Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Cricket Wireless vs SMARTY
Cricket Wireless vs SMARTY: the differences
| Compare |  Cricket Wireless |  SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | AT&T | Three |
| Price from | $15 | £5 |
| 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 | 40GB: GBP 10 per month, 40GB, 1-month rolling | Unlimited: GBP 20 per month, unlimited, 1-month rolling | 2GB Data Only: GBP 5 per month, 2GB, 1-month rolling |
| Unlimited plan price | $15 | £20 |
| Markets | US | GB |
| EU roaming | Not confirmed | Fair use |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | No annual price rises on rolling one-month plans |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Wi-Fi calling (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes), Credit check required (No), Multi-line discount (Yes).
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Key differences
- Support channels: only Cricket Wireless offers Chat, Phone.
- Support channels: only SMARTY offers Community.
- Billing: only Cricket Wireless offers Prepaid.
- Billing: only SMARTY offers Rolling.
- Contract length: only Cricket Wireless offers 12.
- Markets: only Cricket Wireless offers US.
- Markets: only SMARTY offers GB.
Our verdict on each
Cricket Wireless
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.
SMARTY
SMARTY suits anyone after a rolling monthly SIM, a low entry price and the usual extras with no credit check, and it stays cheap at renewal because annual price rises do not apply to its rolling plans. Its unlimited plan ranks 89 of 173 on price, where heavy users get their value.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cricket Wireless | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Price from ranks 194 of 258 compared brands, while the unlimited price reaches 35 of 173. | 9.1HigherEntry plan from £5 a month, unlimited at £20, rolling billing with no annual rises. |
| Offer | 9.0HigherHotspot sharing, wifi calling, eSIM and 5G come with the plans, a credit check is not required, and terms run 1 and 12. | 8.9Sim only on Three with eSIM, wifi calling, hotspot sharing, a multi line discount and no credit check. |
Sources behind this comparison
Cricket Wireless
- cricketwireless.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
SMARTY
- smarty.co.uk: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Cricket Wireless | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 167 of 416 | 184 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 79 of 137 | 85 of 137 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 175 of 389 | 186 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 10 of 26 | 11 of 26 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cricket Wireless | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Rolling |
| Contract length | 1, 12Covers more | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Pros and cons
Cricket Wireless
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.
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.
SMARTY
Pros
- The entry plan is priced from £5 a month and bills on rolling terms.
- No annual price rises on the rolling monthly plans, so what you start on is what you renew on.
- An eSIM, 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing are all included.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only, with no phone line for problems that need a voice.
- EU roaming works on a fair use basis, so a month abroad is not the same as a month at home.
- Coverage is fixed to Three because SMARTY is a virtual network operator, so there is no second host network to weigh.
Who each suits
Cricket Wireless
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.
SMARTY
Who it suits
- People in GB who want to leave any month on a 1 month rolling term.
- Heavy data users who will pay £20 a month for the unlimited plan instead of watching a cap.
- Households running several lines, since a multi line discount is available.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who would rather buy from the network's own brand: GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss! are all network sellers, while SMARTY is a virtual network operator on Three.
- Frequent travellers who want roaming included, since fair use is the basis here and 48.2% of cheap plan listings include it outright.
- Anyone who needs a human voice on day one, since support runs on help centre and community only.
Current offers
Cricket Wireless
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial with unlimited talk and 3GB data: 14 days
Requires compatible unlocked iOS or Android phone via tryCricket app
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Cricket Wireless | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Cricket Wireless
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.
SMARTY
How much is the cheapest SMARTY plan?+
SMARTY's entry plan starts at £5 a month and bills rolling, so there is no annual term to fund first. That figure is the monthly price from the start, not a headline rate that needs a discount code. Bigger allowances and unlimited data cost more.
How much is unlimited data at SMARTY?+
The unlimited plan costs £20 a month on rolling terms, and on the price lists it places 89 of 173 tracked brands, a stronger showing than its entry price. Heavy users get more here than the entry figure suggests.
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