What is the cheapest Cricket Wireless plan?
The cheapest Cricket Wireless plan we have on file is Cricket Core 15GB at $40.00/month. See the plans table above for the full list.
- Where can I check Cricket Wireless coverage?
Cricket Wireless rides the AT&T network, so its coverage is the same as AT&T's. We have a county-level coverage map at /coverage/cricket, derived from public FCC Broadband Data Collection data. Enter your ZIP to see strong/fair/poor/none classification at your specific address.
- How do I switch to Cricket Wireless from another carrier?
Sign up at https://www.cricketwireless.com, choose "transfer my existing number," and provide your current carrier's account number, port-out PIN, and billing ZIP code. Most ports complete in 15 minutes to 4 hours. Never cancel your old service before the port completes — it usually closes automatically. See our switching guide for the full walkthrough.
- Can I bring my own phone to Cricket Wireless?
Yes — Cricket Wireless supports BYOD. Your phone needs to be unlocked (carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first by the original carrier) and band-compatible with the underlying network. Activation is via eSIM or physical SIM depending on the device and carrier.
- Does Cricket Wireless support 5G?
Yes. Cricket Wireless supports 5G via the underlying AT&T network — sub-6 GHz (low-band + mid-band/C-band) on most plans. mmWave 5G availability depends on the specific plan tier and your phone's hardware. Speeds in the 200–700 Mbps range are typical on mid-band 5G in covered areas.