Should I Upgrade From Boost Mobile To Cricket Wireless If Under $10 - Complete Guide

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If you're spending under $10 a month on Boost Mobile and wondering whether Cricket Wireless is worth switching to, you're asking exactly the right question — and the honest answer might surprise you. Neither carrier is our top pick at that price point, and there's a strong case to be made for a third option entirely.

The Reality of Sub-$10 Phone Plans in 2025

Before diving into a Boost vs. Cricket comparison, it's worth addressing the elephant in the room: Cricket Wireless doesn't actually offer a plan under $10 per month. Their entry-level plan starts at $25/month. So if you're locked into a strict sub-$10 budget, switching to Cricket isn't really on the table without significantly increasing your spending.

Boost Mobile, by contrast, has historically offered very low-cost plans for light users, sometimes dipping under $10 with promotional pricing or data-light configurations. But low cost doesn't always mean good value, and Boost's 6/11 score in our rankings reflects real limitations.

So the more useful question becomes: what's the best phone plan available for under $10 a month? The answer to that question leads you somewhere much better than either Boost or Cricket.

Boost Mobile vs. Cricket Wireless: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Let's run the comparison directly, because it helps clarify what you'd actually be gaining or losing.

Feature	Boost Mobile	Cricket Wireless
Our Score	6/11	6/11
Network	AT&T	AT&T
Cheapest Plan	~$10/mo	$25/mo
Unlimited Data	Yes (on higher tiers)	Yes (on higher tiers)
Hotspot	Limited	Limited
Data Deprioritization	Yes	Yes
International Options	Limited	Limited
Taxes/Fees Included	No	No

Here's the surprising takeaway: Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless score identically at 6/11 in our rankings. They both run on AT&T's network, both deprioritize data during congestion, and both have similar track records when it comes to customer experience. Switching from one to the other for price reasons makes little sense — especially since Cricket doesn't have a comparable sub-$10 plan.

Where Boost Mobile Falls Short

Boost Mobile has gone through significant ownership changes in recent years, moving from Sprint/T-Mobile to DISH Network and now Echelon Wireless. This turbulence has created inconsistency in customer service quality and plan availability. Our 6/11 score reflects concerns around contract transparency, add-on fees that inflate your bill, and data deprioritization that can make speeds sluggish during peak hours in congested areas.

Where Cricket Wireless Falls Short

Cricket scores the same 6/11 for similar reasons. While it benefits from being an AT&T subsidiary (meaning solid nationwide coverage), it imposes a hard speed cap of 8Mbps on most plans — even the more expensive ones. That cap is a dealbreaker for anyone who streams video regularly or needs reliable hotspot speeds. Cricket also doesn't include taxes in advertised prices, so your $25 plan will likely run $30+ when the bill arrives.

What You Can Actually Get for Under $10 a Month

If your budget ceiling is $10/month, there are legitimate options — they just aren't Boost or Cricket. The standout choice is Tello Mobile, which earns a 9.5/11 in our rankings and offers plans starting at just $8/month.

For $8/month, Tello gives you 1GB of data on T-Mobile's nationwide network with unlimited talk and text. That's a real, usable plan with no gimmicks. If you occasionally need more data, you can upgrade to a 2GB plan for $10/month — still right at your budget ceiling. There are no annual commitments, no hidden fees, and taxes are kept reasonable and transparent.

What makes Tello remarkable is that it scales with you. If your data needs ever grow, you can add more data without jumping to a completely different plan structure. This flexibility is a major advantage over Cricket, which locks you into fixed-tier plans.

For more context on how Tello compares to other budget options, check out our full Tello Mobile review and plan breakdown.

Tello vs. Boost vs. Cricket Under $10

Feature	Tello ($8/mo)	Boost (~$10/mo)	Cricket (N/A)
Our Score	9.5/11	6/11	6/11
Network	T-Mobile	AT&T	AT&T
Data	1GB	Very limited	No plan available
Talk & Text	Unlimited	Unlimited	—
Hotspot	Included	No	—
Taxes Included	Transparent	No	—
Contract	None	None	—

The comparison speaks for itself. At or under $10/month, Tello isn't just better than Boost — it's in a completely different league.

When Spending More Makes Sense: Plans Just Above $10

If your budget has a little flexibility — say, up to $25/month — the options improve dramatically. This is where the real value sweet spot lives for most users.

