Hands-On ReviewTop PickFeatured
Released Around: April, 2016 /
Cricket Wireless is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T, offering both prepaid smartphone-based plans with data tethering capabilities and prepaid data-only plans.
Plan Information
Cricket offers both unlimited and capped data plans for phones, and capped data plans for data-only devices. Phone plans are not permitted for use in data-only devices (hotspots).
Data Only Plans - TOP PICK
Currently Available Data Only Plans:
- Simply Data - Data Only Plans
- 150GB - $90
- 100GB - $55
- 20GB - $35
Cricket offers an entry-level hotspot device for their data-only plans, or plans can be activated on most AT&T-branded hotspots and tablets. The plan can not be used in cellular embedded routers however.
One advantage of Cricket over AT&T direct prepaid plans is that Cricket's plans explicitly include Canada & Mexico coverage. AT&T Prepaid plans have no mention one way or the other on this feature. But unlike Cricket plans, AT&T prepaid data plans can be used in routers, and are a bit higher network priority than Cricket.
Also, even though you can bring your own device with these plans, the fine print states that "5G service is not yet available for BYOD devices." And the only device that Cricket sells with this plan is a 4G device - the Turbo Hotspot 2.
January 19, 2021 - Cricket updated their compatible device list, and many router models that once were, are no longer compatible with this plan. Those using a Simply Data plan in a router are advised to NOT REMOVE THE SIM CARD from their router in order to keep the plan active - it will deactivate if you remove the card and put it back in.
Mobile hotspot devices (like the Netgear Nighthawk 4G, Unite Explore, Moxee, etc.) are all still compatible. Be sure to check the IMEI of your device before placing an order.
Members, please refer to this thread where we share confirmed compatible devices:
Cricket Wireless Simply Data Alert
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used:AT&T
- Carrier Relationship:Prepaid Carrier Subsidiary
- Plan Types Available: Data Only
- Device Types Permitted: Hotspots, tablets
- Unlimited: No
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: All data
- Throttling: No throttling. After the cap, data stops completely.
- Network Management: None
- Streaming: 480p
- 5G Access: Not available for BYOD.
- eSIM:No
- Device Purchase Required: No
- Plan Period: 30 days
- International Roaming: Yes in Canada & Mexico. Calls, texts, or data usage while in Canada cannot exceed 50% of the total usage during a 3 month period. If you use data services on wireless carrier networks other than AT&T Mexico while in Mexico, your data usage may be reduced to 2G speeds.
- Domestic Roaming:None
- Data Roll Over: None
- Overage Charges:None
- Extra data can be added for $5 / 5GB or $10 / 15GB as needed
- Lines permitted per account: 9
- Extras:
Smartphone Plans
Currently Available Smartphone Plans:
- Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot - $60
- Unlimited - $55
- 10GB - $40
- 5GB - $30
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used:AT&T
- Carrier Relationship:Prepaid Carrier Subsidiary
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Phone
- Unlimited: Yes
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use:
- $60 Unlimited Plan: 15GB
- Not included on other smartphone plans.
- BYOD Android phones are not eligible for mobile hotspot on any plan.
- Throttling:
- $60 and $55 Unlimited Plans: No
- 10GB/2GB Plans: Speeds slowed to 128 Kbps after the data cap.
- Network Management:
- $60 Unlimited Plan: No
- $55 Unlimited Plan: Yes, always.
- 10GB/2GB Phone Plans and Data Only Plans: No
- Streaming: 480p
- 5G Access: Yes
- eSIM: Yes
- Device Purchase Required: No
- Plan Period: 30 days. The 10GB plan can also be purchased annually.
- International Roaming: Yes in Canada & Mexico. Calls, texts, or data usage while in Canada cannot exceed 50% of the total usage during a 3 month period. If you use data services on wireless carrier networks other than AT&T Mexico while in Mexico, your data usage may be reduced to 2G speeds.
- Domestic Roaming:None
- Data Roll Over: None
- Overage Charges:None
- Tiered smartphone plans: Extra high-speed data can be added for $10 / 1GB
- Lines permitted per account: 9
- Extras: Max (ad tier) is included with the $60 plan as of August 20th, 2021.
News, Videos, & Status:
We have tested a Cricket Wireless Simply Data plan, and include notes on this in the member section below.
Videos
Related News
- Cricket Wireless Promotion: Adds 50GB of Bonus Data to Simply Data Plans Posted on: April 6, 2023
- Posted on: September 19, 2022
- Cricket Adds Ad-Tier HBO Max to $60 Unlimited Plan Posted on: August 19, 2021
- Cricket Wireless Lowers Price on 100GB Simply Data Plan for Hotspots to $55/mo Posted on: April 26, 2021
- Posted on: January 27, 2021
Alternatives to Consider
Also consider some of our other top pick data plans:
All of our Top Pick Plans
Selecting Data Plans
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Shopping for Cellular Data Plans
Finding the right plans for your needs is no easy task - quite simply mobile travelers using cellular data as their primary way online is not how most carriers have designed their plans. Many of us want plans that provide copious amounts of data.
Here's our video going over ways to get LOTS of data for use in your travels:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online. You also need the right gear, signal enhancing strategy and planning your travels around the options you carry with you.Head on over to our collection of guides:
Using Cellular Data Resources
- Top Data Plan PicksOur constantly updated list of the BEST data plans.
- Selecting Data PlansOur deep dive into understanding data plans and shopping for them.
- Data Plan Pricing GridOur always updated spreadsheet comparing all data plans suitable for mobile internet.
- Getting LOTS of the DataLearn how to get lots of cellular data in your mobile internet arsenal.
