Boost Mobile vs. Cricket Wireless: Which carrier is better?

Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless are popular prepaid carriers that offer amazing deals for their customers to choose from. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Boost Mobile is on several networks, while Cricket Wireless is on the AT&T network.

Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Boost Mobile is an MVNO of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish, while Cricket Wireless is an MVNO of AT&T.

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Cricket Wireless offers premium data, and Boost Mobile offers both unlimited and limited data plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Boost Mobile offers a wide variety of unlimited and limited plans to choose from. Cricket offers premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Boost Mobile Plans

Boost Mobile offers monthly, 3 month, and annual plans. 

Boost Mobile offers several plans with varying data caps and lengths of service. Some plans will allow you to pay for several months of service up front at a cheaper price – either 3 or 12 months ahead.

All plans at Boost Mobile are deprioritized. Boost Mobile’s QCI tier is 7 on T-Mobile, 8 on AT&T, and 9 on Dish. 

Some of Boost Mobile’s plans are for new customers only, so make sure to read the fine print.

You can have up to 4 lines on one plan. If you purchase your phone from Boost Mobile, your device will be locked for up to a year after activation. The plans they offer renew their data monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

1GB Per Month Annual Plan

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is the smallest Boost Mobile offers at 1GB of data per month. You can use all plan data as mobile hotspot data. Data stops after the cap, and you lose hotspot access. 

The plan costs $8.33 per month, and $100 annually.

5GB Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan gives you 5GB of data, and stops after this cap. You get hotspot access and can use all plan data as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $15 per month. At this rate, you get 5GB at $3 per GB. 

Boost Mobile also offers this plan for $45 per month for 3 months, which is the same rate as their monthly plan. Both versions are for new customers only. 

5GB Annual 

This plan is for new customers only. 

Like its other 5GB plan, you get 5GB of data per month that can also be used as hotspot data. Once you hit the cap, data and hotspot access stop. 

The plan costs $14 per month, and $168 per year. At this rate, you get 5GB per month at $2.80 per GB. 

15GB Annual Plan

This plan gives you 15GB per month for a year of service. 

With the 15GB plan Boost Mobile offers, you can use all data as hotspot data. Data stops at 15GB, and you lose hotspot access at this data cap.

The plan costs $20 per month, and $240 per year. At this rate, you get 15GB per month at $1.33 per GB. 

Unlimited $25 Monthly

Autopay is required with this plan.

This plan gives you 30GB per month of full speed data, which slows to 3G speeds after this cap. You can use up to 30GB of the plan on hotspot data, and access stops after. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $0.83 per GB. Boost Mobile also offers 50% off for the first month of service with this plan. 

Unlimited $40 Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is similar to the 3 month Unlimited plan, as it offers 30GB of full speed data before slowing to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.95 per GB. 

Unlimited 3 Month Plan

This plan gives you 30GB before slowing down.

Your unlimited data resets at the beginning of every month, and you have up to 30GB of full speed data. Afterwards, data slows to 512 kbps, or 3G speeds. This is standard for the industry. You can still send texts and emails or scroll through social media without issue, but streaming video will be slower. This plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap. 

This plan costs $90 every 3 months, or $30 per month. You get 42GB per month for $0.71 per GB. 

Unlimited Annual

It’s important to note that this plan requires you to buy a year worth of data.

This plan offers the best price out of all of Boost Mobile’s plans. Here, you get 30GB full speed data before your speeds slow to 3G. At 3G, you can still send emails and texts or scroll social media, but streaming video or playing games on your phone may be more difficult. This plan also comes with 12GB of hotspot data, which stops at that limit. 

This plan costs $300 per year, and $25 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.60

Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 30GB of full speed data and 30GB of additional hotspot data. 

Unlimite Plus is Boost Mobile’s biggest plan. You get 30GB of data at full speeds before it slows to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 30GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 60GB at $1 per GB.

Cricket Wireless Plans

Cricket Wireless offers premium data on several of its plans.

Cricket Wireless offers 4 plans, with 2 limited and 2 unlimited plans respectively. They offer premium data, but it will run out on limited plans due to data caps.

Some plans allow hotspot access, while others require you to purchase an additional add-on in order to use it. 

