Cricket Wireless review

Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

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Our verdict

Cricket Wireless suits US prepaid buyers who want unlimited data, hotspot sharing and eSIM support on the AT&T network with no credit check. Starting price and unlimited price are the same figure, $15 and $15, and terms run 1 and 12, so nothing jumps at renewal.

Key facts

Best for
Prepaid unlimited data in the US with no credit check.
Seller type
Mvno (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Host network
AT&T (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
SIM-only
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Price from
$15 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Reference plan prices
12-Month Unlimited: $25/mo, unlimited, 12-month; 3-Month Unlimited: $15/mo, unlimited, 3-month prepay; Sensible 10GB: $30/mo, 10GB, 1-month (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Unlimited plan price
$15 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
5G
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
eSIM
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Wi-Fi calling
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Hotspot sharing
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Credit check required
No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Multi-line discount
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
US (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Chat, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Billing
Prepaid
Contract length
1, 12
Official website
cricketwireless.com

Apps and profiles

Get the app
Google Play
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaXfacebook.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A credit check is not required, which opens the door for buyers with little or no credit history.
  • Hotspot sharing, wifi calling, eSIM and 5G come as standard on the plans listed, not as paid extras.
  • Sim only service means you can keep the handset you already own and pay only for the plan.
  • A multi line discount is offered, so a household with several numbers can bring the per line cost down.
  • Support runs on chat, phone and help centre only, so there is a direct line as well as a self service option.

Cons

  • Billing is prepaid only, so there is no rolling monthly or contract invoice structure to fall back on.
  • As an MVNO, mvno, coverage and speeds come from the AT&T network rather than from Cricket Wireless itself.
  • Contract terms run 1 and 12, so the longer prepaid option locks you into a fixed schedule.
  • Price from ranks 194 of 258 compared brands, so cheaper entry points exist elsewhere on the table.
Cricket Wireless

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Scored 9.0 / 10 by TariffCue.

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Who it suits

  • US prepaid buyers who want unlimited data without a credit check.
  • People bringing their own phone, since sim only and an eSIM are both offered.
  • Households adding several lines, where a multi line discount applies.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Buyers who want a network operator rather than an MVNO: GETESA sells as network and yesss! as network, while Cricket Wireless is mvno.
  • Anyone who needs a rolling or contract bill rather than prepaid: Cricket Wireless has no such structure, and Lonestar Cell MTN is a network seller.

What it does well

Cricket Wireless covers the everyday essentials inside its prepaid plans. Sim only service is offered, so the handset does not have to come from the same seller, and an eSIM is supported for a digital profile. 5G is available, along with wifi calling for indoor calls and hotspot sharing for tethering other devices. A credit check is not required, and a multi line discount is offered when further lines are added.

Where it sits among rivals

Entry price and unlimited price split the field. On price from, the brand ranks 194 of 258 compared brands, which puts it well down the table rather than at the front. On the unlimited price it climbs to 35 of 173, so the unlimited plans, not the entry price, are the argument for choosing this brand.

Pricing

Plans start at $15 a month, and the Unlimited plan is listed at $15, the same figure. Because the entry point and the unlimited rate match here, there is no higher renewal number sitting behind the headline price. Both figures are monthly, so a comparison against another brand should be made on the same monthly basis.

How Cricket Wireless compares

Where Cricket Wireless is available

Available
United States

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Cricket Wireless plan cost a month?+

Plans start at $15 a month, and the Unlimited plan is listed at $15. The two figures match, so the entry point is not a lower teaser that steps up later: the starting rate and the unlimited rate read the same. Both are monthly figures.

How long is the term on a plan?+

Contract terms run 1 and 12, so there is a monthly option alongside a longer prepaid term. Take the shorter term if you want to keep changing your mind, and the longer term if you would rather settle into a fixed schedule. Prepaid describes how you pay, not how long you commit.

Do I need a credit check to get a Cricket Wireless line?+

No credit check is required. That pairs with the way the service is sold: it is an MVNO, mvno, on prepaid terms, so you pay for the plan ahead of time rather than being vetted for a monthly contract. That is the main reason to shortlist it if a credit check has held up past sign ups.

Can I keep the phone I already own?+

Sim only service is available, so you can bring a handset you already have, pay only for the plan, and have billing set up as prepaid. An eSIM is supported as well, and 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing all come with the service, so nothing pushes you toward a phone sold by the same brand.

Whose network does Cricket Wireless run on?+

Cricket Wireless is an MVNO, mvno, that runs on the AT&T network. It is registered in the United States and coverage is listed for US, so this is a single market service rather than a pan regional one. Worth checking against where you spend your time before taking a longer prepaid term.

How is the service billed?+

Billing is prepaid. There is no contract invoice to settle, because payment comes before use rather than after it. The longer prepaid option still runs for a term of 1 and 12, so prepaid means paying ahead, not an unlimited right to walk away whenever you like.

How do I reach support?+

Support runs on chat, phone and help centre only. That covers the questions prepaid customers actually raise: billing, data allowances and coverage gaps, with a direct line and a self service option. An in store visit is not among the listed channels.

Is there a discount for several lines on the same account?+

A multi line discount is offered, so a household running several numbers can bring the per line cost down. It applies inside the same US footprint and on the same prepaid setup as a single line, which makes it a natural fit for a family group rather than a lone user.

Sources

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless

Prepaid unlimited data in the US with no credit check.

9.0/10See alternatives

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