Cricket Wireless Senior Cell Phone Plans
Cricket Wireless offers affordable, contract-free phone plans ideal for seniors on a budget.
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Cricket Wireless is a prepaid phone carrier owned by AT&T, one of the nation’s largest wireless providers. Cricket offers discounted plans that run on AT&T’s 4G and 5G network. Unlike T-Mobile, which has 55-and-over phone plans, Cricket Wireless doesn’t specifically cater to older adults with discounted senior plans. But don’t let that dissuade you from considering Cricket Wireless as your next wireless provider. Cricket’s phone plans are cost-effective and don’t require contracts or credit checks. Cricket also offers a 14-day free trial you can use without ending your current service.
From a bring-your-own-phone policy to steep multiline discounts, Cricket keeps rates low for all its customers, regardless of age. Plus, several iPhone and Android phones are available for $0 (or at a discount) when you prepay for one to three months of service.
I spent over 50 hours testing and researching Cricket Wireless to gauge the carrier’s applicability for seniors. Below we cover costs, special features, the signup process, and more. We even make a few phone recommendations for seniors.
Pros and Cons
Pros About Cricket Wireless
- No annual contract for cell phone service
- Excellent coverage with AT&T’s 4G and 5G network
- Multiline, multimonth, and autopay discounts
- Bring-your-own-phone policy
- Spam call detection with compatible phones
- No overage charges
- $25 refer-a-friend credits
- No credit checks
Cons About Cricket Wireless
- No senior-specific phone plans available
- No senior, first responder, or veteran discounts
- Throttled data speeds
How Does Cricket Wireless Compare?
Cricket Wireless offers some of the most affordable, no-nonsense prepaid phone plans on the market. Rather than having you deal with complicated contracts or expensive overage charges, Cricket Wireless makes it easy to call, text, and use data without breaking the bank. That said, Cricket Wireless doesn’t offer any specific plans or discounts for older adults. So, if you want to find a carrier that caters more to seniors, consider one of our highest-rated alternatives below.
The Buying Experience With Cricket Wireless
You can purchase a plan or a cell phone and plan in person at a Cricket Wireless store or on their website. I decided to buy on the website and quickly learned that it’s a very smooth shopping experience. It’s no wonder Cricket won the J.D. Power Award for Purchase Experience in 2022.1
Shopping Online
These were the steps I used to shop online:
- Click the “Plans” button at the top of the Cricket Wireless homepage.
- Choose the option for how often you would like to pay: monthly or multimonthly.
- Select the number of phone lines you need.
- Scroll down to view and choose one of Cricket’s four phone plans.
- Choose the phone you want or click “Bring the Phone You Love.”
- Indicate whether you need a new phone number or will be keeping your current number.
- Request shipping or pickup if you’re getting a new phone.
- Continue following the prompts to check out.
Did You Know? Before bringing your phone, ensure it’s unlocked and compatible with Cricket Wireless. To check if it’s unlocked, call your current service provider and ask. To check if it’s compatible with Cricket, dial *#06# on your phone and type the device ID number in Cricket’s compatibility checker.
I was also pleased to learn that Cricket offers free next-business-day shipping and no activation fees for SIM cards and phones purchased on the Cricket website. Plus, service taxes and fees are included in the monthly plan cost, so the advertised price is what you’re paying. That’s transparency you don’t always find from wireless companies.
Shopping In-Store
Data indicates that older adults tend to enjoy shopping in stores more than shopping online. 2 Cricket has stores throughout the country where you can talk to a professional in person. Simply type your ZIP code into the find-a-store feature.
In-store shopping may also be easier if you want to ensure that your phone is compatible with the network. Plus, some people just prefer that human touch.
Cricket Wireless has approximately 4,500 stores with locations in 49 states (everywhere except Maine) and Washington, D.C.3 Just know that Cricket stores charge a $25 activation fee. You can also purchase Cricket Wireless SIM cards and phones from Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop, and then activate online to avoid the activation fee.
Chatting With Customer Service
I decided to chat online with customer service for more information. You can do this by clicking on the round question-mark button in the bottom-left corner of the Cricket Wireless website.
I chatted with William, who was courteous, knowledgeable, and quick to respond. I asked him which Cricket plan he recommended for older adults who wouldn’t use their phones often. He asked if the customer would be watching videos or streaming things on the phone, to which I answered, “Not often.” He then recommended the 5GB data plan with unlimited talk and text, which costs $30 per month. The cost-effective plan doesn’t include Cricket International or Mexico and Canada usage, so keep that in mind if keeping in touch with loved ones in other countries is important to you.
