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T-Mobile vs Cricket Wireless: Which Is Right for You in 2026?
T-Mobile for 5G speed — Cricket for AT&T coverage with taxes included
T-Mobile starts at $60/mo on T-Mobile. Full postpaid benefits: in-store support, device financing, and trade-in credits.
Cricket Wireless starts at $35/mo. Saves $25/mo ($300/yr) vs T-Mobile's entry plan.
T-Mobile runs its own network; Cricket runs on AT&T's network footprint. Cricket includes taxes in its advertised price; T-Mobile adds them at checkout. The right choice usually comes down to which network performs better at your address.
Cricket Smart $45/mo (taxes included) — unlimited AT&T data. Cricket Supreme $55/mo (taxes included) — 50GB hotspot, MX/CA roaming, Max with Ads. T-Mobile Experience More $85/mo (taxes extra) — 60GB hotspot, Netflix, 215+ country international roaming. T-Mobile's hotspot is slightly larger but AT&T's network is often stronger in rural markets.
Bottom line: AT&T is stronger in your area or you want the lower all-in price with streaming — Cricket wins. T-Mobile leads in your city and you want richer international features or a larger hotspot — T-Mobile is the stronger pick.
How they stack up, line by line
All plans, head-to-head
3 tiers compared · single-line pricing · w/ AutoPay
All prices single-line w/ AutoPay. Before taxes & fees unless noted.
How we rated each carrier
Weighted out of 100 · Coverage, Value, Features & Support
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