Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless is an AT&T-owned prepaid mobile virtual network operator serving US value-conscious consumers and families with no-contract unlimited and data plans, devices, and multi-line savings on AT&T's nationwide 5G network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cricket Wireless does
Cricket Wireless LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Inc. that operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), reselling AT&T's nationwide 5G, 4G LTE, and 3G network under a no-contract prepaid brand. Originally founded in 1999 and acquired by AT&T in 2014 as part of its $1.2 billion purchase of Leap Wireless International, Cricket is headquartered in Atlanta with corporate/legal seat in Dallas, Texas, and operates exclusively in the United States. Its core offering is prepaid mobile service with no annual contracts, no credit checks, and no overage charges, priced from $25/month (BYOD unlimited on multi-line) to $60/month (Supreme Unlimited with 15GB hotspot and Mexico/Canada roaming), alongside tiered data plans ranging from 5GB/$30 to 150GB/$90, and multi-month prepaid commitments (3-month at $120, 12-month at $300, BYOD 12-month at $240) sold online only. The company also distributes Apple, Samsung, and Motorola smartphones, Apple Watch smartwatches, and the Cricket GoLink 5G hotspot through cricketwireless.com and an authorized retailer network, with free 2-business-day shipping on direct orders.
The revenue model is subscription-recurring prepaid wireless billing, complemented by hardware/device sales, a device-financing program (Cricket Phone Upgrade Plus), and ancillary fee-based services including Cricket Protect device protection, Bridge Pay billing extension, Cricket Passport international roaming ($10/day or $25 for 5GB/5 days across 200+ countries), international calling, mobile hotspot, and Cricket Call Defense fraud/spam blocking. The company serves three named segments: value-conscious consumers and families/multi-line households (primary, with 4-line pricing at $25/month each with Auto Pay) and international travelers (secondary, via Cricket Passport and International Calling). Cricket acquires customers through port-in promotions (free Galaxy A37 5G, free Galaxy A17 5G, free iPhone 16e with Supreme Unlimited commitment), a Refer-a-Friend program paying $25 to both parties up to $250/year, and the tryCricket 14-day network-trial mobile app on iOS and Android; distribution extends through authorized retail stores, a dealer program, and third-party retailers such as Best Buy.
Cricket's competitive moat rests largely on AT&T's parental network infrastructure and authorized retail footprint — Cricket carries no spectrum or cell-site capex burden itself. Operating leverage, brand recognition, and multi-channel distribution offset what is structurally low customer switching cost in the prepaid segment. Compliance posture covers CCPA, CPRA, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, Virginia, Utah, Rhode Island privacy laws, Maine ISP restrictions, FCC RF-exposure standards, and CAN-SPAM, reflecting the regulated nature of US consumer wireless.
Cricket Wireless firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cricket Wireless
- Legal name
- Cricket Wireless LLC
- Website
- https://cricketwireless.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Cricket Wireless is an AT&T-owned prepaid mobile virtual network operator serving US value-conscious consumers and families with no-contract unlimited and data plans, devices, and multi-line savings on AT&T's nationwide 5G network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cricket Wireless industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wireless Telecommunications Services
- NAICS
- Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services (51712)
- SIC
- Radiotelephone Communications (4812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile Carrier Devices & Bundling (Operator-branded devices, subsidy/bundle programs) (CRACALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD)
Keywords
Where Cricket Wireless is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cricket Wireless business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Monthly Wireless Service Plans: Cricket generates primary revenue through prepaid monthly wireless service plans billed on a subscription basis. Plans range from $25/month for basic BYOD unlimited to $60/month for premium Supreme Unlimited. Multi-line discounts are available, with 4 lines at $25/mo each.
- Multi-Month Prepaid Plans: Prepaid plans requiring full payment upfront for 3-month ($120-$120) or 12-month ($300) periods, offering discounted effective monthly rates. New customer promotional rates available for first-time subscribers.
- Device Sales: Revenue from selling smartphones, feature phones, smartwatches, and accessories including Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Motorola devices. Device payment plans available through Cricket Phone Upgrade Plus.
