Can I Use A Sprint Phone With Cricket Service

Cricket Cell Telephone Plans Review 2022

Cricket offers super-cheap wireless prices, but information technology comes at the cost of data speed.

Cricket Wireless specializes in affordable plans with a expert network provider. Fifty-fifty though the commercials might be abrasive, at that place are some delightfully inexpensive Cricket Wireless plans. You also get decent coverage thanks to how Cricket uses AT&T'south mobile network.

Cricket unlimited plans

Set up for a . . . limited unlimited.

Cricket does offering unlimited wireless plans— simply they're not as unlimited equally they sound. Yes, y'all do accept unlimited data, so you tin can pull up Facebook or Twitter while y'all're waiting for the omnibus without stressing about data, just don't look lightning-fast speeds.

Thankfully, there are no catches with unlimited calls or unlimited texting.

Cricket unlimited plans

Diversity isn't Cricket's strongest suit. The merely existent deviation between Cricket Wireless plans is whether or not you desire to set up autopay.

Here's a chip of pro advice: you should do autopay and save a couple of bucks every month. Do that, and you've got yourself a super cheap wireless bill.

The biggest catch with Cricket Wireless plans is how your download speeds cap at three Mbps and streaming speeds cap at 1.5 Mbps.

Translation: y'all'll accept a slower connection than you would with another mobile company.

Of class, we're talking a few extra seconds when you're googling something. If you lot're pretty patient with your net and streaming speeds, you lot can get an affordable unlimited program.

Is there a Cricket Wireless hotspot selection?

You lot can get a hotspot connection, but it'll cost you an extra $10 a month. You'll get decent speeds for the commencement 8 GB, but after that, things will tedious to an absolute crawl at 128 Kbps. Yikes.

Then, how does Cricket compare with the best jail cell telephone carriers? Let's take a look:

Cricket unlimited plans comparison

Don't you dearest it when y'all organize search results by cost and observe in that location's a super-affordable option? That'south where Cricket Wireless comes in.

Earlier you get too excited, keep in heed that Cricket's wireless information speeds are pretty irksome. This isn't, like, a "Tortoise and the Hare" situation either. Cricket is the tortoise, everyone else is the hare, and in this case, the tortoise loses terribly.

Only if you lot can live with the slower internet speeds and so-so streaming quality, you do get an awfully cheap wireless plan with a decent network.

Data caps and speed throttling

If yous opt for a Cricket unlimited programme, just know the magic number is 22 GB. Subsequently yous use 22 GB in a month, Cricket may slow your data speeds down even more before (also known as "throttling"). Await for your nearest source of Wi-Fi equally soon as possible, friend.

Cricket Wireless family plans

Frugal families forever!

At that place are three different Cricket family plans, just yous'll probably just want to ignore the Group Save non-unlimited option, since it's the same toll as the Unlimited Plan. (Seriously, why would yous pay the same price for less data? Some things nosotros'll never understand.)

So, why would y'all get with a more expensive Cricket program? The main difference is speed. With the Unlimited Actress plan, you get 4G LTE speeds—instead of getting capped at download speeds of 3 Mbps (real tedious).

Before you lot determine on a plan, yous should probably make up one's mind how much you value quick internet speeds. Sure, you tin salvage a pretty penny past opting for the slower speed, but y'all might be giving upwards some of your sanity in the process. Seconds at a time. While waiting for your Instagram stories to load.

Now let's compare Cricket'southward family unit plans with the other major carriers out there.

Cricket Wireless family plans comparison

Cricket's family plans aren't a steal similar the individual unlimited plans are. Compared to the competition, the family plans aren't significantly cheaper—which is disappointing.

Metro past T-Mobile and Cricket Wireless are essentially the Spider-man pointing meme when it comes to family unit plans. Both offer similar prices and neither offers lightning-fast speeds. The advantage with Cricket is that you might save some up-front costs compared to Metro.

Equally for speed, it'southward the same old story with Cricket. The Cricket family plans may exist inexpensive-ish, but the internet speeds are nothing to write abode about.

Cricket cell phones and devices

Good news: you can go most new phones on Cricket.

Cricket is compatible with well-nigh of the flagship phones out at that place. Or perhaps you like Cricket phones less traveled—and if so, you can get Nokia, Motorola, and Alcatel phones besides.

If you lot're a Google Pixel fan, though, you won't be able to buy one directly through Cricket. But you tin buy an unlocked Google Pixel and prepare up your network that fashion.

