How do you get a free phone when you switch carriers?
Port your existing number to a new carrier and choose a qualifying plan. Prepaid brands like Metro, Cricket and Boost often discount the phone immediately, while Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile credit its price back over 24–36 months.
- Don't cancel your old service before porting
- Check what you still owe on your current phone
- Leaving a credit-based deal early costs money
How switch deals work
Carriers pay the most to win customers from competitors. When you port your number from another carrier, they offer a free or heavily discounted phone, often a current iPhone. The catch is always in the plan, the term and what happens if you leave.
Switch offers come in two flavors: prepaid brands that discount the phone on the spot, and postpaid carriers that credit the phone's price back over 24–36 months.
Typical switch offers by carrier type
| Carrier | Offer style | Usual requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Metro by T-Mobile | Free phones in store when you port in | New line, number port, qualifying plan |
| Cricket Wireless | $0-down or free phones on switch | Port-in, select plan, sometimes first month |
| Boost Mobile | Free or $0.99 iPhones with plan | Plan commitment and monthly payments |
| Visible | Gift cards or discounts with purchase | Port-in, stay a set number of months |
| Verizon / AT&T / T-Mobile | Bill credits over 24–36 months | Credit check, unlimited plan, sometimes trade-in |
Not sure which option fits you?
Answer 5 quick questions and the Phone Finder matches you with programs, providers and deals.
The real cost of switching
Here is how a “free” carrier iPhone works: the new phone is financed over 36 months, and the carrier credits your bill the same amount each month. The phone ends up free, but only if you keep a qualifying plan for the full term.
| Example | |
|---|---|
| Retail price | $830 |
| Term | 36 months |
| Monthly device charge | $23.06 |
| Monthly promo credit | −$23.06 |
| You pay for the phone | $0 if you stay the full term |
| If you leave after 12 months | about $553 still owed |
Step-by-step: switch without losing your number
- Don't cancel your old service Porting moves your number automatically. Cancelling first can lose it.
- Get your account number and port-out PIN Most carriers generate a transfer PIN in their app or by dialing a short code.
- Check your old phone balance If you still owe on a phone, that balance comes due when you leave.
- Pick the deal and plan Confirm the exact model, plan price and term in writing.
- Port, activate and keep receipts Keep screenshots of the offer terms until all credits have posted.
Who switch deals suit?
What's good
- Anyone can apply; no income limits
- Newest iPhones available
- Prepaid options without credit checks
Watch out for
- You must pay a monthly plan
- Leaving early costs money
- Credits can take 1–3 bills to appear
Qualify for Lifeline? Compare switch deals against free Lifeline service plus a refurbished iPhone. The Lifeline route is usually far cheaper.
Prepaid vs postpaid switching: which is cheaper?
Prepaid brands like Metro, Cricket and Boost usually discount the phone on day one. There is no long credit schedule, and you can leave after a few months, though the phone may stay carrier-locked for a set period. Postpaid carriers give bigger headline offers on the newest iPhones, but spread the discount across 24–36 months of bill credits.
As a rule of thumb, if your plan budget is under $50 a month, a prepaid switch deal on last year's iPhone usually wins. If you already pay for a premium unlimited plan, a postpaid switch offer on the newest iPhone may cost you nothing extra.
| Scenario | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Want the cheapest total cost | Prepaid switch on a previous-generation iPhone |
| Want the newest Pro model | Postpaid switch + trade-in |
| Poor or no credit | Prepaid, no credit check |
| Qualify for Lifeline | Free Lifeline service + refurbished iPhone |
Common switch deal fine print
- Port-in required: a brand-new number usually doesn't count as a switch.
- Eligible previous carriers: some offers exclude customers switching from the carrier's own prepaid brands.
- Minimum plan: the deal might require the second-most-expensive plan or higher.
- Activation and upgrade fees: often $35 or more, even when the phone is free.
- Unlock policy: phones may be locked for 60 days to a year, which matters if you travel or plan to switch again.
- Credits stop if you downgrade: moving to a cheaper plan can cancel remaining credits.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a trade-in to get a free phone when I switch?
Not always. Many prepaid switch deals need only a number port and a qualifying plan. Postpaid deals for the newest iPhones often need a trade-in too.
Can I switch back later?
Yes, but with credit-based deals you will owe the remaining phone balance, and the phone may stay locked for a period.
Does switching carriers affect my credit?
Postpaid carriers usually run a credit check. Prepaid brands usually don't.
Sources & last update
Last reviewed . We check program rules against official FCC and USAC guidance and update pages when rules, income limits or offers change. Spot something out of date? Tell us.