By
Jessica Santero Staff Writer
Updated

You don't need a major carrier contract for premium family coverage. Cricket Wireless family plans provide a cost-effective alternative on AT&T's extensive network.

Our experts tested Cricket Wireless for a month and found its performance superior to other small carriers. With Cricket, you get access to the nation’s fastest-growing 5G network and useful perks the whole family will love.

Through our first-hand trial and analysis, we’ve concluded the best Cricket Wireless family plan is the Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes unlimited premium data, a 50GB hotspot, data roaming in Mexico and Canada, 150GB of cloud storage, and a free subscription to HBO Max. Originally priced at $60/month for a single line, a family plan with four lines lowers the cost to just $32.50/line (or $130/month).  

Continue reading to learn more about Cricket’s best family cell phone plans and learn which one is best for you.

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Our picks for the best Cricket Wireless family plans

cricket logo
Best overall plan
Supreme Unlimited
→ Unlimited premium 5G data and 50GB hotspot
→ $130/month for four lines
View at Cricket
cricket logo
Best budget plan
Select Unlimited

→ Unlimited data and 5G access
→ $100/month for four lines
View at Cricket
cricket logo
Best balanced plan
Smart Unlimited
→ Unlimited data and 15GB hotspot
→ $110/month for four lines
View at Cricket
cricket logo
Best for two lines
Sensible 10GB
→ 10GB high-speed data
→ $60/month for two lines
View at Cricket

Why pick a Cricket Wireless family plan?

Cricket coverage map
Cricket Wireless’ coverage map. You get full data roaming in Mexico and Canada with the Supreme and Smart Unlimited plans.
Image: Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless operates on AT&T's powerful network, giving your family access to the country's second-largest 5G footprint and extensive 4G LTE network. You can expect reliable service from populated cities to rural hubs, all while saving on your monthly phone bill. In our recent testing, we recorded consistent speeds of around 200Mbps along the coast of Southern California. Coverage was solid and never dropped, even in transit along the highway. That’s more than enough bandwidth for high-definition streaming, online gaming, and video calling without lag.

Not only are Cricket’s plans backed by excellent coverage, but they stand out among MVNOs with top-quality perks. Since most smaller carriers sacrifice perks to keep plan pricing low, Cricket stands out with hotspot data, free cloud storage, and even a free subscription to HBO Max. Perks that are rarely seen among competitors. Family night just got that much better with access to HBO’s best series and films—for free.

Our experience with Cricket Wireless

Jessica Santero
4 out of 5 overall

All of Cricket’s plans qualify for a family plan, but only its unlimited plans have actual savings and multi-line discounts. The more lines you add, the lower your monthly phone bill will be,” Jessica Santero said in her Cricket Wireless review. After calculating multi-line discounts, she noted, "In fact, two of Cricket’s unlimited plans are cheaper than the carrier’s lowest-data option with three lines."

Read her full Cricket Wireless review.

Best Cricket Wireless Family Plans


1. Supreme Unlimited

Cricket
Cricket

Supreme Unlimited Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 50GB mobile hotspot data
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront

Cricket Wireless' Supreme Unlimited plan includes unlimited premium data and a free HBO subscription—all for just $32.50/line with a four-line family plan.

Reasons to buy

  • Access to AT&T’s 5G and 4G networks
  • Unlimited premium data
  • Hotspot and international data included
  • Entertainment perks, including HBO Max

Reasons to avoid

  • Cricket’s most expensive phone plan

Why it beats the competition

The Supreme Unlimited plan is Cricket’s best phone plan and offers families stellar perks for its price. You get unlimited premium data, a 50GB high-speed mobile hotspot, full data roaming in Mexico and Canada, as well as international texting to 200+ locations. But the best perk included with Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan is the free HBO Max subscription—a service that costs $9.99/month on its own.

Although Supreme Unlimited Cricket’s most expensive plan at $60/month for a single line, the cost drops to just $32.50/line with a 4-line family plan (or $130/month). In fact, you can lower the price to $32/line with five family members

Including the value of its perks, a 4-line family plan on Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan saves you $37.49/line each month when compared to the original $60 monthly price tag. When compared to major competitors like Visible, Mint, and US Mobile, Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan is actually more cost-effective given the value of the perks included. You get the reliable coverage of the AT&T network, truly unlimited data, and a streaming service subscription free of charge.

The bottom line

Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan is the best Cricket family plan (especially with 4 lines). This premium Cricket family plan delivers fan-favorite perks paired with unlimited premium data. While it's Cricket's top-tier option, the cost is more accessible with multiple lines. For a family of four, the price drops from $60/month to $32.50/line (or $130/month). This final price makes it a more budget-friendly choice, considering it also includes a free subscription to HBO Max. Plus, when compared to major carrier AT&T, Cricket offers much more for much less.


2. Select Unlimited

Cricket
Cricket

Select Unlimited Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • No mobile hotspot data
$35.00/mo
with AutoPay; $40 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront

The Cricket Wireless Select Unlimited plan offers the most value for families on a budget. With four lines, you pay only $100/month.

