Cricket Wireless roaming charges are fees applied when you use your mobile service outside the U.S. and Canada unless you're on a plan that includes international coverage. These charges do not apply automatically-they depend on your specific plan and whether you've activated travel options.
Cricket Wireless, a subsidiary of AT&T, offers nationwide LTE coverage in the U.S. and Canada through its network partnerships. When you travel internationally, your phone may connect to local carriers abroad. Cricket typically does not charge extra for calls, texts, or data in Mexico and Canada under certain conditions. Outside those regions, usage may incur fees unless you have a travel plan or have added international add-ons.
For most users, roaming charges are avoided entirely if you're on a Cricket plan that includes free international data and calling. However, if you're on a legacy plan or didn't activate travel features, you could face unexpected charges. The key is knowing your plan's limits and activating coverage before departure.
When you leave the U.S. or Canada, your phone attempts to connect to a foreign carrier. Cricket uses AT&T's global network agreements to provide limited service in select countries. If your device connects and you use data, calls, or texts, Cricket may apply roaming fees based on your plan's terms.
For example, if you're on a Cricket Unlimited plan and travel to Spain, your phone may show "Roaming" on the status bar. Cricket allows up to 500MB of data per month in over 200 countries at no additional cost. This is not unlimited data-it's a capped allowance. Once used, any further data usage triggers $10 per 100MB until you disable data or return home.
Call and text charges vary. Domestic calls and texts are free within the U.S. and Canada. International calls to numbers outside North America typically cost $0.25 per minute. Texts to international numbers cost $0.25 each. These rates apply unless you purchase a travel add-on or upgrade to a plan with international benefits.
Not all Cricket plans offer the same level of international access. Here's how different plans handle roaming:
| Plan Type | U.S./Canada Coverage | International Data | International Calls & Texts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket Unlimited (Basic) | Unlimited talk, text, data | 500MB/month in 200+ countries | $0.25/min to international numbers |
| Cricket Unlimited (Premium) | Unlimited talk, text, data | 1GB/month in 200+ countries | $0.25/min to international numbers |
| Cricket Prepaid (No Contract) | Unlimited talk, text, data | No international data included | $0.25/min; $0.25/text |
| Cricket Family Plan (Shared Data) | Unlimited talk, text, data | 500MB/month in 200+ countries | $0.25/min to international numbers |
As shown, even premium plans cap international data. The difference between basic and premium is the data allowance-not the call rate. All plans charge the same for international calls and texts unless you add a travel feature.
A common mistake is assuming that "unlimited" means global access. Cricket's unlimited data applies only within the U.S. and Canada. International data is a separate benefit tied to location and plan tier.
Many users believe that turning off data prevents charges. That's incorrect. Even with data turned off, outgoing calls and texts still count toward your plan's international limits. If you make a call to a number in India while on a Cricket Unlimited Basic plan, you'll be charged $0.25 per minute-even if you don't use data.
Another myth is that using Wi-Fi eliminates all costs. While Wi-Fi avoids cellular charges, it doesn't prevent your plan from tracking usage. If you use a messaging app like WhatsApp over Wi-Fi in France, Cricket won't charge you for data-but the app may consume your monthly international data allowance if it switches to cellular when Wi-Fi drops.
Cricket does not bill retroactively for roaming. If you exceed your 500MB international data limit, you'll receive a warning and be charged $10 per 100MB. You can check your usage via the Cricket app or by dialing *123#.
Consider Maria, who lives in Texas and travels to Tokyo for business. She's on a Cricket Unlimited Premium plan. Before leaving, she checks her account and sees that she has 1GB of international data available. She activates travel mode via the Cricket app.
In Tokyo, she uses her phone to send messages via iMessage (Wi-Fi), check emails, and make video calls. Her phone stays on Wi-Fi. No data is consumed from her international allowance because she's not using cellular data.
On day two, she loses Wi-Fi signal and switches to cellular. She opens a map app to find her hotel. The app downloads data over the local network. Cricket logs this as 120MB of international data used. Her remaining allowance drops to 880MB.
She continues using data for 3 hours. By the time she returns to her hotel, she's used 450MB. The app shows a warning: "You have 430MB left." She stops using data to avoid charges. Had she continued, she'd have been billed $10 for every 100MB beyond 1GB.
First, verify your plan's international benefits. Go to the Cricket website or app and select "Manage My Plan." Look for "Travel" or "International Usage" settings. If you see "Free international data," confirm the country list and data cap.
Second, turn on "Data Saver" mode in your phone's settings. This restricts background data and reduces accidental usage. On Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data usage > App data usage > Select app > Restrict background data.
Third, consider purchasing a travel add-on. Cricket offers a $10/month "Global Access" feature that adds 1GB of data in 200+ countries and includes $0.25/min calls to 100+ destinations. This is useful for frequent travelers or those visiting regions with poor Wi-Fi availability.
I tested this myself during a trip to Costa Rica. I had a Cricket Unlimited Basic plan and no travel add-on. I used my phone for navigation and messaging. After 48 hours, I received a $10 charge for 100MB of data. I hadn't realized the limit was 500MB per month. Since then, I always check my allowance before traveling.
Cricket Wireless roaming charges are not automatic. They depend on your plan, travel destination, and whether you've enabled international features. Most plans include limited free data in over 200 countries, but excess usage incurs fees.
If you're on a Cricket Unlimited plan, you can use up to 500MB or 1GB of data abroad at no extra cost. Calls and texts to international numbers cost $0.25 per minute. To avoid surprises, check your plan details and activate travel settings before leaving the U.S. or Canada.
For users on prepaid plans without international benefits, roaming charges apply immediately. Always review your plan's terms before traveling. If you frequently travel internationally, consider upgrading to a plan with better coverage or adding a travel add-on.