Yesim TeamCricket Wireless runs on AT&T’s network and sells prepaid plans aimed at budget-conscious US customers. This Cricket Wireless eSIM review covers activation, device compatibility, pricing, real customer feedback, and how Cricket stacks up against other prepaid carriers offering eSIM. Cricket eSIM activation is one of the more common questions people have before switching, alongside whether their specific phone qualifies and what the plans cost.
What is Cricket eSIM?
Cricket Wireless is a prepaid carrier owned by AT&T, using AT&T’s cellular network for coverage. An eSIM is a digital SIM profile built into compatible phones, letting you activate service without inserting a physical card.
Cricket does support eSIM for a range of newer phones, letting customers set up service entirely online, without a store visit or a physical SIM shipped to their address.
Read also: eSIM vs. SIM: What’s the Difference?
Does Cricket support eSIM?
Yes, Cricket supports eSIM, though device compatibility depends on the exact model and, in some cases, where the phone was originally purchased. This cricket esim compatibility review section covers what matters before you buy a plan.
- iPhone compatibility (cricket esim iphone review): recent iPhone models with eSIM support generally work with Cricket, though the exact supported list is worth confirming on Cricket’s own device compatibility checker before activating.
- Android compatibility (cricket esim android review): many newer Android phones from Samsung, Google, and other major brands support Cricket eSIM, with the same caveat about checking your specific model first. Esim for Cricket on Android tends to install just as cleanly as it does on iPhone, once the device itself is confirmed compatible.
- Unlocked phone requirements: a phone bought from another carrier typically needs to be unlocked from that carrier before it can activate on Cricket, whether via eSIM or a physical SIM.
How to get an eSIM from Cricket
Cricket eSIM online setup is designed to be self-service, either through Cricket’s website or its app. How to get eSIM Cricket customers go through breaks down into four steps:
- Confirm your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, if it came from another carrier.
- Choose a Cricket plan on their website or app.
- Select eSIM instead of a physical SIM during checkout.
- Complete the purchase and receive activation instructions, typically a QR code, by email or in the app.
Store activation is also available if you’d rather have staff walk you through it in person, though the process is largely the same either way.
Cricket eSIM activation process explained
This cricket esim activation review section covers the core flow, which looks like this:
- QR code setup: after purchase, Cricket sends a QR code tied to your new eSIM profile.
- Adding eSIM to phone: scan the code in your phone’s cellular settings to download the profile.
- Network activation: once installed, the profile connects to AT&T’s network under your new Cricket plan.
- Activation timing: this usually completes within a few minutes, though some accounts report activation taking longer, particularly when transferring a number from another carrier.
Cricket eSIM transfer review: moving your number or switching phones
Transferring an existing phone number to a new Cricket eSIM works the same way as a physical SIM port: provide your old account number and PIN during setup, and Cricket handles the transfer in the background, usually within a few hours.
Moving an existing Cricket eSIM to a new phone is different from a number transfer. Most eSIM profiles are tied to one device, so switching phones typically means requesting a new eSIM from Cricket rather than copying the old profile over.
How to activate eSIM on Cricket for iPhone and Android
This cricket esim setup review breaks the process down by platform.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings, then Cellular.
- Tap Add eSIM or Set Up Cellular.
- Scan the QR code from Cricket.
- Follow the prompts to finish installing the profile.
- Set the new line as your default for calls, texts, and data.
On Android:
- Go to Settings, then Network & Internet.
- Tap SIMs, then Add eSIM (menu naming varies by brand).
- Scan the QR code from Cricket.
- Confirm installation and set the line as active.
The core steps are nearly identical across platforms. The most common difference is menu naming, which varies more between Android manufacturers than it does between iPhone and Android as a whole.
Cricket eSIM compatibility
Before buying a plan, it’s worth confirming compatibility rather than assuming it based on phone age alone.
- Check Cricket’s official device compatibility page for your exact model.
- Older phones, even ones with a physical SIM slot, often lack eSIM hardware entirely.
- Phones purchased directly from Cricket are pre-verified for compatibility; phones brought from elsewhere need individual checking.
- Some carrier-specific phone variants, particularly from other prepaid brands, have restrictions on which eSIM profiles they’ll accept.
Read also: Which iPhones Support eSIM.
Cricket eSIM not working: common problems and fixes
Cricket esim problems and cricket esim troubleshooting both point to the same short list of usual suspects:
- Activation failed: usually caused by an incompatible device or an unlock issue with your previous carrier. Confirm both before retrying.
- No signal after activation: restart the phone. If that doesn’t help, confirm the eSIM line is set as active under cellular settings, not just installed.
- QR code errors: most Cricket QR codes are single-use. A second scan attempt on a code that already installed successfully can throw an error even though nothing is wrong.
- APN and network issues: occasionally the phone doesn’t pull the correct network settings automatically. Cricket’s support pages list the correct APN values to enter manually if this happens.
