Leaving a family phone plan is a big step towards declaring your independence. Luckily, leaving isn’t as complicated as it sounds and you can easily find yourself a new single-line plan.
Typically, all you need to do is talk to the owner of your family plan to remove your line and find a new plan to move your phone onto. You may also need to pay off your old device or find a new phone.
That said, remember that family plans can offer major savings that may disappear when you strike out on your own. This is largely why 34% of adults are still on their parents' phone plans. Not sure if it's the right time for you? Find out when to leave your parents' phone plan in our guide.
Let's go into more detail to find out how to leave a family phone plan and discover if it's the right choice for you.
How to prep for leaving a family plan
You’ll need to do some prep work to make sure leaving your old family plan goes smoothly. The two most important steps to take before breaking off is talking to the account owner about your intentions, and choosing a compatible carrier and plan (and possibly phone!) that you want to switch to.
Talk to your account owner
As a member of a family plan, you likely don’t own your phone or phone number. For most family plans, the owner of the account owns both. If you want to keep your current phone and number, you'll need permission from your account owner.
Talking to your family plan’s account owner should be your first step. This is the person whose name is on the account, pays the bill every month, and owns your phone number. Most carriers do not allow lines to leave a family plan without permission from the owner. So, if they don’t grant permission, you can’t take your phone number or device with you.
No one can force you to stay on a family plan. Even if your account owner won’t allow your line to leave, you can still purchase a new plan and device under your name.
Can I remove myself from a family plan?
You may be able to remove yourself from your family plan. Not all carriers require the permission of account owners to leave. Carriers like Google Fi and Mint Mobile allow you to simply opt out of group plans and create your own accounts. Check with your carrier to see the specific terms for leaving your family plan.
Find a new phone plan
Making sure you have another phone plan lined up (and potentially a new phone) before you leave your family plan is also important. You don’t want to miss out on calls and messages because your new network or device wasn’t ready when you left your family plan.
Finding the perfect new plan for yourself can be the best part of leaving a family plan because you'll have a greater say in what services and perks you want. That said, there’s a lot to think about from coverage, to how much mobile data you need, to extra perks like mobile hotspots and streaming plans. First, it’s helpful to understand the difference between plans you’ll get from major carriers (often dubbed “The Big Three”) and smaller prepaid carriers, known in the industry as MVNOs.
MVNOs
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are smaller carriers that operate on the Big Three’s networks by renting network space to use. The beauty of MVNOs is that they offer access to those networks at deeply discounted prices. Because they don’t own or operate their networks, they save a lot money in terms of upkeep costs, and they pass those savings onto their customers in the form of cheaper plan prices.
There are plenty of MVNOs out there and many of them have plans that are on par with the offerings of the Big Three, though you’ll often find a lack of major entertainment perks or premium data (i.e., data that will never be slowed down during peak network traffic).
How do MVNOs get away with these cheap prices?
Typically by offering fewer perks, having fewer plan options, and potentially deprioritizing your data. Deprioritization means that in times of heavy network congestion or after you’ve used a certain amount of data, the carrier may slow your data to keep the Big Three’s customers at higher speeds.
One of the most popular MVNOs is Visible. It operates on Verizon’s network, meaning it has access to the fastest speeds and largest 4G LTE coverage in the nation. Their Visible+ Plan offers unlimited priority data, an unlimited mobile hotspot (capped at 10Mbps), and access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network for only $35/month, which is far cheaper than Verizon’s least expensive unlimited plan.
Visible $35 Visible+ Plan
| Carrier | Visible |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Total Price |
$35 per month
Taxes & Fees included
|
| View Plan |
Mint Mobile is another popular MVNO. It operates on T-Mobile’s network, meaning it has access to the largest 5G network in the nation, and sells its plans in multi-month packages rather than a single month at a time. Mint’s Unlimited Data Plan offers 3, 6, or 12 months of unlimited talk, text, and data and access to T-Mobile’s 5G network. It includes 50GB of premium data and a 20GB mobile hotspot. The plan is $15/month for your first three months, then $30/month when the trial is up. Still, even at $30/month, it’s cheaper than T-Mobile’s comparable plans.
