iPhone Text Effects: Tips and Tricks
April 21, 2025
Phones
Seeking a new phone—for free? In some cases, you can even get a free phone when you switch phone carriers, cell phone plans, or plan providers. Of course, you’ll want to consider each carrier carefully to make sure that you don’t compromise your cell phone coverage or data connectivity speeds!
In this article, we'll point you to some of the best phone deals on the market right now—including free iPhone 16 offers. Read on for our breakdown of free phone deals currently available when you switch to top wireless carriers including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and more. Or try our Phone Deal Finder below to let us quickly match you to great cell phone offers based on your needs.
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Apple partnered with AT&T when it unveiled its new iPhone 16 Pro Series. As of this writing, AT&T offers trade-in deals so you can get a new iPhone 16 Pro for free.
In order to take advantage of this deal, you must:
That's all it takes to get yourself a free iPhone 16 Pro with AT&T. Of course, you’ll have to stick with AT&T for 36 months or three years while you pay off the contract’s total. Don't forget, as well, that taxes are due at the time of your plan purchase.
Alternatively, you can get a new Samsung Galaxy S25+ for free through another AT&T cell phone deal. As with the above deal, you need to trade in an eligible smartphone that is in good working condition.
Alongside that requirement, you’ll also need to:
Fulfill all these requirements, and you'll get up to $999.99 in bill credits. That will give you the credit cash you need to pay for your Samsung Galaxy S25+ after the fact. So this deal eventually results in a “free” phone, but not immediately.
Verizon Wireless offers the best combined 4G and 5G coverage in the country, making it the perfect network to enjoy the new iPhone 16 on.
Verizon is running a new promotion that allows you to get your hands on the new iPhone 16 Pro for free when you meet the following requirements:
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is one of the best smartphones on the market, with impressive camera, processing, and design features that set the bar for Android devices. With Verizon's latest trade-in deal, you can actually score this great handset for free. Interested? Here are the promotion details:
Some of Verizon's best deals don't require you to trade in a new device to take advantage of them. However, they do require you to sign up for a 36-month commitment to one of the brand's unlimited plans using a new phone line.
Eligible free phones include:
This could be a great way to get a new free phone, but you will have to stick with Verizon for three years.
It's worth noting that Verizon also offers a free base iPhone 16 to customers who stay and upgrade without having to add a new line. The only conditions for that deal are that you will need to be on Verizon Unlimited Ultimate, the most premium cell phone plan Verizon offers, for a 36-month contract. You'll also need a qualifying trade-in phone. The same cell phone deal is available for the Google Pixel 8, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S25.
T-Mobile has joined fellow major carriers AT&T and Verizon in launching a promotion that allows you to get your hands on an iPhone 16 model absolutely free.
In this case, T-Mobile is running a free phone deal for the iPhone 16, the base model of the iPhone 16 series. Here are the details:
Then there are T-Mobile's free phone offers. Unlike many other carrier companies, T-Mobile offers a free phone with just a 24-month contract requirement. Activate a new line or trade in an eligible device in order to qualify.
Just what phones can you receive by signing up for this arrangement? You can get a:
When you sign up for this offer, each phone’s cost is gradually offset on your monthly bill across 24 months. If you end up canceling your contract early, T-Mobile will bill you for the remaining phone balance, so your phone is really only free if you stick with T-Mobile for two years.
Looking to score a FREE Samsung Galaxy S25? Spectrum Mobile has a promotion running that both new and existing customers can take advantage of.
New customers who switch to Spectrum Mobile can save $799—the entire cost of a Galaxy S25—when they trade in an eligible device.
Similarly, existing customers who upgrade their Spectrum Mobile plan and trade in an eligible device can get a free Galaxy S25 via up to $799 in credit.
Both of these deals work on select Spectrum Mobile unlimited plans, and credits towards your free Samsung Galaxy S25 are applied upfront if you purchase the phone outright, or spread across 36 months if you opt for a device installment plan.
Apple's flagship iPhone 16 lineup represents the best you can find in a smartphone—and you can score one of these models for free by taking advantage of a promotion that UScellular is currently running.
New customers who switch to UScellular can save up to $1,199 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, $999 on the iPhone 16 Pro, $929 on the iPhone 16 Plus, or $829 on the iPhone 16, making them completely free. To take advantage of the deal, you have to sign up for one of UScellular's unlimited plans (they range from $29.99/month to $49.99/month), and trade in an eligible phone. Credits towards your free phone are spread across 36 months.
Cox Mobile is running a deal that allows new customers to pick up the Samsung Galaxy S25 for free with a qualifying trade-in. Here are the details:
Cox Mobile is a small carrier (albeit an arm of a massive company) that runs on Verizon's powerful national network. Cox Mobile is available to current Cox internet customers.
Optimum Mobile is an upstart small carrier, or MVNO, that's available to Optimum Internet customers. Whether you're a current or prospective Optimum Mobile subscriber, you can get the same great deal on a new iPhone 16.
Specifically, if you either stay and upgrade, or sign up anew with Optimum—plus trade in an eligible phone—you can get your hands on the flagship iPhone 16 for free. Here are the details:
Note that money towards your free iPhone 16 comes in the form of bill credits over the course of 36 months.
Each of the big three phone plan providers offers several free phone deals when you switch plans. Given the numerous offers available, you should be able to find something that’s perfect for your needs, budget, and personal preferences. Navi also keeps up-to-date lists of the latest phone deals at other top carriers including UScellular, Spectrum Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, Cox Mobile, and Optimum Mobile. Plus be sure to check out our rundowns of the best Galaxy S25 deals, Galaxy S25 deals, iPhone 16 deals and iPhone 14 deals available now across top carriers.
Still weighing your options? Our free, unbiased Phone Deal Finder can help you zero in on the best phone deals you qualify for in a matter of seconds. Or you can use our Plan Finder to figure out the perfect carrier and phone plan for your data usage habits and other requirements.
Free phone deals are special offers that net you a free phone when you fulfill certain requirements, like signing up for a new phone plan, adding a line, or switching carriers.
The Big Three carriers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, are known for offering free phones for switching. Other postpaid carriers also sometimes give free phones when you switch. Note that free phones for switching are most common among postpaid providers.
Yes, you can get an iPhone for free, but it will come with conditions. In order to be eligible for a free iPhone, you may need to trade in an qualifying device, switch carriers, and/or sign up for a select plan. In exchange, a carrier will give you a free iPhone in the form of monthly bill credits over anywhere from 24 to 36 months depending on the carrier.