Prefer WhistleOut in Google
The best phone trade-in deals in September 2026 can save you up to $1,900 at T-Mobile, up to $1,200 at Verizon, and up to $1,200 at AT&T when you trade an eligible device and activate or upgrade a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile offers up to $1,900 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and up to $1,200 off the new iPhone 18 Pro with a trade-in, Verizon offers up to $1,200 off the Galaxy Z Fold8 or the iPhone 18 Pro with a trade-in and a new line, and AT&T will hand you a Galaxy Z Fold8 or an iPhone 18 Pro for $0 with an eligible trade-in.
These trade-in discounts apply as monthly bill credits spread over 24 to 36 months, not as money off the upfront price. To get the full value, you'll need to keep the line active for the entire term.
Because upgrade cycles have slowed, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are offering large trade-in subsidies to get you to switch or stay. This means you can currently walk away with a brand-new iPhone 18 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S26, or Google Pixel 11 for as little as $0.
Every carrier hides the best value behind different plan requirements and trade-in tiers. We've decoded that fine print below to show you which trade-in deals provide the best value, which older phones still command top-tier credit, and how to snag a flagship device without a massive monthly bill.
Compare iPhone trade-in deals
Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 18, and all three major carriers put up to $1,200 in trade-in credit behind them, which is the highest launch-window figure the big three have ever offered on a new iPhone. You'll also find credit on the iPhone 17 series and the iPhone Air, though Apple raised the price of every older iPhone by $100 on September 9, so a credit that covered one of those phones in August may leave a balance today. Check out our iPhone trade-in guide to make sure your device is prepped for trading in.
| Carrier | Deal | Details |
|---|---|---|
 |
Up to $1,200 off the iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max with a trade-in in any condition on Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond, or Go5G Next. Drops to $930 on Experience More tiers, where you can take the iPhone 17 on us instead | View deal |
 |
Up to $1,200 off the iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max with a trade-in of an iPhone 14 or newer in any condition, excluding the 16e, which drops the phone to $0/month. Any smartphone worth $180 or more also qualifies | View deal |
 |
Up to $1,200 off the iPhone 18 Pro with a qualified trade-in and a new line on an eligible myPlan, or up to $1,020 when upgrading an existing line. Trades must be an Apple, Google, Motorola, or Samsung device active on the account for 60 days | View deal |
|
iPhone 17 for $0/month with an eligible trade-in on a qualifying unlimited plan, down from $25.84/month | View deal |
|
Up to $830 off the iPhone Air with a new line and trade-in on a select Unlimited plan. Note that the Air went up to $1,099 on September 9, so this no longer covers the full price | View deal |
Two trade-in offers sit outside the big three and are worth knowing about. Xfinity Mobile is running the largest iPhone trade-in credit anywhere at up to $1,300 off any new iPhone, or the iPhone 18 Pro Max at no cost, for customers on a Mobile Plus line, and that offer ends October 8. Apple credits $175 to $885 directly at checkout for an iPhone 13 or later in any condition its estimator accepts, which is a smaller number than the carriers advertise but lands the day you buy instead of arriving across three years of bills. Apple is currently quoting up to $305 for an iPhone 15 and up to $255 for an iPhone 13 Pro.
The iPhone Duo is a different story. Apple's first foldable opens for pre-order on October 16 and ships October 23, and almost no carrier has published trade-in terms for it. Xfinity Mobile has confirmed the Duo is covered by its up-to-$1,300 offer, Total Wireless is taking $600 off, and AT&T has said its $1,200 trade-in deal will extend to Duo orders in October. T-Mobile and Verizon are carrying the phone but have published nothing. We'll add Duo trade-in tiers here as they go live.
Compare Samsung Galaxy trade-in deals
Samsung's newest foldables are still where the biggest trade-in money is. The Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 launched on August 7, and all three carriers attached credits that can cover the entire phone.
You'll also find strong deals on the Galaxy S26 series and on last year's Z Flip7 and Z Fold7, which still carry up to $1,100 in trade-in credit at T-Mobile. If you don't need the newest hinge, that's the value play.
| Carrier | Deal | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Up to $1,900 off the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with a trade-in on Experience Beyond | View deal |
|
Get the Galaxy Z Fold8 for $0 with an eligible trade-in on a qualifying unlimited plan | View deal |
|
Up to $1,200 off the Galaxy Z Fold8 or Z Fold8 Ultra with a trade-in in any condition and a new line on Unlimited Ultimate | View deal |
|
Up to $1,100 off the Galaxy Z Flip7 or Z Fold7 with a trade-in on an Experience plan | View deal |
|
Up to $1,100 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra when you switch or upgrade to Experience Beyond | View deal |
Compare Google Pixel trade-in deals
The Pixel 11 lineup went up for pre-order on August 12 and reached stores on August 20, and carrier credits are covering the full price on some models. That includes the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
Pixel 10 trade-in credit is still worth a look too, since last-gen prices tend to soften in the weeks after a new launch.
