Overview: Cricket Wireless (Cellular Data Plans)

Cricket Wireless is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T, providing prepaid smartphone based plans with data tethering capabilities.

Cricket frequently runs promotional pricing deals, but be sure to read the fine print of those deals and be aware of any restrictions on data speeds or tethering abilities.

Currently Available Plans:

• 2GB: $30
• 4GB: $40
• Unlimited (3 mbps): $55
• Unlimited Extra: $60

For Our Comparative Pricing Grid:
Guide to Cellular Data Plan Pricing

Testing Status:

We do not keep a Cricket plan in our testing arsenal.

Policies & Perks:

• Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
• Carrier Relation: Prepaid Carrier Subsidiary
• Plan Types Available: Phone
• Device Types Permitted: Phone
• Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
• Mobile Hotspot Use: This feature can be turned on for an extra $10 per month. On their unlimited plans, you are capped at 10GB of hotspot data if you add this feature, after which speeds are slowed to 128Kbps for hotspot data.
• Throttling:
  • Capped Bucket (2GB/4GB): Download speeds max of 8Mbps, then throttled to 128 kbps after data bucket is used.
  • Unlimited Plan: all data always throttled to 3 mbps.
  • Unlimited Extra: high-speed on device, but always subject to network management. Hotspot data must be added to this plan for an additional cost - $10 for 10GB high-speed MHS data.
• Network Management:
  • Unlimited Plan: at 22GB
  • Unlimited Extra: Always
• International Roaming: Plans that include data also include 50% usage of data in Canada & Mexico. These plans also include unlimited texting from the US to 38 different countries.
• Domestic Roaming: None - native coverage only
• Plan Period: 30 days
• Data Roll Over: None
• Overage Charges: None
• Streaming: No streaming services are bundled with Cricket service.
  • Capped data plans: Cricket offers their 'Stream More' feature, which reduces video quality to 480p (DVD quality) which can be turned on/off in order to help conserve data on capped plans.
  • Unlimited plans: Video is capped at 1.5Mbps, good enough for SD (480p) streaming.
• Unlimited: Yes - they offer two.
  • Unlimited: Data speeds are throttled to 3 mbps. You can add 10GB of high-speed hotspot data to the plan for $10, after which speeds are slowed to 128 kbps for hotspot data. Network management kicks in at 22GB.
  • Unlimited Extra: Speeds are not throttled on device. Always subject to network management. You can add 10GB of high-speed hotspot data to the plan for $10, always subject to network management, after which speeds are slowed to 128 kbps for hotspot data.
• Lines permitted per account: 4
• Device Lock/Unlock Policy: Cricket will provide an unlock code upon request, provided that the device you want to unlock has been active for at least six (6) months of paid service.

Related Articles:

• Cricket's New Unlimited Extra Plan - Unthrottled But Always Managed Data Posted on: October 2, 2018
• Cricket Imposes 22GB Network Management - Adds 'Stream More' Service Posted on: February 27, 2017
• Cricket Wireless Adjusts Plans - 8GB for $50/mo | 12GB for $60/mo Posted on: January 25, 2017

Purchasing Options

Cricket Wireless