What Cricket Wireless Is

Cricket Wireless is a prepaid mobile phone service owned by AT&T. Instead of signing a contract and paying a monthly bill, you buy a plan upfront for a set period — usually 30 days — and your service runs until that time is up. When the 30 days end, you buy another plan to keep your phone working. There is no credit check, no long-term commitment, and no surprise charges.

Cricket operates on AT&T's network, which means you get the same coverage as AT&T customers but at a lower price because you are paying in advance. You can bring your own phone to Cricket if it is unlocked, or you can buy a phone from Cricket directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Cricket charges you upfront for 30 days of service, and your phone stops working when those 30 days end unless you buy another plan.
  • Plans include a set amount of talk, text, and data each month, and you can see exactly what you are paying before you buy.
  • You can bring an unlocked phone from another carrier or buy one from Cricket, and you can switch phones whenever you want.
  • Cricket does not run credit checks and does not require a contract, making it an option if you have been turned down by other carriers.
  • You can buy plans online, in a Cricket store, or at retailers like Walmart and Best Buy.

How to Set Up Service

To start Cricket service, you need a phone and a way to pay. You can buy a plan online at cricketwireless.com, at a Cricket store, or at a retail partner like Walmart, Target, or Best Buy. When you set up service, you will choose a phone number (or keep your existing one if you are switching from another carrier) and pick a plan.

If you are bringing your own phone, make sure it is unlocked — meaning it is not locked to another carrier — and compatible with AT&T's network. You can check this on Cricket's website by entering your phone's model. If you do not have a phone yet, Cricket sells phones ranging from basic models to newer smartphones, though you will pay more than you would at a carrier with a contract.

Once you buy a plan, your service turns on right away. You will receive a SIM card (a small chip that connects your phone to the network) either in the mail or in-store, depending on where you set up. If you bought service online, you may need to set up the SIM card yourself, which takes a few minutes on Cricket's website.

Cricket Plans and What They Cost

Cricket offers several plan tiers, each with a set amount of talk minutes, text messages, and data per 30-day period. Plans are priced differently depending on how much data you get. A basic plan with a small amount of data costs less than a plan with unlimited data. You pay the full price upfront when you buy the plan, so there are no hidden fees or surprise charges at the end of the month.

Data speeds on Cricket are typically slower than on AT&T's postpaid plans — this is how Cricket keeps prices lower. If you use a lot of data or stream video regularly, you will notice the difference. Cricket also offers a feature called "Data Rollover," which lets unused data from one month carry over to the next, up to a limit.

You can change your plan at any time. If you need more data mid-month, you can buy an add-on, though this costs extra. If you want a different plan for your next 30-day cycle, you straightforward choose a new one when you renew.

Bringing Your Own Phone or Buying One from Cricket

If you already own a phone, you can use it with Cricket as long as it is unlocked and works on AT&T's network. An unlocked phone is one that is not tied to a specific carrier — you can move it between carriers freely. If your phone is locked to another carrier (like Verizon or T-Mobile), you will need to contact that carrier and ask them to unlock it before Cricket can set up it.

To check if your phone works with Cricket, go to cricketwireless.com and use their phone compatibility tool. You enter your phone's model, and the site tells you whether it will work. This takes less than a minute and saves you from buying a plan only to find out your phone is not compatible.

If you do not have a phone or yours does not work with Cricket, you can buy one from Cricket. Prices are higher than you might find at a carrier with a contract, because you are not signing up for a long-term agreement that lets the carrier subsidize the phone. However, you own the phone outright — there is no payment plan or financing involved.

What Happens When Your 30 Days End

When your 30-day plan period ends, your phone will no longer make calls, send texts, or use data. You will see warnings from Cricket as the end date approaches, usually starting a few days before. To keep your service running, you need to buy another plan before the 30 days are up.

You can renew your plan online, in a Cricket store, or at a retail partner. The process is the same as buying your first plan — you choose a plan tier, pay upfront, and your service turns back on when ready. If you do not renew and your service lapses, your phone number may be reassigned to another customer after a certain period, though Cricket typically holds numbers for a grace period.

If you forget to renew and lose your number, you can contact Cricket to see if they can restore it, but this is not may provide. Setting a reminder on your phone a few days before your plan ends is a straightforward way to avoid this.

International Calling and Travel

Cricket includes some international calling and texting at no extra charge to over 200 countries, though rates vary by destination. You can check the rate for a specific country on Cricket's website before you call. International data (using the internet while traveling abroad) is not included in your plan and costs extra if you use it.

If you travel frequently, you can buy an international add-on that gives you a set amount of data in certain countries for a fixed price. This is cheaper than paying per-megabyte if you plan to use data abroad. Alternatively, you can turn off data while traveling and use only WiFi to avoid charges.

Switching to Cricket from Another Carrier

If you are moving from another carrier like Verizon, T-Mobile, or a traditional AT&T plan, you can keep your phone number when you switch to Cricket. This is called number porting. When you set up your Cricket account, tell them you want to port your number, and they will handle the transfer. It usually takes a few hours to a full day for the switch to complete.

During the transfer, your old service will stop and Cricket service will start. You should not cancel your old account yourself — let Cricket do it as part of the porting process. If you cancel early, you may owe an early termination fee to your old carrier, and the number port may fail.

Once your number is ported to Cricket, you own it and can take it to another carrier later if you want. There is no fee to port your number away from Cricket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my phone from Verizon or T-Mobile with Cricket?

Yes, if it is unlocked. Contact your current carrier and ask them to unlock it. Once it is unlocked, check Cricket's compatibility tool to make sure it works on AT&T's network. Some older phones or phones from international carriers may not be compatible even if unlocked.

What happens if I run out of data before my 30 days end?

Your data will stop working, but you can still make calls and send texts if your plan includes them. You can buy a data add-on to restore data for the rest of your 30-day cycle, or you can wait until you renew your plan. Prices for add-ons are shown on Cricket's website before you buy.

Do I need a credit card to set up Cricket service?

No. Cricket does not run a credit check. You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card. Some retail locations may accept other payment methods, so ask when you visit.

Can I pause my Cricket service if I do not need it for a month?

Cricket does not offer a pause feature. If you do not renew your plan when it ends, your service stops. If you want to use Cricket again later, you can buy a new plan whenever you are ready. Your phone number may be reassigned if you wait too long, so contact Cricket if you think you might want to keep it.

What is the difference between Cricket and AT&T?

Cricket is prepaid and cheaper because you pay upfront and accept slower data speeds. AT&T is postpaid (you get a bill each month) and offers faster data and more features, but requires a credit check and often involves a contract. Both use the same network, so coverage is the same.