Here are some of the nearly popular phones compatible with Cricket.

How skillful is Cricket functioning?

Thank you to AT&T coverage, information technology'due south pretty skilful.

Data speed volition never be Cricket's claim to fame, but its overall service coverage is surprisingly good. Cricket uses AT&T's network, which means it offers the same coverage that yous'd get with a more than expensive carrier. Currently, AT&T covers effectually 68% of the country with 4G coverage.¹

The only catch is that your data speeds can be deprioritized in favor of AT&T users in crowded areas. In other words, your internet connexion might drop out of the blue in a crowded Costco because AT&T's network gives priority to its ain users.

Check out the map below to go an idea of what your coverage will be similar with Cricket Wireless.

AT&T/Cricket coverage map

Cricket client service

Just don't await likewise much.

In that location is a treasure trove of awful experiences² with Cricket customer service agents. So we decided to notice out for ourselves.

Nosotros had a uncomplicated question—can we use an unlocked Google Pixel telephone with our Cricket business relationship? Nosotros were only on hold for a few minutes, merely when we got through, we didn't get much help.

Nosotros got the confirmation you lot can apply a Google Pixel with Cricket, merely when we asked for additional information on how to make the switch, they only told us to "await online."

Now, our agent might've simply been having a bad twenty-four hour period, merely in our experience, Cricket customer service is consistent with the poor reviews.

Other MVNOs on the AT&T network

Does Cricket have overage charges or hidden fees?

Would it be a wireless provider if it didn't have a few subconscious fees? Sadly, there are some additional Cricket fees to consider.

The fees are nothing egregious, but they are abrasive. Who wants to pay a $25 activation fee? No 1, that's who.

Recap: Is Cricket Wireless good?

Cricket Wireless offers low prices, decent coverage, but the trade-off comes with internet speed.

If you have anything from this Cricket review, information technology'southward this formula:

Cheap wireless + solid coverage - bad internet = Cricket Wireless.

For some people (like Instagram models), Cricket is probably not the hashtag best selection, but for folks who want a phone more than than a smartphone, it makes a lot of sense.

Plans: Cricket offers straight-up plans that are competitive with other providers. Whether you want an unlimited plan or a family plan, there'southward a adept gamble Cricket will exist your cheapest option.
Coverage: Cricket uses AT&T's network, so yous can expect reasonable coverage if you lot live and work in a city. Out in the country, though, you're out of luck.
Speed: With a download speed of three Mbps and streaming speeds of i.5 Mbps, Cricket is no Speed Racer.
Customer service: Cricket doesn't have the best customer service, but for simple questions, they'll get the chore done.

Overall: Cricket is precisely every bit advertised. It's cheap, it works, and information technology doesn't offering blazing cyberspace speeds. It's a perfect telephone for those who primarily desire to talk and text, with minor app usage.

FAQ

Q: I already own a phone. Can I still sign up for Cricket?

If you take an unlocked GSM phone, you tin switch over to Cricket. You can get help in a Cricket shop or past calling its customer support.

Q: Can you brand international calls with Cricket?

Cricket has ii international plans—Cricket International for $5 a calendar month and Cricket International Extra for $15 a month. The main divergence is that you can record video letters with the International Extra plan. Both plans come with international texting.

Without an international plan, y'all can still make calls to Mexico and Canada, merely you cannot make calls across North American countries.

Q: Can I keep my phone number if I switch to Cricket?

Yes. You'll just need to provide some extra information:

Current wireless phone number
Business relationship login and password
Terminal iv digits of your Social Security number
Billing Zippo code

You'll get a new SIM card with your old phone number. This will brand your life much easier.

Q: Can I transfer my contacts to my new telephone?

Yes. First things first, you'll need to save your contacts using a cloud storage service like Google Contacts or iCloud on your current device. In one case y'all do that, you tin use that aforementioned service to transfer contacts to your new phone.

If you're switching from an old-school flip phone to a smartphone, check out the user transmission from your old phone. It should have instructions on transferring contacts to a new phone.

Written by

Tyler Abbott

Tyler has been obsessed with watching sports as efficiently as possible since the creation of the DVR. He is always on the spotter for the best tech in TV and wireless so he tin spotter all the sports and all the same have enough fourth dimension to hang out with his baby. He has written about streaming, wireless, and TV for over three years. He hopes the Lakers will eventually get better.

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