Reasons to buy

  • Access to AT&T’s 5G and 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited data

Reasons to avoid

  • No premium data
  • No add-ons available

Why it's the best budget Cricket family plan

The Select Unlimited plan is the best budget family plan because it offers enough data for everyone in your family at just $25/line

The Select Unlimited plan is Cricket’s cheapest offering for families. While a single line of service on

Select Unlimited costs $35/month, a four-line bundle brings the price down to just $25/line—that’s $100/month for a family of four. Everyone gets unlimited data and full 5G access, but it’s important to note that your data is deprioritized. Technically, Cricket can lower your speeds if the network is busy. That said, I didn’t notice any slowdowns whatsoever during my month of testing. Plus, you can choose from Cricket’s add-ons, like 10GB of hotspot data for an extra $10/month.

The bottom line

Cricket's Select Unlimited plan is the most affordable multi-line option. It’s perfect if you want reliable coverage on the AT&T network but don’t need premium data or bundled streaming services. Just be mindful that adding a mobile hotspot can significantly increase the per-line cost. 


3. Smart Unlimited

Cricket
Cricket

Smart Unlimited Plan

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 15GB mobile hotspot data
$45.00/mo
with AutoPay; $50 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront

Cricket’s Smart Unlimited plan covers all your service needs: unlimited data, generous hotspot, international roaming, and free cloud storage.

Reasons to buy

  • Unlimited data on AT&T 5G and 4G LTE networks
  • 15GB high-speed hotspot
  • Full data roaming in Mexico and Canada
  • International texting to 200+ locations worldwide

Reasons to avoid

  • No entertainment perks
  • No premium data

Why we love it

Cricket's Smart Unlimited plan offers the ideal balance between price and practicality. For $110/month for four lines ($27.50/line), you get premium perks without the added cost. This plan includes unlimited data (albeit deprioritized), 15GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, full data roaming in Mexico and Canada, international texting to over 200 locations, and 100GB of free cloud storage.

I was very impressed by Cricket's consistent performance and surprisingly fast speeds. Although the unlimited data is deprioritized, I didn't notice any significant speed drops during a full month of use. In fact, my speeds never dipped below 190Mbps. Even while on a trip to Mexico, the plan's data connected seamlessly upon arrival, with no extra steps or charges. The Smart Unlimited plan lives up to its name: It’s a smart choice among family phone plans

The bottom line

If you’re frequently on the move, Cricket's Smart Unlimited plan is the best choice for reliable connectivity. With AT&T's extensive 4G and 5G coverage, dropped calls and coverage gaps are very rare. The inclusion of full data roaming in Mexico and Canada means your service travels with you too, at no extra cost.


4. Sensible 10GB

Cricket
Cricket

Sensible 10GB Plan

  • 10GB 4G LTE/5G data
  • No mobile hotspot data
$30.00/mo
with AutoPay
+ $9.99 Upfront

Cricket’s Sensible 10GB plan is the cheapest option for two lines at $30/line, or a total of $60/month.

Reasons to buy

  • 10GB of premium data
  • Most affordable two-line plan
  • Cheapest plan with premium data

Reasons to avoid

  • No multi-line discounts
  • No perks whatsoever

Why it’s best for two lines

The Sensible 10GB plan is an excellent option if you want to save with a family plan, but only need two lines. At $60/month for two lines of service, the Sensible 10GB plan is the cheapest option with premium data. It includes 10GB of data that never slows, which is more than enough for an average user to last the whole month. In fact, Cricket only offers two plans with premium data: the $30/month Sensible 10GB plan, and the $60/month Supreme Unlimited plan. 

While the Sensible 10GB plan is your best bet for cheap premium data, we don’t recommend the Sensible 10GB plan for large families since there aren’t any multi-line discounts when you bundle. That means every line you add will stay at $30/month. A family of four would pay $120/month on the Sensible 10GB plan, while only paying $100/month on the Select Unlimited option. In fact, families of four (or more) should opt for Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan with unlimited premium data for only $130/month.

The bottom line

The Sensible 10GB plan is ideal for a two-line family plan. For two lines at $30/line, totaling $60/month, you get premium data at half the cost of Cricket’s top-tier plan. With 10GB of data at 5G speeds, couples or duos who want to avoid slowdowns can’t go wrong with this Cricket plan.

Cricket Wireless family plan alternatives

Cricket Wireless offers great multi-line discounts for bundling on a family plan, but it isn’t the cheapest AT&T MVNO. If you’re looking for a cheaper plan with the same excellent coverage, you should check out US Mobile or Red Pocket

Plus, both US Mobile and Red Pocket offer more plan customization than Cricket. Cricket clients can’t mix and match different data plans with a family plan. Since you can’t personalize your Cricket family plan, you have to choose wisely to accommodate both younger and older family members. In turn, you can save even more by adjusting your data plan needs.

