This page is sponsored by T-Mobile in paid partnership with WhistleOut.
You can often get a free or discounted phone when you switch carriers, bring your number, and trade in an eligible phone. Carriers save their biggest phone deals for new customers, offering discounts as monthly bill credits that cover most or all of a new phone's price. For example, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26+ by switching to T-Mobile, or up to $1,000 off the iPhone 18 Pro for new customers who switch or trade in.
How do trade-in offers and switch deals work?
Trade-in offers and discounts lower a new phone's price once you meet the carrier's conditions, such as bringing your number, choosing a qualifying plan, or trading in an eligible phone. Carriers usually require a combination of these conditions to get the full discount:
- Bring your number: Many carrier deals require a port-in, meaning you move your current number from another carrier. For example, T-Mobile gives new customers up to $1,000 off the iPhone 18 Pro when they bring their number to the Experience Beyond 2.0 plan, with no trade-in required.
- Choose a qualifying plan: Phone discounts usually apply only on specific plans. For example, T-Mobile's free Samsung Galaxy S26+ requires the Experience More 2.0 or Experience Beyond 2.0 plan.
- Trade in an eligible phone: Trade-in credit depends on the old phone's model and condition. A phone still under a financing agreement usually doesn't qualify as a trade-in until you pay off the balance.
What devices qualify for the best trade-in deals?
Recent flagship phones in good condition qualify for the most trade-in credit, and T-Mobile postpaid pays the highest credits for those phones. Models like the Samsung Galaxy S24, Google Pixel 10, and iPhone 16 earn more than significantly older or midrange phones.
Your phone's condition at trade-in also affects how much credit it's worth. A phone in good condition that still powers on and shows little physical damage earns more than a barely functioning one.
If you have an iPhone and aren't sure how much it's worth, you can look up your iPhone's trade-in value with Apple Trade In. By checking with Apple's trade-in program, you can see a general estimate and compare it with the carrier's offered credit for your phone.
What are the best trade-in and switching deals?
T-Mobile offers some of the best trade-in and switching deals. You can get hundreds on top flagship phones, including the newest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models.
What are the best iPhone switch deals right now?
Right now, the best iPhone deal is offered by T-Mobile. New customers can get up to $1,000 off the iPhone 18 Pro with a number port-in or trade-in on the Experience Beyond 2.0 plan. The iPhone 18 Pro costs $1,199.99, so T-Mobile's iPhone deal brings the price down to as little as $199.99.
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T-Mobile
Experience Beyond 2.0
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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Can you get a free phone when you switch carriers?
Yes, you can get a free phone when you switch carriers. T-Mobile is also offering up to $1,200 off a brand-new Samsung Galaxy S26+. With the maximum credit, you can get this Samsung device for free. To qualify, you have to activate a new line or trade in on either the Experience Beyond 2.0 or Experience More 2.0 plan.
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T-Mobile
Experience Beyond 2.0
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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T-Mobile
Experience More 2.0
$85.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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Can a carrier pay off your current phone when you switch?
Some carriers pay off the balance on your current phone when you switch, so you can keep your phone and still change carriers. For example, T-Mobile's Keep and Switch program lets you keep your current phone while T-Mobile pays off up to $800 of what you still owe on it. T-Mobile covers up to $800 per line on up to four lines and sends you the money as a virtual prepaid Mastercard after you submit your last bill from your old carrier.
However, this offer is only available for new T-Mobile postpaid customers who switch from AT&T, Verizon, and other eligible carriers like Spectrum. Keep and Switch can't be combined with T-Mobile postpaid's new phone deals, so you have to choose between paying off your current phone or getting a discounted new phone.
How to get the most value when switching for a free phone
To get the most value when switching carriers for a free phone, follow four steps:
- Check your current device's trade-in value. Enter your current phone to see its trade-in value with the T-Mobile trade-in tool and compare the top trade-in offers with WhistleOut's comparison tool.
- Request a transfer PIN. Most free phone deals require bringing your number. Request a port-out PIN before leaving your current carrier.
- Prep your old phone. Pay off any balance, turn off Find My iPhone or Android anti-theft, and check the phone's condition before trading it in.
- Add up the monthly plan cost for total savings. Multiply the monthly plan price by the credit term, then subtract the phone discount to see each deal's real cost.
Switching deals and free phones: FAQ
What is the cheapest way to buy a new iPhone?
The cheapest way to buy a new iPhone is usually a carrier switch deal paid through bill credits, like T-Mobile's switch to T-Mobile iPhone promotion that drops the iPhone 18 Pro down to as little as $199.99.
Where can I get an iPhone for the lowest price?
Carriers often offer lower prices on the newest iPhones than retail stores because carriers add switch and trade-in credits, such as T-Mobile's iPhone deals for new customers with up to $1,000 off the iPhone 18 Pro.
Do carriers accept damaged phones for trade-in?
Most carriers lower or refuse credit for damaged phones, but some deals accept any condition, like T-Mobile's iPhone 18 Pro deal on the Experience Beyond 2.0 plan.
How do carrier bill credits work?
Carrier bill credits pay your phone discount back as credits on each monthly bill, like T-Mobile's 36-month credits, so you get the full discount by keeping your line active for the full term.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
