In 2013, T-Mobile kicked off the Un-carrier marketing strategy. The new plan structure eliminated contracts, subsidized phone purchases, and dropped early termination fees (ETFs).
Over the next few years, the other major cellular providers followed suit. AT&T, the last holdout, finally ended its two-year contracts in 2018.
Now you can easily switch phone carriers. But how do you do this? And how do you take advantage of different incentives? In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about how to switch phone carriers without paying. We even include tips for how you can keep your current device and a whole lot more.
By the time you’re finished reading this, you’ll be able to find the perfect provider and plan for you. Let’s get started.
Note: Before you head over to your nearest wireless store, you should back up your important data. You should be able to “port in” some of your old data, but they might not be able to save everything. Here’s how to back up your iPhone.
Beware, that you may have to trade in your phone when switching carriers. Or if your phone is on an installment plan, you’ll have to pay off the phone before you can take it with you. We’ll go into more detail about this later.
Step 1: Compare Carriers
Before you start the processing of switch carriers, you should first compare plans. Even if you don’t pay any fees, you don’t want to get stuck in an expensive contract you can’t afford. Here are some things you need to consider:
- Cost: What’s the monthly cost of service plans? Do they include services and fees? T-Mobile is generally the cheapest of the providers. Sprint also has excellent deals on unlimited, but the service isn’t as good. Verizon and AT&T are usually the most expensive.
- Network: All of the major carriers have made significant improvements in the network in the last few years. Verizon tops ranking as having the most extensive coverage map with the fastest service. T-Mobile generally ranks second and has the first nationwide 5G network. AT&T has good coverage but isn’t as high performing. Sprint lags behind the rest but will soon be a part of T-Mobile, which will change things.
- Phone Selection: Unless you are buying an iPhone, it can be challenging to buy a phone from one carrier and move it to another because they use different signals. All four have a large selection of devices, but individual deals vary.
- BYOD: All carries have some form of a Bring Your Own Device policy. But, check to see if your phone is compatible with the network and plans first.
Before You Switch: If you’re generally happy with your phone, but don’t like your plan, then look into what other options your provider offers. Cellular carriers are always competing to improve plan structure, data allotments, and speeds. Since you activated your plan, there may be a better option for you now available. This saves you the trouble of fully switching carriers while finding a better monthly option for you.
Step 2: Research Phones and Plans
Do you want to upgrade to the latest and greatest? Do you want a massive screen and four cameras? Or are you looking for a more budget-friendly option? Take time to check out different smartphones and find the best one for you. If your phone is unlocked, you may be able to switch it and your number over.
T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint are now willing to pay an early termination fee or part of your remaining phone lease when you move to their networks (see below). With the end of two-year contract plans, the way you get a new phone installment plan is different. They generally now work like this:
- No monthly contract payments: Instead of the full price upfront, you’ll pay for your phone over 24 months unless you cash in on some promotion.
- Pros: Usually, nothing but taxes do upfront. No two-year contract and no cost to upgrade with activation fees waived.
- Cons: You’ll have to pay the full price of the phone
Sprint’s Flex program is worth looking into. Their leasing program allows you to pay less than the total cost of the phone. You also lease over 12-month periods and can immediately upgrade when a new one comes out. This is great for Samsung and Apple lovers who always want the latest phones.
You can also now lease iPhones from Apple through your carrier. The advantage is that your phone will be unlocked and you don’t pay interest.
Get a Quote from a Provider
You’re now ready for a quote. You should be able to get one directly on each carrier’s website. When you select a phone, you’ll see a menu with the price of the phone and various service plans. Be sure to check the fine print about hidden fees.
Current Deals for Switching Without Paying Fees
No carriers will hand you a wad of cash. Then you’ll pay your ETF and then a couple of hundred dollars extra for a device. Still, it can be a pretty good deal.
T-Mobile has long offered many reasons to switch to them. The company will pay off a portion of your outstanding payment pan balances with your current carrier and any early termination fees based on your final bill. They’ll then give you a bill credit based on the value of an eligible trade-in device. Click here to learn more.
Verizon also has several options to get you to switch. Most of them involve giving you a trade-in amount for your current phone. This will go towards paying termination fees associated with your phone or line. If this doesn’t cover the full cost of switching, Verizon will pay the difference.
Sprint offers a similar program called Clean Slate, where they’ll cover up to $650 for your old phone and contract. They’ll even give you a Visa Prepaid Card giving you the flexibility to do this, but you will need to register and trade in your old phone first.
AT&T will cover over up to $650 per line switched, including customers’ ETF from their previous carrier up to $350. For AT&T, the trade-in value of the phone will be deducted from AT&T’s payment, and customers get a promotional prepaid card.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
There are a few more things you need to know about how to switch phone carriers without paying.
Buying a Device and Trading in Your Previous One
Most of these plans have a few catches. They’ll often require you to trade-in your old device and buy a new one from them. This will ensure you are locked to their network. If you want to keep your old phone, you may want to finish the lease (if you’re on one ) and request an unlock from your current carrier.
On the other hand, all for carriers to offer incentives for trade-ins. You can get the latest flagships for $0 down as well as credits up to $300. Click here to get a get quote to see how much your phone is worth.
Be Sure Your Old Account is Still Active Before Switching
If you want to keep your old phone number, you’ll need to “port-in.” To do this, you will need to have an active account with both providers. This is usually easy enough to do. Just follow the steps found on providers’ websites.
Cancel the Old Plan
Once you’ve activated your new phone, cancel your old one plan. This will begin when you terminate your contract and receive your final bill. With every two-year service agreement, you’ll be liable to pay the ETF. Depending on when you got your phone, you may have to pay a “restocking fee” of between $25-$75.
Getting the Early Termination Fee Waived
There are other ways of getting your ETF waived. If you move to a new area, for example, where the service isn’t available, then most carriers will waive the ETF. If you trade in your device, they may also waive your fee refund your devices. When doing your research, be sure to ask if any other ways to get off the ETF are available.
How to Switch Phone Carriers Without Paying
It’s now possible to switch between carriers without paying an early termination fee. However, in most cases, you will have to put money down at some point. That’s because you’re likely to receive a reimbursement either through bill credits or a gift card.
Do your research, compare between the carriers, and be sure to check to make sure they have the right plan for you. That’s the best way to find the perfect cellular provider for you.
For more on cellular carriers and phone, deals head on over to the Buyback Boss Bog. In this guide, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about Cricket and AT&T. You can also learn more about GSM carriers and whether your phone is compatible with these networks here. Unlock everything you need to know about smartphones and wireless providers on our blog now.
