How to Get a Cell Phone with No Credit Check

Luke Dormehl Writer

Updated 22 September 2025

Contents

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Buying a phone without a credit check
Why buy a no-credit-check phone?
Pros and cons of bad credit cell phones
Carriers offering no-credit phones
No credit check phones: FAQs

Having poor—or no—credit history can put a damper on many aspects of your life... but thankfully, getting a cell phone isn't one of them.

You can get a cell phone without a credit check by using a prepaid carrier, getting a co-signer, joining a family plan, or paying a deposit. Plus some of the largest carriers offer opportunities to snag a device without a credit check too.

Let's run through the best options for obtaining an iPhone and other smartphones when the usual cell phone financing options aren't working for you.

Buying a phone without a credit check

The best way to snag a cell phone with bad or no credit is to pay for your phone in full, rather than purchasing it on monthly payments. This helps avoid a credit check entirely. But since phones are increasingly expensive, this becomes less of a viable option as years go by.

Though many carriers require credit checks because it's in their best interests to avoid perpetually delinquent customers, some prepaid carriers allow you to bypass the credit check entirely. Another way to skip the credit check is to ask friends or family to co-sign your financing agreement or add you to their family plans. You could also consider purchasing a used phone from a retailer. Lastly, you could also opt for placing a security deposit on your phone.

Use a prepaid carrier

Prepaid carriers don't require a credit check because, unlike the major carriers (i.e., Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile), they don't offer cell phone financing. Instead, if you choose to purchase a phone through them (rather than bringing your own device), you have to buy it outright. Most of these phones are older models, meaning your outright cost is much lower than that for newer devices.

You can find prepaid carriers on all three of the big networks. Mint Mobile is one of the top prepaid carriers on T-Mobile's network. It offers an unlimited plan starting at $30/month ($15/month for the first 3 months). Visible is a Verizon-owned prepaid carrier. Both of it's plans are unlimited with the cheapest one starting at $25/month. Finally, if you're interested in AT&T, Boost Infinite has a great unlimited plan that costs $25/month and includes a lifelong price lock. All of these carriers offer phones for sale that don't require a credit check.

#1	Visible	Visible $25 Visible Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#2	Mint Mobile	Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 20GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this plan for just $25/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required $25.00/mo $75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only. View Plan	$25.00/mo $75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.	View Plan

This option has its advantages and disadvantages. Some terrific prepaid carriers in the U.S. offer a wide range of phones and plans to suit every budget. However, if you want the absolute latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, you're going to face a hefty upfront fee to obtain the device (or it may not be available at all).

Why would I fail a credit check for a phone?

You typically fail a phone credit check when you have missed payments for things like credit cards, personal loans, and car payments in the past. You may also fail if you have no credit history at all, since the carrier has no reliable way to know if you're good for making your phone payments on time.

Get a co-signer

If you prefer to purchase a newer phone from a major carrier and you can't buy it outright, another option is to partner with a co-signer with good credit. This person will be responsible for the cost of your phone if you fall behind on your payments. This avenue gives you access to the convenient cell phone financing options that make the cost of your phone more attainable.

The downside to using a co-signer is that the account will be in their name, meaning you likely won't get credit for your payment history. It is possible to have the account transferred into your name later, but this requires a credit check, so make sure you're financially stable before requesting a transfer.

Also, note that transferring an account into another person's name often requires a deposit. Some carriers, like T-Mobile, will waive this fee if you make the transfer within 60 days. But be sure to check with them first to avoid any unexpected costs.

Join up on a family plan

One of the best options to buy a phone with a poor credit score is to join a family plan. Not only does this allow you to avoid a credit check, since the account is in a family member's name, but it could also save you money on your portion of the phone bill (outside of the cost of your phone). Most carriers offer sizable discounts on phone plans when customers add multiple lines.

Some family plans allow you to take out up to 10 lines. But like using a co-signer, the main account holder is liable for any unpaid bills—including your device payment—so you'll need to ensure that they're happy to take on that risk.

Check out the best family plans of the month!

Each month, we debut our picks for the best family plans for mom, dad, Nana, your best friend Carl... whomever you want to get together and save! Hop over to our guide to the best family plans on the market to get started.

Purchase a used device

Retailers selling used devices do not require a credit check since you are paying for the device in full. You can also save a ton of money by purchasing a used device. Online retailers like Amazon and Trademore offer refurbished devices at lower prices than new models. You can also find these kinds of devices at physical stores like Bestbuy. Retailers usually repair any issues with the phone and guarantee it is operational, so there is no danger of buying a broken device. If you purchase an unlocked used device, you can take it to any carrier you choose and skip the credit check process.

Pay a security deposit

If your problem passing a credit check is that you have little to no credit history, you may be able to get a cell phone by paying a security deposit upfront. This is a lump sum paid to the carrier that they can claim if you fall behind on your bills.

The downside to a security deposit is that they're usually not cheap, though the actual amount will depend on various things, like the value of the phone as well as any existing credit history. The good news is that most carriers will refund this deposit after a year if you consistently pay your bill on time, which will help you build up your credit score in the process.

