Cricket Wireless Select Unlimited sits at the bottom of Cricket’s three-plan unlimited lineup — between the older capped Sensible 10GB tier ($30/mo) and the mid-tier Smart Unlimited ($50/mo or $45 AutoPay). The plan delivers genuine AT&T-network unlimited service at the lowest possible price point, but with substantial trade-offs that make it unsuitable for many users who’d casually consider it.
After evaluating Select Unlimited against the rest of Cricket’s lineup and competing entry-tier prepaid unlimited plans on Verizon (Visible, Total Wireless) and T-Mobile (Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile), here’s what it actually delivers — and why most readers would benefit more from alternatives.
At a Glance
| Network | AT&T (5G + 4G LTE; deprioritized after congestion) |
| Price (1 line standard) | $40/mo (taxes included) |
| Price (1 line with AutoPay) | $35/mo (taxes included; $5 credit starting month 2) |
| Price (4 lines) | $100/mo total ($25/line) |
| High-speed data | Unlimited (deprioritized) |
| Hotspot | NOT included (paid add-on) |
| International (MX/Canada) | Unlimited talk and text from U.S. (data roaming NOT included) |
| 5G access | Yes (compatible device required) |
| Cloud storage | None |
| HBO Max | None |
| Eligibility | NEW customers only |
| Contract | None |
| Pricing model | All-in (taxes/fees included) |
The “New Customers Only” Restriction
Before going further, this is the single most important detail to understand: Cricket Select Unlimited is restricted to new Cricket customers only. If you’re already on a Cricket plan, you cannot switch to Select Unlimited. This restriction is unusual in the prepaid market and significantly affects who can benefit from this plan.
If you’re already a Cricket customer, your options are:
- Stay on your current plan (the most common path)
- Cancel and re-sign up as a new customer (allowed only every 365 days for port-in pricing per Cricket’s terms; not always practical)
- Upgrade to Smart Unlimited ($45 with AutoPay) or Supreme Unlimited ($55 with AutoPay) — both available to existing customers
The restriction makes sense from Cricket’s marketing perspective (it’s an acquisition-focused promotional tier), but it means many potential readers of this review can’t actually buy this plan even if they want to.
→ If you’re a current Cricket customer, see our Smart Unlimited review and Supreme Unlimited review for plans you can actually switch to.
Pricing: Standard vs AutoPay
Cricket’s pricing structure has two tiers worth understanding clearly:
Standard rate: $40/month
The base price for new Select Unlimited customers without AutoPay enrollment. Taxes and regulatory fees are included — the $40 you see is the $40 you pay. No surprise charges.
AutoPay rate: $35/month (effective)
Cricket offers a $5 AutoPay credit starting in your second month of service. The first month is at standard $40 rate; from month 2 onward, you pay $35 effective. Over 12 months, AutoPay saves $55 annually.
Multi-line discounts:
Cricket’s family plan structure is genuinely strong — per-line costs drop significantly as you add lines:
- 1 line: $40/mo ($35 AutoPay)
- 2 lines: ~$60/mo total ($30/line)
- 3 lines: ~$80/mo total ($26.67/line)
- 4 lines: $100/mo total ($25/line)
- 5 lines: $120/mo total ($24/line)
At 4 lines, Select Unlimited’s per-line economics ($25/line all-in) are competitive with the cheapest single-line plans in the entire wireless market. This is the plan’s strongest value proposition for the right buyer profile.
→ Verify multi-line pricing structure on cricketwireless.com — pricing may have additional restrictions.
What “Unlimited” Actually Means on Select
Select Unlimited is marketed as “unlimited talk, text, and data” — and there’s an important detail. The plan includes unlimited data with deprioritization, not unlimited priority data.
Practical implications:
- First-tier priority customers (AT&T postpaid, Cricket Supreme Unlimited) get faster speeds during network congestion
- Select Unlimited customers are deprioritized during peak hours in busy locations
- Routine daily use in non-congested areas delivers the same network performance as more expensive AT&T plans
- Stadium events, airports during peak hours, downtown cores at busy times may see noticeably slower speeds
For Wi-Fi-first users who spend most of their day on home or office Wi-Fi, deprioritization rarely matters. For users who heavily depend on cellular data in dense urban areas during peak hours, the experience may feel meaningfully slower than priority plans.
Per Cricket’s terms: Video streaming on Select Unlimited is typically limited to standard definition (480p).
Network and Coverage
Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T and operates on AT&T’s nationwide 5G and 4G LTE network — the same towers as direct AT&T postpaid customers. Coverage is strong across most of the U.S., with AT&T historically holding particularly strong signal in Texas, the Southeast, and major metros nationwide.