Using the Cricket Wireless live chat feature on their website was quick and easy.
I also asked about activation fees or special discounts for seniors or veterans. Unlike AT&T, Cricket doesn’t offer special discounts, even for AARP members or veterans. William also explained that you won’t have to pay activation fees if you purchase a new phone or plan online. After speaking with William, I can see why Cricket Wireless’ customer-service team won awards in 2017 20174 and 2019.5
To compare Cricket to other providers, read our reviews of the best senior phone plans in 2025.
Choosing a Cell Phone
Cricket sells around 25 cell phones from various brands on their website. They also sell Apple Watches. I used Cricket’s chat feature to find out more about the phones they sell and how their service works.
I was connected immediately to Roald. He recommended Cricket’s own brand, the Debut S3 phone, coupled with Cricket’s $40-a-month plan as a good option for seniors. Roald mentioned that this is a basic smartphone that comes with a two-year warranty. He said if I placed an order online through him he would waive the $25 activation fee, although the fee is not applicable when you buy any phone online. When I mentioned that I wasn’t ready to buy a phone, he offered me a discounted rate if I could commit on the spot. You may wish to try bargaining when you’re ready to purchase if that feels comfortable for you. I don’t love let’s-make-a-deal sales tactics, but they often pay off!
>> Related Reading: Cheapest Cell Phones for Seniors
Many of the phones Cricket offers, including the Debut S3, are available for $0 or at a sizable discount when you purchase one to three months of service. No matter what phone you buy, it will be locked into Cricket for at least six months. You also have the option to bring your own phone rather than buy a new one
Below is a closer look at a few other phones we think would be great choices for seniors.
Cricket Debut Flex
Cricket Debut Flip
The Debut Flex is the only flip phone Cricket Wireless sells. We think it’s perfect for older adults who want a simple cell phone that keeps them connected to friends and loved ones. It has a compact, durable design with an easy-to-see keypad. Don’t enjoy typing? You can make calls, send texts, and more with your voice with Google Assistant. Unlike other phones we’ve tested, including Lively’s Jitterbug Flip2, the Debut Flip works with a data plan. You can surf the web, view your calendar, check email, and add apps and games.
FYI: Want to compare the Debut Fled to other easy-to-use phones? Visit our list of the easiest cell phones for seniors.
The Debut Flex costs $49.99 whether you bring your own number or get a new one. You’ll also need to purchase, at minimum, a $30 monthly plan. A first month service charge plus tax will be due at the point of sale, and you won’t pay an activation fee if you activate your phone online. This budget-friendly price point is similar to Consumer Cellular’s price for the comparable Iris Easy Flip ($59).
Our favorite features for seniors:
- Palm-size and lightweight
- Scratch-resistant glass
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibility
- M4/T4 hearing aid compatibility
- 4G LTE capability
- Long-lasting battery
- 2MP front-facing camera
Apple iPhone SE 2022
Our editor's grandma testing out an iPhone
For tech-savvy older adults, there’s the Apple iPhone SE 2022. This phone offers all the bells and whistles, and it’s a great choice if many of your loved ones already use iPhones. The SE has everything from a large Retina HD touchscreen to Haptic Touch to a 12MP camera. Plus, you can access thousands of apps from the Apple Store, FaceTime your loved ones, and control the phone with your voice thanks to Siri. The Apple iPhone SE 2022 retails for $379.99, but Cricket offers payment plans that make it easier to buy.
Our favorite features for seniors:
- Up to 256GB of storage
- Splash-, water-, and dust-resistant
- Built-in voice assistant
- Access to thousands of mobile apps
- 4K video
- Built-in privacy
- 13 hours of streaming on a single charge
Buyer’s Tip: Want to compare all of your phone options? Check out our list of the best cell phones for seniors in 2025.
Nationwide Coverage
Cricket Wireless provides prepaid plans that use AT&T’s 4G LTE and 5G network (where available). AT&T is one of the largest networks in the United States and was recently named the most reliable 5G network by Global Wireless Solutions.6
If you know the AT&T network works well in your area, then Cricket Wireless should too. During testing, we found that the spottiest places for service are typically in remote or rural areas. You’ll want to check the coverage map on Cricket’s website to see if that includes your home or the places you commonly travel to.
