How to Switch to Verizon & Bring Your Own Phone

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 21 October 2025

In this Guide

Verizon BYOP Compatibility
Unlocking Your Device Before Switching
BYOD From Retailers
Choosing the Right Verizon Plan
Activating When You Switch and BYOP
Why Switch to Verizon?

Article Summary

If you’re looking to switch to Verizon and keep your old phone, the first step is to make sure that your device is both unlocked and compatible with Verizon’s network. Follow that up with a Verizon phone plan and an activated SIM card and you’ll be good to go. The best part? Most of this can be done without ever needing to set foot in a physical store.

Shopping for a new cell phone can be a great experience, but sometimes we just want to keep our current phone and venture off into new territory—as far as carriers are concerned. Fortunately, with most cell phones using SIM cards now, it’s easier than it’s ever been to bring your own phone to your carrier of choice—Verizon, in this case. This article will cover the steps you should take in order to switch to Verizon and bring your own phone.

Verizon BYOP Compatibility

Before switching to Verizon and bringing your own phone, you'll need to make sure that your phone is compatible with Verizon's network. Because carriers use different radio networks (Verizon uses CDMA, while T-Mobile and AT&T use GSM), phones aren't always compatible across different carriers. Historically, it was easier for customers to switch from the now-defunct brand Sprint to Verizon, but that doesn’t mean AT&T and T-Mobile customers can’t bring their own phones to Verizon too. Additionally, with the recent roll out of 5G network infrastructure, carriers will begin phasing out old technology, potentially making way for easier cross-carrier compatibility for future devices.

A quick and easy way to find out if your phone is compatible with Verizon’s network is to use Verizon’s online tool. You'll need to provide your phone's IMEI, which you can typically find by dialing *#06# on your phone or by accessing the "About" section in your phone's settings.

Verizon’s website also has a list of the latest devices compatible with its network as a quick, easy reference—phones such as:

One Plus 11 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S23 series
Google Pixel 7 series
Apple iPhone 14 series
Samsung Galaxy Fold4
Google Pixel Fold

Moreover, Verizon tends to offer the occasional deal or incentive to bring your own phone over to its network.

Verizon BYOD: MVNOs

MVNOs—or Mobile Virtual Network Operators—have popped up over the years and are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to primary carrier networks. As with switching between the majors, the same compatibility requirements still apply when switching from an MVNO to Verizon. Verizon has several MVNOs piggybacking on their CDMA networks, making it extremely easy to switch from a Verizon MVNO to Verizon, as long as your phone is unlocked and paid off.

But regardless of whether you’re switching from a CDMA-backed MVNO or GSM MVNO—such as Metro by T-Mobile or Mint Mobile—you’ll want to check for compatibility by entering your phone’s IMEI into Verizon’s compatibility check tool.

Unlocking Your Device Before Switching

Despite everything we’ve said above, if your phone isn’t unlocked, it won’t do you any good. The good news is that carriers’ processes for unlocking phones aren’t as difficult as they once were. But first things first, you’ll need to meet your current carrier's minimum unlocking eligibility requirements, which usually resemble the following:

A minimum length of time your phone has been activated with the carrier (usually 50-60 days on postpaid plans and 6 months to 1 year for prepaid plans)
No outstanding bills on your account
Phone not reported lost or stolen

In the event you’ve met your carrier’s unlocking requirements, you should be able to request that they unlock the phone without issue. Some carriers require you to contact their customer service directly to unlock your phone, while others have built-in apps on their phones that allow you to unlock the phone yourself. Moreover, some carriers may allow you to send your unlocking request through online forms.

Keep in mind that most carriers will only unlock your smartphone if it’s fully paid off, meaning if you bought your phone on monthly installments, you’ll have to pay off the remaining amount before switching to Verizon. Conversely, if you bought your phone outright, meaning you paid the full retail price at checkout, then all you have to do is ensure you’re eligible for unlocking.

