Prepaid carrier comparison

Boost Mobile vs Cricket: Boost wins on price lock, Cricket wins on AT&T reliability

By Jake Heder • Published May 2, 2026 • Pricing fetched May 2, 2026

Pick Boost Mobile if you want the cheapest single-line unlimited plan in this matchup and the Boost coverage checker looks strong at your home and work. Pick Cricket if AT&T is the reliable network in your area, you need clearer family pricing, or you do not want to bet on Boost's still-shifting network footprint. Families should price Cricket first; solo budget shoppers should quote Boost first.

A phone and laptop on a desk used to compare prepaid wireless plans
Featured image: Unsplash, fetched May 2, 2026. File: /images/articles/boost-vs-cricket.jpg

Verified by SaveOnPhone • Carrier pages fetched May 2, 2026

Reality box: who should not be reading this comparison

Do not compare Boost and Cricket for hours if Verizon is the only network that works inside your house, if you need postpaid international roaming, or if a phone-financing deal matters more than the service plan. Also pause if you cannot check Boost coverage by exact address; Boost's network story is changing faster than Cricket's AT&T-backed pitch.

Boost Mobile vs Cricket at a glance

FactorBoost MobileCricket WirelessWinner
PriceBoost Unlimited advertises $25 per month with AutoPay after a $10-per-month first-three-month promo; turning off AutoPay raises it to $30.Select Unlimited is $40 for one line, or four lines for $100 when every line is Select Unlimited.Boost for one line; Cricket for simple four-line pricing.
NetworkBoost sells service on its own Boost network where available and says extended coverage or roaming may use non-Boost networks.Cricket runs on AT&T's network, including nationwide 5G on supported phones.Cricket for predictable AT&T coverage; Boost only where its map checks out.
Plan tiersBoost highlights $25 Unlimited, $50 Unlimited+, and $60 Unlimited Premium tiers.Cricket highlights Select Unlimited, Smart Unlimited, and Supreme Unlimited tiers.No universal winner; Boost is leaner, Cricket is easier to compare.
HotspotBoost's $50 Unlimited+ and $60 Unlimited Premium tiers advertise hotspot.Cricket Select lists hotspot as an add-on; Smart includes 15 GB; Supreme includes 50 GB.Cricket for clearer hotspot amounts.
Deprioritization thresholdBoost's $25 Unlimited page lists 30 GB of premium data and says speeds may be lowered to 512 kbps after 30 GB.Cricket says Select and Smart may temporarily slow when the network is busy; Supreme advertises unlimited high-speed data.Cricket Supreme for heavy users; Boost for light-to-moderate users.
Autopay / prepay conditions$25 Boost Unlimited includes a $5 AutoPay discount; without AutoPay the plan is $30.Cricket shows AutoPay-discounted monthly pricing and first-month pricing by tier.Cricket is simpler; Boost is cheaper if you keep AutoPay.
Taxes and fees behaviorBoost says device-purchase taxes may apply and advertises no hidden fees on the $25 plan.Cricket's broadband labels say provider monthly fees and government taxes are included, with $25 in-store activation and $25 non-compliant return fees.Cricket for clearer fee disclosure.
Family-line constraintsBoost promotes multi-line discounts on higher unlimited tiers, such as buy 2 lines/get $20 off or buy 3/get $40 off.Cricket's Select Unlimited advertises four lines for $100; all lines must be on Select Unlimited.Cricket for families.

Effective monthly cost: Boost is cheaper until the footnotes matter

For one line, Boost is the price winner. Its Boost Unlimited page advertised $10 per month for the first three months, then $25 per month with AutoPay forever, with 30 GB of premium data. The important footnote is simple: turn off AutoPay and the plan is $30 per month.

Cricket is more expensive for one line. Select Unlimited is $40 for one line, Smart Unlimited is $50, and Supreme Unlimited is $60 before AutoPay language on the page. Cricket's advantage shows up with families: four Select Unlimited lines for $100 is easy to understand, and the page says provider monthly fees and government taxes are included in the monthly price.

Device promos can flip the first-year math. Boost ties several phone savings to its unlimited tiers. Cricket has its own phone and activation rules. If you are financing a phone or taking an in-store activation, compare the 24-month total, not just the first monthly plan price. For tax context, start with our cell phone taxes by state guide.

Profile winners: which carrier should you pick?

Single-line budget shopper

Winner: Boost Mobile

Boost's $25 AutoPay unlimited plan is the obvious first quote if your phone is unlocked and Boost coverage works where you spend time.

