Switching phone service doesn't have to be such a chore.
Changing your phone carrier can be stressful. Shopping around and seeing so many different choices and prices and crazy perks can leave anyone confused ready to throw in the towel.
But it doesn't have to be that way. If you remember a few tips before you get started you'll be able to weave your way through all the hyperbole and get what you need and what you want. If you're ready to move on to a new carrier, here are five things you need to know.
Coverage, coverage, coverage
Any time we talk about carriers and their service, coverage gets mentioned. That's because it is the single most important thing you need to consider before you sign or buy anything. There is no value in paying for service that doesn't work for you.
Start by looking at online coverage maps. These are never 100% accurate (the providers even acknowledge this) but can be a good starting point. If you're shown in an area of full coverage and not on the fringe of service, that's a good sign. Also, be sure to use the selection tools of the map to check both voice and data coverage, as well as high-speed LTE data coverage versus lower speed network coverage.
If you are considering an MVNO, check its specific coverage map since it may not have access to all of the networks a customer of one of the big four may have. For example, many carriers have roaming agreements, often called Extended LTE, that fill in coverage gaps. MVNOs won't have access to these. Sometimes carriers such as Visible won't have support for 3G, further restricting coverage.
Don't stop there. Ask your friends what service they use and if they're happy with it. Making sure you'll have good coverage is worth all the legwork. If nothing else, check and see if the service you're considering has some sort of money-back guarentee and try it yourself.
You could also check a user supported coverage map such as the map offered by Sensorly. While these maps won't give you the full picture, it can still be helpful as an extra confirmation.
Will your phone work?
Unless you plan on buying a new phone, be sure to check that your phone works with the carrier you're considering. Some phones, like an iPhone or a Google Pixel, will work on any U.S. carrier. Others, especially models that are a few years old, only work on specific networks.
If you're considering an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) you should see which of the Big Four (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon) networks they use. If your phone was built to use the same network the MVNO is using, you're probably good to go as long as it's SIM unlocked. If not, things can get a little complicated.
Here's a chart to help get you started.
| Carrier Name | Network type | 3G/HSPA+ freqencies | LTE freqencies | LTE bands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | UMTS/GSM/HSPA+/LTE | 850, 1900 | 700 b/c, 1700 a/b/c/d/e, 1900 | 2, 4, 12, 17 |
| Sprint | CDMA/LTE | 800, 1900 | 850, 1900 g, 2500 | 25, 26, 41 |
| T-Mobile | UMTS/GSM/HSPA+/LTE | 1900, 1700/2100 (AWS) | 700 a, 1700 d/e/f, 1900 | 2, 4, 12 |
| Verizon | CDMA/LTE | 850, 1900 | 700 c, 1700 f, 1900 | 2, 4, 13 |
You'll find the information about what frequencies and LTE bands your phone uses in the user manual, at the manufacturers website or other online resources. Keep in mind that some phones from different carriers may share a few frequencies or radio bands, that doesn't make them compatible. For example, a phone built for Verizon shares two LTE bands with AT&T's network. That doesn't mean it will work, even if an advanced user can fiddle with settings to get it to partially work in some places.
If you're not an enthusiast who knows or cares about frequencies and radio bands, don't worry. There's a great online resource that can give you the answers you need. Just enter the model of your phone and the carrier you are thinking of using and you'll find out if your phone works.
Most carriers will also have a lookup tool on their website or can check compatibility with the IMEI number found in your phones settings or sometimes by dialing #06 in your phone app.
One last option is to just call the carrier and ask if your phone will work. You might be put on hold for a few minutes, but they can figure it out for you.
SIM unlocking
Your phone will probably need to be SIM unlocked to use it on a carrier it wasn't designed for. This is different from Jailbreaking or rooting, and is simply lifting the restriction some carriers put in place to keep you from using the phone on another network.
Many phones, like the Google Pixel or some iPhone models, are sold unlocked and designed to use on any GSM network (see the table above) and even Sprint or Verizon in a few cases. These phones are advertised as unlocked when you buy them.
Phones sold by Sprint and Verizon might also be SIM unlocked, especially if they're relatively new. Things can get a little complicated here, too, because even though they are unlocked they may have carrier restrictions in place so they won't work on other U.S. carriers. It's also a safe bet to say a phone designed to use on Sprint won't work on a carrier that uses Verizon's network and vice versa.
The good news is that it's simple to get a phone SIM unlocked. If your account is in good standing and the phone is paid in full, the carrier will unlock it. Give them a call and they will give you a code. Put in your new SIM card and you'll be able to enter the code when prompted.
If you bought the phone second hand or no longer have an active account with the carrier it was built for, you can turn to a third party. The process is the same, so all you need to do is find a reputable company and contact them. Most companies who provide this service are trustworthy, but take a few minutes to search their name on Google to read user reviews and make sure you're comfortable before you pay $20 or so for an unlock code.
What plan should you buy?
There are a lot of different service plans available to fit most every user. You can buy service that is voice and text only, or go big and buy a plan with unlimited everything. The important thing is to get the plan that works best for both your usage and your wallet. That means you need to know how much data you need.
If you need unlimited data, you know it already. You want to stream video and music and browse the internet on your phone because it's a great tool to do those things, and Wi-Fi isn't the best option. All the Big Four carriers offer unlimited plans so you'll be able to find one on the network that works best for you. We've gone into each plan in-depth, and it's a great place to start.
Which unlimited plan should you buy: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon?
Most people don't need an unlimited plan. When you're shopping for plans that offer a fixed amount of data each month, you have a lot of choices. With a little homework, you can get a service plan that works great and saves you money.
You'll need to know how much data you use each month. Android has plenty of tools to help, and you can get the information you need from your current carrier, too. We have you covered and you can see all the ways to monitor and save data in one place.
These are all the ways you can save data and monitor your data usage
When you have a good handle on how much you need, you can be a wise shopper and get exactly what you need.
Your number goes with you
Once you've settled on what type of service you're going to buy and who you're going to buy it from, there's one last thing to remember: you can take your phone number with you no matter which company you get service from.
Don't let a company tell you that you can't keep your number. By law, you can.
This is called porting your number, and in almost every case (some numbers created by VOIP services can't be ported) it belongs to you. And keeping it to use with your new service is easy.
Every company does things a little differently, but you'll need to know your phone number, your account number from your current carrier, and any PIN or password you use to access it. Your new carrier will ask for this information (yes, giving anyone a PIN or password is scary, but thats how it works) and they will handle the rest.
While your number is being ported you won't be able to use it. Generally, this will be done the same day but sometimes it can take longer. Your new carrier will be able to advise you and let you know how the number port is going if it takes longer than a few hours.
When the number porting is done, your new service will use the same phone number you and everyone else is used to. This makes it easier to switch for everyone. The number is assigned to your phone or new SIM card, but it's still yours and you can move it to another carrier anytime you like. Of course, you can always just get a new number if you like.
One last thing here: your voicemail and texts won't transfer with your number. If you are using the same phone things switch with no issues, but if you're changing phones, too, you'll need to back up anything important from your messages. Most Android phones can back up texts to your Google account backup and iPhones can back texts up to iCloud. Just make sure to run a backup before you restore.
Updated October 2019: Switching carriers can be painless. We've updated this information with the latest data and links so that you'll be able to breeze through the process and get the service you want at the best price.
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