Cricket Wireless offers affordable prepaid plans on AT&T's excellent network, making them a great choice if you're in the market for a new cell phone carrier that won't break the bank.
In a nutshell, here's how you can switch to Cricket, including steps to bring your phone and keep your phone number.
- Gather your account information from your current carrier.
- Check that your phone is compatible with Cricket's network, if you're bringing it with you, and make sure it's unlocked.
- Pick out a Cricket Wireless plan.
- Purchase a Cricket SIM card, if you're bringing your own device, or select a new cell phone for your plan, or activate via eSIM if supported.
- Port in your existing number at checkout, or opt for a new phone number.
- Activate your new plan once you receive your SIM card or new phone.
- Cancel your previous wireless service only after your activation is complete.
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Cricket
3-Month Unlimited Plan
$15.00/mo
$45 advance payment for 3 months (equals to $15/month)<br>regular rate for 3 months is $120 (equals to $40/month)
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Cricket
Sensible 10GB Plan
$30.00/mo
with AutoPay
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Cricket
Select Unlimited Plan
$35.00/mo
with AutoPay; $40 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Cricket
Smart Unlimited Plan
$45.00/mo
with AutoPay; $50 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Cricket
12-Month Unlimited Plan
$300.00
$300 advance payment for 12 months (equals to $25/month).
+ $9.99 Upfront
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Before Switching: What You'll Need
Before switching to Cricket service, you'll need meet a few requirements. Make sure you have:
- An unlocked and GSM-compatible phone that will work on Cricket's network.
- Your IMEI number—you'll need this to check your phone's compatibility and to have Cricket accept it onto their network.
- Your current wireless account information, including your:
- Account number
- Password and/or PIN
- Billing zip code
- Your personal information, including the last four digits of your Social Security number.
IMPORTANT: Don't cancel your current wireless service before switching! Cricket needs your phone number to remain active if you plan on bringing it with you to your new Cricket plan.
Cricket Wireless switching deals
You can get rewarded for switching to a different carrier! Cricket often offers special deals to new customers, including bill credits and discounted cell phones—sometimes you can even get a free phone when you switch to Cricket! Hop over to our guide to the best Cricket deals to see which Cricket switching deals you can take advantage of.
How to Switch to Cricket Wireless
Switching to Cricket Wireless is fast and simple—and you can complete the entire process online. The steps will vary slightly depending on whether you're bringing your phone to Cricket or opting for a new one.
Step 1: Check your phone's compatibility
If you're planning to bring your phone with you to Cricket Wireless, you'll first need to make sure it will work on Cricket's network. Most modern smartphones will work on Cricket, but it's still a good idea to check before making the switch.
To see if you can bring your device to Cricket:
- Find your IMEI number by dialing *#06* on your phone or by looking in your phone's Settings menu.
- Enter your IMEI into Cricket's compatibility checker.
Cricket will let you know If your phone is compatible or not. If it isn't, don't worry—Cricket has plenty of cheap phones to choose from!
Step 2. Pick a Cricket plan
Next, choose the right Cricket Wireless plan that meets your data needs and budget. Cricket's plans start at just $25/month, and all of them feature unlimited talk and text. WhistleOut's comparison engine makes it easy to compare all of Cricket's plans, including their prices and features!
You'll also have the opportunity to add on items like phone insurance, mobile hotspot, and extra data.
Step 3. Transfer your number (or choose a new one)
You'll need to decide whether you want to bring your current cell phone number to Cricket Wireless or get a new one. If you choose to port your number, you'll need to provide the following info:
- Your wireless account number with your current carrier.
- Your current password or PIN.
- The account's billing zip code.
- The last four digits of your Social Security number.
Once you've picked out your new phone or determined that your current one is eligible to work on Cricket's network, you'll see the option to bring your number or get a new one. If you're porting your number, you'll enter it during the checkout process for Cricket to begin the transfer process.
If you need a new number, simply punch in your zip code—Cricket will generate a fresh local number for your phone!
Step 4. Activate your Cricket service
Once you've purchased your plan, Cricket will contact your current carrier to start the switching process. Your current phone and plan will still work during this time. Then you'll receive either your new Cricket phone or your Cricket Wireless SIM card within a few business days.
Once you receive it, simply insert the SIM into your cell phone and you're ready to go! If you've purchased a phone, it should already be set up to work once you power it on.
After everything is set up and you're confident that your phone and number are working properly, you can then cancel your account with your previous carrier.
