Cricket Wireless vs AT&T: Plans Compared

AT&T is one of the “Big Three” major carriers (along with Verizon and T-Mobile) that operates its own national cell phone network and offers a range of plans. Cricket Wireless is a smaller brand, or MVNO, that’s owned by AT&T and occupies space on its network. 

Trying to decide between Cricket and AT&T for your cell phone service? In this article, we’ll break down their respective offerings so you can figure out which one is best for your particular needs. 

Cricket Wireless vs AT&T: Similarities

• Both offer unlimited plans.
• Both occupy the same national coverage network. 
• Both AT&T and Cricket’s plans include international calling privileges.  
• Both sell a range of mid-range and flagship smartphones, from Samsung devices to Apple iPhones.
• Both Cricket Wireless and AT&T Wireless allow you to sign up for multiple lines of service (also known as family plans), which result in cost savings. 

Cricket Wireless vs AT&T: Differences

• AT&T’s plans are postpaid—meaning you pay for your service at the end of the month—whereas Cricket’s are prepaid, and can be paid for in advance on a monthly or 12-month basis. 
• Cricket’s premium $60/month unlimited plan includes a streaming subscription (Max); AT&T has completely done away with streaming extras. 
• AT&T’s plans are among the most expensive around, while Cricket’s are distinctly cheaper. 
• Cricket includes taxes and fees in its advertised plan prices; AT&T does not.

Cricket Wireless vs AT&T: Unlimited Plans

AT&T sells four unlimited plans: the premium Unlimited Premium PL ($85.99/month) and Unlimited Extra EL ($75.99/month), the mid-range Unlimited Starter SL ($65.99/month), and the entry-level Value Plus VL ($50.99/month). All but Unlimited Starter SL include monthly mobile hotspot data allowances, not to mention unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada. 

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Cricket sells three unlimited plans: the entry-level 12-Month Unlimited Plan ($25/month), the mid-range $55/month Unlimited Plan, and the premium $60/month Unlimited + 15 GB Mobile Hotspot Plan. 

Cricket’s $60/month unlimited plan most closely resembles something you’d get from a postpaid carrier. It includes unlimited high-speed data, 15GB mobile hotspot allowance, a Max streaming subscription, unlimited texts from the U.S. to 37 countries, and Mexico and Canada usage privileges. This is a great value if you’re looking for a perks-heavy unlimited plan but don’t want to pay major carrier prices. 

Cricket’s mid-range offering, the $55/month Unlimited Plan, lacks a mobile hotspot data allowance, a Max subscription, and, most importantly, unlimited premium mobile data (you get unlimited deprioritized data). However, some of the other perks are intact, like unlimited texts from the U.S. to 37 countries and Mexico and Canada privileges.

If this $55/month Unlimited Plan doesn’t seem like much of a deal, rest assured you can save a lot by prepaying for it for a year. This brings it down to $25/month—not a bad deal if you’re on board with sticking with Cricket for the next 12 months.

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? As the name suggests, an unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data. However, the type of unlimited data included in these plans varies. Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to include primarily unlimited deprioritized data that is subject to slowdowns during busy times on a network. Some entry-level unlimited plans also offer a small amount of premium data (aka high-speed data), but many do not. Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped to a certain amount, plus unlimited deprioritized data. The highest-priced unlimited plans are where you'll find truly unlimited premium data.

Cricket Wireless vs AT&T: Capped Plans

AT&T offers a single capped data option, the AT&T 4GB plan ($50/month). As its name suggests, this plan gives you 4GB of data to use per month, but it’s important to note that this is deprioritized data, so it's subject to slowdowns during times of network congestion. Also, the plan isn't eligible for any device promotions that AT&T happens to be running at a given time. 

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Cricket Wireless sells two capped data plans, both of which feature unlimited talk and text and a modest allotment of data: the $40/month 10 GB Plan, and the $30/month 5 GB Plan. Both are relatively stripped down offerings, lacking hotspot data, streaming subscriptions, or premium data. Still, they’re worth looking into if you tend to mostly stay connected to WiFi for data purposes and just want a cheap way to enjoy AT&T’s network. 

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What Is a Capped Plan? Also commonly referred to as "By the Gig", these plans offer customers a set amount of data to use per month, instead of unlimited data. Capped plan data is deprioritized, which means it's subject to slowdowns when the network is congested. Capped data plans can be a cost-effective alternative to unlimited plans assuming you don’t mind deprioritized data and you know how much data you use in a typical month. That's because exceeding your data cap can result in significant fees.

Cricket Wireless vs AT&T: Coverage

AT&T’s national 4G LTE and 5G networks spread to all corners of the country, so no matter where you are, you’re likely to enjoy fast, reliable coverage. AT&T’s 4G coverage is the second-best in the country, behind Verizon; its 5G coverage is similarly impressive, trailing only T-Mobile in terms of nationwide reach. 

Cricket Wireless customers get access to the same great network that regular AT&T customers do. It's important to note, however, that Cricket’s reliance on subleased network space can in some instances result in slightly inferior service. Major carriers tend to prioritize their customers ahead of smaller carriers—even ones they own like Cricket—at least in times of network congestion. That said, these differences in coverage speeds may be mostly minor. 

To check Cricket and AT&T coverage in your area, enter your address into our AT&T coverage map below. No need for a separate Cricket coverage map, just use the AT&T map as a proxy.

Cricket Wireless vs AT&T: Perks

Going with AT&T for your cell service entitles you to a selection of add-ons. The company’s core unlimited plans feature generous mobile hotspot data allowances, along with international privileges like talk, text, and data privileges in 200+ countries. Unlike T-Mobile, AT&T’s unlimited plans aren’t packaged with perks like streaming subscriptions, nor can you add them on for an extra charge like you can with Verizon’s myPlan. 

While Cricket’s international and hotspot perks aren’t on par with AT&T’s, the MVNO does feature Max subscriptions (with ads) with its premium $60/month unlimited plan, which is something AT&T used to include but doesn’t anymore. This makes Cricket’s offering a nice value, since an ad-supported Max subscription costs $9.99/month on its own. 

The Bottom Line

Signing up with AT&T means you get the full postpaid carrier experience, with great coverage, generous hotspot data allowances, and the ability to pay for your wireless service after you’ve received it on a monthly basis. It also means, of course, high prices: AT&T’s plans are some of the most expensive on the market. 

Cricket Wireless offers a more distinctly prepaid experience, so some of the massive premium data and hotspot allowances are absent from the carrier’s unlimited plans. However, they do include a few nice perks (like a Max subscription) that not even AT&T can match. Plus, you get the backing of AT&T coverage when you sign up with Cricket. 

Still not sure which plan is right for you? Check out our article on what to look for in a wireless plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cricket Wireless or AT&T better?

AT&T offers faster speeds, more plans, and extra perks than Cricket Wireless. However, one of the benefits of Cricket Wireless is its budget-friendly pricing. If you prioritize performance and features, AT&T is the better pick, but if saving money is your goal, Cricket delivers great value.

Does Cricket Wireless use the same towers as AT&T?

Yes, Cricket Wireless uses the same towers as AT&T. That's because AT&T owns itit's and runs on its network, giving customers access to the same 4G and 5G coverage. However, because Cricket is a prepaid service, its users can experience slower speeds during peak times when AT&T prioritizes its main customers. 

Why is my Cricket Wireless internet slow?

Cricket Wireless runs on AT&T's network, but since AT&T customers get priority, your speeds might slow down during busy times. Network congestion or reaching your data cap can also cause slowdowns.