Tello's $14/month plan gives you 5GB of high-speed data, unlimited talk and text, and access to mobile hotspot. For the vast majority of light-to-moderate smartphone users, 5GB is genuinely enough.

Visible by Verizon tops our overall rankings at 10/11 with a $25/month plan that includes unlimited data, unlimited hotspot (at reduced speeds), and — importantly — taxes and fees are included in that price. You know exactly what you'll pay every month. If you can stretch to $25, Visible represents exceptional value on the nation's largest network.

US Mobile also scores 9.5/11 and lets you build a custom plan across all three major networks — Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T. This is uniquely valuable if you've tested your coverage and know which network works best in your specific location.

You can explore all of these options using our prepaid plan comparison tool to find the right fit for your usage habits and coverage needs.

Who Should Stick with Boost Mobile?

Staying with Boost makes sense in a narrow set of circumstances. If you're currently on a promotional rate that keeps your bill genuinely under $10 and you're satisfied with your coverage, there's no urgent reason to move. Boost runs on AT&T's network, which has solid rural coverage in many parts of the country — if that matters for your area, factor it in.

However, if your Boost plan is expiring, if you've experienced customer service issues, or if your speeds consistently disappoint, there's no reason to stay loyal. Boost's 6/11 score reflects a carrier that delivers adequate but uninspiring service.

Who Should Actually Switch to Cricket?

Cricket is a reasonable choice for users who want AT&T's network, need more than 5-10GB of data monthly, and can budget $25-$30/month. It's a slight upgrade in user experience over Boost, with more consistent plan availability and a cleaner app experience. But it's not a better value than the top-ranked MVNOs, and the 8Mbps speed cap will frustrate anyone accustomed to normal LTE speeds.

If your primary concern is coverage in rural AT&T-served areas, Cricket is worth considering. For everyone else, the better AT&T-based alternative is checking out how smaller MVNOs compare for rural coverage and data speeds.

Best Phone to Pair With This Plan

If you need an unlocked phone that works perfectly with Tello, Visible, or US Mobile, we recommend the Google Pixel 9a. It's our top budget phone pick for 2026:

• Works with all US carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T networks)
• Supports eSIM + physical SIM for easy switching
• 7 years of software updates
• Excellent camera and battery life
• Around $499 unlocked

View Pixel 9a on Amazon →

The Bottom Line

If you're asking whether you should upgrade from Boost Mobile to Cricket Wireless for under $10, the answer is: you can't — Cricket simply doesn't offer a plan at that price. But more importantly, you shouldn't limit your search to those two carriers at all. Tello Mobile, with its 9.5/11 score and plans starting at $8/month, is the definitive best option for budget-conscious users who need a real phone plan without compromising on network quality or transparency.

For those with a little more flexibility, Visible at $25/month (10/11) or US Mobile's build-a-plan approach (9.5/11) offer exceptional value that neither Boost nor Cricket can match. Don't settle for a 6/11 carrier when significantly better options exist at the same or lower price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Cricket Wireless have a plan under $10 per month?

No. As of 2025, Cricket Wireless's lowest-tier plan starts at $25 per month. There is no Cricket plan available under $10, making it an impossible switch for users with a strict sub-$10 budget.

Q: What is the best phone plan available for under $10 a month?

Tello Mobile offers the best sub-$10 plan on the market, with a 1GB data plan starting at $8/month on T-Mobile's network. It earns a 9.5/11 in our rankings and includes unlimited talk and text with no hidden fees.

Q: Is Boost Mobile better than Cricket Wireless?

Neither is better than the other in any significant way — both score 6/11 in our rankings and run on AT&T's network. Boost sometimes offers lower entry-level pricing, while Cricket has slightly more consistent plan structure and customer service. Neither ranks among our top recommended carriers.

Q: Why do Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless score low in your rankings?

Both carriers score 6/11 due to a combination of factors: data deprioritization during congestion, speed caps (Cricket imposes a hard 8Mbps cap), pricing that isn't fully inclusive of taxes, and customer service inconsistencies. Higher-ranked carriers like Tello (9.5/11) and Visible (10/11) offer better value and transparency.

Q: Can I keep my number if I switch from Boost to Tello?

Yes. Number porting (keeping your existing number) is supported by all major MVNOs including Tello. Simply initiate the transfer when signing up with Tello, and your current Boost number will move over — usually within a few hours to one business day.

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