Cricket Wireless review: AT&T coverage at prepaid pricing
Cricket Core
$55/mo
Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T and operates as their primary prepaid brand. It uses the same physical AT&T towers, so coverage is identical to postpaid AT&T.
Plans and pricing
Cricket's current lineup: Smart at $35/month (5GB), More at $50/month (unlimited with mobile hotspot), Core at $55/month (unlimited, slightly higher priority), and Cricket More for the Family at $90/month for two lines or $130 for four lines.
Autopay saves $5/month per line on most plans. International calling to Mexico is included on More and Core.
Coverage and performance
Coverage is identical to AT&T postpaid. In our testing in two metro areas, Cricket reliably matched the speeds of an AT&T postpaid line at off-peak hours. During peak hours in congested downtown areas, Cricket experienced about 20-30% lower download speeds due to deprioritization.
Where Cricket beats the alternatives
At addresses where AT&T is the strongest carrier, Cricket is the cheapest way to get that network with reliable unlimited data.
Cricket has 6,500+ retail stores nationwide. For users who prefer in-person setup and support over online-only MVNOs, this matters.
No annual contract required. Activation fees ($25-35) are typically waived during promotions.
Where Cricket falls short
Premium features available on AT&T postpaid (international roaming, premium streaming bundles, Apple Watch eSIM support) are mostly unavailable on Cricket.
5G coverage is more limited than AT&T postpaid. Cricket users get standard 5G but not 5G+ (millimeter wave).
Frequently Asked Questions
Senior Staff Writer
Alex has covered telecom, smartphones, and business communications for eight years. Before DeltaThree, he tested gear for a carrier trade publication and ran the wireless desk at a consumer tech site. He pays his own phone bill.
