Phone deals guide · Updated Oct 17, 2026
Free phone deals: are $0 down phones really free?
Every carrier advertises a free phone. Most of those deals are real, but they come with conditions that decide whether “free” saves you money or costs you more over three years.
Live Oct 17, 2026
Today’s best phones available now
- Apple iPhone 16e at Metro by T-MobileFree after rebate$0 down (tax may be due)
- Apple iPhone 17 at AT&T$0/mo after credits$0 down (tax may be due)
- Apple iPhone 17 at T-MobileFree after credits$0 down (tax may be due)
- Apple iPhone 17e at T-MobileFree after credits$0 down (tax may be due)
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro at AT&T$0/mo after credits$0 down (tax may be due)
- Apple iPhone Duo at T-MobileUp to $1,000 off$0 down (tax may be due)
- Google Pixel 10a at VerizonFree after creditsPhone fully covered; activation fee may apply
- Google Pixel 11 Pro at AT&T$0/mo after credits$0 down (tax may be due)
How free phone deals work
When a carrier says a phone is free or “On Us,” you usually buy it on a 36-month installment plan and the carrier gives you a monthly bill credit that cancels the payment. Pay the bill for three years and the phone is paid off.
Prepaid brands such as Metro by T-Mobile work differently: they cut the price at checkout or by rebate when you switch, with no installment plan.
The catches to check before you switch
- Leaving early. If you cancel the line or pay the phone off early, the credits stop and the remaining balance comes due.
- The plan you need. Many of the best deals require a premium unlimited plan. A free phone on a $100 plan can cost more than a paid phone on a $50 plan.
- New line or switch. The biggest offers are usually for new lines or customers bringing their number from another carrier.
- Trade-in condition. Some deals accept any condition; others need a recent model in good shape.
- Taxes and fees. Sales tax on the full price and an activation fee are often due on day one.
Free phone deals by carrier
| Carrier | Typical requirement | Existing customers? |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Trade-in on an eligible unlimited plan | Often yes, with a trade-in |
| T-Mobile | New line or switch on Experience More or Beyond | Some deals |
| Verizon | New line on an eligible myPlan, sometimes a trade-in | Some deals |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Switch and add a line on a qualifying prepaid plan | Rarely |
See every live offer by carrier: AT&T, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile.
When a free phone is worth it
Add up three years of the required plan, then compare it with the plan you would choose anyway plus the phone’s price. If the totals are close and you like the carrier’s coverage where you live, the free phone is a good deal. If the deal forces you onto a much pricier plan, buying the phone outright and using a cheaper plan often wins.
Questions people ask
Are free phones from carriers really free?
They are paid for with monthly bill credits, usually over 36 months. If you keep the line and qualifying plan for the full term, you pay nothing for the phone, though taxes and an activation fee may apply.
What happens if I cancel before the credits finish?
The remaining credits stop and the rest of the phone’s balance becomes due.
Can existing customers get free phones?
Sometimes. AT&T often extends trade-in deals to existing customers, while the largest T-Mobile and Verizon offers usually need a new line or a switch.