BYOD from Third-Party Retailers

If you absolutely want a new phone, but also refuse to be tied to a carrier for a predetermined period of time, you can purchase phones from both third-party retailers and manufacturers alike—and in many cases, these phones already come unlocked. Some specific places you can purchase phones directly include:

Samsung
Apple
Best Buy
Amazon
eBay

The downside to taking this approach, of course, is the price of newer phones—and the fact that many retailers do not offer monthly installment plans like most carriers do. Apple and Samsung, however, offer interest-free installment plans—Apple, through its Apple Card, and Samsung, through its credit partnerships (Daraz, Goto, and Finja).

Alternatively, there is always the option to purchase an older phone to save a bit of money. With how frequently new phones are released these days, leaps in technology tend to be incremental, meaning the gap between newer phones and ones that are a few years older is far less noticeable. Again, be sure that the phone you are purchasing is unlocked and compatible with Verizon’s network before taking the plunge.

Choosing the Right Verizon Plan

Now that your phone is unlocked, picking a suitable plan is the next step. And while Verizon’s plans are on the expensive side, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting the best coverage around. The right Verizon plan is different for everyone; it all comes down to preference and priorities, but here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing the best plan for you or your family:

How much data do I need?
How many lines do I need?
Are international calling and texting must-haves?
Do I need a mobile hotspot allowance?
Do I want entertainment or streaming features?
Do I need data in Mexico or Canada?

Regardless of your specific needs, there are unlimited and limited plans alike to cover all your bases. Verizon’s unlimited plans come with all kinds of excellent features, such as discounted streaming subscriptions, roaming in Mexico and Canada, mobile hotspots, and more. Additionally, you can mix and match family plans to better suit each individual line on your account—meaning everyone gets exactly what they need. It’s also worth mentioning that Verizon offers a handful of prepaid plans, ranging from simple talk and text to unlimited data plans.

Bottom line: Get the same coverage for half the price

Many people don't realize that you can get the exact same coverage as you would from a Verizon plan by going with a much cheaper MVNO like Visible. It offers unlimited everything with Big Red's 4G and 5G coverage for just $25/month. Since they share a network, most devices that are compatible with Verizon also work with Visible. You can bring your own phone to Visible and save even more.

Activating When You Switch and BYOP

Once you’ve chosen your Verizon phone plan, activating your unlocked phone on Verizon’s network should be a simple process. Just remember to have your old carrier account information handy to help make porting your number over a more seamless process.

In order to activate your device, follow these steps:

Visit Verizon’s BYOD activation page.

Click “Smartphone.”
Enter the model of your phone (e.g. iPhone XR).
Select where you purchased your phone (carrier, retailer, etc.).
Check if your current SIM card ID is compatible with Verizon’s network.
If not, add a Verizon SIM card to your cart.
Choose whether or not you want to keep your current number.
Enter your current phone number.
Choose a Verizon phone plan.
Proceed to checkout.

Once you receive your SIM card in the mail, you can go online to Verizon’s website and enter your new SIM card number, which will add your SIM to your account. Then just pop your SIM card into your phone and follow the instructions that came with your SIM in order to activate it.

Why Switch to Verizon?

Reliable 4G coverage and fast 5G speeds

Often known for its high prices, Verizon justifies its costs with the most reliable and robust coverage in the nation. In other words, if you’re experiencing coverage issues with your current provider, odds are Verizon will have coverage in areas you tend to frequent. Verizon also touts blazing-fast ultra-wideband (UWB) and mmWave 5G. When we tested Verizon's service, we clocked Verizon 5G UW at over 800Mbps. That is ridiculously fast.

Customizable perks and add-ons

Beyond Verizon’s excellent coverage, depending on which plan you select, you can expect to enjoy a number of different entertainment features—things like discounted Disney+, ESPN Select, or Hulu subscriptions, as well as roaming in Mexico and Canada. There are also plans offering hotspot allotments that don’t eat into your data plan, with the Unlimited Plus plan including an impressive 30GB allotment.

Deals on the latest smartphones when you switch

Verizon regularly offers switching incentives to new customers, like free smartphones via 36 months of bill credits, generous trade-in deals, and BOGO promotions. You can even snag the iPhone 16 Plus for free with a new line on their Unlimited Ultimate plan.

Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

Read full bio