Cricket’s “jaw-dropping” reboot includes cheaper unlimited, big hotspot buckets, and Max included – what’s real and what’s marketing

Cricket just rebuilt its lineup around a $35 unlimited entry, two stepped-up unlimited tiers with 15GB/50GB hotspot, and a top plan that tosses in Max (formerly HBO Max) with ads. Prices look aggressive – and Cricket’s taxes-included billing keeps the math honest – but the fine print (Auto Pay starts month two; standard deprioritization; SD video) still matters. Overall take: this is the most consumer-friendly refresh Cricket’s done in years and a legit single-line value play, especially if you’ll use the hotspot and border perks.

What Cricket announced (in plain English)

• Sensible™ 10GB – $30/mo with Auto Pay: Unlimited talk/text + 10GB high-speed data for light users.
• Select Unlimited – $35/mo with Auto Pay: Unlimited talk/text/data + calling/texting to Mexico & Canada.
• Smart Unlimited – $45/mo with Auto Pay: Everything in Select plus 15GB hotspot, 100GB cloud storage, roaming in Mexico & Canada, and international texting to 200+ destinations.
• Supreme Unlimited – $55/mo with Auto Pay: Bumps hotspot to 50GB, cloud to 150GB, and includes Max (with ads) – on top of the Smart perks.

The consumer impact (why this matters)

• Cheaper single-line “unlimited.” $35 with Auto Pay is Cricket’s lowest unlimited headline yet, shrinking the gap vs. carrier-owned rivals. If you’re on an older $50–$55 Cricket plan, this is real savings.
• Taxes/fees included = cleaner math. Cricket bakes state/local taxes into plan prices, so your bill tracks the sticker – useful when comparing to brands that add 10–20% in fees at checkout.
• Hotspot that’s actually usable. 15GB (Smart) and 50GB (Supreme) are generous for carrier-owned prepaid – good for travel days and light remote work without juggling add-ons.
• Border & abroad basics. Calling/texting to Mexico/Canada on Select, plus roaming in Mexico/Canada on Smart/Supreme, covers common trip patterns without a local SIM.
• Entertainment baked in (top tier). If you’d pay for Max anyway, Supreme’s included Max with ads offsets a chunk of the plan price.

Fine print that moves the goalposts

• Auto Pay credit starts month two. First month is $5 higher; the advertised price kicks in after enrollment (and is flagged as new customers only in the announcement).
• Network management applies. Cricket may slow data when the network is busy; video is SD by default industry-standard, but don’t expect 4K streams on mobile.
• 5G depends on coverage & device. You’ll need a compatible phone, and 5G isn’t everywhere.

Who should switch

• Solo value hunters who want a predictable, taxes-included bill and don’t need premium postpaid perks.
• Light-to-moderate tetherers. Smart’s 15GB and Supreme’s 50GB hotspot tiers are solid for travel and occasional laptop work.
• Frequent Mexico/Canada travelers who’ll use cross-border calling and roaming without messing with eSIMs.

Who should look elsewhere

• Heavy road warriors/hotspot die-hards. If your job lives on tethering, you may still want postpaid priority or MVNOs with truly unlimited hotspot (speed-capped) depending on your use.
• 4K streamers on mobile. SD video caps will frustrate you; Supreme’s Max perk is great, but mobile video remains SD.

Availability & current lineup check

• Cricket’s plan pages now reflect these tiers and perks (including hotspot and Max on Supreme). If you’re shopping today, you should see Sensible, Select, Smart, and Supreme live.
• Side note: Cricket also markets a $25/mo 12-month Unlimited prepay option if you can pay the year upfront – separate from the monthly lineup.

My take

• Cricket finally looks hungry again. The $35 unlimited entry, taxes-included billing, and meaningful hotspot tiers put pressure on rivals’ “$45 + fees” math. If you’re a single-line buyer who values simplicity – and you travel to Mexico/Canada from time to time – this refresh is an easy recommend.