Cricket Wireless just dropped the worst thing about its cell phone plans

Cricket Wireless only dropped the worst thing almost its cell telephone plans

(Image credit: Dee Dalasio/Shutterstock)

The first thing I call back nigh when I think well-nigh Cricket Wireless — when I think virtually Cricket Wireless at all — has been the telephone carrier's speed cap. Unless y'all paid for Cricket's most expensive unlimited data program, the discount carrier capped your speeds, with most plans only able to download data at a maximum of 8 Mbps. That severely limited Cricket's appeal every bit an alternative to pricier wireless providers.

But Cricket clearly wants to change what y'all call up about its service, equally the visitor is dropping its speed caps on all its plans, while also adding 5G access. Previously 5G had been restricted to the disbelieve carrier's about expensive unlimited plan.

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The end of the speed cap impacts three Cricket plans — the 2GB, $xxx/month plan, the 10GB, $xl/calendar month plan and Cricket's $55/month entry-level choice for unlimited data. They bring together Cricket'due south $60/month unlimited option in dropping speed caps, though Cricket is reserving the correct to boring speeds on the $55 unlimited plan if the AT&T network that it uses becomes congested.

Information speeds had been one area in which Cricket couldn't compete with other disbelieve carriers like Metro By T-Mobile and Visible, which usually offering speeds comparable to those of their parent network, except when network traffic is high. Cricket's 10GB program compares peculiarly well to a similar offer from Metro by T-Mobile, which also costs $40/month. Cricket customers tin knock an additional $5 off their bill by enrolling in autopay.

As mentioned above, Cricket uses AT&T's network, which also owns and operates the discount brand. Testing firm OpenSignal ranked AT&T first for overall download speeds in its July 2021 report, giving the carrier a slight edge over T-Mobile, though the Uncarrier has faster 5G download speeds.

Cricket'southward college-stop unlimited information plan is getting a heave, too, at present that it's no longer the only Cricket programme without a speed limit. Subscribers who opt for the $60/calendar month unlimited program also get access to the ad-supported tier of HBO Max every bit well equally 15GB of mobile hotspot speed.

With perks that — and no more speed caps — Cricket could soon find itself challenging rival carriers for a identify amongst the best prepaid phone plans.

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Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has stiff opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and onetime movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.