Tello vs Cricket Wireless for a light-data user under $20/month

If you spend most of your day on Wi-Fi and only lean on cellular data for maps, the occasional video call, and some scrolling between Wi-Fi networks, you are exactly the kind of person who should not be paying $70+ a month for an unlimited plan you never come close to using. Two of the most popular budget options for light-data users are Tello and Cricket Wireless. They take very different routes to a sub-$20 bill, and the right pick depends almost entirely on which network covers you and how much hand-holding you want when something goes wrong.

This comparison is research-based, drawn from each carrier's published pricing, plan structures, and the patterns reported by users across review communities. We did not run our own field speed tests. What we can do is line up the two plans honestly so you can match them to how you actually use your phone.

Disclosure: PlumSignal earns a commission when you sign up through some of the links on this page, via Commission Junction (CJ), at no extra cost to you. Commissions never affect how we rank or describe a plan. CJ affiliate links for these carriers are pending program approval, so treat all pricing below as illustrative — plans, promos, and prices change often and vary by region, so confirm current pricing and coverage on the carrier's own site before you sign up.

The 30-second answer

• Pick Tello if you want the absolute lowest possible bill and you live or work in an area with solid T-Mobile coverage. Tello's build-your-own plans let a true light user land somewhere in the $8–$14/month range based on published pricing, because you only pay for the data you choose.
• Pick Cricket Wireless if AT&T's network is stronger where you are, you want a simple unlimited-style plan without micromanaging gigabytes, or you'd rather walk into a store for setup and support. Cricket's entry plans typically sit a bit higher but stay comfortably under $20 on the lower tiers per its published pricing.

Now the details that actually decide it.

Head-to-head comparison

Here is how the two stack up on the dimensions that matter most to a light-data switcher. All figures are based on each carrier's published pricing and plan descriptions; confirm current terms before buying.

Check current options: Tello - Cricket Wireless

Network coverage: the deciding factor most people skip

Because both are MVNOs (carriers that rent capacity from a larger network), your real-world experience is dictated by the host network — not by the brand on the bill. Tello runs on T-Mobile, while Cricket Wireless runs on AT&T, since Cricket is AT&T-owned.

This is the single most important thing to check before you switch, and it is genuinely region-specific. T-Mobile has historically been very strong in dense suburban and urban areas, while AT&T is frequently reported as the steadier option across stretches of rural and small-town America. Neither is universally "better." The honest move: ask a few neighbors, friends, or coworkers which network actually works at your home, your office, and your commute. A $9 plan is worthless if you have one bar in your kitchen.

One nuance worth knowing for light users specifically: MVNO traffic can be deprioritized behind the host carrier's own postpaid customers when a tower gets congested. For someone using under 5GB on Wi-Fi most of the day, this rarely bites. For someone who streams on cellular at a packed stadium, it might. Confirm each carrier's current deprioritization language on its site.

Pricing and plan structure

This is where the two philosophies diverge.

Tello is the customization play. You assemble a plan from separate data and talk/text choices, which is why a genuinely light user can get the bill so low. Based on Tello's published pricing, small-data builds commonly land in the $8–$14/month band, and there's a talk-and-text-only option for people who barely touch data at all. There are no contracts and no credit check. The trade-off is that you have to think about your data tier — though Tello makes it easy to change month to month if you guess wrong.

Cricket is the keep-it-simple play. Instead of building a plan, you choose from a handful of fixed prepaid tiers, including unlimited options. Its lower tiers stay under $20 per its published pricing, and the appeal is that you stop thinking about gigabytes entirely. For light users who would rather overshoot a little than babysit a meter — or who specifically want unlimited as a safety net — that simplicity has real value.

A few fine-print items to verify on each carrier's site before you commit, because they quietly change the true monthly cost:

• Autopay requirements — some prepaid pricing assumes you've enrolled in autopay.
• Taxes and fees — prepaid plans often advertise prices closer to "all-in," but confirm what's included.
• Promo pricing vs. ongoing pricing — an intro rate can step up after a few months.
• Hotspot and high-speed data caps — relevant if you ever tether a laptop.