5G access is included with all Cricket plans, but requires a compatible device. AT&T’s 5G+ networks are deployed in many urban and suburban markets, with continuing expansion.
The plan’s biggest network limitation isn’t basic coverage — it’s the deprioritization during congestion that distinguishes Select Unlimited from priority-tier plans on the same network.
→ For state-by-state AT&T coverage breakdowns, see our USA Coverage Guides.
What You Get
Every Cricket Wireless Select Unlimited plan includes:
- Unlimited talk and text on AT&T’s network
- Unlimited deprioritized data on AT&T’s 5G network
- Unlimited talk and text from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada
- Unlimited international texting from the U.S. to 200+ countries
- 5G access where available (compatible device required)
- All-in pricing (taxes and regulatory fees included)
- $5 AutoPay credit (starting month 2)
- Multi-line discounts up to 5 lines
- In-store retail support at thousands of Cricket Wireless locations
- Cricket app for self-service account management
- No contract or early termination fees
What You Don’t Get
Select Unlimited has substantial gaps versus Cricket’s higher tiers:
- No mobile hotspot — must be added as a paid add-on
- No data roaming in Mexico/Canada — only voice/text included; full data roaming requires Smart or Supreme
- No HBO Max — Supreme Unlimited only
- No cloud storage — Smart adds 100GB; Supreme adds 150GB
- No priority data — deprioritized below Supreme Unlimited and AT&T postpaid customers
- Video limited to SD — standard definition (~480p) cellular streaming
- Eligibility restriction — new customers only; existing Cricket customers cannot switch
- No 5G+ priority — basic 5G access only
- No annual prepay discount — Cricket offers Multi-Month plans (3-month or 12-month) but with different pricing structure than Select monthly
- No watch lines — separate $10/mo Smartwatch plan available
Real-World Performance
In daily use within typical conditions, Select Unlimited delivers solid AT&T-network performance for users who don’t push the plan’s limitations. Here’s what to expect:
Calling and texting. Identical to direct AT&T service — voice quality and text reliability unchanged.
Web browsing and social media. Smooth on standard 5G during off-peak hours. May feel slower during peak congestion in dense areas as Select is deprioritized below higher tiers.
Navigation and rideshare. Maps load instantly. Real-time traffic and ETA calculations stay current. Location services aren’t bandwidth-dependent, so deprioritization rarely matters here.
Light streaming. Music and SD video work reliably. Higher-resolution video may stream at lower quality due to the standard-definition cap on Select Unlimited.
Heavy mobile workflows. Becomes noticeably slower than Smart Unlimited or Supreme Unlimited during peak congestion. Rideshare drivers, delivery workers, and mobile professionals will likely find Select restrictive.
Video calls. Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meet maintain stable quality during off-peak hours. Quality may dip during congestion peaks.
Hotspot tethering. Not included by default. If you add hotspot via paid add-on, performance is reduced compared to plans with included high-speed hotspot allotments. For sustained tethering needs, choose Smart Unlimited (15GB hotspot included) or Supreme Unlimited (50GB hotspot included).
How No-Hotspot Affects Daily Use
The absence of included hotspot is the plan’s biggest practical limitation for many users. Concrete scenarios where this matters:
- Working from a coffee shop: Without hotspot, you can’t tether your laptop to your phone for backup connectivity if shop Wi-Fi fails
- Travel days: No tethering means relying entirely on hotel/destination Wi-Fi
- Backup home internet: Can’t use phone as emergency hotspot during outages
- Multi-device work: Can’t tether tablet, second phone, or other devices to your line
For users who genuinely never tether, this isn’t a constraint. For users who occasionally rely on tethering even briefly, stepping up to Smart Unlimited ($10/month more) for 15GB included hotspot is one of the strongest upgrade value propositions in Cricket’s lineup.
Hotspot can be added to Select Unlimited as a paid add-on, but the cost-per-gigabyte typically isn’t competitive with included hotspot on Smart or Supreme. Verify add-on pricing on cricketwireless.com if you need any hotspot capability.
Customer Experience
Cricket offers comprehensive customer support for an MVNO:
- In-store retail support at thousands of Cricket Wireless locations nationwide (more than most MVNOs)
- Phone support with traditional 1-800 customer service
- Cricket app for self-service account management
- Online chat through cricketwireless.com
- AT&T ownership benefit — Cricket has the financial backing of AT&T’s parent company
The retail infrastructure is genuinely meaningful versus pure-digital MVNOs (Visible, Mint Mobile, US Mobile). Cricket has consistently scored above MVNO average in customer satisfaction surveys, partly due to the in-store option for users who prefer in-person troubleshooting.
