Luke Pensworth
When shopping for a smartphone network plan, most people want reliable service, fast data speeds, and a low price. (Some of us demand all three, and there’s nothing wrong with that.)
And if you’ve seen the price of the Cricket family plan, you probably are intrigued. It checks one of the three important boxes, after all. Our Cricket Wireless review will help you decide how their packages rank in the other two key areas of cellular service, including in terms of coverage.
We like researching wireless plans. (We know that makes us a glutton for punishment, but we’re okay with it.) We’ve spent a lot of time studying multiple Cricket Wireless deals, comparing them to other deals. Should you switch to Cricket? Let’s explore.
Cricket Wireless Plans and Prices
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Max Data Speed | Limiting Factor | View Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 GB | $30 | 4G LTE (up to 12 Mbps) | Data speed reduced after 2 GB limit | View plans |
| 5 GB | $40 (or $35 with Auto Pay) | 4G LTE (up to 12 Mbps) | Data speed reduced after 5 GB limit | View plans |
| Unlimited | $55 (or $50 with Auto Pay) | 3G (up to 3 Mbps) | Speed may be slowed if network is congested | View plans |
| Unlimited with 15 GB Mobile Hotspot | $60 (or $55 with Auto Pay) | 4G LTE (up to 12 Mbps) | Data speed reduced after 15 GB limit | View plans |
Cricket Wireless plans are available in a few different tiers, allowing you to match your budget and your needs. Our Cricket Wireless review shows this is one of the best features of this service.
If you rarely use data on your Cricket Wireless phones, you can go with a very inexpensive plan. And using Cricket prepaid plans with Auto Pay will save you $5 per month.
For the best value in a Cricket Wireless hotspot plan, we like the Unlimited with 15 GB hotspot plan. However, the speeds of this Cricket unlimited data plan slow greatly after you hit your 15 GB hotspot limit.
Cricket also has some good family plans with significant savings when you carry two to five lines.
To get more Deals and Promotions, you can visit Coupon Lawn.
Cricket Wireless Coverage and Speed
Cricket Wireless coverage is excellent versus other MVNO providers. Because AT&T is who owns Cricket Wireless, you’ll have access to outstanding coverage nationwide and with Cricket Wireless international. So if you’re wondering, what network does Cricket use, it’s the powerful AT&T cellular network. This occurred after Cricket and AT&T merged in 2014. That gives Cricket better coverage than Sprint or T-Mobile in some locations, with a coverage level more like Verizon has.
Is Cricket GSM?
Yes, as some Cricket Wireless plans are offered at 4G LTE data speeds, while others are limited to 3G.
Cricket Wireless Phones
Cricket does offer some options for a free smartphone when signing up for the service. You will need to port a number to qualify for Cricket free phones.
Another option is to use the Cricket bring your own phone (BYOP) feature when signing up for Cricket Wireless. You will need to be sure your phone is compatible, and you may need to purchase a new SIM card for about $10 to use this feature.With a service plan, you also can purchase Cricket Wireless insurance. This protects you if any damage happens to your phone. In the majority of cases, you will have to have a new phone to be able to purchase insurance.
If you’re wondering which cell phone plan may best fit your needs, check out our detailed cell phone plan review.
Cricket Wireless Customer Service
Versus some other low priced carriers, Cricket’s customer service is well-regarded.
Some people will start by visiting a Cricket Wireless store, which have multiple locations across the country. Even better, you can perform the signup process online, which is an easy and fast process.
One advantage to using the Cricket online site to sign up is that you’ll avoid a Cricket activation fee of $25 that you’re charged in the store.
Recap
Even though we may never figure out why Cricket uses a fuzzy ball with legs as its mascot, it doesn’t deter from the fact that Cricket Wireless offers a good value for the performance level it provides.
The Cricket coverage network takes full advantage of its AT&T relationship. And versus a service like Simple Mobile, Cricket has similar pricing, but with a far stronger level of coverage.
As long as you don’t need to use massive amounts of data with your smartphone, you’ll like the performance and reliability of Cricket … and you’ll truly love the price you’ll pay.
Our Cricket Wireless review shows this service is made for those who:
- Want some very inexpensive plan options
- Don’t typically use a lot of data
- Want good network reliability
- Need good customer service and fast online sign-up options
Q&A
What are my options for Cricket WiFi calling?
Cricket WiFi calling is a great option with this service. Whenever you have a WiFi connection, the phone will use WiFi to make the call and send text messages. This reduces the amount of data being charged to your phone plan. Just turn on this feature on your phone, and it will use WiFi calling whenever it can automatically.
