Switching to a new wireless provider is the start of a long-term relationship. At the start, companies wow you with shiny new phones, expansive coverage areas and promises of low costs. But after that initial attraction, you still need to put in the work to navigate contractual commitments and comb over other details to ensure the plan you choose is a good deal and a fit you’ll want to stick with. You may be looking at the three major networks in the US, or considering whether smaller carriers and plans might work better for you.

It’s a complex, confusing mess that might make you consider sticking with what’s working for you now. But is your plan really working? If you haven’t taken a look at a recent wireless bill, you may be paying for features you aren’t using or missing out on deals or bundles that could cut your monthly costs.

We want to help you make good decisions and find the best cellphone plan for you and your budget. If you’re just starting to think about a switch or are on the precipice of jumping over, answer the following questions to make the process as smooth as possible.

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Quick checklist before you switch phone carriers

Before you move your line to another carrier, be sure to complete the following steps. Don’t cancel your current line until the new account is set up and your existing phone number (if you’re keeping it) is transferred.

☐ Check your network coverage quality
☐ Calculate your current plan’s overall cost.
☐ See if your phone still needs to be paid off.
☐ Check your phone’s unlock status.
☐ Decide whether to keep your phone or upgrade to a new one.
☐ Check your discounts and perks.
☐ Get a transfer PIN if you’re porting your phone number.

Which network works best for you? 

You may have picked the best monthly rate, but if the cellular signal in your area is spotty or nonexistent, none of that matters. You want the network that works best where you regularly use your phone. That applies not only to where you live, but also where you work or regularly hang out.

This is where direct experience makes a huge difference. Ask neighbors, friends and family in your area which carriers they use and if they’re happy with their service. The coverage maps from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are good places to start, but they won’t tell you if real-world speeds are as good as the maps suggest.

It’s also possible to test drive a network before you commit to a long-term plan. T-Mobile offers a free three-month Network Pass, Verizon has a 30-day “trial” program and AT&T has its own 30-day eSIM free trial program. Or, go to a carrier’s store and ask if there’s a free way to try the service.

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Compare the costs of major carrier plans

The big-three providers have multiple plans intended to appeal to everyone: less expensive ones with fewer features and high-end plans with generous high-speed data allotments and perks. With T-Mobile, you pick a plan that applies to everyone in your group or household, while Verizon and AT&T let each person on an account choose the one that works for them (except for the Verizon Simplicity plan, which requires everyone to be on it).

As you’re browsing prices, pay attention to the extra cost when adding more lines; sometimes you can get a discount by having more people on a plan. If you’re a household of four, the per-line price is lower than it would be if you had four individual single lines.

A “line” doesn’t always mean a person with a phone. If you have a cellular-enabled smartwatch, for instance, that would require a separate line (with its own pricing) under some carriers.

Consider a smaller or prepaid service

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon operate the major networks, but numerous smaller providers offer service using the major companies’ infrastructure. Mint Mobile, for example, is owned by T-Mobile and runs on its network, while Visible is owned by Verizon and uses its network.

Other independent companies hop onto the big three networks. Google Fi is not owned by T-Mobile but uses its network, for example. US Mobile is an interesting hybrid that can use whichever network is strongest in your area – you choose which one works best, and have the option of switching to another one as part of a plan or for an additional fee.

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And then there are the cable companies. Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile use Verizon’s network when you’re relying on cellular data, but the latter also connects to Comcast Wi-Fi base stations when nearby to boost performance. For those, you must have home internet service as a prerequisite for the bundled mobile service.

The benefits these mobile virtual network operators bring to the table are often less expensive service and more flexibility of features versus choosing between the major carriers’ more plentiful and varied plans. 

Determine how much money and time are left on your current plan

It’s not as common to get locked into a carrier’s service contract for one or more years, but installment deals paying off new phones effectively do the same thing. You pay for that $900 phone incrementally over two or three years, either directly on your bill or as credits applied to your account.

For example, a Samsung Galaxy S26 could be priced at zero when you sign up, but you’re going to pay tax on the full $900 amount and then a monthly amount on top of your plan cost over 24 or 36 months. Or, the carrier might be paying off the phone by applying credits to your account. Either way, you’re locked into the carrier for that time period; if you decide to jump to another provider (or in some cases to another plan with your same carrier) after a year, you’ll need to pay off the balance of the phone or return it.

Check your phone bill for these details. To attract your business, another provider may have deals where they offer money (say, up to $800) to help you make that final payment as a condition of switching.

Also, a phone purchased through a carrier is typically locked to that carrier for the length of the installment plan. You can’t use it with another provider or switch to an MVNO without requesting to unlock the phone, which could incur a fee.

It’s possible to purchase a new phone unlocked. If you buy an iPhone directly from Apple, for instance, it comes unlocked, even if you finance the cost of the phone through something like the Apple Upgrade program. (Apple also has the option of financing through a carrier, in which case the phone would be locked to that carrier just as if you bought directly from it.)

