One of the most expensive parts of any cellular plan is buying the phone to use with it. But AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are all known for offering free phones for switching, upgrading, or taking advantage of limited-time phone deals.
You can get a free phone from T-Mobile by taking advantage of phone deals, such as trade-in or buy one, get one (BOGO) deals, new customer offers, or leasing your phone. Read on to find out how each of these options works and what plans they’re eligible with.
How to get a free phone from T-Mobile
The two main methods for snagging a free phone from T-Mobile are through bill credits via a specific phone deal, or leasing a free phone. T-Mobile offers free phone deals for new and existing customers; the fine print just differs slightly for each.
Free phones through phone deals
The most common way T-Mobile provides free phones is by offering credits on your phone bill each month. This is usually because you added a new phone line, traded in your old device, or snagged a free phone through a BOGO discount. You are technically “buying” the phone with this method, but T-Mobile is the one footing the bill.
Get T-Mobile coverage for half the cost
Many people don't realize they can save on a phone and a phone plan and still get T-Mobile coverage with an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). These carriers use the same towers but don't have to pay for the upkeep costs, thereby passing the savings on to you. Where most free phones from T-Mobile require a new line (or upgrade) on one of their priciest phone plans, an MVNO like Mint Mobile has plans starting as low as $15/month.
With Mint Mobile, you'll get the nation's best 5G (with up to 50GB of guaranteed high speeds), plus unlimited talk, text, and data for a third of the cost of a T-Mobile unlimited plan. And while it's rare to find a truly free phone deal from Mint, you can often find discounted phones or full-priced devices that come with a few months of free service, which save you money in the long run.
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Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
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Open a new line
New and existing T-Mobile customers can get a free phone when adding a new line to their account, but there is a caveat. Some deals are available to existing customers who simply want to add a new line to their current plan. Other times these deals are only available to new customers who are switching to T-Mobile.
All you have to do is pick a plan you’re eligible for and select one of the free device options as your phone. Almost all of T-Mobile’s postpaid cell phone plans qualify, and you don’t even need an old device to trade in.
While sometimes you can snag one of the newest and most expensive models, like the Apple iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S24, often these deals are offered on older devices. Either way, all these devices are great phones that can connect to T-Mobile’s large 5G network.
Each device comes on a two-year installment plan. As long as you pay your bill regularly, the credit for the phone is applied every month. At the end of your contract, the phone belongs to you.
T-Mobile has offered the Samsung Galaxy A13 as one of its free devices. This 5G-enabled phone has a 50MP camera system, making it the perfect device for photographers on a budget.
Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.5" |
| Available On | 0 Plans from 0 carriers |
| Available From |
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| View Full Details |
Affordable Android 11 5G smartphone with an adaptive 6.5" Infinity-V HD+ Display and 50MP triple cameras
No Apple iPhone models are currently included as a free option with T-Mobile. However, you may be able to get a new iPhone for free with an eligible trade-in.
Trade in your old phone
T-Mobile sometimes offers trade-in deals that will let you upgrade to some of the newest and top devices for free. You give them your old phone and they’ll waive the cost of your new one through a monthly credit.
The catch is you must have an eligible, paid-off device to give them to qualify. However, there is a way to trade in before your device is completely paid off for both new and current customers:
- Existing customers who keep their phone for at least 6 months and have paid off at least half the cost can trade in and upgrade to the latest model for free—but you have to be on the Experience Beyond plan to be eligible every year or the Experience More plan to upgrade every 2 years.
- As an incentive for new customers, T-Mobile will often help pay off the remaining balance on your old device if you are switching to their network, but you have to sign up for one of the carrier's premium Experience plans.
These deals can change from week to week, so keep an eye on our T-Mobile deals page to know when their best trade-in deals are happening.
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#1
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T-Mobile
Essentials Saver
$50.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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#2
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T-Mobile
Essentials
$60.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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#3
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T-Mobile
Go5G Plus
$90.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
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#4
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T-Mobile
Go5G
$75.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
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#5
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T-Mobile
Go5G Next
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
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Can I bring my old phone to T-Mobile?
Yes, you can bring your old phone to T-Mobile as long as it is unlocked. While T-Mobile often offers deals to trade in your old phone, you can continue to use your old phone as long as you own it and it is compatible with T-Mobile’s network.
BOGO phone deals
BOGO (buy one, get one) deals offer an easy way to snag a free phone if you’re already purchasing one for yourself. These deals are a little more complicated than simply buying a new line or trading in. Sometimes they might be limited to a specific device or generation, other times they might apply to a specific brand like Apple, Samsung, or Google.
