Cricket Features, Hotspot & International

Cricket Wireless includes more than talk, text, and mobile data. Depending on the plan you choose, Cricket can also provide mobile hotspot data, Wi-Fi Calling, cloud storage, HBO Max, Mexico and Canada usage, international texting, international calling add-ons, smartwatch service, and international roaming through Cricket Passport™.

Not every feature is available on every plan, so it is important to compare what is included before choosing service. Cricket’s higher-tier unlimited plans generally include the strongest hotspot and international benefits, while lower-cost plans keep the feature set simpler.

This guide breaks down Cricket’s main wireless features and explains which plans include them.

Features Included With Cricket Wireless

All current Cricket phone plans include a core set of wireless features, including:

• Nationwide 5G access with a compatible device
• Unlimited calling
• Unlimited SMS text messaging
• Unlimited picture and video messaging
• Voicemail and Visual Voicemail
• Caller ID
• Call Forwarding
• Call Waiting
• Three-Way Calling
• Wi-Fi Calling on compatible devices
• Messaging short codes
• Cricket Call Defense spam warnings and fraud call blocking on compatible phones

Higher-tier plans add features such as mobile hotspot, cloud storage, international texting, Mexico and Canada usage, and HBO Max.

 

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Cricket Mobile Hotspot

Mobile hotspot lets you share your phone’s cellular connection with another device, such as a laptop, tablet, or another smartphone.

Cricket’s current hotspot allowances vary by plan:

• Sensible™ 10GB – Hotspot is not available
• Select Unlimited™ – Hotspot available as an add-on
• Smart Unlimited™ – Includes 15GB of hotspot data
• Supreme Unlimited – Includes 50GB of hotspot data

For Select Unlimited, Cricket currently offers a 10GB hotspot add-on for $10 per month.

After the included hotspot allowance is used on Smart or Supreme, hotspot speeds are reduced to approximately 125 Kbps for the remainder of the billing cycle.

Best for: Customers who occasionally need to connect a laptop, tablet, or other Wi-Fi device while away from home.

When a Higher-Tier Plan May Be Better

If you use hotspot data frequently, it may be more economical to choose Smart Unlimited or Supreme Unlimited rather than adding hotspot service separately to Select Unlimited.

Supreme is particularly useful for customers who work remotely, travel frequently, or rely on their phone as a temporary internet connection because it includes Cricket’s largest hotspot allowance.

Cricket Wi-Fi Calling

Wi-Fi Calling allows compatible phones to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi connection when cellular reception is weak or unavailable.

This can be helpful in places such as:

• Basements
• Large office buildings
• Homes with thick walls
• Rural locations with weak indoor signal
• Hotels and other buildings where Wi-Fi is stronger than cellular coverage

Wi-Fi Calling is included with current Cricket plans, but your device must be compatible and properly configured.

For more information about device compatibility, see our Cricket Coverage & 5G Network guide.

Cricket Call Defense

Cricket includes Cricket Call Defense on compatible devices to help identify and reduce unwanted calls.

The service can provide:

• Spam warnings
• Fraud call identification
• Automatic blocking of certain known scam calls

No automated call-filtering system is perfect, but Call Defense can help reduce the number of suspicious calls reaching your phone.

Cloud Storage

Cricket includes cloud storage with its upper-tier unlimited plans.

• Smart Unlimited – Includes 100GB of cloud storage
• Supreme Unlimited – Includes 150GB of cloud storage

Select Unlimited and Sensible 10GB do not currently include cloud storage.

Cloud storage can be useful for backing up photos, videos, documents, and other files so they are not stored only on your phone.

HBO Max Basic with Ads

Supreme Unlimited currently includes HBO Max Basic with Ads at no additional monthly charge.

Smart Unlimited, Select Unlimited, and Sensible 10GB do not include this benefit.

This can add value for customers who already watch HBO Max content, but it should be considered alongside other plan features such as hotspot data and international service rather than used as the only reason to choose Supreme.

Cricket International Texting

Cricket’s higher-tier plans include international text messaging from the United States to mobile numbers in 200+ countries and territories.

This feature is currently included with:

• Smart Unlimited
• Supreme Unlimited
• Eligible multi-month unlimited plans

Select Unlimited and Sensible 10GB do not include the same broad international texting benefit.

International texting generally covers standard SMS messages rather than every messaging type or destination.

Calls From the U.S. to Mexico and Canada

Cricket’s current unlimited plans starting with Select Unlimited include unlimited calls and texts from the United States to Mexico and Canada.

This means:

• Select Unlimited includes calls and texts from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada
• Smart Unlimited includes the same benefit
• Supreme Unlimited includes the same benefit

Sensible 10GB does not currently include unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and Canada.

 

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Using Cricket in Mexico and Canada

Cricket customers on Smart Unlimited and Supreme Unlimited can also use eligible talk, text, and data service while physically traveling in Mexico and Canada.

This is different from simply calling those countries from the United States.

With an eligible plan, you can:

• Make and receive calls
• Send and receive text messages
• Use cellular data
• Use your existing Cricket SIM without switching carriers

Cricket requires primary service use to remain in the United States. Current terms also state that usage while in Canada cannot exceed 50% of total voice, text, or data usage during a consecutive three-month period.

Coverage and performance abroad depend on Cricket’s roaming partners and local network conditions.

Cricket International Calling Add-Ons

Customers who want to call countries beyond Mexico and Canada can add Cricket International Calling to eligible plans.

Current international calling add-ons are available on:

• Select Unlimited
• Smart Unlimited
• Supreme Unlimited

Cricket currently offers country-specific calling packages starting at approximately $10 per month.

