Hey there! As your resident wireless industry analyst, I‘ve closely studied the offerings from Verizon‘s Visible and AT&T‘s Cricket Wireless. I know how confusing it can get when evaluating prepaid carrier options and all the technical jargon about networks, plans and phones.
So let me walk you through a comprehensive side-by-side comparison to reveal who comes out ahead between Visible and Cricket based on what really matters most – getting incredible wireless service at the lowest possible cost.
Why Verizon and AT&T Launched Prepaid Flanks
First, some quick history on why the two biggest US carriers decided to launch their own prepaid offshoot brands rather than acquire an existing one:
Visible (Verizon)
- Founded 2018
- Goal: Compete directly against established prepaid players like Metro, Mint
- Needed lower-cost option targeted to digital natives
- Leverage network investments more efficiently
Cricket Wireless (AT&T)
- Founded 1999, Acquired by AT&T 2014
- Merged Aio Wireless prepaid customers under Cricket brand
- Focus on multi-line family discount advantage
- Grow subscriber base beyond postpaid contracts
Verizon and AT&T have promoted their prepaid services heavily over the past three years. As of mid-2022, here is how their performances compare:
| Visible | Cricket Wireless | |
| Subscribers | Over 1 Million | Over 10 Million |
| Annual Revenue | $360 Million (Estimate) | $5 Billion (Estimate) |
Although Visible has seen impressive growth, Cricket still maintains a significant scale edge as the pioneer going back over 20 years now owned by industry juggernaut AT&T.
But Visible is gaining ground rapidly. And as you‘ll see, it has carved out definitive advantages in other areas…
Network Coverage and 5G Speeds
Carrier networks are the foundation of the wireless service you receive. Both Visible and Cricket deliver their service on top of Verizon and AT&T‘s premium nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks.
But coverage reach and data speeds can vary. Here is how Verizon and AT&T compare when it comes to spectrum holdings, population reach and real-world 5G performance.
| Verizon | AT&T | |
| 4G LTE Spectrum | 704MHz | 573MHz |
| 5G Spectrum | 191MHz | 344MHz |
| 4G Population Reach | 70% | 68% |
| 5G Population Reach | 230 Million | 260 Million |
| Avg. 5G Download Speed | 116 Mbps | 93 Mbps |
To translate the technical jargon – Verizon‘s 4G LTE covers more people across the country while AT&T currently has faster and farther-reaching 5G that provides speed boosts to more customers, especially in dense urban areas.
What does this mean for Visible and Cricket’s network experience?
- Visible – Broader 4G LTE coverage with competitive 5G speeds
- Cricket – Reliable 4G LTE with max 5G speeds where available
So Verizon and therefore Visible hold an edge for rural users still relying more on 4G LTE, while Cricket offers blazing 5G if you live in an area with AT&T blanket coverage.
Plan Pricing and Family Discounts
When it comes to monthly plan rates and discounts for multiple lines, Visible and Cricket take different approaches.
Visible only advertises two single-line plan tiers while Cricket offers more choices including cheaper limited data amounts. However, Cricket also heavily promotes its multi-line savings allowing families to share data across devices.
Here is what an individual Visible plan looks like versus Cricket single-line and family pricing:
| Plan | Monthly Price (1 Line) | Price Per Added Line |
| **Visible (taxes/fees included)** | ||
| Unlimited Data | $30 | N/A |
| Unlimited Data + Mobile Hotspot | $45 | N/A |
| **Cricket Wireless** | ||
| 5GB High Speed | $30 | $25 |
| 10GB High Speed | $40 | $28 |
| Unlimited | $55 | $33 |
| Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot | $60 | $38 |
Visible keeps it simple with just the two high speed unlimited options. Taxes are included so what you see is what you pay. Meanwhile, Cricket entices budget seekers with cheaper limited data plans.
But the real savings kick in for families signing up multiple lines together. In that scenario, Cricket becomes significantly more affordable than Visible.
Let‘s look at some examples. For an individual wanting unlimited monthly data, Visible offers that for only $30 all-in while Cricket would be $55.
But for a family of 4 all needing unlimited data, Visible would cost $120 total while Cricket drops to just $100 due to its multi-line benefits and taxes included.
Over the course of 2 years, that family would save $480 by choosing Cricket over Visible. However, a single individual would save $480 by sticking to Visible‘s cheaper standalone pricing.
So Cricket wins big on family multi-line value while Visible takes the crown for individual data-hungry users wanting the simplest billing possible.
Phone Selection and Flexibility
In addition to network performance and plan pricing, the phone hardware and software experience you get is crucial. Visible and Cricket enable two very device ecosystems.
Based on my comprehensive analysis, here is a comparison:
| Visible | Cricket | |
| Phone Models Supported | 100+ | 30 |
| Bring Your Own Device | Any unlocked phone | Only approved models |
| Top Phone Brands Offered | Apple, Samsung, Google | Samsung, Nokia, Motorola |
Visible supports three times as many devices. Even more importantly, you can bring your existing unlocked iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel phone onto Visible‘s network without issue. Cricket restricts device choice unless you purchase a phone locked to their service.
The increased flexibility and top brand access gives Visible another win when it comes to enabling you to use the smartphone you actually want rather than settling for cheaper or outdated models as often required by Cricket.
Perks: Hotspot vs. Media
Finally, let‘s examine some of the extras thrown in. Prepaid carriers don‘t typically bundle too many perks, but Visible and Cricket add value through hotspot sharing and entertainment.
Here is what‘s included:
| Visible | Cricket | |
| Mobile Hotspot | 50GB high-speed | 15GB high-speed |
| Other Perks | $15/month Fios Bundle Discount | HBO Max Subscription |
If you want to connect laptops and tablets on-the-go, Visible provides over 3X the high-speed hotspot data. Traveling entrepreneurs and road warriors will get superior WiFi tethering capabilities for work on Visible.
However, Cricket does package in an HBO Max subscription. So if watching movies and shows on your smartphone is the priority rather than work connectivity, the long-term entertainment value with Cricket may win out.
It comes down to whether you‘ll take advantage of Visible‘s radically better hotspot allowances or get sufficiently hooked on prestige original programming through Cricket‘s HBO Max.
Which Prepaid Carrier Comes Out On Top?
Let‘s quickly recap the key decision points:
| Visible Wins | Cricket Wins | |
| Coverage Where You Live | Rural 4G LTE reach | Urban 5G availability |
| Plan Pricing | Cheap unlimited individual | Discounted family plans |
| Device Selection | iPhone, Galaxy, Pixel access | Affordable basics |
| Perks | Hotspot data amount | HBO Max streaming |
So what‘s the verdict?
If you are an individual that values unlimited high speed data, network expansiveness for travel, and device choice flexibility – Visible delivers incredible value.
But for budget-first families wanting to save as much as possible through multi-line discounts and entertainment perks – Cricket Wireless comes out ahead.
It mainly comes down to your household wireless needs. hopefully this comprehensive side-by-side comparison helped reveal whether Visible or Cricket best align with your specific priorities.
And the great news is that both Visible and Cricket present affordableprepaid options by tapping into the strength of premium tier wireless networks from Verizon and AT&T.
You really can‘t go wrong. But now you have the insider details to pick the one that gives your home or family the maximum benefits based on how you use wireless connectivity day to day!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to help explain anything related to getting the very most out of modern mobile technology on prepaid terms.
