Visible vs. Cricket Wireless: Which carrier is better?

Visible and Cricket Wireless are popular prepaid carriers that offer great deals for their customers. 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 

Coverage & Reception

Visible is on the Verizon network, while Cricket Wireless is on the AT&T network. 

Visible 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. Visible is an MVNO of Verizon, 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.

Plan Options

Visible and Cricket Wireless both offer premium data, but Visible offers hotspot access with all plans

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Visible and Cricket both offer premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both companies deprioritize data on some of their plans as well, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and shopping centers.

It’s also important to note that Cricket Wireless does not offer hotspot access on all of their plans. 

Visible Plans

Both Visible plans offer unlimited data. 

Visible only offers 2 plans – Visible Base and Visible +. Visible + offers more features as well as premium data. Both plans offer a hotspot, with the data coming from your overall plan data. As an MVNO on Verizon’s network, Visible is on QCI tier 9. Visible + has higher priority for its 50GB of premium data, which will be further explained below. 

It’s also important to note that Visible is a single line carrier – meaning you can only have one phone on an account. If you’re buying a plan for your family or with your significant other, you need to make separate accounts with separate plans for everyone. 

If you purchase your phone from Visible, your device will be locked for the first 60 days after activation. Both plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are included with the advertised price. 

Visible Base

This plan is always depriotized.

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, Visible’s base plan has unlimited talk and text. 

Visible Base also has unlimited data with no cap – meaning you have truly unlimited data that never slows down no matter how much you use. However, the Visible base plan is always deprioritized. Your data and connection will slow down at any point of high traffic in your area. 

The plan also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data. Again, your data is deprioritized and may slow down in times of high network traffic. 

The plan costs $25 per month. 

Visible +

This plan gives you 50GB of premium data, then unlimited deprioritized data. 

Visible + gives you access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, which is their network for premium data. As such, the 50GB of premium data you get with this plan will not slow down no matter how much network traffic in your area. After you use the 50GB, your data is unlimited – but subjected to the same deprioritization as the other plan. The mobile hotspot is also premium data for the first 50GB, then deprioritized after. 

At this rate, you get the 50GB of premium data at $0.90 per GB. 

The plan costs $45 per month, with a $10 welcome discount for the first month.

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, which means your data will not slow down due to high network congestion. However, premium data on the limited plans will run out due to data caps.

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

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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. 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 features with their premium data plan than Visible does with theirs. 

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. Both Visible and Cricket Wireless offer features depending on what plan you purchase. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Visible offers domestic roaming data on their plans. Cricket Wireless includes domestic roaming access, but in limited areas.

Mexico & Canada Connection

Visible and Cricket Wireless both offer talk and text in Mexico and Canada. However, Visible does not include roaming data for Mexico and Canada with Visible Base. Visible + includes roaming data that slows down to 2G speeds after 0.5GB each day. Cricket Wireless offers data included in Mexico and Canada with their Unlimited + 15GB hotspot and Unlimited plans, as well as new accounts that purchase their 10GB plan.

International Connection

Visible does not give you international roaming data. However, Visible + gives you international talk and text. Visible Base does not offer this feature. Cricket Wireless offers international text included with their Unlimited + 15GB hotspot and Unlimited plans. They also offer an add-on for international calling. 

Video Streaming Quality

All Cricket Wireless and Visible plans stream at 480p Standard Definition.

Streaming Services

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

Cloud Storage

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

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from Cricket Wireless, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. Visible does not offer this feature. 

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

Visible offers spam protection on both of their plans, which blocks spam calls and protects you from potential fraud. Cricket Wireless offers Cricket Call Defense with all plans.

Free Trial

Visible offers a 15 day free trial. Cricket Wireless does not offer this feature. 

Customer Service 

Visible does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. Cricket Wireless has several locations. 

Visible is a digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Visible offers 24/7 chat support from a live agent. 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’s Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot plan is the best overall, but Visible’s Base plan is much better than Cricket’s Unlimited plan.

With the amount of features this plan includes, Cricket’s Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot plan is the best deal. They include several features such as cloud storage and streaming services for a decent price. However, Visible’s Base plan is better than Cricket’s Unlimited plan. Visible offers the same data, except with hotspot access and a much better price. 

If you’re looking for a limited data plan, the obvious choice is to go with Cricket Wireless, as Visible does not have limited data plans. 

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

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

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