This prepaid carrier just made it easier to pay your phone bill with old tech

Cricket Wireless is giving customers a new reason to dig through their drawers for old smartphones. Starting April 4, 2025, the prepaid carrier launched a new Device Trade-In Program — powered by Asurion — that offers a simple way to trade in old devices and get account credit directly applied to wireless service. No gift cards, no activation fees, no expiration dates. Just credit straight to your Cricket account.

What sets this apart from the usual trade-in deals is that while most carriers will offer gift cards or credits tied to buying a new phone, Cricket just has you turning in your old device. Its value goes straight toward your monthly service. This can be a great way to cut down on your wireless bill with no strings attached, whether you’re a new or existing customer. This is how it works:

• Start the trade-in: Head to a local Cricket store or visit the online Asurion trade-in portal.
• Eligibility check: Asurion will inspect your device details and give you an estimated trade-in value.
• Ship your device: If you accept the offer, you’ll get a prepaid shipping label to send it off.
• Get credit: Once approved, your Cricket account gets credited within 1–2 billing cycles.

Cricket is rolling this out at a time when trade-in deals have become increasingly competitive across the industry. Major players like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T are all offering generous trade-ins—but often with the caveat that you need to finance a new phone or commit to a lengthy plan. Even some prepaid rivals like Boost Mobile have toyed with trade-in perks, but few offer direct credit to service.