Don't rush into a new phone plan without checking their service first — these phone carriers offer free trials
The big three all offer 30-day free trials to let you check what service is like before you commit to a multi-year plan. Here's how it works.
When considering a new phone plan, it's wise to avoid rushing into a decision without first checking the service. Many mobile carriers provide free 30-day trials, allowing customers to test out their service before committing. The leading three carriers, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, offer this trial period.
To participate in the trial, customers sign up through the carrier's official app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. The process is completely free and does not require any credit card information. Once enrolled, users receive instructions on activating an eSIM, which is valid for the trial period and only affects the data plan. The existing SIM and phone number remain active during the trial, enabling users to communicate without switching numbers.
AT&T provides 100GB of 5G data, 25GB of hotspot data, unlimited calls and texts within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and free international texting to over 200 countries. Verizon offers unlimited calls and texts, 100GB of 5G data, and up to 4K streaming on its Ultra Wideband 5G network. T-Mobile provides unlimited high-speed data, access to its satellite services, and unlimited calls and texts.
There are some limitations to the trials. AT&T and T-Mobile allow only one trial per user, while Verizon permits a trial only if none has been taken within the past year. While the trials are available to non-customers, they require unlocked phones. Locked phones, even if they're eSIM-enabled, cannot be used for the trial. Additionally, the carriers usually unlock the phone after 60 or 45 days, depending on the carrier, provided the phone is paid off, there are no overdue payments, and the device hasn't been reported as lost or stolen.
While the big three carriers are the most known for their free trials, other providers also offer limited trials. Visible, an MVNO owned by Verizon, offers a 15-day trial with Verizon-like perks, while Cricket Wireless provides a 14-day trial with limited data. U.S. Mobile offers a 30-day trial with unlimited calls and texts, 30GB of data, 5GB of hotspot data, and mmWave 5G access. However, customers must provide a credit card and enable AutoPay to avoid unexpected charges.
Google Fi Wireless offers a seven-day trial, requiring a credit card and automatic renewal at the end of the week, necessitating cancellation to avoid additional charges. Other carriers may offer limited refunds, such as Mint's seven-day refund policy and Boost Mobile's 30-day money-back guarantee. It is always advisable to review the specific refund policies of any MVNO before signing up.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