Or, a phone will be unlocked if you pay full price upfront for a phone from a carrier (though some conditions may add a delay, such as paying with a gift card).

Should you keep your current phone or buy a new one?

Companies dangle the latest phones for the same reason Apple, Google, Samsung and the others come out with new models each year: There are always new features, faster specs and improved cameras – especially the cameras – that can make your current phone seem inadequate.

And if you trade in your current phone (which may not be paid off, if you financed it through the carrier), getting a new phone from the carrier restarts that multiyear clock that keeps you with the carrier.

But how many of those shiny tantalizations do you really need? If your phone is a few years old and still works fine, that’s one less expense that you need to add. Some plans require you to bring your own device (sometimes displayed as BYOD) to get a discount or, like AT&T’s Build-A-Plan, as a requirement to sign up.

If you keep your current phone

When you switch carriers and, in the process of picking a plan indicate that you’re bringing your own phone, you’ll be asked for your phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity number, a unique identifier for the model and its network compatibility. You can find this in your phone’s settings, but the easiest way to access it is to open the Phone app, view the keypad, and type *#06# (star-pound-zero-six-pound).

The IMEI also indicates whether your phone requires a physical SIM card from the provider or can be activated using one of its eSIM virtual slots.

If you upgrade to a new phone during the switch

This is where it’s good to know how much time and money is left on your current phone plan if you financed it through the carrier you’re leaving. The new carrier will have new phone deals and will possibly offer financial assistance to pay off your current phone.

Be sure to pay attention to the details – click any links or buttons that say “See offer details” or something similar just in case there are hidden requirements or limits. Getting the best discount could mean signing up for one of the higher-tier plans, trading in a device of a certain value or both.

Step through the process slowly and deliberately, because you’ll be presented with lots of options such as the phone model, color, amount of storage, extended warranty options, financing details and possibly credit for trading in your existing phone.

Do you want to keep your phone number? Here’s how

Which would be the bigger hassle: switching to a new carrier, or informing everyone you know that you have a new phone number? Fortunately, you can keep your number when you move to another carrier through a process known as porting.

Porting generates a Number Transfer PIN from your current carrier that you take to the new carrier.

Check the specific porting instructions at T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T, but here are the general porting process steps. Do not disconnect your current line(s) until the porting process is complete.

1. Make sure your phone is unlocked.
2. You may also need to disable a lock on your account that’s designed to guard against fraud. AT&T calls this Wireless Account Lock, T-Mobile refers to it as Port Out Protection and Verizon calls it Number Lock.
3. In your carrier’s app or website, find the instructions for generating the transfer PIN. Or, dial *PORT (star-7678) and follow the voice prompts.
4. Contact the new carrier, making sure you have your current account number, the transfer PIN and, depending on the company, your account passcode.

The porting process can take as little as 10 minutes or as long as a few hours. Again, don’t cancel your previous carrier’s plan until you’ve confirmed that your number has been successfully ported over.

Make sure you take advantage of discounts you qualify for

The carriers have special deals going on all the time. But they also offer discounts or special plans for military veterans, teachers, first responders, nurses and students. You may also get a chunk of your bill reduced if you work for a large company that has a relationship with a carrier.

Make a point of checking out Verizon’s discounts, T-Mobile’s Work Perks program or AT&T’s Signature program. And be sure to verify that you’re eligible for any of the programs before you begin the switching process.

They also have senior plans for people aged 55 and older, though they’re often limited to two lines or have significantly reduced features – Verizon’s 55 Plus plan applies only to customers past 55 who live in Florida.

Determine how perks affect other expenses

The appeal of a perk like a streaming service is that you may pay less to have it bundled with your phone service than to subscribe to it separately. But also make sure you’re not taking on perks you won’t use.

For instance, the T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan includes Netflix Standard with ads and Hulu, with the option to add Apple TV for $3 a month. The latter saves $10 compared to signing up for Apple TV independently.

Verizon approaches perks as add-ons you choose separately, such as a bundle that includes Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, Netflix and HBO Max for $23 a month when ordered with the Simplicity plan. Or choose an Apple Music subscription for $20 a month.

AT&T does not include any streaming services.

Perks can also have spam filtering tools, free or discounted Wi-Fi on airlines, cloud storage and loyalty programs such as T-Mobile Tuesdays and Verizon Shine.

If you’re feeling subscription fatigue with other services, you may be able to consolidate them as part of a phone plan bundle and save some money each month.

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Ready to switch? Last check

As the last step before you initiate your switch to another carrier, make sure you’ve checked all of the following:

☐ Checked out network coverage.
☐ Confirmed the new plan’s price.
☐ Unlocked your old phone if you’re keeping it.
☐ Reviewed the payoff details for your phone, if needed.
☐ Received the transfer PIN for porting.
☐ Reviewed final bill details.

Jeff Carlson

Senior Writer

Jeff Carlson writes about mobile technology at CNET, from cellular phone plans to devices and emerging technology.

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