Cricket Wireless is a popular prepaid wireless carrier owned by AT&T. As a prepaid carrier, Cricket does not require contracts or credit checks like postpaid carriers. Customers simply pay upfront each month for wireless service. Find out more about the Cricket SIM card below.

There are several key differences between prepaid and postpaid plans:

• No contracts. With prepaid, there are no long-term contracts. You can cancel anytime.

• No credit checks. Prepaid carriers don’t run credit checks before activating service. As long as you can pay, you can get approved.

• Pay upfront. With prepaid, you pay for service ahead of time each month. There are no surprise bills.

• There are no overage fees. Most prepaid plans have unlimited talk and text. You won’t pay overage fees if you go over.

• Less expensive. Prepaid plans are generally cheaper than postpaid plans for individuals. You’re only paying for what you use.

The main pros of prepaid are flexibility, predictable billing, and lower costs. The cons are fewer phone choices and slower data speeds than some postpaid carriers. However, Cricket has expanded its phone selection and network coverage in recent years to compete with major carriers. For budget-conscious consumers looking to save money on their cell phone bills, Cricket is an attractive prepaid option worth considering.

Network Coverage cricket sim card

Cricket Wireless operates on AT&T’s nationwide 4G LTE network, offering customers excellent coverage across the United States. Cricket piggybacks off AT&T’s robust network infrastructure without any network throttling or speed restrictions. This allows Cricket customers to enjoy fast, reliable service coast to coast.

According to Cricket’s official coverage map, their LTE network reaches over 99% of Americans. Cricket utilizes all of AT&T’s LTE bands including band 12 and band 17 which provide better building penetration and rural coverage. Speeds on the AT&T LTE network average around 25 Mbps for downloads and 5 Mbps for uploads, plenty fast for normal smartphone activities like streaming music/video, web browsing and using apps. Network performance is consistent regardless of how much data you have used.

Cricket takes advantage of AT&T’s large network footprint to provide consumers with premium wireless service at affordable rates. Customers can enjoy AT&T-level network quality without the premium price tag. Cricket also rates highly for network reliability, meaning stable connections and minimal dropped calls. Overall, Cricket offers an excellent combination of nationwide coverage, fast speeds, and dependable service.

Bring Your Own Phone cricket sim card

One of the benefits of Cricket Wireless is that you can bring your own compatible phone instead of having to purchase a new device. This allows you to save money upfront without having to buy a specific Cricket phone.

To bring your own phone to Cricket, first make sure your device is compatible with Cricket’s network. In general, unlocked GSM phones will work with Cricket as long as they support LTE bands 2, 4, 5 and 12. Popular phones like recent iPhones and Galaxy models are typically compatible. You can check Cricket’s website or contact customer support to verify your specific device is able to be activated on their network.

If your phone is currently locked to another carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile, you’ll need to request an unlock before switching to Cricket. Each carrier has its own unlocking requirements, but most will unlock devices that have finished their service contracts or been fully paid off. The unlocking process can take up to a few business days.

Once your device is unlocked, you’ll need to activate it on Cricket’s network. This involves getting a new Cricket SIM card and calling or visiting a Cricket store to transfer your number over. Customer support can walk you through the specifics.

Bringing your own compatible phone to Cricket is a convenient way to join their network without having to purchase a brand-new device. Just make sure to properly unlock your phone first if necessary, and the activation process is straightforward.

Prepaid Plans cricket sim card

Cricket Wireless offers a variety of affordable no-contract prepaid plans to meet different needs. Customers can choose from individual, group, and family plans with monthly options.

The basic individual plan starts at $30/month for unlimited talk and text plus 2GB of high-speed data. For $40/month, you can get unlimited talk and text with 5GB of data. The top individual plan offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $55/month.

For families and groups, Cricket offers the $100/month Cricket More plan that includes unlimited talk, text, and data on 5 lines. You can also mix and match individual plans to build a customized group plan for your needs. Data amounts can be shared between lines on group plans.

Some key perks of Cricket’s prepaid plans include mobile hotspots, unlimited messaging to Mexico, Canada, and over 30 other countries, and unlimited calls and texts to and from Mexico and Canada. Taxes and fees are included in the monthly price for simplicity.

Customers looking to save can also choose lower data amounts like 1GB or 3GB per month on individual plans if they don’t need as much high-speed data. Overall, Cricket Wireless delivers flexibility, affordability, and plenty of data on its no-contract prepaid plans.

Features

Cricket offers several great features that help set them apart from other prepaid carriers:

Mobile Hotspot

Cricket allows you to turn your phone into a mobile hotspot so you can share your data connection with other devices. Their hotspot plans allow for high-speed tethering up to 15GB per month. After you hit the cap, speeds are reduced to a maximum of 128kbps for the rest of the billing cycle.

International Calling

Cricket offers prepaid international calling plans that allow you to call landlines and mobile phones in 38 countries. Rates start as low as 1 cent per minute to landlines in Canada and Mexico. Calling mobile phones is slightly more expensive but still very affordable. You can add money to your account balance and use it directly for international calls.

Video Streaming cricket sim card

With most Cricket plans, video streaming is limited to SD quality. However, their higher-end unlimited plans allow streaming in HD quality. So if you want to watch high-def content from Netflix, YouTube, and other services, you’ll need to opt for one of the more premium Cricket plans. Streaming music over services like Spotify does not count against your high-speed data allotment.

Customer Service

Cricket Wireless offers customer service through a variety of channels. Customers can get support in-store at Cricket retail locations, online through the Cricket website and community forum, over the phone, and through social media.

