Advertised iPhone prices can be misleading. Getting an iPhone for $99 is only possible if you qualify for a phone upgrade with your current carrier, or if you're a new customer. If you've had an iPhone with one iPhone carrier — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon — and are still on your initial two-year contract, getting those low prices means you should switch. Plus, switching carriers can get you better service or features. But switching isn't always easy. Here's what you need to know before you switch iPhone carriers.
How to Switch Carriers | Keep Your Phone AND Your Number
Switching isn’t as simple as cancelling your old contract with one company and signing up for a contract with a new provider. Your old company doesn’t want to let you — or the money you’re paying them — go. That’s why they charge you an Early Termination Fee (ETF) if you cancel your contract before it’s up.
Often, switching carriers is still the cheapest way to get the latest iPhone, even with the cost of an ETF (which usually reduces by a fixed amount for each month of your contract). However, it’s good to know exactly what you’ll be spending so there are no surprises down the road.
Check your contract status with your current provider. If you are still under contract, you will need to decide whether to pay the ETF and switch or wait until your contract expires.