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 Big Three
The Big Three carriers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) typically have the largest selection of phones, plan options, and perks. Not to mention they also own their own networks, so they all offer excellent coverage and speeds. Verizon is known for having the most 4G LTE coverage in the nation, while T-Mobile has the largest 5G network. Check out the most popular unlimited plan from each carrier below.
|
#1
|
T-Mobile
Essentials Saver
$50.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
|
|
#2
|
Verizon
Unlimited Plus
$70.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
|
|
#3
|
AT&T
Value 2.0℠
$50.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
|
While the Big Three’s best plans come with all the bells and whistles—like streaming perks, mobile hotspots, and truly unlimited data—they are also some of the most expensive options out there.
Find a new phone
When picking a new plan, you’ll also need to figure out if you need a new phone. Some carriers offer installment plans on new devices to help you pay them off over time. Other carriers make you purchase the phone outright if you want to use their networks.
Can I take my old phone to a new network?
Yes! You can take your old phone to a new network. But, you’ll need to make sure it’s unlocked first. By default, most phones purchased from a carrier are locked to that carrier’s service until the device is paid off and you meet other requirements. Here are some guides that explain how to unlock your phone from some of the most popular carriers:
How to leave your family plan
After you’ve talked with your account owner and found the perfect new plan, you can now leave your old family plan. How you leave will depend on if you are keeping your old phone number or getting a new one.
Keeping your old phone number
If your account owner is letting you keep your phone number, they need to begin a “transfer of service” process. This might also be called “transfer of billing,” depending on your carrier. This is the owner of the account telling the carrier that your line needs to come off their account.
This process can be done online for most carriers, but you can also call them directly or visit a local store to have it done. Your carrier will make sure you meet their requirements to leave the plan before they approve it. Most of the time this means making sure the phone is paid off and ensuring that your bill is up to date.
If you are taking your phone to a new carrier, you’ll need to set up your new plan. Every carrier’s process is different, but most make it as painless as possible. Depending on your phone model, you might need to replace your SIM card and activate your device. Check out our article on how to take your phone to a new carrier for step-by-step instructions.
Getting a new phone number
If you are unable to take your old phone number to your new account, the whole process of leaving your family account is easy. All you need to do is set up a new account with your carrier of choice and purchase a new phone. Your new carrier will handle the rest. As for your old family plan, it is the responsibility of the account owner to shut down your line or pay off your old phone.
Leaving a family phone plan: Pros and cons
Leaving a family phone plan can be a great way to assert your independence. You can also ease the financial burden on family members and find a cheaper service. However, there are also some disadvantages. Family plans offer great savings on phone plans when compared to single-line plans. You may also lose access to perks you get through your current carrier, like streaming services, unlimited data, or mobile hotspots.
Leaving a family phone plan:
Pros:
- Assert independence
- Less financial burden on family
- Find a cheaper plan for you
Cons:
- Lose savings from family plan
- Lose perks from current plan
Should you leave your family phone plan?
Leaving your family phone plan is a big decision to make. You’ll be on the hook for all the bills and responsibilities associated with your new account. However, you’ll also have more freedom to pick when to upgrade your phone or change service plans. Plus, you can save money if you pick a cheaper plan to switch to. If all this sounds appealing to you, it might be time to leave your family plan.
On the other hand, family plans offer serious savings through multi-line discounts. Your family’s bill—and the price of your own single-line plan—will probably be higher after you leave. You might also lose access to the great perks that came with your old plan. If those reasons make you think twice, it may not be time to leave your family phone plan.
Leaving family phone plan: FAQs
Can I keep my phone if I leave a family phone plan?
Yes, you can keep your phone if you leave a family plan. To keep your phone, you will need the account holder of your current plan to allow your line to leave. You may also need to pay the phone off if you are switching carriers.
Can I keep my phone number if I leave my family plan?
Yes, you can keep your phone number if you leave your family plan. To keep your phone number, your account holder must allow your phone line to leave their account. From there, you can use your old number on a new account or transfer it to a different carrier.
Can I take someone off my family plan?
Yes, you can take someone off your family plan. If the phone is still under contract you can transfer ownership of the line. If the phone is paid off, you can still transfer the line or simply cancel it.
Can I leave a family plan if my phone isn’t paid off?
Yes, in many cases you can leave a family phone plan even if your phone isn’t paid off by staying with the same cell carrier. They will simply transfer the bill to your new account. However, if you want to transfer carriers, you will need to finish paying the device off.
Is leaving a family plan cheaper?
Leaving a family plan is cheaper if you switch to a less expensive plan. However, family plans have a higher cost overall but are typically cheaper per line. If you want to stick with the same plan and carrier, it might be cheaper to set up a payment with your account holder directly instead of leaving your family plan.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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