Switching, phones, and setup

Both carriers let you bring your own phone (BYOD) and keep your number, and both are prepaid, so neither runs a hard credit check. Check device compatibility on each carrier's site first — a phone tuned for T-Mobile bands isn't always ideal on AT&T and vice versa. If you're buying a new handset to switch, a budget unlocked Android is usually the cheapest path, and pairing one with a low-cost MVNO plan is the classic way to get a sub-$20 total cost of ownership.

Where the experience differs is support. Cricket Wireless has a large retail footprint, so if you want a human to swap your SIM, port your number, and confirm everything works before you walk out, that's a tangible advantage. Tello handles everything online and by phone — fine for the comfortable-with-tech crowd, less ideal if you'd rather not self-serve an activation.

Who should pick which

• The data-sipper chasing the lowest bill: Tello. If T-Mobile covers you and you're realistically under ~5GB, a build-your-own plan is hard to beat on price.
• The AT&T-coverage household that wants simple unlimited: Cricket Wireless. Stronger AT&T reception in your area plus a no-thinking flat plan is a clean fit.
• The second-line or backup-phone owner: Tello. The ability to dial data way down — or run talk/text-only — makes it ideal for a line that mostly sits idle.
• The switcher who wants in-person help: Cricket Wireless. Retail stores remove the activation anxiety for less technical users.

Not sure which network actually wins where you live, or how low your bill could realistically go? Run your numbers through the Plan Fit Finder — it matches real plans to how much data you actually use, your number of lines, and whether you prioritize coverage or cost, then estimates your savings versus a typical Big-3 unlimited bill.

The bottom line

For a light-data user with a budget under $20, this comes down to two questions. First: which network is stronger where you live and travel — T-Mobile (Tello) or AT&T (Cricket)? Second: do you want the lowest possible custom-built bill, or a simpler flat plan with walk-in support? If the answers point to "T-Mobile works fine and I want to pay as little as possible," start with Tello. If they point to "AT&T is my coverage and I'd rather keep it simple," start with Cricket Wireless. Either way, you're likely cutting your bill dramatically versus a premium unlimited plan you were never using to begin with — just confirm current pricing and coverage on the carrier's site first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tello or Cricket cheaper for someone who uses under 5GB a month?

Based on published pricing, Tello is usually the cheaper option for a true light user because its build-your-own plans let you pay only for a small data tier, often landing in the roughly $8–$14/month range. Cricket's entry tiers stay under $20 but are typically a bit higher because they're fixed plans rather than fully customizable. Pricing changes often, so confirm current rates on each carrier's site.

Do Tello and Cricket use the same cell network?

No — and this is the most important difference. Tello runs on T-Mobile's network, while Cricket Wireless runs on AT&T's network (Cricket is AT&T-owned). Your real-world coverage and speeds depend on the host network in your specific area, so check which one is strongest where you live, work, and commute before switching.

Do I need a credit check or contract for either one?

No. Both Tello and Cricket are prepaid carriers, so neither requires a hard credit check or a long-term contract. That makes both strong options for switchers who can't or don't want to pass a postpaid credit check. You can typically bring your own compatible phone and keep your existing number with either.

Can I bring my current phone to Tello or Cricket?

In most cases, yes — both support bring-your-own-device. The catch is band compatibility: a phone optimized for one network's bands won't always perform identically on the other. Check your specific phone's compatibility using each carrier's BYOD or compatibility checker before you order a SIM, and confirm whether your device supports the network's 5G bands if that matters to you.

Which is better for a backup or second line?

Tello tends to be the better fit for a backup or second line because you can set data very low — or choose a talk-and-text-only build — to keep a rarely-used line as cheap as possible. Cricket's fixed tiers are less granular for that use case, though its simplicity and store support can still appeal if you'd rather not manage the line yourself. Confirm current second-line and plan options on each carrier's site.