AT&T-coverage shopper

Winner: Cricket

Cricket is the safer pick if AT&T has the strongest indoor signal in your ZIP code. A $25 plan is not a deal if the signal fails at home.

Family switching four lines

Winner: Cricket

Cricket's four-for-$100 Select Unlimited pitch is simpler than rebuilding a Boost cart around line discounts, phone promos, and network-fit questions.

Long-term price-stability shopper

Winner: Boost Mobile

Boost's $25 forever language is compelling for a single-line customer who wants one low number and does not need heavy hotspot data.

Where Boost Mobile loses to Cricket

Boost loses when coverage certainty matters more than the lowest advertised price. Cricket's AT&T-network position is easier for shoppers to understand, while Boost's open-internet disclosure says experiences may differ on extended coverage or roaming on non-Boost networks.

Boost also loses on hotspot clarity. The $25 Unlimited plan is strong for basic data, but the page's hotspot language is cleaner on the $50 and $60 tiers. Cricket spells out 15 GB on Smart Unlimited and 50 GB on Supreme Unlimited, which makes it easier for remote workers and tablet users to pick a tier.

Where Cricket loses to Boost Mobile

Cricket loses the one-line price fight. Boost's $25 AutoPay plan undercuts Cricket Select Unlimited by $15 per month before any phone-promo math. Over a year, that advertised plan-price gap is $180 for a single line.

Cricket also loses if the buyer wants the simplest low-price promise. Cricket's four-line pricing is clean, but for one line its plan ladder pushes you from $40 to $50 to $60 as hotspot and extras improve. Boost gives price-sensitive shoppers a lower door.

What about Mint or Metro?

Look at Mint if you can prepay several months and T-Mobile coverage is strong; it can beat both carriers for disciplined low-data and mid-data shoppers. Look at Metro if you want T-Mobile-owned prepaid stores, device promos, and richer unlimited tiers. Start with our Cricket vs Metro, Mint vs Visible, and Mint vs US Mobile comparisons while more sibling pages roll out.

How to switch between Boost Mobile and Cricket

  1. Check that your phone is unlocked and compatible with the carrier you are joining.
  2. Run both coverage tools for home, work, school, and your commute. Do not rely on a national map.
  3. Screenshot the exact plan price, AutoPay discount, hotspot amount, taxes, fees, and promo rules before checkout.
  4. Keep your current line active until the number port completes. You need your account number, transfer PIN, billing ZIP code, and active service.
  5. After activation, test calls, SMS, data, voicemail, hotspot, and group messages before cancelling anything manually. Use our number porting guide if the port stalls.

FAQ

Is Boost Mobile better than Cricket?

Boost Mobile is better for a single-line budget shopper who gets good Boost coverage. Cricket is better for AT&T-first coverage shoppers and families that want a simple four-line prepaid price.

Which is cheaper, Boost Mobile or Cricket?

Boost is cheaper for one line based on the fetched plan pages: $25 per month with AutoPay after the first-three-month promo versus Cricket Select Unlimited at $40 for one line. Cricket becomes more competitive for four lines because Select Unlimited advertises four lines for $100.

Do Boost and Cricket use the same network?

No. Cricket uses AT&T's network. Boost uses the Boost network where available and may use extended coverage or roaming on non-Boost networks, according to its open-internet disclosure.

Does Boost Mobile include hotspot?

Boost's higher Unlimited+ and Unlimited Premium tiers advertise hotspot. The $25 Boost Unlimited plan is mainly a low-cost phone-data plan with 30 GB of premium data, so verify hotspot in the cart if tethering matters.

Does Cricket include hotspot?

Cricket Select Unlimited lists hotspot as an add-on. Smart Unlimited includes 15 GB, and Supreme Unlimited includes 50 GB, according to Cricket's plan page fetched May 2, 2026.

Which carrier is better for families?

Cricket is the better first quote for four lines because its Select Unlimited page advertises four lines for $100 and includes provider monthly fees and government taxes in the monthly price. Boost can still win if its coverage is better or a device promo matters.

Next steps

Price both carriers with your exact ZIP code, phone status, and line count before switching.

Sources

No primary plan-page fetch was blocked. Boost's exact network-routing footprint remains address-specific, so coverage must be verified by ZIP/address before switching. Unverified claim: final checkout taxes, activation fees, phone-promo eligibility, and roaming experience can vary by location, device, purchase channel, and account status.