To qualify, you must select an eligible phone and payment plan for both devices. Then your savings are applied to your bill as credits over the course of your installment plan.
T-Mobile and other carriers are constantly changing these deals, so make sure to follow our Best BOGO Phone Deals page so you’re always up to date.
Leasing a free phone
T-Mobile's JUMP! On Demand leasing program is another way you can score a free phone. This program lets you lease phones to use on T-Mobile’s plans instead of buying them. You can even upgrade or change your device every 30 days if you don’t like the phone you chose.
The phones on this program are free (or at least at a reduced cost) and T-Mobile won’t check your credit score to see if you qualify. Simply signing up for the program is all you need to do. However, you must also keep the phone in good condition and keep your payments in good standing. T-Mobile may force you to buy the phone if you break it or try to leave the plan early.
The key difference between leasing and purchasing your phone is that T-Mobile still owns the device at the end of your lease. You don’t get to keep it. But, if you do want to keep the phone, you have the option to buy it outright or pay for it over nine installments.
Taxes and fees on free T-Mobile phones
You should note that taxes and fees typically still apply to T-Mobile's free devices. In most cases, you can expect to be charged tax on the pre-credit cost of the device and a $35 device connection charge (activation fee).
T-Mobile sometimes runs special offers where the carrier waives activation fees. That said, these deals usually require customers to fulfill a specific requirement, like switch to T-Mobile, pick a specific plan, or shop in-store.
What free phones does T-Mobile offer?
T-Mobile often offers several free phone models of free iPhones, Samsung Galaxy devices, Google Pixel phones, and more. You can often find the most recent versions of your favorite device for free, especially just before and just after that phone has debuted. For example, you can now get the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro for free via bill credits when you trade in your current device and sign up to either the Experience Beyond or Experience More plan.
When new phones come out, carriers also like to clear their stock of older models, so you can often get a free phone from T-Mobile that's just a year or two old without having to sign up for the most expensive unlimited plan. Here are some of the phones T-Mobile is currently offering for free (or at a steep discount):
Galaxy A37 5G 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 5MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 17e 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Camera: 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Pixel 10a 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 13MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
Moto G 5G (2026) 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 32MP
T-Mobile free phone plans
Most of T-Mobile’s free phone deals are tied to their incredibly popular Experience Beyond and Experience More premium unlimited plans. However, there are times you can scoop up a free phone on their Essentials unlimited plans, too. All of these plans come with unlimited data and access to a mobile hotspot. The Experience Beyond plan also offers bonus perks like subscriptions to Hulu, Apple TV+, and Netflix.
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#1
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T-Mobile
Essentials Saver
$50.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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#2
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T-Mobile
Experience More
$85.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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#3
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T-Mobile
Experience Beyond
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
|
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#4
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T-Mobile
Essentials
$60.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
|
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#5
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T-Mobile
Go5G Plus
$90.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
|
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#6
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T-Mobile
Go5G
$75.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
|
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#7
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T-Mobile
Go5G Next
$100.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
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Lifeline Program: T-Mobile free government phones
If you need a free cell phone and struggle to pay your phone bill, you may be able to take advantage of the Lifeline program. This government program provides free phones and discounted plans to people under the poverty line or already on government assistance.
T-Mobile offers free 5G government phones through the Lifeline program in select states. The T-Mobile-owned carrier Assurance Wireless also offers phones and plans through the Lifeline program.
T-Mobile MVNOs: Other options for free phones
If you don't qualify for a free phone from T-Mobile, you may be able to snag one from a T-Mobile MVNO instead. Mint Mobile is an MVNO offering cheap plans on T-Mobile's network that often has discounted mobile phones for new customers. You can snag an Unlimited plan with 50GB of premium data and a 20GB mobile hotspot for just $30/month ($15/month for the first 3 months). It's an excellent option for saving money, even if you can't find a completely free phone.
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.
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| View Plan |
Boost Mobile is another MVNO with access to T-Mobile's network. You can snag an Unlimited Plan for with 30GB of premium data and mobile hotspot capability for just $25/month. Like Mint, you won't often find free phone deals from Boost. That said, you can often find excellent deals on budget devices and plans.
Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan
| Carrier | Boost Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get this Unlimited plan for only $10/mo. for the first 3 months of service with Boost Mobile! |
| Total Price |
$10 per month
with AutoPay
|
| View Details |
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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