Switching your Apple iPhone from Verizon—be it an iPhone SE, iPhone 14, or newer—is easy, especially if you have a newer model. As long as your iPhone is unlocked, you can switch from Verizon to the carrier of your choice.
In this article, learn everything you need to know to bring your Verizon iPhone to another carrier of your choice—from unlocking your phone to checking compatibility to picking the perfect plan/carrier for your needs.
Unlocking Your Verizon iPhone
Before you can take your Verizon iPhone to another carrier, you need to unlock it from the carrier's network. This allows you to use your phone on another network with compatible SIM cards.
A Verizon phone unlock is free, but you’ll first need to meet specific criteria. Fortunately, Verizon has some of the most lenient unlock policies in the wireless industry—the carrier automatically unlocks your phone after 60 days of service. Just make sure that:
- You originally purchased your iPhone from Verizon
- Your account has been in good standing for at least 60 days
- Your phone isn't linked to fraudulent activity, or reported lost or stolen
Jump over to our guide to unlocking your Verizon phone for all the steps you need, plus specifics like military exemptions and more.
Get the same Verizon coverage for half the price
One of the main reasons why you should unlock your phone is that you can get the exact same coverage as you would from a Verizon plan by going with a much cheaper MVNO—like Visible, which offers unlimited everything with Big Red's 4G and 5G coverage for just $25/month. We especially love that you can opt for unlimited premium data, plus spam-blocking and global calling benefits, for just a few bucks more.
How Do I Know if My Verizon iPhone Is Unlocked?
If you’re not sure whether you’ve met the 60-day automatic unlocking mark, the easiest way to check is taking a look at your network settings. Head to your Settings app on your phone and tap “Cellular.”
If your iPhone shows “Cellular Data Options” or “Data Networks” as a category, odds are that your phone is unlocked. Another surefire way to make sure your iPhone is unlocked is by using a compatible, non-Verizon SIM card. Simply insert the SIM card and check if you can use it normally—things such as phone calls or sending a text message. If it still seems as though your iPhone isn’t working with non-Verizon SIM cards, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to hopefully fix the problem.
Important to be aware of
Not all SIM cards are compatible with every iPhone model—you’ll want to check your specific model’s SIM compatibility.Troubleshooting: Unlocking Your iPhone using iTunes
If you’ve met Verizon’s 60-day requirement, but you're still having issues with using its unlocked features, you may need to complete the iPhone unlock process using iTunes. To unlock your iPhone with iTunes:
- Complete an iTunes backup of your iPhone (double-check that this is complete before moving on to the next step!).
- Perform a reset on your iPhone
- Once the “Welcome” screen appears, connect your phone to iTunes to reinstall your back-up files.
- Re-try using your unlocked features.
If you’re still having issues unlocking your iPhone, your best bet is to contact Verizon’s customer service directly for help.
Important note to remember
You can use iTunes to troubleshoot your Verizon iPhone unlock with either a Mac or iPad
Checking Your iPhone’s Carrier Compatibility
After you've unlocked your Verizon iPhone, you’ll want to check which carriers are compatible with your particular iPhone model before you switch from Verizon to AT&T, T-Mobile, or a different carrier. Most new iPhones are universally compatible with both CDMA and GSM networks, but some older iPhones, like the iPhone 6s or earlier, may have less sophisticated internal components—meaning it won’t be compatible with all carriers.
The easiest way to check your iPhone’s compatibility is by performing an IMEI check on the carrier website you’re looking to switch to. Most carrier “IMEI check” tools will function similarly—all you need is your IMEI number, which can be found by dialing *#06# on your dial pad.
CDMA vs. GSM Networks
Verizon is a CDMA network, though the carrier is expected to retire the network by the end of 2021. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobiles) are two cellular network technologies that transmit cell phone data differently. And while these differences were much more significant in the past, both now operate largely in the same way, as older technologies continue to phase out.
For instance, GSM was historically the only technology of the two that could both use data and make calls at the same time while on 2G and 3G bands. But because 4G LTE has become the industry norm, this no longer applies for 4G-enabled phones—you can expect similar functionality on both technologies. 5G technologies will likely make for even more similarities between GSM and CDMA functionality, making this factor a relatively moot point in the coming years.
Can a Verizon iPhone be used on AT&T?
It depends. If you have a newer, GSM-compatible iPhone, you should have no issues using it on AT&T’s network once unlocked. It’s still a good idea to use AT&T’s compatibility checker just in case.
Can a Verizon iPhone be used on T-Mobile?
Most likely, yes, as long as it's a newer iPhone! Before switching from Verizon to T-Mobile, be sure to check T-Mobile’s compatibility tool to make sure.
Picking the Right Plan for Your Unlocked iPhone
The most important thing when switching your iPhone from Verizon is making sure you find a suitable data plan from your new carrier. With an unlocked iPhone, you’ll have plenty of perk-heavy options from major carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, as well as cheaper plans from smaller MVNOs—including those that run on Verizon’s network, like Visible. If you previously had a Verizon unlimited plan, Visible's unlimited plan offers the same great coverage for way less (starting at just $25/month)—and that includes mobile hotspot! The Visible+ plan at $35/month offers premium high-speed data like Verizon's plans do, but for half the price. And for even more perks, you can snag Visible's $45/month Visible+ Pro plan for international benefits and smartwatch service. Equally cheap options include Mint Mobile's Unlimited plan for just $30/month, but note that Mint is a T-Mobile MVNO, so you'll want to check for T-Mobile coverage in your area.
Visible $35 Visible+ Plan
| Carrier | Visible |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$35 per month
Taxes & Fees included
|
| View Plan |
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan
| Carrier | Mint Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get this plan for just $25/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required |
| Total Price |
$25 per month
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
| View Plan |
The easiest way to find the right plan is by using our online plan finder—you can compare over 40 different carriers and find all the top deals currently available.
MVNOs on Verizon’s Network
If you generally like your Verizon coverage, but are looking to lower your cell phone bill a bit, consider a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). These are smaller carriers that rent space on larger carriers' networks. Since they don't own the cell towers, MVNOs don't need to budget for network maintenance, and they can pass those savings onto you—the customer. The only real downside to an MVNO is that your service can be deprioritized in favor of customers of the main carrier—so in the case of a Verizon MVNO, during times of peak usage your service could be slowed in favor of actual Verizon customers.
There are plenty of MVNOs that offer coverage on Verizon’s network—often for significantly cheaper. We’ve listed a few Verizon MVNOs below:
These MVNOs operate on Verizon's towers, giving you the same coverage you've come to love from the major carrier. Plans are often prepaid without any required contracts or credit checks, though you'll often sacrifice on entertainment perks and guaranteed premium data. That said, Verizon MVNOs are excellent alternatives to get great phone service without the price tag. Check out some plan options below.
|
#1
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
|
#2
|
XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
|
|
#3
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
|
|
#4
|
Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 2GB Data
$5.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $15.00/month
|
|
#5
|
Spectrum Mobile
Unlimited Data
$30.00/mo
+ $20 Upfront
|
Chris Holmes
Staff Writer
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