What works well:
- Walk-in support at Cricket retail stores nationwide
- Cricket app is well-designed for self-service
- All-in pricing with no surprise taxes/fees
- Cricket Passport international add-on for travelers (separate from included MX/Canada features)
Where it falls short:
- Phone support hours and quality vary by region
- AT&T network outages affect Cricket service identically
- Some advanced features (eSIM transfers, complex porting issues) may have more friction than direct postpaid
How Cricket Select Unlimited Compares
Select Unlimited has natural alternatives within Cricket’s lineup and across competing prepaid plans. Here’s how the comparison shakes out — and why most readers should consider alternatives.
Cricket Select Unlimited vs. Cricket Smart Unlimited
| Feature | Select Unlimited | Smart Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Price standard | $40/mo | $50/mo |
| Price with AutoPay | $35/mo | $45/mo |
| Eligibility | New customers only | All customers |
| High-speed data | Unlimited (deprioritized) | Unlimited (deprioritized; possibly higher priority) |
| Hotspot | None included | 15GB included |
| Mexico/Canada data roaming | None | Full data roaming included |
| Cloud storage | None | 100GB included |
| Multi-line at 4 lines | $25/line | $27.50/line |
For just $10/month more (or $1.50/month per line at 4 lines), Smart Unlimited delivers 15GB of included hotspot, full Mexico/Canada data roaming, 100GB cloud storage, and is available to existing Cricket customers. This is one of the strongest upgrade value propositions in Cricket’s lineup. For nearly all users, Smart Unlimited is the better pick within Cricket Wireless.
→ Read our full Cricket Smart Unlimited review for the mid-tier comparison.
Cricket Select Unlimited vs. Cricket Supreme Unlimited
| Feature | Select Unlimited | Supreme Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Price standard | $40/mo | $60/mo |
| Price with AutoPay | $35/mo | $55/mo |
| High-speed data | Unlimited (deprioritized) | Unlimited (priority data) |
| Hotspot | None | 50GB |
| HBO Max with Ads | None | Included |
| Cloud storage | None | 150GB |
| Mexico/Canada data | None | Full roaming included |
Supreme Unlimited is Cricket’s flagship — and it includes priority data (the only Cricket plan that does), 50GB hotspot, HBO Max, and 150GB cloud storage. For users who want the full premium experience with bundled streaming, Supreme is genuinely worth the $20/month premium over Select. For users who don’t need streaming bundles or large hotspot, Smart Unlimited is the smarter middle pick.
→ Read our full Cricket Supreme Unlimited review for the flagship comparison.
Cricket Select Unlimited vs. Visible Base
| Feature | Cricket Select Unlimited | Visible Base |
|---|---|---|
| Price (1 line) | $40/mo all-in ($35 AutoPay) | $25/mo all-in (with promo) |
| Network | AT&T (deprioritized) | Verizon (deprioritized) |
| High-speed data | Unlimited (deprioritized) | Unlimited (deprioritized) |
| Hotspot | None | Unlimited at 5 Mbps |
| Apple Watch | $10/mo add-on | Included free |
| In-store support | Yes (Cricket retail) | No (digital-only) |
| Eligibility | New customers only | All customers |
Visible Base on Verizon’s network delivers unlimited deprioritized data, unlimited hotspot at 5 Mbps, free Apple Watch service, and is open to all customers — at less than two-thirds the price of Cricket Select. For non-AT&T-loyal users without strong preference for in-store support, Visible Base is dramatically better value. Choose Cricket Select specifically if you need AT&T’s coverage, want walk-in retail support, or prefer multi-line family economics.
→ Read our full Visible Base plan review for the alternative.
Cricket Select Unlimited vs. AT&T Prepaid Unlimited Enhanced Plus
| Feature | Cricket Select Unlimited | AT&T Prepaid Enhanced Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price (1 line) | $40/mo all-in ($35 AutoPay) | $45/mo + taxes (~$50 effective) |
| Network | AT&T (Cricket — MVNO) | AT&T (Prepaid direct) |
| High-speed data | Unlimited (deprioritized) | Unlimited (deprioritized) |
| Hotspot | None | 10GB included |
| Mexico/Canada data | None | Included |
| In-store support | Cricket retail | AT&T retail (limited prepaid) |
Both run on AT&T’s network. Cricket Select is cheaper at $40 vs ~$50 effective for AT&T Prepaid Enhanced Plus, but AT&T Prepaid Enhanced Plus includes 10GB hotspot, Mexico/Canada data roaming, and is open to all customers. For users who need any hotspot or international data, AT&T Prepaid Enhanced Plus is the better value despite the higher price. Cricket Select wins purely on price for users who specifically don’t need hotspot or international data.
