Cricket vs AT&T vs Boost Mobile: Coverage & Network Comparison

Cricket Wireless Coverage Map

Cricket vs AT&T vs Boost Mobile: Coverage & Network Comparison (2025)

While Cricket Wireless, AT&T, and Boost Mobile all offer nationwide service, there are important differences in network access, data priority, and real-world performance that affect coverage quality.

Network Infrastructure

AT&T

• Operates its own nationwide network

• Full access to LTE, low-band 5G, mid-band (C-band) 5G

• Highest data priority for postpaid customers

Cricket Wireless

• Fully owned by AT&T

• Uses AT&T’s LTE and 5G network

• Data is deprioritized compared to AT&T postpaid

Boost Mobile

• Hybrid network model

• Uses AT&T and T-Mobile networks via MVNO agreements

• Gradually deploying its own Dish-built 5G network in select markets

• Coverage varies significantly by location and device

Coverage & Performance Comparison

Feature	AT&T	Cricket Wireless	Boost Mobile
Network Ownership	AT&T-owned	AT&T-owned	Dish + AT&T/T-Mobile
LTE Coverage	Excellent	Excellent	Good (varies)
5G Coverage	Extensive	Moderate	Limited–Moderate
Data Priority	High	Lower	Lower
Rural Coverage	Strong	Strong	Inconsistent
Speed Caps	No	Some plans	Some plans
Contracts	Yes (postpaid)	No	No

Which Carrier Has Better Coverage?

• AT&T delivers the best overall coverage, fastest speeds, and most consistent performance, especially in dense urban areas and during congestion.

• Cricket Wireless offers nearly identical geographic coverage to AT&T but may experience slower speeds during peak usage due to deprioritization.

• Boost Mobile can perform well in some metro areas but remains less reliable nationwide, especially in rural regions.

For users who prioritize coverage consistency, AT&T and Cricket outperform Boost in most markets.

2025 Coverage Changes by Region

Wireless coverage continues to evolve as carriers expand 5G and retire older infrastructure. Below is how Cricket (via AT&T), AT&T, and Boost coverage has shifted regionally in 2025.

Northeast (NY, NJ, MA, PA, DC)

• AT&T expanded mid-band 5G in major metros including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC

• Cricket customers benefit from wider 5G availability but still experience congestion in dense downtown areas

• Boost coverage remains inconsistent indoors and in older urban buildings

Common Issues

• Indoor dead zones

• Congestion during commuting hours

• Subways and underground garages remain problematic

Southeast (FL, GA, NC, SC, TN)

• Strong LTE coverage across suburban and highway corridors

• AT&T expanded 5G along major interstates and growing metro areas

• Cricket performs well overall but slows during events and peak tourism seasons

• Boost coverage varies widely outside city centers

Midwest (IL, OH, MI, WI, MN)

• Continued improvement in rural LTE coverage via AT&T

• 5G expansion remains concentrated in metro areas

• Cricket benefits from stable LTE but limited mid-band 5G outside cities

• Boost shows coverage gaps in smaller towns and farmland regions

Texas & Central U.S.

• Significant AT&T investment in Texas metro areas

• Strong Cricket performance statewide due to dense AT&T tower coverage

• 5G improves in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio

• Boost performs best in major cities, weaker in rural Texas and oil-field regions

Mountain West (CO, UT, NV, AZ, NM)

• Coverage gaps persist in mountainous and desert regions

• AT&T expanded highway and interstate LTE coverage

• Cricket remains usable along major routes but struggles off-road

• Boost coverage is the least reliable in remote terrain

West Coast (CA, OR, WA)

• AT&T expanded mid-band 5G in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle

• Cricket benefits from expanded 5G but experiences congestion in dense neighborhoods

• Coastal and mountainous dead zones remain common

• Boost coverage varies dramatically block by block

Rural America

• LTE remains the backbone of rural coverage

• AT&T continues selective rural expansion, especially near highways

• Cricket mirrors AT&T’s footprint but with lower priority

• Boost coverage remains limited and inconsistent outside populated areas

Bottom Line for Coverage in 2025

• AT&T offers the most reliable nationwide coverage and fastest speeds

• Cricket Wireless is ideal for users who want AT&T coverage at a lower cost and can tolerate slower speeds during congestion

• Boost Mobile is improving but remains best suited for urban users with strong signal in their specific area

For users concerned about dead zones, congestion, or rural reliability, verifying real-world coverage reports remains essential before switching.

