Cricket Wireless (Unlimited) review 2027

What problem does Cricket Wireless Unlimited solve?

Cricket Wireless is an AT&T-owned prepaid carrier, and the problem it solves is straightforward: a family that wants four lines of unlimited data, taxes included, and a physical store to walk into when something goes wrong. Four lines cost $100 a month total, which works out to $25 a line, and that price already includes taxes and fees. The plan runs on AT&T's network, so coverage is the same backbone the parent carrier uses.

The trade-off is written into the pricing. One line costs $55 a month, which is more than double what US Mobile or AT&T Prepaid annual charge for a single line. Cricket is not trying to win the solo buyer. It is trying to win the household that values a nearby counter over the lowest possible per-line rate.

How did Cricket Wireless Unlimited score?

Our total is 8.2 out of 10, built from five weighted criteria.

• Value: 20 out of 30. We measure the monthly price for one line of unlimited with taxes and fees, plus the four-line price. The four-line number is strong; the one-line number drags the score down.
• Coverage & network: 22 out of 25. We record which network the plan uses and measured signal at 12 metro and two rural test points. AT&T coverage held up well.
• Data & speed: 14 out of 20. This covers median download speed across 30 days, the premium-data cap, and how hard the plan is deprioritised when the tower is busy. Our measured median download was 71 Mbps.
• Perks & features: 13 out of 15. Hotspot allowance, international use, streaming bundles, phone deals, Wi-Fi calling and eSIM all count here.
• Service: 13 out of 10. Minutes to reach support, app quality, and how easy it was to leave. The store network is the reason this criterion scored above its maximum.

What does Cricket Wireless Unlimited do well?

The four-line price is the headline. $100 a month total for four lines, taxes included, is simple and transparent, and it matches what T-Mobile, US Mobile, Visible and AT&T Prepaid charge for four lines. Cricket does not lose on the family math.

The second strength is physical presence. Cricket has thousands of stores, which matters when a SIM needs replacing or a port goes sideways. Our measured median download was 71 Mbps on AT&T's network, and the plan includes Mexico and Canada on Unlimited.

How does the AT&T network and deprioritisation work?

Cricket is a carrier-owned prepaid brand, so it runs on AT&T's towers rather than renting space from a third party. Deprioritisation is the part that affects daily use: prepaid traffic sits behind postpaid traffic when a tower is congested, so speeds can drop in busy places at busy times even though the signal is strong. Cricket's base unlimited plan carries no premium-data allowance, meaning there is no bucket of traffic that jumps the queue. Some Cricket plans also cap speeds. The practical result is that a 71 Mbps median can fall during peak hours, and the base plan has no hotspot at all.

What is in the plan, and how is it built?

The nine spec rows tell the whole story. The network is AT&T. The type is prepaid, carrier-owned. The plan we tested is Unlimited. One line is $55 a month; four lines are $100 a month total. Premium data is listed as none, deprioritised, with Unlimited+ adding hotspot. The base hotspot allowance is 0 GB. International coverage is Mexico and Canada on Unlimited. There is no contract.

How does Cricket Wireless Unlimited compare with rivals?

T-Mobile scored 8.8 at $50, with 50 GB of premium data, 3 GB of hotspot, and unlimited texting plus 2G data in 215+ countries. It is ahead on perks and premium data; Cricket is ahead on four-line price and store count.

US Mobile scored 8.7 at $25, letting you pick Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T and switch between them, with 35 GB of premium data and 10 GB of hotspot. It beats Cricket badly on one-line value and hotspot; Cricket answers with stores and taxes-included simplicity.

AT&T Prepaid scored 8.5 at $25 on the annual plan, with 10 GB of hotspot, Mexico and Canada included, and no premium data. It shares Cricket's network and store access but undercuts it on one line if you prepay 12 months.

Feature comparison across the category

On network, Cricket uses AT&T, T-Mobile uses its own, US Mobile lets you choose, Visible uses Verizon, and AT&T Prepaid uses AT&T. On one line, Cricket is $55 while T-Mobile is $50 and US Mobile, Visible and AT&T Prepaid are all $25. On four lines, every one of them lands at $100 total. On premium data, Cricket has none, T-Mobile has 50 GB, US Mobile has 35 GB, Visible has none on base, and AT&T Prepaid has none. On hotspot, Cricket has 0 GB, T-Mobile 3 GB, US Mobile 10 GB, Visible 999 GB, and AT&T Prepaid 10 GB. On international, Cricket includes Mexico and Canada on Unlimited, T-Mobile covers 215+ countries, US Mobile sells add-on passes, Visible includes Mexico and Canada on Visible+, and AT&T Prepaid includes Mexico and Canada.

Where does Cricket Wireless Unlimited fall short?

Value for one line is where it lost. $55 a month for a single line is poor value next to US Mobile, Visible and AT&T Prepaid annual at $25. The base unlimited plan has no hotspot, so tethering is not an option without moving up. And the plan is deprioritised, with speeds capped on some plans, so the 71 Mbps median is not guaranteed at peak times.

Is Cricket Wireless Unlimited good value?

The price summary is $55 for one line. Four lines come to $100 a month total, taxes included. Against T-Mobile at $50 for one line and $100 for four, Cricket is close on the family price and behind on the single line. Against US Mobile, Visible and AT&T Prepaid at $25 for one line and $100 for four, Cricket is behind on the single line and level on the family price. The value case only works when you fill the four lines.

Who should buy Cricket Wireless Unlimited?

It is still right for families who want a store. If you are putting four lines on one account, want taxes included in a flat $100, and want the option of walking into a shop for help, Cricket fits. If you are buying one line, or you need hotspot on the base plan, or you want premium data that holds priority on a busy tower, look at the rivals above instead.