Cricket Wireless vs Verizon: Plans Compared

Verizon Wireless is the biggest carrier in the country, with national 4G LTE and 5G coverage networks that stretch from coast to coast. Cricket Wireless is a smaller prepaid provider (or MVNO) that is owned and operated by AT&T and operates on its similarly powerful network. 

If you’re trying to decide between signing up with Cricket or Verizon, this guide will help you navigate their various plan offerings. Read on as we compare the two carriers. 

Cricket Wireless vs Verizon Similarities

• Both offer unlimited plans.
• Both Cricket and Verizon’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 Verizon allow you to sign up for multiple lines of service (also known as family plans), which result in cost savings. 

Cricket Wireless vs Verizon: Differences

• Verizon’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 includes taxes and fees in its advertised prices; Verizon does not. 
• Verizon’s plans are among the most expensive around, while Cricket’s are distinctly cheaper. 

Cricket Wireless vs Verizon: Unlimited Plans

Verizon sells three primary postpaid unlimited plans: the entry-level Unlimited Welcome ($65/month), mid-tier Unlimited Plus ($80/month), and premium Unlimited Ultimate ($90/month). All three include unlimited calling, texting and data in Mexico, while the latter two also feature monthly mobile hotspot allowances. From here, you can add on various streaming, gaming, music, shopping, and travel perks for an additional $10/month as part of the carrier’s myPlan program. 

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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 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 perk-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 plan on sticking with Cricket for the next 12 months.

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? An unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data, but not all the data in an unlimited plan is necessarily of the high-speed variety. Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to include unlimited deprioritized data (data that slows down when networks are busy). Some entry-level plans include a small amount of high-speed data as well, while many do not. Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped at a certain amount, and unlimited deprioritized data. Premium unlimited plans tend to offer premium, high-speed data all the time, with no limit.

Cricket Wireless vs Verizon: Capped Plans

Verizon used to offer a selection of capped, or limited data, postpaid plans, but the carrier has done away with these in favor of unlimited. 

Cricket, on the other hand, 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. These are both 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 sometimes called By the Gig, these plans offer customers a set amount of data to use per month, instead of unlimited data. All the data on capped plans is deprioritized, which means you may experience data slowdowns when the network is congested. Capped data plans are sometimes a more 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. The key is not to exceed your cap as doing so will subject you to significant fees.

Cricket Wireless vs Verizon: Coverage

Verizon’s 4G LTE network is generally understood to be the best in America, outdoing the likes of AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon’s 5G network, while smaller and less far-reaching, is growing fast as the company installs more towers. The combination of these two networks means that Verizon offers some of the best coverage in the country. 

Cricket Wireless makes use of AT&T’s national system of 4G and 5G networks to provide its customers with reliable coverage. It's important to note, however, that Cricket’s reliance on subleased network space from AT&T 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 (or the Verizon-owned Visible)—in times of network congestion. That said, these differences in coverage speeds may be mostly minor. 

To compare Cricket vs Verizon coverage, enter your address into our Verizon coverage map, and use our AT&T Coverage Map as a proxy for Cricket.

Cricket Wireless vs Verizon: Perks

Signing up for a Verizon plan means you get all of the perks that come along with going with a major postpaid carrier, including excellent coverage, generous plan extras, and huge mobile hotspot allowances. Of course, it all comes at a price, as Verizon’s unlimited plans are some of the most expensive on the market. 

While Cricket’s international and hotspot perks aren’t on par with Verizon’s, the MVNO does feature Max subscriptions (with ads) with its premium $60/month unlimited plan. This makes Cricket’s offering a nice value, since an ad-supported Max subscription costs $9.99/month on its own. Not even prepaid brands like Mint Mobile offer an equivalent streaming perk. 

The Bottom Line

Signing up for a Verizon plan means you get all of the perks that come along with going with a major postpaid carrier—including excellent coverage, generous plan extras, the ability to sign up for multiple lines of service. Of course, all of this comes at a price, as Verizon’s unlimited 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). Plus, you get the backing of AT&T’s great 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 Verizon better or Cricket Wireless?

Verizon is one of the country's best and most reliable carriers, but you'll pay a premium for its services. Cricket, running on AT&T's network, offers more affordable prepaid plans with some extras, though your data might slow down during busy times. 

Do Verizon and Cricket Wireless use the same towers?

No, Verizon and Cricket don't share the same towers. Verizon operates on its own nationwide 4G and 5G networks, while Cricket runs on AT&T's network since it's part of the AT&T family. Both offer good coverage, but Cricket users might notice slower speeds during busy times since AT&T gives priority to its own customers.

Do you get a free phone if you switch to Verizon?

Yes, Verizon offers free phones when you switch, but it comes with a few conditions. Typically, the cost is covered through monthly bill credits over 36 months, and you'll need to stick with specific plans to stay eligible. Make sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what's required.