Cricket Wireless is a prepaid cell phone carrier that is owned by AT&T.
It is known as a flanker carrier.
A flanker carrier is a cell phone carrier that is owned by a larger carrier to target a different market segment.
Flanker carriers usually have their own brand image and reputation, different marketing and pricing strategies, and unique features tailored towards their specific market segment.
Cricket Wireless is targeting a market segment that is more price conscious, which is why it offers cell phone plans at cheaper rates than AT&T.
AT&T is okay with offering access to their network at cheaper prices through Cricket Wireless because both Cricket Wireless and AT&T develop their own brand image and reputation.
People often perceive AT&T as being more premium and Cricket Wireless as being more value-oriented.
Instead of competing directly against AT&T, Cricket Wireless is really competing against the other prepaid carriers that are also offering value-oriented cell phone plans.
Going with a prepaid cell phone carrier such as Cricket Wireless can be an excellent way to save money on your cell phone bill while still getting the same coverage as a big carrier.
Cricket Wireless offers four plans to choose from. The 2GB plan, 10GB plan, and Unlimited Core plan are all capped at 8Mbps maximum speeds.
The Cricket Unlimited More plan, the most expensive plan, is the only one that gets full-speed data.
Cricket’s current plans are:
Cricket Wireless offers an amazing family discount on all of their plans. The price drops to as low as $25/line with their Cricket Unlimited Core plan.
Cricket also offers a referral program. Each person who signs up using your unique Cricket referral link will earn you $25 of account credit. The person who signs up through your link will also get $25 of account credit. You can have a maximum of 10 referrals per calendar year, or up to $250 in account credit.
No discounts or referral programs are available at this time.
Yes, Cricket offers family plans.
In fact, they are known for offering some of the best low-cost family plans on the AT&T network.
A four-person family can get an unlimited data plan for just $25/line/month with Cricket’s [Unlimited Core](https://www.bestphoneplans.net/family-plan/cricket-unlimited-50-4) plan.
You could also get Cricket’s Unlimited More plan for just $33/line/month for four lines.
This plan adds in 15GB of hotspot data and removes the 8Mbps data speed cap found in the Unlimited Core plan.
Cricket offers data-only plans that will work with both tablets and hotspots. Smartwatches are currently not supported on Cricket Wireless.
Cricket’s data-only plans are listed below:
Cricket Wireless uses AT&T's network for coverage, which covers 99% of Americans.
You can learn more about Cricket Wireless's coverage below:
The above data come from the FCC and from Verizon directly.
Check Verizon coverage in your area by using Verizon's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.
CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.
Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and to participate in the project.
The above information comes from the FCC and from AT&T direclty.
You can check AT&T coverage in your area by using AT&T's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.
CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of the cellular networks.
Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and to contribute to the project.
The above information comes from the FCC and from T-Mobile directly.
Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using T-Mobile's official coverage map.
You can also check T-Mobile coverage by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.
CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.
You can download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and to contribute to the project.
Cricket supports visual voicemail, VoLTE (also called HD Voice), Wi-Fi calling, hotspot, up to 4K video streaming, domestic roaming, 5G access, stateside international calling to Canada and Mexico, and international data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
Some features will vary depending on the plan you sign up for. The two unlimited plans limit video streaming quality to 480p, but they both include roaming in Canada and Mexico.
The two plans with limited data amounts, the 10GB and 2GB plans, support up to 4K video streaming, but they do not include international roaming in Canada or Mexico.
All phones that are unlocked and compatible with the AT&T network will work on Cricket Wireless.
And unlocked phone means it isn’t tied to any carrier, contract, or financing agreement. Usually unlocked phones are paid off in full and have been active on the network for a set period of time.
Contact your current carrier to see if your phone is unlocked or what the unlocking policy is.
You can check to confirm your phone will work with Cricket by using their IMEI checker.
Dial *#06# to get your phone’s IMEI, and enter the 15-digit number on Cricket’s website to see if it will work.
Cricket currently does not support eSIM.
5G access is also limited to Android phones that are purchased directly from Cricket. People who bring their own Android phone to Cricket will not get 5G access. People who bring their own iPhone to Cricket will get 5G access though.
Hotspot support may also not work if you bring your own Android phone to Cricket Wireless.
Cricket Wireless offers the add-ons listed below:
From Cricket’s website:
From Cricket’s website:
Connect your laptop or tablet to the internet while you are on the go.
Hotspot data speeds are the same as the underlying rate plan (8Mbps).
Available to be added to the Cricket Core plan and select grandfathered plans. Eligible phone required.
Additional Mobile Hotspot data is available for purchase.
From Cricket’s website:
From Cricket’s website:
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
150 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
100 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
15 minutes from the U.S. per month.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
200 minutes for calls from the U.S. to mobile phones in the Dominican Republic
Unlimited calling from the U.S. to landline phones in the Dominican Republic
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S. to mobile phones in the Dominican Republic
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
60 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
70 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
40 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
60 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
40 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
40 minutes from the U.S. per month.
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
50 minutes from the U.S. per month
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
From Cricket’s website:
Includes:
70 minutes from the U.S. per month
Unlimited SMS & MMS from the U.S.
Cricket Wireless support is available via online chat on their website, chat in the Cricket application, or by calling customer support at 1 (800) 274-2538.
Cricket’s support hours are Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 11:00pm EST, and Sunday from 10:00am to 11:00pm EST.