As an AT&T MVNO, Cricket Wireless’s QCI tier is tier 8. Their unlimited base plan is on tier 9. If you purchase your phone from Cricket Wireless, your device will be locked for 6 months after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. You can also add up to 5 lines on a plan.

5GB 

This plan has 5GB of premium data.

This plan offers 5GB of premium data, which doesn’t slow down during high traffic. After, your connection slows down to 128 kbps, or 2G, speeds. With these speeds, you can send texts and emails or browse the internet. It will be difficult to stream video or play games without WiFi, however. This plan does not come with hotspot access or the ability to add access. 

The plan costs $30 per month, with no available Autopay discount. At this rate, you get 5GB at $6 per GB. 

10GB 

This plan gives you premium data. 

This plan gives you 10GB of premium data, which slows down to 128 kbps, or 2G speeds after the cap. This plan does not include hotspot access, but can be added for $10 per month. You’ll get 10GB per month to use as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $40 per month before the $5 discount. At this rate, you get 10GB at $4 per GB. 

Unlimited 

This plan gives you unlimited data, but deprioritized. 

Cricket Wireless’s Unlimited plan offers unlimited data that does not slow down after any cap. However, the data you get is deprioritized, which means you’ll experience slower speeds during times of high congestion. The plan does not include hotspot access, but Cricket Wireless offers an add-on for 10GB of hotspot data for $10 per month. The hotspot stops after the 10GB are used. 

The plan costs $55 per month before the $5 Autopay discount. 

Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot 

This plan gives you unlimited premium data and access to 15GB of hotspot data included. 

As Cricket Wireless’s biggest plan, you get unlimited premium data. This means your data will not slow down no matter the traffic in the area and how much data you use. You also get 15GB of hotspot data, then unlimited hotspot data after this 15GB cap. Your speed will slow to 2G speeds after the cap. The plan also includes several features discussed below. 

The plan costs $60 per month before the $5 Autopay discount.

Features

Cricket Wireless offers more included features, while Boost Mobile offers add-ons.

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Boost Mobile also offers add-ons for their plans to include more features for an additional fee. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Cricket Wireless includes domestic roaming access, but in limited areas. Boost Mobile does not include this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Cricket Wireless offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada. They also offer data included in Mexico and Canada with their Unlimited + 15GB hotspot and Unlimited plans, as well as new accounts that purchase their 10GB plan. Boost Mobile offers an add-on, where you get unlimited talk and text to both Mexico and Canada as well as 1.5GB of data in Mexico for $5 per month. This add-on is included with the Unlimited Plus plan.

International Connection

Cricket Wireless offers international text included with their Unlimited + 15GB hotspot and Unlimited plans. They also offer an add-on for international calling. Boost Mobile does not offer international data, but texts are $0.10 per message. There is also an add on available for unlimited plans to include international talk.

Video Streaming Quality

All plans from Boost Mobile stream at 480p Standard Definition, except for Unlimited Plus. That plan streams at 1080p High Definition. All Cricket Wireless plans stream at 480p Standard Definition.

Streaming Services

Cricket Wireless offers an ad-supported Max plan on their Unlimited + 15GB hotspot plan.   Boost Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Cricket Wireless offers 150GB of cloud storage using the myPhotoVault app on their Unlimited + 15GB plan. Boost Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from either carrier, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

Cricket Wireless offers Cricket Call Defense with all plans. Boost Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless do not offer this feature.

Customer Service 

Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless both offer several stores across the country. 

Boost Mobile offers several physical locations, and you can find the closest store to you with their store locator. They also offer support over the phone at (833)-502-6678 at 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Mon. through Fri. PST and 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST on Sat. and Sun. Cricket Wireless offers several stores across the country, and users can find the closest store to them with the website’s store locator. They also offer chat support from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mon. through Sat. and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. They also offer support over the phone at 1-800-CRICKET (274-2538) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon. through Sat.  

The Verdict

Cricket Wireless is best for those who need lots of data, but Boost Mobile offers a good plan for average and light users. 

Cricket Wireless’s Unlimited + 15GB plan offers the most data for the amount you pay. However, they don’t offer hotspot access with their plans besides Unlimited + 15GB. If you need hotspot access but a limited amount of data, Boost Mobile is the better option. If you need a lot of data, Cricket Wireless has that option for you. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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