How to Cancel Cricket Wireless in 2026

Updated February 2026 · Difficulty: Easy · $30-60/mo

✅ One of the Easiest Cancellations

Cricket is prepaid — no contracts, no early termination fees. The simplest way to cancel is to just stop paying. Your service ends when your prepaid month expires. But if you want to keep your phone number, read the porting steps below first.

Three Ways to Cancel

Option 1: Port Your Number (Best if Switching Carriers)

Get your Cricket account number and transfer PIN from the myCricket app or by calling 1-800-274-2538
Sign up with your new carrier — they'll handle the port
Once the port completes (usually 1-4 hours), Cricket automatically cancels your line

Option 2: Just Stop Paying

Since Cricket is prepaid, simply don't make your next payment. Service ends when your current period expires. Your number is held for 60 days — if you change your mind within that window, you can reactivate. After 60 days, the number is released.

Option 3: Call or Visit a Store

Phone: Call 1-800-274-2538 and request cancellation
In-store: Visit any Cricket store with your ID
Both are quick — Cricket doesn't have an aggressive retention process

Cricket's Biggest Advantage: AT&T's Network

Cricket runs on AT&T's network — the same towers, same coverage map. In rural America, AT&T often has better coverage than T-Mobile or Verizon. If you're leaving Cricket because of coverage issues, switching to another AT&T MVNO (like AT&T Prepaid) won't help — you need Verizon (Visible, US Mobile) or T-Mobile (Mint, Tello) instead.

Phone Unlock Rules

If you bought a phone from Cricket, it may be locked to Cricket/AT&T for 6 months:

Cricket phones are locked for 6 months from activation date
After 6 months, Cricket unlocks automatically (or request via customer service)
If your phone is still locked, you can only use it on Cricket or AT&T
Phones bought unlocked (Apple Store, Samsung direct) have no lock restrictions

Alternatives to Cricket

AT&T Prepaid ($25-65/mo): Same AT&T network, more plan options, slightly higher priority
Mint Mobile ($15-30/mo): T-Mobile network, cheaper with annual prepay
Visible ($25-45/mo): Verizon network, unlimited everything
US Mobile ($10-25/mo): Choose Verizon or T-Mobile, build-your-own plan
Boost Mobile ($25/mo): T-Mobile network, similar pricing to Cricket

💡 Multi-Line Savings

Cricket's multi-line discounts are one of its best features: 2 lines for $55/mo ($27.50 each), 4 lines for $100/mo ($25 each), 5 lines for $125/mo ($25 each). If you're on a family plan and only one person wants to leave, they can port out without affecting the other lines — the remaining lines stay at their discounted rates.

🔍 Find all your phone-related charges

Upload your bank statement to JustCancel and we'll find every wireless charge — carrier plan, device insurance, app subscriptions, and cloud storage eating into your budget.