How to Switch Phone Carriers and Keep Your Number

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Contents

In this guide:

Things to know before you switch
How to switch and keep your number
Porting phone numbers with major carriers
How to switch to an MVNO
Phone number porting guidelines
Number porting FAQs

So you want to switch cell phone carriers, but you don't want to lose your current phone number. No sweat! All carriers allow you to bring your digits with you—a process called "porting" your phone number.

To switch to a new cell phone provider and keep your number:

Contact your current carrier to unlock your phone.
Choose a new phone plan.
Select a new phone or bring your own device to the network.
Provide your current account information to your new carrier so they can port your number.

We'll walk you through the full process of how to switch carriers and keep your number, including details on how to transfer your phone number to each of the major carriers.

Things to know before you switch

Find the right plan

Before you switch, you'll want to find the right plan. Consider what is most important to you in a cell phone plan, such as coverage, price, or data limits (or all of the above), and compare your many options. Luckily, we've done the hard work for you and found the best phone plans available right now.

Prepare to switch

Do not cancel your service with your current carrier before contacting your new service provider. You won’t be able to port your phone number if it has already been deactivated.

Gather your current cell phone account information, including your account number as it appears on your bill. Your new carrier will need it to process the number port request with your old carrier.

If you plan to keep your current phone, make sure you unlock it before switching carriers; otherwise, it won't work with your new carrier's network. It's also a good idea to double-check that your phone is compatible with your new carrier's network. If you can't unlock your phone because it's not paid off, some carriers will pay off the device for you to switch.

How to switch carriers and port your number

Steps to switching and porting your number

Once you have decided which carrier, plan, and cell phone you want to go for, the process to transfer your phone number is straightforward:

Check your eligibility with your new service provider. Most let you do this right on their website (like at AT&T's transfer eligibility portal, for example).
Determine your phone's SIM card type. Whether your phone has a traditional SIM card (which you can physically remove) or an eSIM, which is digitally stored internally on your device. This will affect how you activate your new phone service with your new carrier. (Of course, you can always remove or delete an eSIM too)
Purchase a new plan and phone (or bring your own device). You can do this online or visit a retail location. You may also need to purchase a new SIM card.
Have your account information ready (i.e., your name, address, customer account number, etc.). If you're bringing your current phone with you, you may also need to provide your phone’s ESN/IMEI number.
Start the porting process. Your new provider will then contact your current company and start the porting process. If you're bringing your own phone, you may need to swap your new SIM card into your device.
Finalize the transfer with your old carrier. Once your new service is activated, your existing service should be automatically canceled. However, we recommend giving the company a call to finalize the transfer (and perhaps negotiate any termination fees or other charges). You will usually receive a bill for any outstanding debt within a month.

NOTE: Voicemail messages won’t transfer to your new phone, so make sure you listen to them before changing carriers. The same goes for other features, such as call forwarding and caller ID—you will need to set these up again with your new provider.

Porting phone numbers with major carriers

Whether you're switching to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, porting your number is pretty quick and easy—but each carrier has its own small variations in the process. Here’s how to switch phone carriers to one of the Big Three and transfer your phone number with you.

Switching to Verizon and Porting Your Number

You can port both mobile and landline numbers over to Verizon. To switch to Verizon and port your number:

Make sure your Verizon phone is unlocked.
Check your phone number's eligibility at Verizon's transfer portal.
Have handy your current cell phone bill with your account number and your account PIN or password (if applicable).
If you're bringing your current phone to the network, have/purchase a Verizon SIM card or be ready to active an eSIM.
Start the transfer process online when you purchase a new plan or in-store with a Verizon rep.

Be sure not to cancel service with your current carrier; Verizon will take care of most of this for you. Verizon will send you a confirmation text when the number transfer is complete. The carrier encourages customers to have an alternate emergency phone number just in case the process takes longer than the expected 4-24 hours (mobile numbers), or 2-10 days (landlines).

Verizon encourages new customers to keep their numbers when switching to one of their plans. Verizon tends to reserve their best cell phone deals for new customers who are switching from other carriers, specifically with their unlimited plans—sometimes, they offer even deeper savings to those who are also transferring their old number.

#1	Verizon	Verizon Unlimited Welcome Unlimited 5G speeds Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data Deal: Get $10 off per line for 1 line via monthly promo credits over 36 months. For new customers only $55.00/mo + Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount. + $40 Upfront View Plan	$55.00/mo + Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount. + $40 Upfront	View Plan
#2	Verizon	Verizon Unlimited Plus Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 30GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get $10 off per line for 1 line via monthly promo credits over 36 months. For new customers only $70.00/mo + Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount. + $40 Upfront View Plan	$70.00/mo + Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount. + $40 Upfront	View Plan
#3	Verizon	Verizon Unlimited Ultimate Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Deal: Get $10 off per line for 1 line via monthly promo credits over 36 months. For new customers only $85.00/mo + Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount. + $40 Upfront View Plan	$85.00/mo + Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount. + $40 Upfront	View Plan

Switching to AT&T and Porting Your Number

AT&T will only transfer mobile phone numbers (not landlines). To start the transfer:

Check your cell phone number's eligibility at AT&T's online portal.
Request an AT&T SIM card kit or be ready to enable eSIM, if you're bringing your current phone to the network.
Be ready with your current wireless account information.
Purchase a new AT&T plan and phone (unless you're sticking with your own device), either online or in the store.
AT&T will send the transfer request to your previous carrier. If you bought a new phone online, you can keep using your current one until it arrives.