Cricket eSIM plans and pricing review
This cricket esim plans review, and cricket esim prepaid review more broadly, covers six current tiers:
| Plan | Price | Data | Hotspot | Cloud storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensible 10GB | $35/mo | 10GB high-speed | Not included | Not included |
| Select Unlimited | $40/mo | Unlimited | 10GB add-on | Not included |
| Smart Unlimited | $50/mo | Unlimited | 15GB | 100GB |
| Supreme Unlimited | $60/mo | Unlimited high-speed | 50GB | 150GB |
| 3-Month Unlimited | $15/mo (prepay $45, new customers, first 3 months) | Unlimited | Not available | 2GB |
| 12-Month Unlimited | $25/mo (prepay $300) | Unlimited | Not available | 2GB |
The entry-level Sensible plan works fine for light users who mostly text and browse. Select Unlimited is a reasonable middle option once you factor in the hotspot add-on cost.
Smart and Supreme Unlimited make more sense if hotspot data and cloud storage genuinely matter to you, since the jump in price buys real additional features, not just a marketing label. The 3-month and 12-month prepay options are worth considering only if you’re confident you’ll stick with Cricket for the full term, since the upfront payment is the whole appeal.
Cricket eSIM data speed review
Cricket runs on AT&T’s physical network, so raw coverage and speed track closely with AT&T’s own performance in your area. The distinction between plans comes down to whether a plan gets deprioritized during network congestion, not raw network speed. The Supreme Unlimited tier is marketed specifically as high-speed with less deprioritization risk, while the entry-level tiers are more likely to slow down first when local towers are under heavy load.
Read also: Best eSIM for International Travel.
Cricket eSIM review: pros and cons
Cricket holds a 1.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot across 637 reviews, which is worth taking seriously rather than dismissing as unrepresentative. Looking at the review pattern, most reviewers reported being let down by their overall experience. This cricket esim coverage review section, and the honesty of Cricket’s real customer feedback, matter more than the marketing copy on Cricket’s own site.
Common complaints:
- Long wait times reaching customer support, by phone or chat.
- Representatives disconnecting active calls or chats before resolving the issue.
- Unexpected billing errors and extra charges.
- Network disruptions affecting reliable service.
One reviewer described a billing dispute directly: “This company is not willing to work with its customers on payments… I would advise any/everyone to not do the bridgepay to keep service with this company.”
Another described a recurring customer service pattern: “I have to wait in a long line on the phone or in chat and if they just don’t feel like dealing with you, they just close the chat down… I’ve been with Cricket since 2015, but I’m really considering switching now.”
What reviewers liked:
- Knowledgeable in-store staff who resolved technical issues effectively.
- Consistent network coverage, inherited from AT&T’s infrastructure.
- Long-term value for customers who stuck with a plan for years without issues.
Who Cricket eSIM fits well: budget-conscious users who mainly need reliable data and don’t expect to contact customer support often.
Who it fits poorly: anyone who anticipates needing frequent support contact, or who has run into billing timing issues with prepaid carriers before.
Whether Cricket eSIM worth it holds up for you comes down to what you weigh more heavily: the price and AT&T-backed coverage, or the risk of a rough customer service experience if something goes wrong with billing. Overall cricket esim experience reports skew toward “the technology works fine, the company is harder to deal with when something goes wrong.
Cricket eSIM vs other prepaid carriers
| Carrier | Network | Data plans | Notable tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket | AT&T | $35–$60/mo, plus prepay options | Low Trustpilot rating, budget-friendly pricing |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | Sold in multi-month bundles | Cheaper upfront, requires prepaying months at once |
| Visible | Verizon | Simple unlimited-only pricing | Fewer plan tiers, no tiered data options |
| T-Mobile Prepaid | T-Mobile | Similar range to Cricket | Generally stronger network reputation, higher price |
| AT&T Prepaid | AT&T | Similar network to Cricket | Same underlying network as Cricket, different plan structure and pricing |
Cricket and AT&T Prepaid share the same underlying network, since Cricket is an AT&T brand. The real differences between them come down to plan structure and pricing, not coverage.
Cricket eSIM vs Visible comes down to network preference: Visible runs on Verizon, which may perform better or worse than AT&T depending on your location.
Cricket eSIM vs Mint Mobile is more about billing structure: Mint requires prepaying multiple months upfront for its lowest rates, while Cricket bills monthly by default outside of its promotional prepay tiers. Neither comparison has a universal winner, the right pick depends on which network already performs best where you live.
If your comparison extends beyond US prepaid carriers to international travel eSIMs, Yesim’s eSIM plans work in 200+ destinations and activate before you fly, a different use case than a US-only prepaid line like Cricket.
Conclusion
Cricket eSIM works well mechanically: activation is generally straightforward for compatible phones, and the plan lineup covers a reasonable range of budgets. The bigger risk sits with the customer support experience reflected in Cricket’s Trustpilot reviews, particularly around billing timing and getting a real person on the phone when something goes wrong, not with the eSIM technology itself.
For most prepaid users who rarely need support, Cricket’s pricing and AT&T-backed coverage are a solid fit. For anyone who values responsive support as much as price, weigh the reviews above before switching. iPhone users and anyone looking to drop a physical SIM entirely will find the eSIM setup itself is the easy part.
Max Pankratov