Contracts and Warranty
Contracts
Cricket’s prepaid plans do away with contracts, so there’s no need to worry about being locked into a two-year contract like you would be with AT&T’s senior plans. You don’t need to worry about cancellation fees either. However, Cricket doesn’t offer prorated refunds if you cancel during an active month of service.
It’s a little trickier if you purchase a phone from Cricket. You must use their service for six months before you can unlock your phone and use it with a different cell phone provider. That may seem like a long time, but it’s not bad compared to other providers. Buying a phone from Lively, for example, only works with Lively’s service. It can’t be unlocked and used with another carrier.
>> Useful Resource: Best Unlocked Phones for Seniors
Warranty
Cricket offers a seven-day return policy for qualifying devices — the same length as the trial for Mint Mobile’s cell phone plans. Devices purchased online must be mailed back in like-new condition with all of their original accessories. There is no fee for returning qualifying devices. Cricket will email you a prepaid shipping label.
Devices purchased in a store must be returned or exchanged at the same store where purchased. You will receive a full refund minus a $25 fee if you return the device without all its original accessories.
After the seven-day return period, most phones sold by Cricket are covered by a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, which is standard in the industry. Cricket-brand phones have a two-year warranty, which we found impressive.
Cricket also has the optional Cricket Protect plan for certain smartphones, which costs $8 monthly. It covers loss, theft, physical and liquid damage, and other out-of-warranty problems. Plus, you get a cracked-screen repair for $29 — a nice feature if you’re prone to dropping your phone! Other fees include a $10 to $250 deductible, depending on the claim. It may or may not be worth it, depending on the value of your phone.
Cricket Wireless Phone Plans at a Glance
| Cricket plan | 5GB | 10GB | Unlimited | Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $30 per line | 1 line: $40 2 lines: $35 per line 3 lines: $30 per line 4 lines: $28 per line 5 lines: $26 per line |
1 line: $55 2 lines: $40 per line 3 lines: $30 per line 4 lines: $25 per line 5 lines: $25 per line |
1 line: $60 2 lines: $45 per line 3 lines: $37 per line 4 lines: $33 per line 5 lines: $32 per line |
| Talk and text | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| High-speed data | 5GB | 10GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Overage fees | None | None | None | None |
| Features |
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Compare Cricket Wireless to Other Providers
Cricket Wireless Plan Details
5GB Plan
Cost
Cricket’s 5GB plan costs $30 per line per month, including taxes and fees. As Cricket’s most affordable prepaid plan, this one’s fantastic for older adults on a tight budget. Unfortunately, this plan doesn’t qualify for Cricket’s autopay or multiline discount. Other fees include a $9.99 SIM card fee if you bring your own phone and a $25 activation fee if you activate a new phone in stores.
If you want the same amount of data at a cheaper price point, check out our Consumer Cellular review. Consumer Cellular charges $25 monthly for its 5GB plan.
Plan Features
Cricket’s 5GB plan includes 5GB of high-speed data plus unlimited talk, text, and picture messages. That amount of data is just right for seniors who have Wi-Fi at home and don’t plan to use data to stream videos frequently. It’s the plan that Wiliam from Cricket’s customer service team recommended for older adults.
Buyer’s Tip: Still not sure which phone plan is right for you? Visit our senior buyer’s guide for cell phones to learn more.
The 5GB plan includes Wi-Fi calling, HD Voice, and Cricket Call Defense if you have a compatible phone. Cricket Call Defense automatically blocks fraudulent calls and gives nuisance warnings. When a call comes in, you’ll see a warning that it’s likely spam, a telemarketer, political, etc. Cricket Call Defense is our favorite feature for seniors because an FTC report from 2019 found that phone scams caused the most financial damage to seniors of any type of scam. 7
Unlimited Plan
Cost
Cricket’s unlimited plan costs $55 monthly or $50 monthly when you set up autopay. For comparison, Consumer Cellular charges $50, T-Mobile charges $40, and AT&T charges $65 for the same type of service.
What sets Cricket’s unlimited plan apart is its multiline discount. The price drops to $40 per line per month for two users. For three, it drops to $30 per line per month, and it decreases to $25 per line per month for four users. If you want to purchase a phone plan with your spouse or family, this prepaid plan is hard to beat. If you bring your phone, this plan also includes the $9.99 SIM card fee.
Plan Features
Cricket’s unlimited plan includes unlimited high-speed data, talk, text, and picture messages in the U.S. Plus, you can send texts from the U.S. to 37 countries, a rare perk that’s great for older adults with family members living or studying abroad. Cricket even lets you use your phone service in Canada and Mexico, so we recommend this one if you spend time in either country. Other features include SD-quality video streaming, HD voice, Wi-Fi calling, and Cricket Call Defense for spam call protection.