- International Add-On Services: Cricket Passport add-on for international roaming ($10/day unlimited or $25 for 5GB/5days) and international calling features generate additional revenue from travelers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | BYOD Unlimited - Entry-level unlimited plan for customers bringing their own device |
| Subscription | Monthly | 5 GB Plan - Lowest data tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | 10 GB Plan - Mid-tier data plan with multi-line options |
| Subscription | Monthly | 20GB Simply Data Plan - Higher data allowance |
| Subscription | Monthly | 100GB Simply Data Plan - Premium data plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | 150GB Simply Data Plan - Maximum data tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | Select Unlimited Plan - Mid-tier unlimited with hotspot |
| Subscription | Monthly | Smart Unlimited Plan - Higher-tier unlimited |
| Subscription | Monthly | Supreme Unlimited Plan - Premium unlimited with all features |
| Subscription | Monthly | Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot - Hotspot-focused plan |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 3-Month Prepaid Plan - Short-term prepaid option |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 12-Month Prepaid Plan - Annual prepaid option |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | BYOD 12-Month Unlimited Plan - Budget annual BYOD option |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cricket Wireless product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cricket Wireless is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that resells AT&T's nationwide 5G, 4G LTE, and 3G wireless network under a prepaid, no-contract model. It sells monthly and multi-month wireless service plans (unlimited and data-tier options), smartphones, smartwatches, and mobile hotspots directly to consumers through its website, mobile apps, and authorized retail stores. The core promise is affordable, no-credit-check wireless service with flexible plan changes and BYOD (Bring Your Own Phone) support.
Product overview
Cricket Wireless is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) subsidiary of AT&T, offering prepaid wireless phone service on the AT&T 5G network without annual contracts. The product portfolio consists of multiple unlimited and data-based mobile plans (Supreme Unlimited, Smart Unlimited, Select Unlimited, Simply Unlimited, multi-month prepaid plans, and BYOD options) as well as device protection and financing services (Cricket Protect, Cricket Phone Upgrade Plus, Bridge Pay). International services include Cricket Passport for roaming in 200+ countries and International Calling. Account management is facilitated through the myCricket app and website. The company sells devices including smartphones (Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola), smartwatches (Apple Watch), and mobile hotspots (Cricket GoLink 5G). Device promotions frequently offer free or discounted phones with plan subscriptions. The service operates exclusively on AT&T's network infrastructure, providing nationwide 5G coverage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wireless Service Plans Prepaid monthly wireless service plans with no annual contracts and no credit checks, providing unlimited or capped data, talk, and text on AT&T's nationwide 5G/4G LTE network. Multi-line family pricing available up to 5 lines.
- Multi-Month Prepaid Plans Discounted prepaid service plans paid in full upfront for 3 or 12 months, offering reduced effective monthly rates for budget-conscious customers. Non-refundable and changeable only in the last 30 days.
- Cricket Protect Add-on device protection service covering Cricket smartphones against damage, loss, and malfunction for subscribers.
- Cricket Phone Upgrade Plus Device financing program allowing eligible customers to upgrade to a new premium phone with a $5/month add-on paid over 24 months, generating a $200 credit toward the device.
- Bridge Pay Bill payment extension add-on providing an additional 7 days past the due date to pay the monthly service bill before service interruption.
- Cricket Passport International roaming add-on for travelers offering either unlimited daily usage or a 5GB/5-day data bundle in 200+ countries, available on compatible Cricket plans.
- International Calling International long-distance calling feature enabling Cricket customers to place voice calls to 200+ countries and territories from the United States.
- Smartphones (Apple, Samsung, Motorola) Retail device lineup of new and promotional smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and Motorola sold alongside Cricket service plans, including flagship, mid-tier, and budget models.
- Smartwatches (Apple Watch Series 11) Cellular-equipped smartwatch retail offering, led by Apple Watch Series 11, paired with Cricket smartwatch data plans for on-the-go connectivity.
- Cricket GoLink 5G Hotspot Portable mobile hotspot device providing 5G data-only connectivity that pairs with Cricket hotspot data plans for in-home or on-the-go Wi-Fi.
- Refer a Friend Program Customer referral program providing $25 bill credits to both the existing referrer and the newly activated friend, up to 10 referrals per year.
