Best phone deals for October 2026
The best iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy offers at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon this month, plus the prepaid deals that save more if you keep your phone.
With an iPhone 14 or newer to trade in, AT&T has the best deal: up to $1,200 off the iPhone 18 Pro, open to new and existing customers. Without a trade-in, T-Mobile and Verizon give away the Pixel 11 with a new line on an unlimited plan. All of these pay out as bill credits over 36 months. If your phone still works, a prepaid plan such as Visible at $25 a month saves more than any free-phone offer.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Deals come from carrier sites and the deal trackers listed under Sources; terms change often, so confirm them at checkout.
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The picks
AT&T: iPhone 18 Pro
The strongest iPhone offer this month. With the full $1,200 credit, the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro costs nothing over the 36-month installment plan, and existing customers qualify. Switchers also get up to $800 per line to pay off a phone at their old carrier.
You need an eligible unlimited plan for the whole 36 months. Without a trade-in, AT&T has the iPhone 17 Pro for $9.99 a month on a new line.
T-Mobile: Pixel 11
The simplest free phone this month. Add a line and the Pixel 11 is paid off in bill credits, with nothing to trade. T-Mobile also takes up to $1,000 off the iPhone 18 Pro with a trade-in in any condition on Experience Beyond.
T-Mobile's Experience plans start around $85 a month for one line, so the phone is free but the plan is not cheap.
T-Mobile: Galaxy S26 Ultra
The biggest Galaxy discount among the three carriers. If you want the base Galaxy S26 instead, Verizon gives it away with an unlimited plan.
The full credit needs a new line; upgrades get less.
Verizon: Pixel 11 or Galaxy S26
Verizon's Android offers need no trade-in: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Galaxy S26 are free with an eligible unlimited plan. Verizon also takes up to $1,000 off the iPhone 18 Pro with a new line and trade-in.
Families can get four lines for $25 a line, which makes Verizon's free phones easier to justify.
Visible+ with code 5OFF5
If your phone is fine, a prepaid plan saves more than any free-phone deal. Code 5OFF5 takes $5 a month off Visible+ ($30) or Visible+ Pro ($40) for five years when you move your number from another carrier.
You have 30 days after signing up to complete the number transfer. The base Visible plan is already $25.
iPhone deals
All three carriers discount the iPhone 18 Pro this month. The differences are what you have to trade in and whether existing customers qualify.
| Carrier | iPhone 18 Pro deal | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Up to $1,200 off | iPhone 14 or newer to trade in, any condition; eligible unlimited plan; new or existing customers |
| T-Mobile | Up to $1,000 off | Trade-in in any condition, or a new line with a ported number, on Experience Beyond; existing customers on Experience Beyond or Go5G Next qualify |
| Verizon | Up to $1,000 off | New line plus trade-in on an eligible unlimited plan; Verizon is also giving a free Apple Watch or iPad with a new line on that device |
Discounts are paid as monthly bill credits over 36 months.
Android deals
Android offers are easier to get than iPhone ones: several need no trade-in, only a new line or an eligible unlimited plan.
| Carrier | Deal | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro or Galaxy S26 free | Eligible unlimited plan |
| T-Mobile | Pixel 11 free; up to $1,200 off Galaxy S26 Ultra | New line; no trade-in needed for the Pixel 11 |
| AT&T | Pixel 11 Pro free; Pixel 10 for $10.99 a month | Trade in any old Pixel for the Pixel 11 Pro; new line for the Pixel 10 |
Prepaid deals if you keep your phone
Carrier phone deals tie you to a plan that costs $85 or more a month for one line. Prepaid plans on the same networks cost $25 to $45 with no contract, so if your phone has a few years left, the plan matters more than the phone deal.
- Visible (Verizon network): $25, $35 or $45 a month with taxes included. Code 5OFF5 saves $5 a month for five years on the two higher plans. See Visible plans.
- US Mobile (Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile): Unlimited Starter is $25 with taxes included, with a free 30-day trial. See our US Mobile review.
- Mint Mobile (T-Mobile network): its $10-a-month 6-month offer ran Oct 8 to Oct 22. Unlimited is normally $30 a month when you buy 12 months up front. See Mint plans.
- Straight Talk (Verizon, sold at Walmart): Silver Unlimited is $45 a month, or $360 for a year. Read our Straight Talk review.
Not sure which prepaid carrier fits? Our Visible vs. Mint vs. US Mobile comparison lines up prices, data limits and networks.
The catch with free phones
A free phone is a discount spread over three years, with conditions attached. These are the terms to read before you sign up.
- Credits, not cash. The discount arrives as 36 monthly bill credits. Cancel or move the line early and you owe the remaining balance on the phone.
- Plan minimums. Most offers need a premium unlimited plan. Moving to a cheaper plan can end the credits.
- Fees. Expect an activation or connection fee on new lines, often around $40.
- Trade-in value. "Any condition" offers accept cracked phones, but only specific models qualify for the top credit.
Follow our steps to switch carriers and keep your number, and unlock your phone first if you are bringing it. Check coverage at home and work first. Visible gives new customers a free 15-day trial and US Mobile a 30-day trial, so you can test Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile coverage before you port your number.
Questions
Which carrier has the best phone deals right now?
It depends on what you have to trade. With an iPhone 14 or newer, AT&T takes up to $1,200 off the iPhone 18 Pro for new and existing customers. Without a trade-in, T-Mobile and Verizon give away the Pixel 11 with a new line on an unlimited plan.
Are free phones really free?
Only if you keep the line. Carriers pay the discount as monthly bill credits, usually over 36 months, and you must stay on a qualifying unlimited plan. Leave early and the remaining phone balance comes due.
Can existing customers get these deals?
Some of them. AT&T's iPhone 18 Pro trade-in offer is open to existing customers, and T-Mobile customers on Experience Beyond or Go5G Next qualify for its iPhone offer. Most free-phone deals without a trade-in need a new line.
Is it cheaper to buy an unlocked phone and use prepaid?
Often, over three years. A $25 prepaid plan such as Visible saves hundreds a year against a $85 to $100 postpaid plan, which can outweigh a bill-credit discount if you do not need a premium unlimited plan.
When do Black Friday phone deals start?
Carriers usually start Black Friday offers in early to mid November. We track them on our Black Friday phone plan deals page.
- WhistleOut, "Best AT&T Phone Deals for October 2026" and "Best T-Mobile Phone Deals," updated Oct 20, 2026; "Best Cell Phone Deals for October 2026"
- Tom's Guide, "Best Verizon phone deals for October 2026"; TechRadar, "The best Verizon deals for October 2026"
- MacRumors, "Best iPhone Deals for October 2026"
- Slickdeals, "Visible Promo Codes," October 2026; Mint Mobile anniversary offer via WhistleOut, Oct 8 to 22, 2026
- Carrier deal pages (att.com, t-mobile.com, verizon.com), checked Oct 22, 2026
Prices and offers change often; confirm at your address before you order. How we research
Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.