Here’s a drop-in “Known Cricket Wireless Dead Zones by Major City (2025)” section, written in the same editorial tone as DeadZones.com. This focuses on real-world, repeat-complaint areas where Cricket users report issues due to congestion, building density, terrain, or deprioritization. It avoids absolutes and stays legally safe.

Known Cricket Wireless Dead Zones by Major City (2025)

Although Cricket Wireless benefits from AT&T’s nationwide network, real-world usage shows recurring problem areas in major cities where users report dropped calls, slow data, or complete signal loss. These issues are most often caused by network congestion, indoor penetration limits, deprioritized data, and dense infrastructure, rather than a lack of geographic coverage.

Below are commonly reported Cricket Wireless trouble spots by major U.S. city.

Los Angeles, CA

Common problem areas

• Downtown LA (high-rise cores and parking structures)

• Hollywood & West Hollywood apartments

• Santa Monica beach areas

• Culver City office corridors

• Parts of the 405 and 101 during rush hour

Why it happens

Heavy congestion, dense buildings, and high postpaid AT&T usage lead to noticeable slowdowns for Cricket users, especially indoors.

San Francisco, CA

Common problem areas

• Financial District high-rises

• SoMa offices and condos

• Mission District dense housing

• Underground garages and basements

• BART stations and tunnels

Why it happens

Building materials, hills, and indoor attenuation combine with congestion to create frequent Cricket data slowdowns.

New York City, NY

Common problem areas

• Midtown Manhattan

• Lower Manhattan (FiDi)

• Upper East & Upper West Side apartments

• Subway platforms and tunnels

• Brooklyn brownstones

Why it happens

Extreme user density and underground infrastructure cause Cricket’s deprioritized data to struggle during peak hours.

Chicago, IL

Common problem areas

• Loop and River North

• West Loop high-rise condos

• Underground parking garages

• CTA stations

• Lakeshore Drive during commute hours

Why it happens
Dense downtown usage and steel-heavy construction reduce indoor signal quality for prepaid users.

Boston, MA

Common problem areas

• Downtown Crossing

• Back Bay brownstones

• Seaport District

• Tunnels and parking garages

• Older brick buildings

Why it happens

Historic construction materials combined with congestion impact Cricket’s indoor LTE and 5G reliability.

Washington, DC

Common problem areas

• Capitol Hill

• Downtown federal buildings

• Metro stations and tunnels

• Arlington & Northern Virginia border areas

Why it happens

Security-dense buildings, underground transit, and high daytime congestion affect Cricket performance.

Miami, FL

Common problem areas

• Brickell high-rise corridor

• Downtown Miami

• Miami Beach hotels

• Event venues and tourist zones

Why it happens

High seasonal usage, dense concrete construction, and tourism-driven congestion reduce data speeds.

Houston, TX

Common problem areas

• Downtown office districts

• Energy Corridor

• Large shopping centers

• Parking structures

Why it happens

Wide geographic sprawl with localized congestion hotspots and indoor signal loss.

Dallas–Fort Worth, TX

Common problem areas

• Downtown Dallas

• Uptown apartments

• Large stadium and event zones

• Office parks during business hours

Why it happens
Tower load during events and peak hours impacts prepaid traffic first.

Phoenix, AZ

Common problem areas

• Downtown Phoenix

• Large indoor malls

• Desert fringe areas outside the metro

• Parking garages

Why it happens

Sparse tower density in fringe areas and indoor penetration issues.

Seattle, WA

Common problem areas

• Downtown core

• South Lake Union

• Capitol Hill apartments

• Underground garages

Why it happens

Terrain, weather, and dense tech-worker usage during business hours increase congestion.

Why Cricket Dead Zones Happen More Often Than Expected

Even when coverage maps show service, Cricket users may experience issues due to:

• Data deprioritization compared to AT&T postpaid customers

• Indoor signal loss in concrete, steel, and brick buildings

• High congestion in dense urban cores

• Event-based overload (stadiums, festivals, tourism)

• Transit environments (subways, tunnels, garages)

How to Reduce Cricket Wireless Dead Zone Issues

• Use Wi-Fi calling whenever possible

• Enable VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling in device settings

• Avoid lower-tier speed-capped plans in dense cities

• Test service before porting your primary number

• Use real-world coverage tools instead of carrier maps

Final Note on Dead Zones

Cricket Wireless offers broad nationwide coverage, but coverage does not equal performance. In dense urban environments, deprioritized prepaid data often reveals dead zones that do not appear on official maps. Checking crowdsourced reports and testing service locally remains the best way to avoid frustration.