If you opt to activate vie eSIM, take these steps:
- Check if your phone is compatible with Cricket's eSIM service using Cricket's Compatibility Checker. Currently supported devices include:
- Apple iPhone XS or newer (excluding iPhone X)
- Google Pixel 6 and newer
- Many Samsung devices launched in 2022 or later
- Ensure you are connected to Wi-Fi.
- Activate your service online via Cricket's website or visit a Cricket retail store for assistance.
For iPhones, you can complete the process entirely online. For Android devices, you'll need to visit a Cricket store to activate your eSIM.
Switching to Cricket: Troubleshooting
If you bought a new Cricket phone but you're still receiving calls on your old device, don't worry—there isn't a ghost in your phone. Cricket explains that you may experience "mixed service" for a small while after activating your new phone. This will stop once your number has been completely transferred from your old carrier to Cricket.
If, on the other hand, you brought your own phone to Cricket and it isn't working after inserting your SIM, you might have to manually update your carrier settings. Cricket offers guides to its supported phones that can walk you through this process—just pick your manufacturer and find your phone in their list.
Benefits of Switching to Cricket
If you're unhappy with your current cell phone carrier, Cricket may have what you're looking for. Some perks of signing up for a Cricket cell phone plan include:
- No-contract plans
- Ability to bring your own phone and keep your current number
- Coverage through the AT&T network
- No overages or additional fees
- All-in pricing (all prices already include tax)
- $5 per month discount for using autopay
- Fast download/upload speeds
- More data, less cost
- Fast shipping
- 4,3000 stores across 50 states
- Low-cost devices
If you're ready to make the switch, you can start by picking the best Cricket cell phone plan for you needs.
Cricket Cell Phone Coverage
Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T and runs on their network. This is a big upside of going with Cricket; check out the breadth of AT&T's coverage compared to the other four major networks in the map below:
In the United States, AT&T's network is second only to Verizon's in terms of area covered. Here are a few other carriers who also run on AT&T's network.
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#1
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Consumer Cellular 
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#2
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TracFone 
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#3
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Red Pocket 
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#4
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Straight Talk 
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#5
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PureTalk 
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Cricket Wireless Plans
Unsure where to begin when it comes to picking a Cricket Wireless cell phone plan? WhistleOut has you covered.
We've picked our overall favorite Cricket Wireless plans, favorite Cricket Wireless family plans, and Cricket Wireless cell phone deals. Use the links below to jump to our guides:
Cricket Wireless deals
Cricket is always running one promotion or another for their plans and phones, which is why we decided to make a dedicated Cricket Wireless deals page, which we update weekly. Click on the link to check out the best of the best when it comes to Cricket deals.
Cricket Phones Compatibility
All the most popular phones should be compatible with Cricket’s network. Since Cricket is a GSM carrier, all you need is a Cricket SIM card to activate your phone. Long story short, if the phone you want (or already have) reads SIM cards, then it will likely work with Cricket.
Check out the most popular phones available on Cricket’s network right now:
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#1
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US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
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#2
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Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
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#3
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AT&T
Value 2.0℠
$50.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
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#4
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Boost Mobile
Unlimited Plan
$10.00/mo
with AutoPay
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#5
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Consumer Cellular
Unlimited Talk & Text + 5GB Data Plan
$25.00/mo
($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included)
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Switching to Cricket: FAQs
Is Cricket GSM or CDMA?
Cricket is a GSM carrier. GSM stands for Global System for Mobile communication, which is a complicated way of saying that Cricket phones use SIM cards to connect to wireless networks. When you sign up for Cricket, you’ll need to insert a Cricket-specific SIM card in your phone to make it work.
How do I switch from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon to Cricket?
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are all Cricket compatible carriers. You can easily switch from any of those carriers over to Cricket. Here’s the basic outline of the steps you want to follow to switch from one of these Cricket compatible carriers:
- Make sure that you don’t have standing contact with your current carrier. If you switch your service prematurely, you may incur some annoying cancellation fees.
- If you plan on using your current phone with Cricket, make sure your device is unlocked.
- Choose a new phone plan with Cricket and create an account.
- Wait for the SIM card to arrive in the mail, or you can try hitting up your local Walmart or Target to see if they have Cricket SIM cards available.
- Follow the steps included with your SIM card to activate.
Can I bring my own phone to Cricket?
Yes, you can! You just have to make sure that the device is unlocked. If you purchased your phone from Cricket compatible carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, transferring your service will be easy. The big hurdle is making sure your device is unlocked, and you aren’t still making payments on it.
Chris Holmes
Staff Writer
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