Quantifiable outcome
- Save up to $300 per year on multi-month prepaid plans compared to $50/month Smart Unlimited plan
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cricket Wireless
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cricket Wireless technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cricket Wireless partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- AT&TcoreCricket Wireless is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T and operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) reselling AT&T's wireless network infrastructure. Cricket leverages AT&T's nationwide 5G, 4G LTE, and 3G network coverage. AT&T provides the underlying network technology, spectrum, and infrastructure while Cricket handles branding, customer service, and distribution as a separate value-focused brand.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cricket Wireless competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Visible: Verizon-owned, digital-first MVNO offering a single unlimited plan on Verizon's network. Competes with Cricket for value-conscious prepaid wireless consumers via app-driven, low-friction acquisition.
- Mint Mobile: Prepaid MVNO acquired by T-Mobile, marketing low-cost multi-month plans targeting value-conscious consumers on T-Mobile's network. Closely overlaps Cricket's no-contract, multi-month pricing model.
- Google Fi: Google-owned MVNO on T-Mobile and US Cellular networks with international roaming and seamless device-switching. Direct competitor for tech-savvy prepaid and BYOD customers.
- Consumer Cellular: MVNO focused on the 50+ demographic with no-contract plans on AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Comparable prepaid/value positioning and channel mix (retail, phone-based support) to Cricket.
- Metro by T-Mobile: T-Mobile's flagship prepaid sub-brand; offers no-contract monthly plans, multi-line discounts, and device promotions on T-Mobile's network. Direct head-to-head prepaid competitor to Cricket across virtually every consumer use case.
- Boost Mobile: Prepaid wireless provider originally a Sprint brand, now operating primarily on T-Mobile's network post-Dish acquisition. Competes with Cricket in prepaid multi-line and BYOD segments.
- Tracfone: Largest US prepaid MVNO, owned by Verizon; offers no-contract plans and a wide device catalog across Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks. Direct MVNO analogue to Cricket with similar value-proposition model.
Broad incumbents
- Verizon: Owner of Tracfone, Visible, and Total by Verizon; operates the dominant US wireless network. Competes with Cricket directly through its prepaid MVNO brands and indirectly as the anchor postpaid incumbent.
- T-Mobile: Owner of Metro and Mint and operator of the underlying network Cricket's rivals ride; competes with Cricket indirectly as a premium postpaid carrier and directly through its prepaid sub-brands.
Emerging players
- US Mobile: Newer MVNO offering flexible multi-network plans on Verizon and T-Mobile infrastructure. Emerging challenger targeting value-conscious consumers and BYOD segments where Cricket also competes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cricket Wireless social profiles
Digital presenceCricket Wireless compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Cricket Wireless financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cricket Wireless leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cricket Wireless funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cricket Wireless M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cricket Wireless
What does Cricket Wireless do?
Cricket Wireless is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that resells AT&T's nationwide 5G, 4G LTE, and 3G wireless network under a prepaid, no-contract model. It sells monthly and multi-month wireless service plans (unlimited and data-tier options), smartphones, smartwatches, and mobile hotspots directly to consumers through its website, mobile apps, and authorized retail stores. The core promise is affordable, no-credit-check wireless service with flexible plan changes and BYOD (Bring Your Own Phone) support.
Is Cricket Wireless a public or private company?
Cricket Wireless is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cricket Wireless founded?
Cricket Wireless was founded in 1999. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cricket Wireless based?
Cricket Wireless is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cricket Wireless make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Monthly Wireless Service Plans are the primary driver. The others are multi-Month Prepaid Plans, device Sales and international Add-On Services.
Who are Cricket Wireless's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Visible, Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Consumer Cellular, Metro by T-Mobile, Boost Mobile and Tracfone. Broad incumbents are Verizon and T-Mobile. US Mobile is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cricket Wireless have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cricket Wireless.
What industry is Cricket Wireless in?
Cricket Wireless's product category is Wireless Telecommunications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACALAF, Mobile Carrier Devices & Bundling (Operator-branded devices, subsidy/bundle programs), with a secondary code of HDAIADAD, Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers. Its NAICS code is 51712 and its SIC code is 4812.