Google Fi vs Cricket Wireless: Which Is Better?
The Google-run MVNO built for globe-trotting Pixel owners versus AT&T's own budget brand riding its full network at half the price. Six rounds. Real numbers. One honest scorecard.
The verdict
Cricket Wireless takes it, 5–1 on rounds.
Google Fi is a travel tool that happens to make calls; Cricket Wireless is AT&T's own budget network — pick based on whether you cross borders regularly or just want the cheapest reliable line.
Choose Google Fi if…
- • You're a frequent international traveler who wants data that just works abroad
- • You own a Pixel phone and want automatic dual-network switching
Choose Cricket Wireless if…
- • You want the lowest predictable price for a single line or a family of 4
- • You want AT&T's award-winning network and an actual store to walk into
Round by round
- Round 1Price for a Single LineCricket Wireless winsGoogle Fi4/10
$50-$65/mo
Unlimited Standard or Premium, single line
- Simple two-tier pricing, no per-GB math
- Base tier roughly doubled from $20 to $50/mo since 2021
- Premium tier needed just to unlock decent hotspot/perks
Source: Google Fi plan pricing
Cricket Wireless9/10$30-$55/mo
Select Unlimited $35/mo with Auto Pay; taxes/fees included
- Select Unlimited at $35/mo with Auto Pay
- Taxes and fees included in the sticker price
- Cheapest $30 Sensible plan is data-capped at 10GB
Source: Cricket Wireless plan pricing
Fi charges Google-brand prices; Cricket charges AT&T's-own-budget-brand prices.
- Round 2Network Coverage & ReliabilityCricket Wireless winsGoogle Fi5/10
Switching only on Pixel; reactivation complaints
- Automatic dual-network switching on Pixel phones in weak-signal areas
- Non-Pixel/iPhone users get zero network-switching, just plain T-Mobile
- Trustpilot reviewers report severe signal/reactivation problems
Cricket Wireless7/10Full AT&T network
Same towers as AT&T postpaid; AT&T won RootMetrics H1 2025 best-overall award
- Runs on full AT&T network — same coverage as AT&T postpaid
- AT&T rated best overall/most reliable in H1 2025 RootMetrics awards
- Data deprioritized behind AT&T postpaid during congestion
Source: RootMetrics H1 2025 / Cricket network data
Fi's network trick barely works unless you own the right phone; Cricket's network trick is just being on AT&T.
- Round 3International Travel & RoamingGoogle Fi winsGoogle Fi9/10
50GB abroad
Free high-speed data in 200+ countries on Unlimited Premium
- 50GB free high-speed data in 200+ countries on Premium
- International calls to 50+ countries included on Premium
- No SIM swaps or travel passes needed abroad
- Requires periodically returning to the US or risking plan restrictions
Source: Google Fi international data
Cricket Wireless3/10Texting only
200+ countries texting; no included international data roaming
- International texting included to 200+ countries on Smart/Supreme tiers
- No included international data roaming abroad
- Mexico/Canada is the only destination with real roaming perks
Source: Cricket Wireless plan data
This is Fi's entire reason to exist, and it shows — Cricket isn't even trying to compete here.
- Round 4Family & Multi-Line PricingCricket Wireless winsGoogle Fi4/10
~$110/mo, 2 lines
No published flat 4-line group rate
- Per-line cost falls with more lines on one account
- No published flat 4-line rate like prepaid competitors
- ~$110/mo just for 2 lines on Premium
Source: Google Fi plan pricing
Cricket Wireless8/10$100/mo, 4 lines
$25/line advertised family price on Select Unlimited
- $100/mo total for 4 lines ($25/line) on Select Unlimited
- Advertised family price point, no calling in for a quote
- New-line-only pricing can rise after the first month
Source: Cricket Wireless plan pricing
Fi makes you guess the family price; Cricket puts it on the homepage.
- Round 5Customer Service & TrustCricket Wireless winsGoogle Fi4/10
1.3-1.4/5 Trustpilot, app-only
- App/chat support available around the clock
- 1.3-1.4/5 on Trustpilot
- No physical retail stores for in-person help
- Multiple reports of days-long reactivation failures
Cricket Wireless6/101.6/5 Trustpilot, but real stores
- Nationwide retail stores for in-person support
- Rated higher than Fi on Trustpilot, though still weak
- Frequent complaints about rude/unhelpful reps and billing glitches
Neither one is good at this — but only one of them has a store you can walk into when the app fails you.
- Round 6Perks & ExtrasCricket Wireless winsGoogle Fi6/10
Google One + YouTube Premium
Bundled on Unlimited Premium ($65/mo) only
- 100GB Google One storage + 6 months YouTube Premium on Premium plan
- Data-only eSIM for tablets, laptops, smartwatches
- Perks only unlock on the pricier $65 Premium tier
Source: Google Fi plan data
Cricket Wireless7/10HBO Max Basic
Bundled free on Supreme Unlimited ($55/mo)
- HBO Max Basic (with ads) bundled free on Supreme Unlimited
- Mexico/Canada calling and roaming included on top tiers
- Multi-month prepay plans push effective price down to $25/mo
Source: Cricket Wireless plan data
Fi's perks reward Google loyalty; Cricket's perks come bundled in for less money overall.
Which one is for you?
Frequent international traveler on a Pixel phone
→ Google Fi · 50GB free data in 200+ countries, automatic network switching
Single-line user who wants the cheapest reliable plan
→ Cricket Wireless · $35/mo unlimited on AT&T's full network
Family of 4 wanting a predictable, advertised bill
→ Cricket Wireless · $100/mo total for 4 lines, no calling required
Someone who wants an in-person store for support
→ Cricket Wireless · Cricket has nationwide retail stores; Fi is app-only
Google FiSide by side
- No contract, no credit check
- Automatic T-Mobile/US Cellular switching on Pixel phones
- 50GB free high-speed data in 200+ countries
- International calls to 50+ countries included on Premium
- $35/mo true unlimited undercuts Verizon by nearly $20/mo
- Taxes and fees included — no surprise line items
- Same physical AT&T towers as AT&T postpaid
- Full nationwide 5G access on every plan
- Double Visible's base price for a single line
- Base tier price roughly doubled between 2021 and 2025
- No network switching on iPhone or most Android phones
- US Cellular partner network is shrinking as T-Mobile absorbs it
- Cheapest $25/mo effective rate requires a 12-month prepay
- AT&T's national rankings trail Verizon's H2 2025 sweep
- Deprioritized behind AT&T postpaid on every plan, no exceptions
- Video capped to SD (480p) even on the top Supreme Unlimited tier