Cricket Wireless vs T-Mobile: plans & prices (2026)
A side-by-side look at Cricket Wireless (MVNO on the AT&T network) and T-Mobile (Major carrier (T-Mobile network)), with current starting prices and where each one fits. Prices are verified and shown without marketing spin.
Cricket Wireless
MVNO on the AT&T network
from $30/mo
Sensible 10GB, 4 plans total
All Cricket Wireless plans →T-Mobile
Major carrier (T-Mobile network)
from $45/mo
Essentials Military 2.0, 6 plans total
All T-Mobile plans →| Cricket Wireless | T-Mobile | |
|---|---|---|
| Network | AT&T | T-Mobile |
| Type | Budget brand (MVNO) | Major carrier |
| Starting price | $30/mo | $45/mo |
| Cheapest plan | Sensible 10GB | Essentials Military 2.0 |
| Plans offered | 4 | 6 |
Bottom line
On starting price, Cricket Wireless is the cheaper entry point ($30/mo vs $45/mo). One is a budget brand (MVNO) that rents a major network, which usually means a lower price with the trade-off of slower speeds when the network is busy. The right pick depends on your data needs, how many lines you have, and coverage at your address, which is where a generic ranking stops being useful.
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