  • US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan on its Dark Star network is $25/month. It includes access to AT&T’s network and guarantees unlimited premium data per line. That’s the same amount of data included with Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan—for $35/month less. Compared to Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan, a family of four would save $30/month with this plan, only paying $100/month.
  • Red Pocket’s family plan allows you to mix and match plans to meet the needs of each individual. Red Pocket’s plan pricing ranges from $10/month for 3GB of data, or opt for Elite with 50GB of premium data priced at $40/month. That means a family of four can expect to pay between $40–$120/month.

We tested both of these carriers and were impressed with their competitive plans. Check out our Red Pocket and US Mobile reviews to see if these carriers can meet your needs, or pick one of their popular unlimited plans below:

Red Pocket
Red Pocket

Essentials Monthly Plan (GSMA)

  • 3GB of 4G LTE/5G data
  • No mobile hotspot data
$10.00/mo
US Mobile
US Mobile

Unlimited Starter Plan (Dark Star)

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 20GB mobile hotspot data
  • whistleOut Exclusive: Get this plan for only $45 for 3 months ($15/mo.) with new number activation OR $5 off per month for 6 mo. (up to 3 lines) OR 30 Days FREE Trial
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
Red Pocket
Red Pocket

Premium Monthly Plan (GSMA)

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • 10GB mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get 50% off your first month of service with this monthly plan. New customer only.
$30.00/mo
US Mobile
US Mobile

Unlimited Premium Plan (Dark Star)

  • Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot data
  • Deal: Get this monthly plan for only $39 for 6 months of service using promo code ONLY39 OR $5 off per month for 6 months OR 30 Days FREE Trial
$39.00/mo

How to evaluate
a family plan

Cricket Wireless requires all members of a family plan choose the same data plan—with up to 5 lines. That means whatever plan you pick needs to meet the needs of all your family members. Here are some things to keep in mind when picking the right plan for you.

What to look for

  • How much unlimited data do I need?
    Cricket's plans all offer unlimited data. However, not all data is the same. Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan is the only option with unlimited premium data. All other offerings are subject to deprioritization, meaning Cricket could slow your speeds if the network is busy. Heavy data users should opt for a plan with premium unlimited data. But, if you're unsure how much data you need, check out our mobile data usage guide to help figure out the most practical plan for your data habits.
  • Can I get by with fewer perks?
    Cricket offers more perks than most MVNOs. You'll find hotspot data, streaming subscriptions, cloud storage, and even travel perks depending on which plan you choose. Don’t forget, more perks come at a premium price.

What to avoid

  • Unlimited data for the sake of unlimited data.
    Most people don't need unlimited premium data, especially if they have access to reliable high-speed Wi-Fi. Realistically, the average American only uses around 10–15GB of data per month. So, don’t feel pressured to sign up for premium data since chances are you won’t need it.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a Cricket Wireless family plan for 4 lines?

A Cricket Wireless family plan with 4 lines costs between $100–$130/month. For the cheapest family plan, choose Cricket’s Select Unlimited plan and pay $25/line. For 130/month, get all the bells and whistles (plus a free HBO Max subscription) with four lines on the Supreme Unlimited option.  

Does Cricket Wireless offer unlimited data for families?

Yes, Cricket Wireless offers unlimited data plans for families with Select Unlimited, Smart Unlimited, and Supreme Unlimited. The only difference is that you get unlimited premium 5G speeds with its top-tier Supreme Unlimited option. 

Can you mix and match plans on Cricket Wireless?

No, you cannot mix and match plans on a Cricket Wireless family plan. Read through our data usage guide before picking a plan to learn more about your real cellular needs.

How good is Cricket's coverage?

Cricket’s coverage is excellent since it operates on the same towers as AT&T. That means Cricket plans offer the fastest-growing 5G network, and the second-largest 4G coverage nationwide.

Can I get a family plan with 6 lines?

Unfortunately, Cricket doesn’t offer family plans with 6 lines, supporting a maximum of 5 lines. If you need six lines of service, consider two family plans with 3 lines each for the best savings all around.

How we picked the best family plans from Cricket Wireless

Each of our plan picks is underpinned by extensive first-hand testing and review of Cricket Wireless’ features and performance. Our team evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:

  • Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it both to other plans from the same carrier, as well as similar plans from competitors in the market, to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
  • High-speed data: Also called “premium” data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you’ll generally have—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need, and we recommend that you not overpay for data that you won't use.
  • Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
  • Plan extras & perks: In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.

Our mobile experts have put Cricket’s plans through the ringer. In addition to running speed tests, tethering to the hotspot, and analyzing coverage reliability, we also leveraged proprietary data and international roaming to evaluate plan options, cost, and inclusions. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After our hands-on testing and extensive research, we picked the best plans we feel meet the needs of most people.

Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to dive deeper into how we evaluate plans and carriers, and how to pick the right plan for yourself or your family.


Jessica Santero

Staff Writer

Jessica Santero
Jessica is a Staff Writer for WhistleOut and the site’s resident app expert. Her coverage frequently includes hands-on comparisons of popular app categories, such as translation, navigation, and dating apps, to evaluate how they perform in real-world mobile use.

Read full bio


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