AT&T number porting is quick—usually completed within 1-3 hours of initiating the transfer. Like the other major carriers, AT&T reserves many of its best cell phone deals for customers who switch and port in their existing number to a new unlimited plan.

Switching to T-Mobile and Porting Your Number

T-Mobile allows the porting of both mobile and landline numbers. And because T-Mobile has transfer agreements with most wireless and telecom providers, it's rare that a number will not be compatible with T-Mobile.

To switch to T-Mobile:

Check your phone number's eligibility at T-Mobile's transfer portal.
Be ready with your wireless account number, PIN or password, and billing address.
If you're bringing your current phone to the network, purchase a T-Mobile SIM card or get ready to active an eSIM.
You can pick your new T-Mobile plan and phone either online or in-store. If you're buying online, follow the instructions to port in your number. Your retail associate will handle in-store transfers.
T-Mobile will contact your old carrier to transfer your number. In the meantime, keep your current phone and account information until your number is fully activated on T-Mobile's network.

T-Mobile number transfers are usually completed between 10 minutes and 24 hours.

Perhaps more than any other carrier, T-Mobile tends to save its best phone deals for new customers who port in their existing numbers to an unlimited plan.

#1	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Unlimited Data No Contract $50/mo Deal: Get up to $800 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when you bring an eligible phone, activate a new line on select plans and port-in your number and switch from select carriers	3%	View Plan
#2	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Unlimited Data No Contract $60/mo Deal: Get up to $800 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when you bring an eligible phone, activate a new line on select plans and port-in your number and switch from select carriers	3%	View Plan
#3	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Unlimited Data No Contract $75/mo Deal: Get up to $800 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when you bring an eligible phone, activate a new line on select plans and port-in your number and switch from select carriers	3%	View Plan
#4	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Unlimited Data No Contract $85/mo	3%	View Plan

How to switch to an MVNO

Switching to an MVNO isn't all that different from the steps you see with the major carriers. You'll want to find the plan that fits your needs the most and start the process.

If you plan on using your phone, know that most MVNOs have a compatibility checker on their websites. Your phone will likely work, but you'll want to use the new carrier's tool just to make sure. If you plan to swtich from Verizon to Visible or to switch from T-Mobile to Mint Mobile, compatibility is built-in as those major carriers own the respective smaller carriers.

From here, you can purchase your new plan and a new SIM kit or be ready to activate a new eSIM. Your new carrier will take care or contacting your current carrier to port over your number.

For more specific steps for switching to some of the most popular MVNOs, see our following guides:

Phone number porting guidelines

Though each carrier's number transfer process varies slightly, they all follow the same general rules for switching carriers.

Since porting your phone number is so easy, hackers can easily steal it if they have your account information. Protect your phone number by setting up a secure PIN on your account.

A carrier cannot prevent you from taking your number with you, but a new carrier is under no obligation to accept it. Obviously, most carriers are more than happy to accept a new customer, so this will not be a problem. However, there are cases where some smaller prepaid carriers will not accept ported numbers.
Only the primary account holder can request a phone number port. If you are an authorized user on a family/share plan, you must establish a separate service with your current carrier before you can initiate a port request. If you have a company phone, you may not be able to port your number if the service is in your company’s name.
Even if you are in debt to your current provider, you can still port your number elsewhere. However, you will be liable for any debts and may have to pay an early termination fee if you are under contract (although some carriers will pro-rate this, so it may still be financially viable if you are some way into your contract).

Number Porting FAQs

Which carrier pays you to switch?

The major carriers of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile will most often pay you to switch to their network. These incentives typically come in the form of either trade-in deals or bonus cash/credit back to your account when you switch to their networks.

How can I switch phone carriers without paying?

You technically don't have to pay anything to switch to another carrier—they've done away with charging early termination fees since most plans no longer require a contract. What you'll pay for is the new plan you end up switching to, or the remaining cost of your phone if you purchased it on an installment plan and haven't yet paid it off in full.

That said, the major carriers often offer deals that essentially cover the cost of your remaining phone balance, so keep an eye on the best phone deals to choose the optimal time to switch.

What's the best cell phone company to switch to?

There are a lot of solid carriers out there to switch to. The best option is the one that fits your needs the most. Some of our favorites include Visible for great unlimited plans on the Verizon network for much less than you'd pay with Verizon, or Mint Mobile with great prices for super fast plans on the T-Mobile network. Most people are overpaying for phone service. Switching to an MVNO will help you save.

When is the best time to switch phone carriers?

If you are tired of paying too much for your phone plan, now is the best time to switch. Yes, some carriers have some great plans during times like Black Friday and the holidays but keep in mind that phone service contracts aren't a thing nowadays. So, even if you switch to a new carrier today, there's nothing keeping you from taking advantage of another carrier's great deal and switching again in the future.

If you are tied down by a phone installment plan, you might need to wait until the plan is complete or until you can comfortably pay off the rest of your balance.

The launch of a new flagship device like the iPhone is a good time to switch, as many phone carriers offer great deals on the latest phones. Again, this doesn't mean you have to wait until then. Switching now doesn't stop you from switching again to take advantage of the phone deals.

Lauren Hannula

Managing Editor

Lauren is WhistleOut's Managing Editor. With over 14 years of digital writing and publishing experience, she's developed a passion for breaking down overly complex topics to offer easy, affordable solutions that help make the most of the tech you already have in your pocket. Her work has appeared in industry stalwarts such as CNET, Yahoo! News, and Forbes.

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