Can You Use Cricket Hotspot for Home Internet?

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 17 December 2024

In this Guide

What is hotspot data?
Is hotspot data right for your home
Best Cricket hotspot plans
Best Cricket hotspot tips

If you'd like to save some serious money while staying connected, you can replace your home internet plan with a Cricket hotspot.

Add hotspot data to your current qualifying Cricket Wireless plan and use your compatible mobile device to get other devices connected. Cricket is owned by AT&T and its hotspot uses the AT&T 5G network. Just note that a Cricket hotspot is only a good replacement for a home internet plan if you don't use much data.

If you're a current (or future) Cricket Wireless customer, then you already know their cell phone plans can save you some serious money. But did you know that you can take those savings one step further by replacing your home internet plan with a Cricket hotspot? Read on to find out more.

Best Cricket Mobile Hotspot Plans

Monthly Hotspot	Plan Details	Learn More
Supreme Unlimited Plan	50GB Hotspot data is an add-on	Buy Now
Smart Unlimited Plan	15GB 15GB of hotspot data	Buy Now
Select Unlimited plan	Hotspot data is an add-on	Buy Now

What is a hotspot and how does it work?

To connect to the internet with a cable or DSL plan, you'd need a router and a modem to transmit the service to your devices. Using a mobile hotspot is very similar, but instead of using broadband via cable or DSL, you're using available data from your mobile plan. And instead of using a modem and a router, you're using your cell phone (or a hotspot device) to enable the connection.

Once you've signed up for Cricket's hotspot plan, you'll be able to stay connected wherever you go—at home or on-the-go. To find out how to tether your devices to your mobile hotspot, take a look at our guide below.

Is hotspot data right for you?

Mobile hotspot is incredibly useful, but it's not always a good choice for home internet. Most people can't survive on only 10-15GB of data, which are the limits for Cricket's hotspot options. If you can stay at or under 15GB of data each month, then it might be perfect for you. If not, then determine how much data you'll need to be happy. You can always add more hotspot data at 10GB for $10, but that can add up pretty quickly if you're not careful.

Also, be aware that mobile companies might advertise that you can connect up to 6 devices at one time, but it's more ideal if you keep your connections at a max of 2, so you can enjoy speeds that don't leave you buffering. Take a look below at more pros and cons for replacing your home internet with Cricket hotspot data.

Cricket's Hotspot Data

Secure internet connection wherever you go
Stop paying for expensive home internet
No additional equipment needed
Easy to add on more data if you need it
Your max streaming speeds are limited to 1.5Mbps
Limited data allotment
Will struggle with large uploads
Hotspot data is not unlimited

Best Cricket Hotspot Plans

Cricket Wireless only offers hotspot data with their unlimited plans, so we'll go over the differences between those two plans briefly.

Cricket's Select Unlimited Plan does not include a standard mobile hotspot. That said, you can get a 10GB mobile hotspot feature as a paid add-on for $10/month.

Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan includes 50GB of hotspot data, while its Smart Unlimited plan include 15GB of dedicated mobile hotspot data. Once the allotment is used up the hotspot speeds are slowed to 128Kbps (3G speeds).

Cricket Mobile Hotspot Plans

The Cricket unlimited data plans below can be shared between your mobile phone and your devices (such as your laptop or tablet) for tethering with their hotspot add-on for a small monthly fee. As you pick between the plans below, let your need for speed and data allotment guide you.

#1	Cricket	Cricket Supreme Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices 50GB mobile hotspot data $55.00/mo with AutoPay; $60 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront View Plan	$55.00/mo with AutoPay; $60 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront	View Plan
#2	Cricket	Cricket Smart Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices 15GB mobile hotspot data $45.00/mo with AutoPay; $50 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront View Plan	$45.00/mo with AutoPay; $50 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront	View Plan
#3	Cricket	Cricket Select Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data $35.00/mo with AutoPay; $40 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront View Plan	$35.00/mo with AutoPay; $40 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront	View Plan

Other Cricket Hotspot Tips

If you're looking for more Cricket hotspot info, we've got it all below for you.

You can only add hotspot data to a qualifying unlimited plan.
If you're a current Cricket customer, then you can try their hotspot data plan out for a month, to test it out—just make sure you know when the billing cycle begins and ends.

As always, WhistleOut's key goal is to ensure that you're getting a plan you love at the best price possible. So if you'd like to compare all unlimited mobile plans before you switch to a Cricket hotspot, then take a look below or use our state-of-the-art comparison engine to get customized results in an instant.

#1	US Mobile	US Mobile Unlimited Starter Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide networks in select areas and compatible devices 10GB 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 View Plan	$25.00/mo $20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter	View Plan
#2	Cricket	Cricket Supreme Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices 50GB mobile hotspot data $55.00/mo with AutoPay; $60 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront View Plan	$55.00/mo with AutoPay; $60 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront	View Plan
#3	AT&T	AT&T Value 2.0℠ Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data AT&T 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 3GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get up to $180 off for new line activation on Value 2.0 Plan via 36 months credit. Port-in required OR Get up to $800 Visa Reward card $50.00/mo + $35 Upfront View Plan	$50.00/mo + $35 Upfront	View Plan
#4	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this Unlimited plan for only $10/mo. for the first 3 months of service with Boost Mobile! $10.00/mo with AutoPay View Plan	$10.00/mo with AutoPay	View Plan
#5	Consumer Cellular	Consumer Cellular Unlimited Talk & Text + 5GB Data Plan 5GB of 4G LTE/5G data Available on 2 Major 5G Nationwide networks in select areas with compatible devices 5GB mobile hotspot data $25.00/mo ($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included) View Plan	$25.00/mo ($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included)	View Plan

Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

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