Explore financing options

If a carrier has denied you credit, there are other cell phone financing options you can choose to explore. Visible, for example, has a device payment plan offering 12, 18, or 24 months to pay off your phone. Some big-box retailers like Best Buy also offer financing plans, or you can apply directly through smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Google, and Samsung. You can also look at smaller carriers like Boost Mobile.

Take note, however, that if a carrier has turned you down because of bad credit history, other companies are likely to do the same. Although they all have different criteria and you can get lucky, this isn't an option that you should pin your hopes on.

While most carriers don't commonly offer phone leasing anymore, T-Mobile's JUMP! On Demand program remains one of the few leasing options available. There is no down payment or credit check—but to qualify, you must first show 12 months of on-time payments for a T-Mobile phone plan. This likely means you'll need to join up with T-Mobile using an existing device before you qualify to lease a new one through the Un-carrier.

If you're on an AT&T family plan, you may be able to take advantage of their Next Up program. With AT&T’s program, turning in a qualifying device will add a credit to the account to use towards a new one—so if you bring your current phone to the network, you could begin banking credit toward a new phone. Other third-party leasing companies are available, but scams are common, so be careful when exploring this option.

Why buy a no-credit-check phone?

The primary reasons to choose a no-credit-check phone are either having bad credit or no credit history at all. Most carriers don't typically offer phone financing contracts to customers who have previously failed to keep up with their bills, or can't provide evidence of their ability to make on-time payments.

Using a prepaid carrier is a great option to avoid this obstacle since many of these companies offer cheap or free phones and competitive monthly plan rates without a credit check. There are also a few quick and easy ways to start building your credit history if you haven't yet established one. You can become an authorized user on another person's credit card, or you can apply for your own secured credit card. You can also pay a security deposit to a carrier upfront and keep your account in good standing to jumpstart the process.

Pros and cons of bad credit cell phones

Of course, there are pros and cons to using the bad credit cell phone methods outlined above. To help you choose the best option for you, we've outlined them here.

	Pros	Cons
Using a prepaid carrier	No credit check required Payments get collected upfront Plenty of plan options for every budget Switch carriers at any time	Must provide your own cell phone/purchase one outright Limited devices available
Using a co-signer	No solo credit check Wider range of devices/plans available	Must find a willing co-signer Account must be in the co-signer's name May require transfer fee
Buying used phone	Lower prices Plenty of carrier options	Generally need unlocked device Fewer device options Phone may have cosmetic damage
Joining a family plan	Wider range of devices/plans available Sizable discounts per line Build up credit rating with on-time payments	Must find group for family plan
Paying a security deposit	Option for newer phone/financing plan Wider range of devices/plans available	Requires pricey upfront fee
Other financing options	Avoid large upfront fee Build up credit history	Often same credit requirements as carrier financing plans

Carriers offering no-credit phones

Some cell phone companies that don't require credit checks or offer no-credit phones are:

Many of these are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, which piggyback their signal off the towers of major carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T.

T-Mobile Smartphone Equality

T-Mobile's Smartphone Equality is a program designed for Metro by T-Mobile customers and prepaid T-Mobile customers. Its goal is to get these customers off their prepaid plan and onto a postpaid T-Mobile plan. One of the perks of completing the Smartphone Equality program is access to no-credit-check cell phones.

To join the Smartphone Equality program, you must be on an eligible Metro or prepaid T-Mobile plan. You must also make 12 consecutive on-time payments on your plan. After that, you must join a T-Mobile postpaid phone plan, but you won't be required to complete a credit check and will have access to the best rates for new devices.

No credit check phones: FAQs

Can you get a phone contract with poor credit?

That all depends on how bad your credit rating is. Every carrier has different criteria for lending, and while poor credit doesn't always make it impossible to get a phone contract, it greatly reduces your chances.

How can you finance a new phone with bad credit?

You could get your phone with a co-signer who has better credit than yours or look at alternative financing options, like third-party retailers and lenders with options for those with bad credit. You can also ask someone else to add you to their family plan.

What credit score do you need for a phone?

Though every carrier has its own criteria when it comes to what constitutes an acceptable credit score, most consider scores of 600 and above as acceptable—a score of 700 or above is ideal.

Where can you get a phone with bad credit?

Obtaining a phone with bad credit can be difficult. You may choose to try another carrier if one has turned you down, or you could look at alternative methods, like finding a co-signer or being added to someone else's family plan.

Is a cell phone credit check a hard inquiry?

Yes, a hard credit check happens whenever a company looks at your credit score to assess your ability to pay bills on time.

How do you pass a phone credit check?

The best way to pass a cell phone credit check is to maintain a good credit score. Ideally, this is 700 or above for a cell phone contract, though some carriers will accept 600 and above.

What providers do credit checks for phones?

All carriers carry out credit checks if you want to finance a cell phone or subscribe to a postpaid phone plan. To avoid this, consider going with a prepaid carrier, joining someone else’s plan, or using alternative financing methods.

What do you need to get a credit check?

A credit check usually requires a social security number (though not always) and other details like your full name, address, previous residences, and employment information. The lender you’re applying for credit with will collect these details.