If you're looking for information on T-Mobile's discounted phones, BOGO deals, or any other special offer—then look no further: we've got all the details you need on T-Mobile's terms and conditions, in plain English, for all of their most tempting deals.
Once you've been grabbed by enticing headlines like, "Buy One, Get One!" or "We'll Buy Out Your Old Contract"—will you end up paying way more than expected, or are you really going to get what you've been promised? It really depends on your exact situation.
To ensure that you're getting the most from your carrier, move past the headlines because you'll really get what's been promised in the fine print—and we're here to help clarify that for you.
T-Mobile's terms and conditions: Contracts, deals, and upgrades
T-Mobile doesn't require a contract when customers sign up for its service. That said, you are held to specific terms if you finance a new phone from T-Mobile.
Whether you're buying a new phone, trading in an old device, getting a BOGO deal, or taking advantage of a contract buyout, the most important thing to know is that you need to follow the deal guidelines strictly, because they'll hold you to them. Moreover, there are a lot of stipulations in the fine print that you might not have agreed to, had you known they were there. Check these out:
T-Mobile's terms and conditions
- Keep and switch
- What T-Mobile says: Get $800 to help pay for switching costs from your current eligible carrier.
- What this means for you: You'll get a Mastercard rewards card valued up to $800 within 15 days after you pay off your old contract and device.
- Ideal for: Those who need to switch carriers, still have a balance on their device and are willing to give that device to T-Mobile in exchange for buying one from them.
- BOGO
- What T-Mobile says: You will get two phones for the price of one.
- What this means for you: You will need to finance both phones and add each one to a plan. You will also need to make 2 full payments on the "free phone" and then you will begin to see credits applied to your account in the amount of the free phone's installment payment. If you cancel your lines before your installment balance it paid in full, those credits will become null and void - and the remaining balance of both phones will become due immediately.
- Ideal for: Those who will be needing a second phone anyway. In that case, you're only making a couple payments on a device you would have normally made full payments on in the first place.
- Trade-in
- What T-Mobile says: Get credit towards the purchase of a brand-new device from T-Mobile.
- What this means for you: You will get a quote for the trade in value of your phone, you will need to send it in, then if T-Mobile determines that the device is exactly as you stated, they'll follow up by either confirming that you'll get the credit you were promised—or they'll let you know if the quote will be lower than expected.
- That credit will then be applied to your T-Mobile account within 3 billing cycles.
- The important thing to note here is that if they disagree with your stated condition once you've sent it in, there is no going back. They will not return your device for any reason. To avoid this, trade it in at a T-Mobile store.
- Discounted phones
- What T-Mobile says: Get a sweet deal on the phone you've been looking for an excuse to buy.
- What this means for you: You'll get that sweet deal, but it's important to know that you will need to finance your phone to be eligible for the discount and that discount will be broken up over the length of your finance agreement. So if you get $240 off the price of your phone, then you'll actually get $10 off each month, on your 24 month agreement.
- It's (very) important to note that while you're not in a contract, T-Mobile will incentivize you to stay with them by removing the billing credits if you cancel your line(s). So your payoff will never include that discount.
- JUMP! On Demand
- What T-Mobile says: Early upgrade program to lease the newest phone whenever you want.
- What this means for you: Requires a T-Mobile postpaid unlimited plan and an 18-month device lease. JUMP! On Demand is also only eligible with select phones. The program is free, but customers can only switch devices once every 30 days.
T-Mobile's discounts, trade-in, and BOGO terms
If you're in the market for a brand-new phone, you have the option to buy your next device outright or finance it.
The trick here is to know which of their buying options you want to take advantage of. If you're interested in finding out more about how you will be billed, then please refer to our T-Mobile Billing Guide—and if at any point you need to contact them, refer to our T-Mobile Customer Service page.
T-Mobile's discounted phones
Image: Max McCaskill
If you're looking at a T-Mobile-discounted device, these are the most common terms when you get a deal on a T-Mobile phone:
- You will need to finance your phone to qualify for the deal.
- The discount will be split into equal installments applied as billing credits each month.
- If, for example, the deal offers a total of $240 off and you've financed your phone for 24 months, you'll get a $10/month billing credit.
- Depending on your credit, a down payment might be required.
