Cricket Wireless does not offer home internet — it is a mobile phone carrier only

Cricket Wireless provides cellular service for phones and tablets, not broadband for your home. If you arrived here looking for a home internet option, Cricket is not one. The company is owned by AT&T and operates on AT&T's network, but it does not sell fixed home internet service the way AT&T does through AT&T Fiber or AT&T Internet.

This matters because some people confuse Cricket with other carriers that do offer home options. Verizon, for example, sells both mobile plans and Verizon Home Internet (a fixed wireless product). Cricket does not have an equivalent. Your home internet and your phone service would need to come from separate providers.

Key Takeaways

  • Cricket Wireless is a mobile-only carrier and does not sell home broadband service of any kind.
  • If you need both mobile and home internet, you will need to sign up with two different providers.
  • AT&T (Cricket's parent company) does offer home internet through AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet, but these are separate products with separate bills.
  • Other carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile offer fixed wireless home internet options, but Cricket does not.

What Cricket Wireless actually sells

Cricket offers prepaid and postpaid mobile phone plans. You buy a plan, use it on your phone or tablet, and pay a monthly bill. The service runs on AT&T's cellular network, which is why Cricket is often cheaper than AT&T's own branded plans — you get the same network coverage but with fewer perks and lower prices.

Cricket does not have a home internet product, a home phone service, or any fixed broadband offering. If you want home internet, you need to look at other providers in your area. Your options depend on what is available at your address — fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.

How to find home internet if you use Cricket for mobile

Start by checking what providers serve your address. Use a broadband map tool like the FCC's National Broadband Map or BroadbandNow to see what is available. Enter your street address and you will see which companies offer service there, along with their speeds and technology type.

Once you know what is available, compare them on speed, price, and data limits. Fiber is fastest but not available everywhere. Cable is widely available and reasonably fast. Fixed wireless (from Verizon, T-Mobile, or others) is newer and works in some rural areas where cable is not. DSL is slower but available in many places. Satellite is the fallback if nothing else reaches your address, though it has higher latency and data caps.

You can keep Cricket for your phone and choose any home internet provider. There is no requirement to bundle them, and in most cases you will save money by not bundling anyway.

Why some people think Cricket offers home internet

The confusion often comes from Cricket being owned by AT&T. AT&T does sell home internet — both AT&T Fiber (fiber optic) and AT&T Internet (DSL). But these are separate brands with separate customer service, separate billing, and separate availability. Just because you can get Cricket service at your address does not mean you can get AT&T Fiber there.

Additionally, other major carriers have launched home internet products in recent years. Verizon Home Internet (fixed wireless) and T-Mobile Home Internet (also fixed wireless) are both available in many areas. This makes it straightforward to assume Cricket has one too, but it does not. Cricket remains mobile-only.

What to do if you need both mobile and home internet

Choose your home internet first based on what is available at your address and what speed you need. Then choose your mobile carrier separately. Cricket is a good mobile option if you want a lower price and do not mind prepaid service, but it will not solve your home internet need.

If you want to bundle mobile and home internet with one company, your options are AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or a cable provider like Comcast or Charter. Bundling sometimes saves money, but not always — compare the bundled price against buying each service separately before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Cricket's mobile hotspot as my home internet?

Technically yes, but it is not a good solution. Mobile hotspots are meant for occasional use on the go, not constant home use. You would burn through data limits quickly, speeds would be inconsistent, and Cricket's terms of service may restrict this use. A real home internet plan is cheaper and more reliable.

If I switch to a different mobile carrier, can I keep my Cricket phone number?

Yes. You can port your number to another carrier. Contact the new carrier and they will handle the transfer. You will need your account number and PIN from Cricket. This does not affect your home internet choice — they are completely separate.

Does AT&T Fiber count as Cricket service?

No. AT&T Fiber is a separate product from a separate division of AT&T. It has its own billing, customer service, and availability. You can have Cricket mobile and AT&T Fiber home internet, but they are two different services with two different bills.

What if Cricket is the only mobile carrier that works well at my address?

You can still use Cricket for mobile and choose any home internet provider that serves your address. Mobile coverage and home internet availability do not have to match. Many people use one carrier for their phone and a completely different company for home internet.