→ Read our full AT&T Prepaid Enhanced Plus review for the alternative.
→ For more comparisons, see our Best Cheap Phone Plans and Best Prepaid Phone Plans.
Who Should Choose Cricket Select Unlimited
Wi-Fi-first households on AT&T’s network. If you spend most of your day on home or office Wi-Fi, don’t tether, and specifically need AT&T’s network coverage, Select Unlimited is Cricket’s cheapest unlimited option.
Multi-line families wanting AT&T-network economics. At $25/line for 4 lines ($100/mo total all-in), Select Unlimited delivers competitive per-line pricing for families on AT&T’s network — meaningful versus AT&T postpaid’s higher rates.
New Cricket customers who specifically don’t need hotspot. If you’ve never been a Cricket subscriber and genuinely don’t tether, Select Unlimited’s $40/mo all-in pricing is competitive entry to AT&T-network unlimited prepaid.
Light data users. Users who primarily use phones for calls, texts, and casual cellular use without tethering or heavy streaming. The deprioritization rarely matters for this profile.
Frequent Mexico/Canada visitors who only need calling/texting. The included unlimited talk and text from the U.S. to MX/Canada is genuine — useful for users with family connections across borders.
Users in markets with strong AT&T coverage but limited carrier choices. If AT&T is the most reliable carrier in your area and you want unlimited prepaid at the lowest price, Select Unlimited fits.
See Cricket Select Unlimited →
Who Should Skip Cricket Select Unlimited
Existing Cricket customers. You can’t switch to Select Unlimited — it’s new-customers-only. Stay on your current plan or upgrade to Smart Unlimited or Supreme Unlimited.
Anyone who tethers even occasionally. No hotspot included makes Select restrictive. Cricket Smart Unlimited at $10/month more delivers 15GB of included hotspot — one of the strongest upgrade value propositions in Cricket’s lineup.
Users wanting Mexico/Canada data roaming. Smart Unlimited and Supreme Unlimited include full data roaming; Select includes only voice/text. For users who actually use data abroad, the upgrade is necessary.
Users wanting bundled streaming or cloud storage. No streaming services or cloud storage on Select. Smart adds 100GB cloud storage; Supreme adds HBO Max plus 150GB cloud.
Heavy data users in congested markets. Deprioritization plus standard-definition video cap makes Select restrictive for users who heavily depend on cellular in dense urban areas.
Non-AT&T-loyal users. Visible Base at $25/mo all-in on Verizon’s network delivers more for less than half the price for users without specific AT&T preference.
Users on T-Mobile coverage. Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and other T-Mobile MVNOs offer competitive pricing on T-Mobile’s network — better fit for users where T-Mobile is strong.
Users wanting priority data. Only Cricket Supreme Unlimited offers priority data within Cricket’s lineup. Select customers are deprioritized below both Cricket Supreme and AT&T postpaid customers.
How to Switch to Cricket Select Unlimited
The switching process applies only if you’re a new Cricket customer:
- Verify you’re eligible. If you’ve been a Cricket customer in the last 12 months, you may not qualify for new-customer pricing. Confirm eligibility on cricketwireless.com.
- Verify AT&T coverage at your home, work, and frequent travel destinations using AT&T’s coverage map. Cricket coverage mirrors AT&T directly.
- Confirm you genuinely don’t need hotspot. This is the biggest practical limitation. If you tether at all, choose Smart Unlimited instead.
- Check phone compatibility. Most modern unlocked phones work; Cricket includes a compatibility checker on cricketwireless.com.
- Get your account info from your current carrier — account number and Number Transfer PIN.
- Sign up via cricketwireless.com or in-store. In-store activation may include device promotions and immediate eSIM activation.
- Enroll in AutoPay for the $5 monthly credit starting month 2.
- Activate service. eSIM activation is instant on supported phones; physical SIM ships in 1-3 business days.
Don’t cancel your old service before the port completes — Cricket handles cancellation automatically once your number transfers.
Final Verdict
Cricket Wireless Select Unlimited earns 6.5/10 in our cross-carrier rankings — a niche plan that fills a specific buyer profile within Cricket’s lineup.
The plan delivers genuine AT&T-network unlimited service at the lowest price in Cricket’s lineup ($40/mo standard or $35/mo with AutoPay, all-in). For Wi-Fi-first households on AT&T’s network who don’t tether, the value works — particularly at multi-line family pricing ($25/line at 4 lines). For these specific users, Select Unlimited is genuinely competitive entry into AT&T-network unlimited prepaid.
