Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Cricket Wireless vs TalkMobile
Cricket Wireless vs TalkMobile: the differences
| Compare |  Cricket Wireless |  TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | AT&T | Vodafone and Three |
| Price from | $15 | £4.98 |
| 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 | 15GB: GBP 5.95 per month, 15GB, 30-day; 100GB 12-month: GBP 9.95 per month (GBP 4.98 first 3 months), 100GB, 12-month; No unlimited plan listed |
| Markets | US | GB |
| Unlimited plan price | $15 | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Not confirmed | Fair use |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 47 |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Wi-Fi calling (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes), Credit check required (No).
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Key differences
- Billing: only Cricket Wireless offers Prepaid.
- Billing: only TalkMobile offers Contract, Rolling.
- Markets: only Cricket Wireless offers US.
- Markets: only TalkMobile 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.
TalkMobile
TalkMobile suits adults in GB who want a plain sim only deal on Vodafone and Three with no credit check. Entry sits at £4.98, but that rate covers only the opening part of the annual term, so the standard rate afterwards is the figure to plan around.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cricket Wireless | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Price from ranks 194 of 258 compared brands, while the unlimited price reaches 35 of 173. | 9.1HigherEntry at £4.98 is low, but it is introductory on the annual plan only, and the standard rate follows. |
| 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. | 8.9eSIM, 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing included, fair use roaming across 47 countries, no credit check. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Cricket Wireless | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 167 of 416 | 186 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 79 of 137 | 87 of 137 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 175 of 389 | 187 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 10 of 26 | 12 of 26 |
What we checked
Cricket Wireless
- cricketwireless.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
TalkMobile
- talkmobile.co.uk: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cricket Wireless | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Contract, Rolling |
| Contract length | 1, 12 | 1, 12 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Talkmobile Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Cricket Wireless | TalkMobile | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited plan price | $15below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 47below the median | 100 |
Median across 176 listed providers.
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.
TalkMobile
Pros
- No credit check is required, so a past credit issue does not block an order.
- eSIM, 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing are all included as standard, with nothing extra to switch on.
- Host network is Vodafone and Three, so a line can sit on either network without changing provider.
Cons
- The £4.98 rate is introductory, applying to the opening part of the annual plan only, after which the standard rate takes over.
- Roaming is fair use across 47 countries rather than an unrestricted allowance, so heavy roaming abroad is capped by the terms.
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.
TalkMobile
Who it suits
- Adults in GB who want a sim only line on Vodafone and Three without a credit check.
- People with an eSIM handset who want 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing active from the start.
- Travellers who need fair use roaming across 47 countries rather than a fully unrestricted allowance.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want the host network's own tariff: GETESA and yesss! both sell as network operators, while TalkMobile is mvno.
- Anyone set on unlimited data, since no unlimited plan appears among the reference plan prices; yesss! and Lonestar Cell MTN run as network operators on their own brands.
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 | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
TalkMobile
How much does a TalkMobile sim only plan cost at the start?+
Entry pricing starts at £4.98. That figure is introductory on the annual plan and covers only the opening part of the term, with the standard monthly rate applying after that. A monthly plan with a smaller allowance is listed as well, so the annual rate is the figure that matters at renewal.
Do I need a credit check to get a TalkMobile SIM?+
No credit check is required, and that is why the provider shows up in no credit check plan lists. Entry at £4.98 can be set up without a credit search on record, so a past credit issue does not stand in the way of ordering.
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