Need help figuring out which phone will work with your carrier? Let's find out!
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I’m still shopping for a phone
1. Filter listings by carrier
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This filter should appear at the top when you search for a phone. You can filter by carrier and decide whether you’d like a locked or unlocked phone.
What’s the difference between a locked and unlocked phone?
Unlocked phones can work with any carrier, while locked phones can only work with specific carriers. To get optimal service from your carrier, it's best to get a device model that is totally compatible with your carrier. Devices from a specific carrier may work with other carriers, but service won't be optimal. For example, an AT&T-specific Galaxy S10e may work with a customer's T-Mobile plan, but they won't be able to send MMS.
If you were a customer with Sprint or one of its MVNOs, we encourage you to purchase an unlocked device. We do not guarantee that Sprint-compatible devices will work on T-Mobile.
Using a different carrier?
In the USA, the three major carriers are AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile (and Sprint). They own and control all of the wireless network infrastructure needed to get wireless service to our devices.
All other carriers are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO). Through contracts and business agreements they use the wireless network infrastructure of the three carriers. They don't own any of the wireless network infrastructure and, in a way, are 'renting space' from the three carriers.
There are some great pros to using an MVNO: it's budget-friendly and doesn't have complicated contracts. But on the flipside, it can have its cons: coverage can be limited and service can be subject to data throttling.
Which network does my MVNO carrier use?
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MVNO |
Network |
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T-Mobile |
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T-Mobile, AT&T |
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Verizon |
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AT&T |
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AT&T |
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T-Mobile |
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AT&T |
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T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular |
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Verizon |
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AT&T |
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AT&T |
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T-Mobile |
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T-Mobile |
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T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
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Verizon |
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T-Mobile, AT&T |
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AT&T |
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Verizon, AT&T |
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T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
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T-Mobile |
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AT&T |
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T-Mobile |
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Verizon |
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T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
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T-Mobile |
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T-Mobile |
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T-Mobile |
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Verizon |
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T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
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T-Mobile |
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Verizon |
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U.S. Cellular |
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T-Mobile |
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T-Mobile, Verizon |
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T-Mobile |
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Verizon |
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T-Mobile, AT&T |
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Verizon |
Sprint is now part of the T-Mobile family.
2. Check the listing for carrier compatibility
Once you’ve found the phone you want, you can always verify the carrier(s) that the phone works with and whether it’s unlocked on listing:
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3. Check if the phone is compatible with GSM or CDMA
If you’re choosing an unlocked phone, the next thing to check is whether it's GSM or CDMA-compatible. Most modern phones are compatible with both frequency bands. This will also be indicated when looking at a specific item on the site, under Technical specifications:
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Learn more about GSM and CDMA.
I already bought a phone
1. Find the IMEI
Phones are tagged with a unique IMEI number that you can use to verify whether a phone is locked or unlocked. You can enter the number into an IMEI checker.
Here’s how you find your IMEI number:
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For iPhone, go Settings > General > About
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For Android, go to Settings > About Device > Status
Alternatively, whether you're using an iPhone or Android, you can dial #06# then press call, and your IMEI number should appear.
2. Find your carriers' BYOD page
Below, we've listed the links for the different carriers' Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) page. Typically, they'll check the IMEI number of the device to ensure it's legit and compatible, and then ask you to insert your SIM card and call a number. If you were a customer with Sprint or one of its MVNOs, we encourage you to purchase an unlocked device. We do not guarantee that Sprint-compatible devices will work on T-Mobile.
AT&T |
BYOD |
T-Mobile |
BYOD |
Verizon |
BYOD |
Find your carrier:
AT&T |
(800) 331-0500 |
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Boost Mobile |
(833) 502-6678 |
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Cricket |
(800) 274-2538 |
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Google Fi |
(844) TALK-2-FI |
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H2O Wireless |
(800) 643-4926 |
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Metro |
(888) 8-METRO-8 |
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Mint |
(800) 683-7392 |
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Spectrum |
(877) 463-0677 |
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Straight Talk |
(877) 430-2355 |
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T-Mobile |
(800) 937-8997 |
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US Cellular |
(888) 944-9400 |
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Verizon |
(800) 922-0204 |
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Xfinity |
(800) XFINITY |
Don’t see your carrier?
In the US, there are 3 major carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile (which acquired Sprint); and other carriers called MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), which use the networks of the major carriers.
Need help finding your carrier? Check out this huge list:
Carrier |
Network |
Bring Your Own Device |
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Access Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Affinity Cellular |
Verizon | |
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Airvoice Wireless |
AT&T | |
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Allvoi Wireless |
AT&T | |
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Armed Forces Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Assist Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Assurance Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Best Cellular |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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Black Wireless |
AT&T | |
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boom! MOBILE |
T-Mobile, Verizon | |
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Boost Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Cell Nuvo |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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Consumer Cellular |
T-Mobile, AT&T | |
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CREDO Mobile |
Verizon | |
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Cricket Wireless |
AT&T | |
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easyGO Wireless |
AT&T | |
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EcoMobile |
T-Mobile, Verizon | |
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EXTREMEConnect.me |
T-Mobile, AT&T | |
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enTouch Wireless |
Verizon | |
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Feelsafe Wireless |
AT&T | |
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Flash Wireless |
Verizon | |
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FreedomPop |
AT&T | |
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FreeUP Mobile |
AT&T | |
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Gen Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Good2Go Mobile |
AT&T | |
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Google Fi |
T-Mobile | |
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GoSmart Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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h2o Wireless |
AT&T | |
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Hello Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Jethro Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Jolt Mobile |
AT&T | |
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Kroger Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Kynect |
T-Mobile | |
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Liberty Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Lycamobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Madstar Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Metro by T-Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Mint Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Net10 Wireless |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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Optimum Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Page Plus Cellular |
Verizon | |
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Patriot Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Pix Wireless |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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Pulse Cellular |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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Puppy Wireless |
Verizon | |
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Pure TalkUSA |
AT&T | |
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Q Link Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Reach Mobile |
Verizon, AT&T | |
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Red Pocket Mobile |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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Republic Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Seawolf Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Selectel Wireless |
Verizon | |
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Simple Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Spectrum Mobile |
Verizon | |
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SpeedTalk Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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StandUp Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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Straight Talk |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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TAG Mobile |
T-Mobile, Verizon | |
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Telcel América |
T-Mobile | |
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Tello Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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TerraCom Wireless |
T-Mobile | |
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TextNow |
T-Mobile | |
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Ting |
T-Mobile, Verizon | |
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Total Wireless |
Verizon | |
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Tracfone |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T | |
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Twigby |
Verizon | |
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Ultra Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Unreal Mobile |
AT&T | |
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US Mobile |
T-Mobile, Verizon | |
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Visible |
Verizon | |
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Walmart Family Mobile |
T-Mobile | |
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Wing |
T-Mobile, AT&T | |
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Xfinity Mobile |
Verizon |
Need more help?
Feel free to get in touch with us here.
Continue reading
- Simple guide to SIM cards and eSIMs
- GSM vs. CDMA
- Getting my Android device connected to my carrier
- Getting my iPhone connected to my carrier
- Locked vs. Unlocked
- Can't connect to the Internet from your phone?
- Is the phone 5G compatible?