- If you cancel your service before paying off your phone, the balance will become due immediately, and the discount will be null and void.
- You do not have the option to pay down the remaining balance of your device sooner than your financing terms to lower your monthly payment, but you can pay it all off at once to become eligible for an upgrade.
- You have 14 days from the date of purchase to return your device for a refund, and a restocking fee of $50 will be charged to your account.
T-Mobile trade-in terms
Image: Max McCaskill
For T-Mobile trade-in deals, you get to exchange your old device for a brand-new phone. However, there are T-Mobile trade-in value requirements you must meet to receive the full listed amount in your exchange. For the best chance of maximizing your trade-in, your phone must also meet the following criteria:
- Your trade-in device must be unlocked and paid in full.
- It must be in good working condition, meaning:
- It must power on and off.
- The screen must be intact, free of chips and cracks.
- Its body must be free of cracks, chips, and damage.
- Your phone cannot be jailbroken.
- You MUST disable Find My iPhone; this is very important
- Your device must be wiped and reset
- You have 14 days to complete the trade-in before the offer expires
- If the phone is not in the condition you specified at the time of generating your initial quote, T-Mobile reserves the right to change the final quote without notice.
- Note: If you take your device into a T-Mobile store, you'll be able to get a quote right then and there.
- Once you send your device in, T-Mobile will not return your device for any reason—even if it means you're getting nothing in return
T-Mobile BOGO terms
T-Mobile often offers BOGO deals to celebrate new releases and clear out older stock. To qualify, you must meet and understand the following:
- The "BOGO" you're getting is actually a billing credit that is applied to your statement each month.
- You will need to make 2-3 payments on both devices before your billing credits kick in.
- You are responsible for paying the full taxes on both devices, as well as a SIM kit fee.
- You need to finance both phones.
- You are usually required to be on or sign up for an unlimited postpaid data plan.
- Often, T-Mobile offers discount tiers based on plan level, with the most expensive plan qualifying for the biggest BOGO deal.
- If you cancel service on one or both lines, your billing credits will stop, and the full amount for both phones will become due.
- To qualify, both wireless numbers need to be on the same account.
- You have 14 days to cancel without penalty, but a $50 restocking fee per phone will apply.
T-Mobile's Keep and Switch program
If you want to switch to T-Mobile but you still have device payments remaining with your current carrier, T-Mobile will pay you up to $800 per line (up to 5 lines) to help you make the switch. What's important to note is that T-Mobile reimburses you for the buyout cost—you must still pay off the remaining balance on your device(s) upfront.
How it works:
- Bring your most recent (itemized) mobile bill into a T-Mobile store, or initiate the buyout process online.
- You'll learn how much you're eligible for the contract buyout (up to $800 to pay off your device).
- If you decide to switch to T-Mobile, you'll need to initiate the buyout process by getting a new device and activating a new line.
- Within 30 days, you must pay off your phone(s) with your old carrier and submit to T-Mobile your official payoff bill and old device.
- If you exceed 30 days to complete this, the agreement will become null and void, and you won't receive a reimbursement.
- Within 15 days of receipt, T-Mobile will send your reimbursement via a Prepaid Mastercard
T-Mobile's early termination policy
If you're struck with buyer's remorse shortly after buying a new phone, T-Mobile will allow you to cancel the purchase, with limits. If this ever happens, here's what to know:
- If you're within 14 days of your purchase date, you can take your device back to an authorized T-Mobile store for a refund. You will need to pay a $50 restocking fee.
- After 14 days, you'll need to pay off the full balance of your financed device(s).
T-Mobile's best plans and deals
Regardless of whether or not you want to take advantage of T-Mobile's contract buyout, BOGO deals, or trade-in program, the best tip you're going to get is to pick a plan from a carrier that you love. T-Mobile offers the nation's largest 5G network and offers device deals on the most popular smartphones.
Check out T-Mobile's most popular postpaid unlimited plans below. If you need a new phone, check out our T-Mobile deals page for a rundown of the best device deals and how to score them.
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T-Mobile
Essentials Saver
$50.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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T-Mobile
Essentials
$60.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
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T-Mobile
Go5G
$75.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
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T-Mobile
Experience More
$85.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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T-Mobile
Go5G Plus
$90.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included
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Lauren Hannula
Managing Editor
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