Cricket has over 2,800 retail store locations across the United States where customers can receive hands-on support for devices, service plans, payments, and account management. Stores are usually located in shopping centers and malls. Store employees can help activate phones, set up accounts, make payments, and troubleshoot technical problems. Stores also accept phone trade-ins and device upgrades.

For quick questions or transactional support needs, Cricket’s online account management portal allows customers to check data usage, change plans, make payments, view bills, suspend/resume service, and file claims. Customers can also access Cricket’s online knowledge center and community forum for how-to articles, FAQs, and peer-to-peer troubleshooting advice.

Additionally, Cricket offers customer support over the phone 24/7. Customers can call to activate service, get plan information, make account changes, and troubleshoot issues. Phone support is based in the U.S.

Cricket is also responsive on Twitter for customer service issues and questions. Direct messaging the Cricket Wireless Twitter account can provide a fast way to get account help.

With various customer service access points, Cricket aims to make it easy for customers to get timely support with any needs that may arise. Their retail stores, online account tools, call centers, and social media presence allow customers to get help conveniently through their channels of choice.

Phone Selection cricket sim card

Cricket Wireless offers a variety of phones to choose from when signing up for service. Phone options range from basic flip phones to the latest smartphones running Android and iOS.

Models Offered

Cricket’s phone lineup includes popular models such as:

• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone SE
• Samsung Galaxy S22, S21, A53
• Motorola Edge, Moto G Stylus
• Nokia X100, C100

They carry phones from leading manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Motorola, and Nokia. You’ll find both flagship smartphones and more budget-friendly options.

Pricing

Phone prices vary based on the model. Premium phones like the iPhone 13 Pro start at $999, while basic flip phone models can be as low as $20. The mid-range Galaxy A53 is $449.

Cricket offers several ways to pay for phones:

• Pay full retail price upfront
• Pay in monthly installments over 12 or 24 months
• Trade in an eligible device to lower the price
• Purchase a pre-owned or refurbished phone at a discount

Financing a phone spreads the cost over time with 0% APR. Trade-ins can save up to $600 off the purchase price.

Prepaid Plans Included cricket sim card

All Cricket phone purchases come with prepaid wireless service. You pick out the phone you want along with one of Cricket’s no-contract monthly plans.

Plans start at $30/month for unlimited talk & text. The $60/month plan adds 15GB of high-speed data. Their top $60/month plan has unlimited data at speeds up to 8Mbps. Multi-line discounts are available for savings.

Joining Cricket

Signing up for Cricket Wireless is easy and can be done online or in-store. Here’s an overview of the signup process:

Create an Account

You can start by going to cricketwireless.com and clicking “Plans” to view available options. When you’re ready to sign up, click “Join Cricket” and you’ll be prompted to create an account. You’ll need to enter your name, and email address, and create a password.

Choose Your Plan

Next, you’ll select one of Cricket’s prepaid cell phone plans. Options range from $30/month for unlimited talk and text to $60/month for unlimited talk, text and high-speed data. You can also add features like mobile hotspots, international calling, and more.

Activate Your Phone

If you’re bringing your own phone, you’ll need to make sure it’s compatible with Cricket’s network. You can check by entering the IMEI number or phone model. If it’s compatible, you’ll receive a new SIM card and instructions to activate it.

If you’re buying a new phone, you can select one during signup and it will come pre-activated. Phones are priced separately from monthly plans.

Set Up Account Details

Finally, you’ll enter payment information to pay for your first month of service. Cricket accepts major credit cards and prepaid refill cards. You can also set up autopay if you want your bill to be paid automatically each month.

Once the account is set up, you’ll receive confirmation and can start using your Cricket Wireless service right away! Let a store rep know if you need any help during the signup process.

Pros

One of the best aspects of Cricket Wireless is that there are no contracts. Customers can choose from a variety of no-contract prepaid plans, so there’s no long term commitment. This makes Cricket a flexible and affordable wireless carrier option.

Plans start at just $30 per month for unlimited talk and text. There are also options like unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data starting at just $40 per month. Compared to major postpaid carriers where unlimited plans can cost over $100 per month, Cricket’s prices are highly competitive. They offer excellent value, especially for individuals or families who don’t need huge amounts of data.

In addition to great pricing, Cricket uses AT&T’s widespread 4G LTE network to provide customers with reliable nationwide coverage. They have excellent coverage even in rural areas due to roaming agreements with AT&T. So customers don’t have to worry about dead zones or limited regional networks when using Cricket.

The combination of affordable no-contract plans and far-reaching coverage makes Cricket one of the best-prepaid carriers, especially for budget-conscious consumers who want flexibility and reliable service. There’s no need to be locked into long contracts to get solid coverage at fair prices with Cricket.

Cons

Cricket’s biggest downsides compared to other carriers are the slower data speeds, limited phone selection, and lack of family plan options.

• Speed Caps – Cricket throttles data speeds. On unlimited plans, speeds are capped at 8Mbps for 4G LTE data. This is slower than other major carriers that have speeds of around 25-50Mbps. For heavy data users that stream a lot of video, the slower speeds may be noticeable.

• Limited Phone Selection – Cricket has a much smaller selection of phones compared to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. They mostly sell lower-end and budget smartphones. For people who want the latest high-end phones, Cricket is not the best option.

• No Family Plan Sharing – Cricket only offers individual plans. Unlike other carriers, there are no family plans or ways to share data buckets across multiple lines. Each line has to be on its own separate plan.

The slower speeds, limited device options, and lack of shared plans make Cricket less appealing for data-hungry customers with multiple lines. People who just need basic talk/text and don’t care as much about data speeds or phone selection will be fine with Cricket’s limitations. But for others, it’s worth comparing Cricket’s cons against other carrier options that provide faster data, more phone choices, and shared family plans.