Overall, this plan is our pick for older adults who plan to use their phones a lot, whether at home without Wi-Fi or frequently on the road. One thing worth noting is that although this plan comes with unlimited high-speed data, Cricket will reduce data speeds temporarily if the network gets busy.
Cricket Wireless vs. the Competition
Below is a quick rundown on how Cricket compares to the competition.
| Cricket Wireless | AT&T | Consumer Cellular | T-Mobile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-line plan monthly cost range | $30 to $60 | $45.99 to $60.99 | $40 to $50 | $45 to $85 |
| Multiline discounts available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Contract needed | No | On some plans | No | No |
| Flip phones available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Senior-specific phone plans | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Methodology: How We Tested and Reviewed Cricket Wireless
To evaluate Cricket Wireless for older adults, we analyzed their website for costs, available phone models, discounts, and cellular plans. We also discussed the needs of seniors with members of Cricket’s sales team via phone and chat and read dozens of customer reviews on multiple websites, including Trust Pilot and the Better Business Bureau. We did a deep dive into Cricket’s cellular phone plans and analyzed them for cost, as well as data amounts and caps. Below are some key factors we considered when testing and evaluating Cricket Wireless.
- Price: Cricket offers low-cost phones and single and multiline plans that will meet the needs of many seniors. We considered monthly rates, hidden fees, contracts, multiline discounts, and seasonal promotions.
- Buying experience: You can buy Cricket Wireless online or in person at a Cricket store. Cricket phones are also available at several major retailers. We went through the purchasing process online. If you buy online, shipping is fast and free. You may experience some sales pressure if you work with an agent, but you may be able to use that to your advantage by holding out for discounts.
- Customer service: We had average to good experiences with Cricket’s professional team during our research. It’s important to note, however, that Cricket Wireless has a relatively large body of complaints about customer service and attributes such as friendliness, helpfulness, and patience.
- Contracts: Cricket doesn’t require long-term contracts, since their plans are prepaid.
- Warranties: Most Cricket phones come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, but Cricket-branded phones have a two-year warranty. Make sure you know whether your phone is new or refurbished. If you buy a refurbished phone from Cricket, your warranty will last for only 90 days
The Bottom Line on Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless may not cater exclusively to seniors with its prepaid phone plans, but after our review, we’re certainly impressed with the value this carrier has to offer. We love the steep multiline discounts and Cricket Call Defense. Just remember that Cricket’s phones weren’t designed with seniors in mind like phones we’ve reviewed from Lively or Consumer Cellular, but they’re still an excellent choice for older adults.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cricket Wireless
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Who owns Cricket Wireless?
AT&T owns Cricket Wireless.
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Does Cricket Wireless have contracts?
No. Like most prepaid carriers out there, Cricket is pay as you go.
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Does Cricket Wireless offer a senior discount?
Cricket Wireless doesn’t offer a senior discount, even if you’re a veteran or an AARP member.
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Does Cricket Wireless have a phone plan for seniors?
No, Cricket Wireless doesn’t offer phone plans specifically for seniors, but several Cricket Wireless plans are on par with the features and prices of other providers’ senior plans.
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Can I keep my number if I switch to Cricket Wireless?
Yes, you can switch among Cricket’s phone plans at the start of any month of service. If you start with the 5GB plan and realize you’d prefer more high-speed data, for example, you can go into your account and switch your next month to one of the higher-tier plans.
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Can I change my Cricket Wireless phone plan?
Yes, you can switch between Cricket’s different phone plans at the start of any month of service. For example, if you start with the 5 GB plan and realize you’d prefer more high-speed data, you can go into your account and switch your next month to one of the higher-tier plans.
PR Newswire. (2020). Cricket Earns its Third Straight J.D. Power Award for Purchase Experience.
Statista. (2024). Senior online shopping behavior – statistics & facts.
Cricket Wireless. (2021). Cricket Wireless Locations.
Cricket Wireless. (2017). Cricket Named #1 in Wireless U.S. Customer Experience.
Cricket Wireless. (2019). Cricket Wireless® Ranks #1 in J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Wireless Customer Care Non-Contract Full-Service Performance Study–Volume 1
AT&T. (2021). AT&T is recognized for its 5G Network in key GWS categories.
Federal Trade Commission. (2019). Scams and older consumers: Looking at the data.