Cricket Wireless currently lists a 12-month Unlimited plan for $300 prepaid, or an effective $25 a month. Its advertised $300 saving is the difference between that price and 12 months of Cricket’s $50-per-month Smart Unlimited plan—not a rebate or bill credit. The offer is aimed at new, single-line customers who bring an unlocked, compatible phone and can accept a year of prepaid service.
The offer is not a new 2026 launch: Cricket announced multi-month plans in August 2023 at a different price. The current price and eligibility are those shown on Cricket’s Multi-Month Plans page; check the checkout screen before paying because availability and terms can change.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Cricket Wireless BYOD SIM Card Kit 5G, 5G+, 4G, LTE | $8.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Total Wireless Keep Your Own Phone 3-in-1 Prepaid SIM Kit | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Tracfone Prepaid Sim Card Kit (Verizon Network) | $6.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What the $300 plan costs—and what the claim means
| Item | Current listed terms |
|---|---|
| Service period | 12 months |
| Prepaid service price | $300 upfront |
| Effective monthly rate | $25, calculated as $300 divided by 12 |
| Cricket comparison plan | Smart Unlimited at $50 per month |
| Advertised saving | $300 over 12 months versus paying $50 monthly for 12 months |
| Account and phone | New single-line account; bring an unlocked, compatible device |
| Taxes | Included in the displayed plan price |
| Store activation fee | Cricket’s fact label lists a possible $25 fee in Cricket stores; other charges may apply |
| Hotspot | Not included; hotspot add-on unavailable |
| Refunds | Prepayment is nonrefundable under the published terms |
The arithmetic is $50 × 12 = $600 for the comparison plan, minus $300 for the annual plan, which equals $300. That is a comparison-based saving realized by paying less for a full year of service; Cricket does not send customers $300. The $300 annual price is for service, so account for any activation, SIM, device, or other applicable charge separately. Cricket’s broadband fact labels list the possible in-store activation fee.
The price differs from Cricket’s original announcement on August 23, 2023. At launch, the 12-month plan cost $360 upfront and was compared with a $55-per-month Unlimited plan. Those historical figures are not the current offer. See Cricket’s original announcement.
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#1 Best Overall
- How it works: Keep your number or get a new one. Easy activation on your phone or online. Simply insert the SIM card that matches your phone and activate. See the enclosed Activation Guide or visit activate.cricketwireless.com for details. Requires unlocked phone.
- Why Cricket?: People who come to Cricket, stay with Cricket. No credit checks. No Annual Contracts. Nationwide 5G network.
- Savings: Unlimited Talk & Text plans starting at $30/month. All plan taxes are included. See all rate plans at CricketWireless.com/rateplan. No-contract monthly service plan required for activation (sold separately).
- Plans starting at $30/month. See all rate plans at CricketWireless.com/rateplans
- Coverage: Fast, Nationwide 5G on all plans. Works with compatible phones, tablets & hotspots (see CricketWireless.com/check). Cricket 5G requires a compatible device and is not available everywhere (see CricketWireless.com/map for coverage details).
What the plan includes
- Unlimited data on a single line, with potential temporary slowdowns when the network is busy.
- Nationwide 5G access where coverage and a compatible phone support it. 5G availability does not guarantee 5G speeds in every location.
- Unlimited calls and texts from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada, plus plan use in Mexico and Canada subject to coverage and restrictions.
- Unlimited texts from the U.S. to more than 200 countries and territories.
- 2 GB of cloud storage.
- Taxes included in the displayed plan price.
“Unlimited” refers to data availability, not guaranteed speed, priority, hotspot access, or unrestricted international use. Cricket says video streams in standard definition; its terms cite roughly 1.5–2 Mbps maximum video speeds. Mexico and Canada usage has restrictions, and international roaming speeds may be reduced to 2G. Coverage is not guaranteed everywhere. Details are in Cricket’s Multi-Month Unlimited terms.
What you give up for the lower rate
- No mobile hotspot: Hotspot is not included, and Cricket says a hotspot add-on is unavailable for this plan. If you rely on tethering for work, travel, or backup internet, choose a plan that explicitly includes it rather than assuming you can add it later.
- No bundled premium-plan benefits: The offer does not include benefits attached to Cricket’s higher-priced monthly plans, including HBO Max Basic with Ads.
- No device promotion: It is a bring-your-own-device offer, so do not assume a Cricket phone discount or device purchase will qualify.
- No multi-line account: The plan is for a new single-line account, not a family account.
- Standard-definition video: It is a poor match if higher-quality streaming is important to you.
- Less flexibility: You pay for the selected term in advance and cannot treat the service like a month-to-month subscription.
Using unauthorized tethering to bypass the hotspot restriction may violate Cricket’s terms and could lead to throttling or termination. Check the plan details before relying on any feature that is not expressly included.