These add-ons provide a set number of calling minutes from the United States to eligible landline and mobile numbers in the selected country.

Cricket supports international calling options covering 200+ countries and territories, although rates and included minutes vary by destination.

International Roaming With Cricket Passport™

Cricket also offers international roaming outside Mexico and Canada through Cricket Passport™.

Passport allows eligible customers to use their Cricket smartphone while traveling in supported international destinations.

Cricket Passport is currently available to customers on:

• Smart Unlimited
• Supreme Unlimited
• Eligible 3-month unlimited plans
• Eligible 12-month unlimited plans

A saved payment method is required, and the account must be in good standing.

Cricket Passport Unlimited Daily

The Unlimited Daily option currently costs $10 per day, per line.

It includes:

• Unlimited talk
• Unlimited text
• Unlimited data for a 24-hour period

The feature automatically renews for each 24-hour period in which it is used.

Cricket currently caps the charge after 10 consecutive paid days within a 30-day period, allowing up to 20 additional days of eligible usage during that period without additional daily charges.

Cricket Passport 5GB for 5 Days

Cricket also offers a 5GB for 5 Days Passport option for $25 per line.

It includes:

• 5GB of mobile data
• Unlimited talk
• Unlimited text
• Service for five consecutive days

Once the 5GB data allowance is used, talk and text remain available for the rest of the five-day period, but additional roaming data requires another Passport purchase or a switch to Unlimited Daily.

Mobile hotspot usage is currently not supported with Cricket Passport.

International Roaming vs. International Calling

These terms are easy to confuse, so it helps to separate them:

Cricket Smartwatch Plans

Cricket also offers wireless service for compatible smartwatches.

The current Unlimited Smartwatch plan costs approximately $10 per month and is designed primarily for compatible Apple Watch devices paired with an active iPhone on Cricket.

Smartwatch service allows eligible devices to stay connected for calling, messaging, notifications, and data even when the phone is not immediately nearby.

Cricket also sells compatible smartwatch hardware through its device store.

Cricket Hotspot Device Plans

In addition to using a smartphone as a hotspot, Cricket offers separate plans for dedicated mobile hotspot devices.

These devices create a portable Wi-Fi connection using the cellular network and can be useful for:

• Laptops
• Tablets
• Travel
• Temporary remote work
• Connecting several Wi-Fi devices at once

Dedicated hotspot plans are separate from normal phone-plan hotspot allowances.

For current hardware options, see our Cricket Phones, Devices & Deals page.

Which Plans Include the Most Features?

The current feature progression is fairly straightforward:

Sensible™ 10GB

Best for customers who primarily need straightforward mobile service. It includes core calling, messaging, 5G access, Wi-Fi Calling, voicemail, and security features, but lacks hotspot, international texting, cloud storage, and Mexico/Canada usage.

Select Unlimited™

Adds unlimited data and calls/texts from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada. Hotspot can be purchased separately, but broader international texting, cloud storage, and roaming in Mexico and Canada are not included.

Smart Unlimited™

Adds a much stronger feature package with 15GB hotspot, 100GB cloud storage, Mexico and Canada roaming, and international texting to 200+ destinations.

Supreme Unlimited

Provides Cricket’s most complete feature set with 50GB hotspot, 150GB cloud storage, HBO Max Basic with Ads, Mexico and Canada roaming, international texting, and access to other eligible add-ons.

 

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Who Benefits Most From Cricket’s Extra Features?

Cricket’s higher-tier features can be especially useful for:

• Remote workers who use mobile hotspot regularly
• Travelers who visit Canada, Mexico, or other international destinations
• International families who frequently text or call abroad
• Heavy mobile users who want a larger hotspot allowance
• Cloud-storage users who want included backup space
• Streaming customers who already use HBO Max
• Apple Watch users who want cellular smartwatch service

If none of these extras matter to you, a lower-cost Cricket plan may provide better value.

Why Cricket Features Matter When Comparing Plans

Looking only at monthly price can make Cricket’s plans appear fairly similar, but the included features create meaningful differences between the tiers.

For example, adding hotspot separately to Select Unlimited can reduce some of the savings compared with Smart Unlimited. Similarly, customers who regularly travel in Mexico or Canada may get more value from Smart or Supreme because roaming is already included.

Before choosing a plan, consider the total value of the features you would otherwise pay for separately.

For full plan pricing and multi-line discounts, visit our Cricket Wireless Plans & Pricing page.

Is Cricket a Good Choice for Hotspot & International Use?

Cricket can be a strong choice for customers who want prepaid wireless service with useful hotspot and international features. Its upper-tier unlimited plans combine hotspot data, Mexico and Canada roaming, international texting, cloud storage, and additional benefits without requiring an annual contract.

Smart Unlimited provides a solid middle ground for customers who need hotspot and international features, while Supreme Unlimited offers the largest hotspot allowance and the broadest included feature package.

For international travel outside Mexico and Canada, Cricket Passport gives eligible customers a way to keep using their Cricket number in supported destinations without changing SIM cards.

Before choosing service, compare both the monthly price and the features included with each plan so you are not paying separately for add-ons that could already be part of a higher tier.

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Cricket Features & International Service
Compare hotspot data, Wi-Fi Calling, cloud storage, HBO Max, Mexico and Canada usage, international texting, calling add-ons, and Cricket Passport roaming.
👉 Compare Cricket Plans | Explore International Options

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Cricket features, hotspot allowances, international destinations, roaming options, add-on pricing, cloud storage, and entertainment benefits are subject to change. International service requires eligible plans and compatible devices. Coverage, roaming partners, and data performance vary by destination. Check current Cricket terms before traveling or adding international service.

 

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