Switching Carriers vs Upgrading Your Cell Phone Account

What is an “Upgrade”?
An “Upgrade” is the process of replacing, or “upgrading”, your existing wireless device with a brand new one while extending your contract with the wireless company you are with now. If you plan to stay with your current wireless provider (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc) and are willing to extend your contract for 2 more years, then you may be eligible for the deeply-discounted Upgrade Offers found on our site. Whether you are “eligible” or not depends on the wireless provider you are with now. In general, you must be out of your current contract or very near the end of it to be eligible for an upgrade. You also must choose a new plan during the checkout process.
What is a “New Account”?
Getting a “New Account” (also called a “New Contract”) is the process of establishing a new account and 2-year contract with the wireless provider that services a given phone or product. This is different from an “Upgrade” because you are not currently a customer of the wireless provider. You are creating a brand new account with them. If you are interested in switching from one wireless provider to another, but want to keep your cell phone number, you are also creating a “new account” with the new provider. Just make sure you are no longer under contract with the old provider to avoid “early termination” penalties.
What’s the Difference and Why Does it Matter?
The main difference is price. Phone pricing may be different for “new account” customers than for “upgrading” customers. As you shop our site, the price shown is usually the “new contract/new account” price unless it mentions “upgrade” or “contract extension”. Make sure to focus on the Upgrades section if you want to stay with your wireless provider and upgrade your phone. If you are planning to create a “new account” with a wireless company, feel free to shop our best deals including: Specials, Price Drops, Free Smartphones, and much more.

Switching Carriers vs Upgrading Your AccountIf you currently have a cell phone with one of the major wireless carriers (Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Nextel) and are thinking about getting a new phone, this guide will help you understand the options available to you so that you can make a smart purchasing decision.

Are you still under a contract with your current wireless provider?The very first thing you should do before buying a new cell phone is check with your current wireless provider to find out when your contract ends. Unless you bought a no-contract/prepaid phone, you likely signed a contract (or agreed to one online) for 1-2 years. If your contract is already over and you are on a month-to-month basis with your provider, then you are eligible to upgrade your phone and renew your contract (see our Upgrade Offers for this). You are also eligible to switch to a new provider and get a brand new phone (see our New Account Offers for this). In general, you get the best prices and greatest free-phone selection with a New Account offer. However, Upgrade prices are getting better and better each day.
Switching from one carrier to another (e.g., Can I switch from my current wireless provider to another one?) You can typically get the best prices when you switch carriers, but you need to make sure that you are no longer under a contract with your current provider. DO NOT SWITCH WHILE YOU ARE STILL UNDER A CELL PHONE CONTRACT otherwise you”ll end up having to pay the carrier”s Early Termination penalty which can be several hundred dollars. If you satisfy these requirements, then you can enjoy the most aggressive discounts available. Check out our Special Deals or our New Arrivals section to see what the latest offers are.
Staying with your current wireless provider and upgrading your phone If you prefer to stay with your current cell phone company and want to replace your phone, you will need to extend your contract and choose a new plan on our site. The main requirement is that you are either near the end of your current contract OR you are out of contract. Please check out our Upgrade Offers for the various wireless companies to see what phone deals you qualify for.

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