Who can sign up
Cricket’s published terms describe the offer for a new customer opening a new single-line account with their own unlocked, compatible phone. Existing Cricket monthly customers generally cannot convert their current account directly to the multi-month plan, and the terms rule out combining it with a multi-line account. The plan is BYOD-only; a Cricket device discount should not be assumed to apply.
Rank #2
- KIT INCLUDES: Universal SIM Card for you to activate your phone with Total Wireless. Compatible with CDMA phones with Micro, standard or Nano SIM cards. This item will not work on GSM based phones.
- COVERAGE: Stay connected, wherever. Get the Nationwide coverage you need on America's largest, most dependable 4G LTE network.
- WHY TOTAL WIRELESS: Get the Nationwide coverage you need on America's largest, most dependable 4G LTE network. A plan for you. A plan for everyone. Unlimited talk and text starts at just $25/line.
- BENEFITS: Keep your phone, network, and phone number. Compatible with most CDMA Smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy Series, HTC, LG, and all Apple iPhones. This item will not work on GSM based phones.
- Plans sold seperately.
Before paying, verify the phone and account eligibility:
- Confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked.
- Use Cricket’s device-compatibility and IMEI checks to verify network compatibility and that the device is eligible for activation.
- Check that the phone supports the required network technologies and that it is not reported lost or stolen.
- Confirm whether your phone uses eSIM or a physical SIM and that the activation route supports it.
- Review the final checkout total and terms before submitting the $300 payment.
Cricket’s multi-month plan FAQ identifies unlocked, compatible BYOD as a requirement. Enrollment and store availability may vary, so the final offer presented by Cricket controls.
Three months or 12 months?
| Option | Prepaid price | Effective monthly rate | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-month Unlimited | $120 for three months | $40 | Less cash committed at a time, but a higher monthly equivalent |
| 12-month Unlimited | $300 for 12 months | $25 | Lower monthly equivalent, but more money paid upfront and tied to a longer term |
Cricket says customers can choose another three-month period, switch to the 12-month option, or move to another Cricket plan at the end of the initial three months. See the current three-month Unlimited plan page for its terms. The shorter option can make sense if you want to test coverage or avoid committing for a year; compare the specific checkout terms before enrolling.
Rank #3
- KIT INCLUDES: Prepaid Verizon (Network) SIM Card used to activate GSM or CDMA compatible phones on our network. Simply insert this SIM Card in your device and follow the directions on your phone to join Tracfone.
- COVERAGE: Stay connected, wherever. Get the Nationwide coverage you need on America's largest, most dependable 5G network
- WHY Tracfone: At Tracfone, your unused texts, talk, and data never expire with active service. Tracfone plans are always convenient. You'll never have any bills, overages or mystery fees; Just great value without a commitment.
- HOW IT WORKS: Activate with any of our channels. You’ll choose a plan as part of the activation process, and you can keep your phone number if you no longer have a contract on the device you’re activating.
- Airtime: Plans as low as $20/mo sold seperately. Available on our Brand Store Page.
Prepayment, cancellation, and other fine print
Cricket’s published multi-month terms require full payment at activation and say the payment is not refundable in whole or in part. The plan cannot be changed or canceled until the last 30 days of the selected period. The terms also say it cannot be combined with AutoPay credit, device discounts, BridgePay, or add-on features. Do not count on getting unused service refunded if you leave early.
The $300 is the prepaid service price, not necessarily every dollar due to start service. Cricket’s fact label lists a possible $25 activation fee in its stores; a SIM, device, accessories, payment-assistance fee, or other transaction-related charge may add to the initial outlay. Confirm the amount shown for your order rather than assuming activation is free.
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When the annual plan makes financial sense
It may be a good fit if
- You already own an unlocked phone that Cricket accepts.
- You expect to use Cricket for the full 12 months and can comfortably pay the upfront amount.
- You want a low single-line rate, do not need hotspot service, and are satisfied with standard-definition video.
- You prefer a predictable displayed price with taxes included.
Look elsewhere if
- You depend on hotspot data, need a new phone or device financing, or want multiple lines on one account.
- You may move, switch carriers, or need to change plans before the prepaid term ends.
- You prioritize flexibility, higher-quality video, or premium-plan features.
- You need stronger certainty about performance during busy periods or unrestricted international use.
A family should compare the total cost and benefits of Cricket’s regular multi-line plans rather than assuming a single-line annual price is the best household deal. Likewise, compare any monthly alternative on more than its headline rate: include hotspot, video quality, device offers, international terms, taxes and fees, and what happens if you leave early. Current competitor prices are not established here, so check each provider’s offer directly rather than relying on an outdated comparison.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