For nearly everyone else, better alternatives exist:
For users who tether even occasionally, Cricket Smart Unlimited at $10/month more delivers 15GB of included hotspot, Mexico/Canada data roaming, and 100GB cloud storage. This is one of the most favorable upgrade paths in the entire prepaid market.
For non-AT&T-loyal users, Visible Base at $25/mo all-in on Verizon’s network delivers more data flexibility (unlimited hotspot at 5 Mbps), Apple Watch support, and significantly lower cost.
For existing Cricket customers, Select Unlimited isn’t an option — the new-customers-only restriction means you’ll need to look at Smart Unlimited or Supreme Unlimited instead.
For users wanting premium features (HBO Max, 50GB hotspot, priority data, 150GB cloud storage), Cricket Supreme Unlimited at $20/month more delivers Cricket’s flagship experience — meaningful upgrade for users who actually use the bundled features.
The honest takeaway: Cricket Select Unlimited fills a niche but it’s a small niche. Most readers shopping a budget AT&T-network plan would benefit more from stepping up to Smart Unlimited or stepping out to MVNO alternatives like Visible Base. Choose Select Unlimited specifically if you’re a new Cricket customer who genuinely doesn’t tether AND wants AT&T-network multi-line family pricing — otherwise, look elsewhere.
Get Cricket Select Unlimited →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cricket Select Unlimited worth it? For Wi-Fi-first new Cricket customers who don’t tether and want AT&T’s network at the lowest possible unlimited price, yes. It earns 6.5/10 in our rankings — Cricket’s lowest-scored unlimited tier. For everyone else, Cricket Smart Unlimited at $10/month more delivers 15GB hotspot and full Mexico/Canada data roaming, and Visible Base at $25/mo all-in delivers more for less than half the price.
Can I switch from another Cricket plan to Select Unlimited? No. Cricket Select Unlimited is restricted to new customers only. Existing Cricket subscribers cannot switch to this plan. If you’re already on Cricket, your options are to stay on your current plan, upgrade to Smart Unlimited or Supreme Unlimited, or cancel and re-sign up as a new customer (with port-in restrictions per Cricket’s terms).
Does Select Unlimited include hotspot? No — this is the plan’s biggest practical limitation. Hotspot is NOT included on Select Unlimited and must be added as a paid add-on. For users who tether at all, Smart Unlimited at $10/month more includes 15GB of high-speed hotspot, and Supreme Unlimited includes 50GB. The Smart upgrade is one of the most favorable value propositions in Cricket’s lineup.
Does Select Unlimited work in Mexico and Canada? Partially. Select includes unlimited talk and text from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada — useful for cross-border calls. However, data roaming in Mexico and Canada is NOT included on Select Unlimited. For users who need actual data while abroad, Smart Unlimited and Supreme Unlimited include full Mexico/Canada data roaming.
Are taxes and fees included in the $40 price? Yes. Cricket uses all-in pricing — the $40/month rate (or $35 with AutoPay) includes taxes and regulatory fees. This contrasts with major postpaid plans, which typically charge 8-15% additional taxes on top of advertised rates. The $40 you see at signup is the $40 you pay each month.
Is Cricket Select Unlimited really unlimited? Talk and text are unlimited without restrictions. Data is “unlimited” with deprioritization — you won’t be cut off at any data threshold, but speeds may slow during network congestion in dense areas. Video streaming on Select is typically limited to standard definition (about 480p). For routine use, the deprioritization rarely matters; for heavy users in congested markets, it can be noticeable.
What’s the difference between Select Unlimited and Smart Unlimited? Select Unlimited ($40/mo, $35 AutoPay) includes unlimited talk/text/data with no hotspot and no Mexico/Canada data roaming, available only to new customers. Smart Unlimited ($50/mo, $45 AutoPay) adds 15GB of hotspot, full Mexico/Canada data roaming, 100GB cloud storage, and is available to all customers. The $10/month upgrade delivers significantly more value for nearly all users.
Can I bring my own phone to Cricket Select Unlimited? Yes. Cricket is a Bring-Your-Own-Device carrier on AT&T’s network. Most modern unlocked phones (iPhones XS and newer, recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices) work without issue. Use Cricket’s free compatibility checker on cricketwireless.com to confirm your specific device. eSIM-capable phones activate fastest. If your phone is locked to a previous carrier, request an unlock first.
Carrier offerings change frequently. Pricing, plan terms, network performance, and promotional offers verified at publication but may differ at time of reading. Always confirm on the carrier’s official website before signing up.
Methodology: We evaluate every carrier on network reliability, real-world data performance, hotspot usability, and long-term pricing transparency. See our full methodology →.
