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You Can Try AT&T's Network for 2 Weeks for Free With Cricket's New App

AT&T is getting into the free trial game through its Cricket prepaid subsidiary. You just need an unlocked iPhone to take advantage of it.

Eli Blumenthal Senior Editor
Eli Blumenthal is a senior editor at CNET with a particular focus on covering the latest in the ever-changing worlds of telecom, streaming and sports. He previously worked as a technology reporter at USA Today.
Expertise 5G | Mobile networks | Wireless carriers | Phones | Tablets | Streaming devices | Streaming platforms | Mobile | Console gaming
Eli Blumenthal
2 min read
Cricket Wireless logo on a phone
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If you're considering switching to AT&T and are curious to try out its network, you may now have a new and easier way to do it. The carrier's Cricket prepaid subsidiary has launched an app called TryCricket that, well, lets you try its Cricket service that runs on AT&T's network. 

The app, which is available in Apple's App Store and is designed to work with unlocked iPhones running iOS 15 or later, allows you to sample service for 14 days. During the trial you will get 3GB of data -- including 5G access -- and a temporary phone number with unlimited talk and text. 

You don't need to give the company your credit card details to try out the service. The app will walk you through the setup process, guide you throughout the trial period and help you switch to Cricket should you want to change wireless providers. 

TryCricket app screenshot

Cricket's TryCricket app guides you through the setup process as well as provides a place to manage your trial. 

Screenshot by Eli Blumenthal/CNET

iPhone owners will get to try out Cricket's network first. If you have a recent unlocked iPhone (XS, XR or later) Cricket will allow you to try its network using an eSIM, which can run alongside your existing provider and could be set up "in as little as 15 minutes." If you have an older iPhone that doesn't support the virtual SIM card, Cricket will send you a physical SIM which you can put into your phone. 

Cricket says that Android support will arrive in the "first half of 2023."

With Cricket's new trial app, all three major wireless carriers now have avenues that let you try out their respective networks using recent iPhone without needing to enter a credit card. T-Mobile, which was the first player in this space, recently sweetened its trial offer to allow for three months of unlimited data, talk and text on its network through its Network Pass program

Like AT&T, Verizon doesn't offer a trial directly but instead it offers a 15-day free trial with unlimited data, talk and text through its Visible subsidiary