7 Mistakes to Avoid When Switching Cell Phone Plans

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There is no single phone plan that’s best for everyone, but finding the best one for you is pretty easy if you know the mistakes to avoid.

Over the past seven years, I’ve tested more than a dozen low-cost cell phone service providers.

My real customer reviews have helped thousands of people find cheaper alternatives to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile’s expensive postpaid plans.

In this article and the video below, learn the mistakes people make when switching cell phone plans.

1. Choosing the Wrong Network 

There are three main wireless networks in the United States: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

They all run commercials saying their network is the best, but how do you know what’s true? My go-to resource is RootMetrics, which tracks the performance of the major networks.

From its website, click on RootScore Reports and enter your city into the search bar to see the rankings where you live. 

I’ll use Los Angeles as an example. As you can see from the screenshot below, Verizon ranks number one overall in this market, followed by AT&T and T-Mobile.

In addition to the overall ranking, you can drill down on factors like call and data performance.

RootMetrics 2021 Los Angeles Rankings: Verizon, AT&T & T-Mobile

RootMetrics is a great tool if you’re thinking about switching networks, but I have one other recommendation that’s just as important: Use your neighborhood network of people! 

Since cell phone coverage can vary within a city, ask people who live in your neighborhood about the network they use. 

Some questions to ask:

  • How fast are the data speeds? 
  • Do they have problems with dropped calls?
  • Are text messages coming through? 

People in my community have received great responses after asking these questions on Nextdoor and Facebook.

2. Ignoring Low-Cost Phone Plan Providers 

Dozens of low-cost cell phone service providers use the same towers as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. These carriers can help you lower your bill to $30 a month or less.

Cheaper wireless options fall into three main categories:

  • Discount brands owned by major networks
  • Prepaid divisions of major networks
  • Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)

Discount Brands Owned by Major Networks

The three major wireless networks each own discount carriers, but these brands operate independently from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

  • Verizon owns Visible by Verizon
  • AT&T owns Cricket Wireless
  • T-Mobile owns Metro by T-Mobile

Prepaid Divisions of Major Networks

Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile also have prepaid divisions within their own companies. Prepaid plans can be cheaper and don’t require a credit check to get started.

  • Verizon Prepaid
  • AT&T Prepaid
  • T-Mobile Prepaid and Connect by T-Mobile

Connect by T-Mobile has one particularly cheap plan. For $15 a month, you get unlimited talk, text and 3.5 GB of high-speed data. 

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are separate companies that partner with one or more of the major networks to offer cell phone plans. 

Here are a few examples:

Before you sign up with an MVNO, verify that it works on your preferred network: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile.

Sometimes MVNOs aren’t allowed to advertise which network or networks they partner with, but you can usually figure it out with a simple Google search.


KEY POINT: If you like your current network, choosing a low-cost provider becomes a lot easier. Just limit your research to cheap carriers that use your preferred network: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile.


3. Selecting a Plan That Doesn’t Meet Your Needs

When you’re trying to choose a phone plan that’s best for you, think about your data options: Unlimited or fixed data.

Most people don’t need unlimited data, but unlimited plans are desirable because you don’t have to track your data usage throughout the month.

That’s why I really like Verizon-owned Visible. You get unlimited talk, text and truly unlimited data — including mobile hotspot — for $30 a month. I’ve been a customer since 2019.

Read my full Visible review to learn more about the pros and cons. 

Several other low-cost providers have unlimited plans for around $25 to $30 per month when you join a more traditional family plan. That’s really the price to beat for a good unlimited plan.

For people who use very little data, there’s the potential to save even more.

I mentioned the $15 Connect by T-Mobile plan earlier, but you can find plans with 1-2 GB of data for around $10 a month. Tello (T-Mobile network) is one option to consider.


IMPORTANT: There are tradeoffs with low-cost cell phone service providers. Some carriers offer few phone deals, limited customer support options and may slow your data during congestion.


4. Not Checking Phone Compatibility 

If you’re switching cell phone service providers and want to keep your phone, you need to make sure that it’s unlocked and compatible.

To help with this process, every carrier has a compatibility checker on its website.

From your device, dial *#06# and you’ll receive your phone’s IMEI number. Just enter the code into the online tool to find out if your phone is compatible. 

Here’s an example of what a compatibility checker looks like from Tello’s website:

If your phone isn’t compatible, you can either move on to another service or purchase a new phone that will work. 

If you want to buy a new phone, keep in mind that some low-cost providers have great phone deals and others do not. 

Compare prices and search for phone deals online.

You may be better off purchasing an unlocked phone from Amazon or eBay instead of buying directly from your new phone service provider. 

5. Canceling Your Old Service Too Early

When you make the move to a new cell phone company, chances are you want to keep your phone number. 

This is possible with all carriers through a process called porting. But if you cancel your old service prematurely, you could lose your number!

The FCC’s website says: 

Do not terminate your service with your existing company before initiating new service with another company.

Instead, sign up with your new cell phone service provider and tell them that you want to keep your existing number. 

You may have to provide your new carrier with some additional information, but they’ll take over and contact your current provider to make the switch happen.

For a smooth transition, I like to sign up with a new cell phone company five to seven days before my current plan expires. 

Once the porting process is complete and you’re using the new service with your existing phone number, it’s safe to cancel your old service.

Most carriers will close your account automatically after a number transfer, but it’s a good idea to double check.

6. Skipping Out on Discounts & Perks 

From my experience, a family line or group discount will likely impact your wireless bill the most. 

So whether you get cell phone service from a major network or a low-cost provider, try to get on a multi-line plan to lower your monthly costs.

Other discounts vary by carrier. They include:

  • Device discounts
  • Employer discounts
  • Senior discounts
  • Auto pay discounts

The multi-month discount is also common with prepaid carriers.

For example, AT&T Prepaid has a long-running deal that gives customers a break on the price if they sign up and pay $300 for a year of service upfront. 

As for perks, the major networks are more likely to offer freebies compared to low-cost providers.

At the time of this writing, Verizon’s most expensive plan comes with extras like the Disney Bundle, Apple Arcade, Apple Music and more.

No wonder that plan is $90 a month for a single line, plus taxes and fees.

I do not recommend that you sign up for a phone plan based on perks. But if you’re staying with a premium plan, you might as well take advantage of the extras.

7. Getting Too Comfortable 

Big companies, including cell phone service providers, make a lot of money when you subscribe and never compare prices again.

That’s a mistake we’ve all made at one time or another. 

You don’t have to try out all of the wireless providers like I do, but think about exploring new options every year or two.

Here’s an idea: The next time you’re thinking about upgrading to a new phone, spend about 30 minutes researching new phone plans.

A lot of people switch carriers at the same time they buy a new phone.

And don’t hesitate to bail on a wireless provider that you’re not satisfied with. There are too many options for you to stay with a service that’s not working out.

For more ways to lower your cell phone bill, subscribe to my YouTube channel!


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