| Carrier | Deal | Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Get up to $1,300 off the Pixel 11 Pro XL with a new line or a trade-in in any condition on Experience Beyond 2.0 or Go5G Next | View deal |
|
Get the Pixel 11 Pro for $0 when you trade in any old Pixel, any year, any condition | View deal |
|
Get up to $900 off any Pixel 11 model with a trade-in on Unlimited Ultimate, paid over 36 bill credits. Unlimited Welcome caps at $360 | View deal |
|
Get up to $800 off the Pixel 10 with a trade-in and a qualifying plan, plus a $35 connection fee | View deal |
Ongoing carrier trade-in offers
AT&T trade-in offers
- New AT&T customers: Sick of your current carrier? Switch to AT&T and trade in your old phone to get up to $1,200 in bill credits toward an eligible flagship. The credits are spread over 36 months and only apply to the device you're financing, so this isn't a pot of money you can spend elsewhere. Switchers can also get up to $800 per line by reward card to clear the balance on a phone they're still paying off at their old carrier.
- Existing AT&T customers: Don't want to switch carriers to get a good trade-in deal? Stick with AT&T and get up to $1,200 toward an iPhone 18 Pro or an eligible Samsung Galaxy flagship. The plan requirement varies by offer, and the top tier sits on AT&T's higher-priced unlimited plans rather than its entry unlimited tiers, so check which plan the specific promotion names before you assume you qualify. Your phone must be bought on monthly installments either way.
- Max savings: $1,200 for new and existing AT&T customers.
View AT&T trade-in deals
Verizon trade-in deals
- New customers: If you're thinking of switching to Verizon, you can trade in your old phone and get either account credit toward a new phone, a Verizon gift card, or PayPal credit. Your total trade-in credit depends on the value of your phone and your selected unlimited plan. The biggest offers require Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate, and right now the ceiling sits at $1,200 on the iPhone 18 Pro and Samsung's newest foldables. Expect around $900 on most current flagships. Verizon also has a no-trade-in route in Simplicity Pro, which bundles an iPhone 18 Pro and a plan at $80 per month with an annual upgrade.
- Existing Verizon customers: If you're an existing Verizon customer, you can trade in your phone for credit toward a new phone purchase or credit on your account. Note that upgrading an existing line caps the iPhone 18 Pro credit at $1,020 rather than $1,200, so the full amount requires adding a line. Verizon accepts most devices with cosmetic damage, though battery damage will disqualify a trade, and the trade-in device must have been active on your account for at least 60 days. If your phone isn't eligible, check out our guide on how to sell or trade in your old phone.
- Max savings: $1,200 with a new line, or $1,020 upgrading an existing one.
View Verizon trade-in deals
T-Mobile trade-in deals
- New T-Mobile customers: Get a new phone for cheaper by trading in your old phone to T-Mobile when you make the switch. You can get an estimate for the value of your phone easily online, then simply trade it in at a T-Mobile store or send the phone in. T-Mobile (and other major carriers) may even pay you to switch to their network.
- Existing customers: If you're already a T-Mobile customer, you're still eligible for trade-in credit when you upgrade your line or add a new line to your account. Just log into your T-Mobile account online to see what your current phone is worth. You may also be eligible for early upgrades with a trade-in and eligible unlimited plans.
- Trade-in conditions: T-Mobile normally requires a paid-off device in good working order with Find My iPhone or Android anti-theft turned off. Specific promotions, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL offers, waive the condition check entirely and accept a trade in any condition.
- How the tiers work: T-Mobile's iPhone credit steps down with your plan. The $1,200 tier needs a plan at $100 per month or more with AutoPay, $930 needs $85 or more, and the $730 and $300 tiers need $60 or more. Its EIP Flex 36 financing also rolls taxes and fees into the financed amount, which is how the carrier gets to a genuine $0 at checkout.
- Max savings: $1,900 on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with a trade-in on Experience Beyond.
View T-Mobile trade-in deals
Google Fi: Up to $500 in credit with trade-in
- Deal: Trade in an eligible device and get up to $500 in Fi credit (or a credit card refund). Most phones will earn you around $300, unless it's a recent flagship like the iPhone 17 or Galaxy S26. Unlike the major carriers, Google Fi gives you an upfront credit for your trade-in that immediately decreases the price of your new device. So if you've been wanting a new Google Pixel, then it wouldn't hurt to see how much you can get off of it with your trade-in today!
- Max savings: $500
Visible: Swap your phone for select devices
- Deal: Ready to switch to Visible's $25 unlimited plan? Then take advantage of Visible's swap-your-phone program. The carrier offers a selection of eligible phones you can swap your old phone for, like Visible's own Midnight device, once you confirm that your number is eligible to switch. Then, once you get your new phone and Visible SIM card, send your old phone in and voila!
- Max savings: Varies by phone selection
Scott Houghton
Jr. Staff Writer
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
