3 Ways to Save at Verizon: Bring Your Phone, Buy New or Upgrade

# Three Ways to Save Money at Verizon

Verizon customers have multiple levers to pull when looking to cut their wireless bills. The carrier structures its promotions around three distinct customer scenarios: keeping your current phone, purchasing a new device outright, or upgrading an existing handset. Understanding which path saves the most money depends on your situation.

**Keep Your Phone**

If you own your device outright and want to stay with it, Verizon's bring-your-own-device (BYOD) plans offer the most straightforward savings. You eliminate the monthly device payments that carriers bake into newer plans. This approach works best if your phone still functions reliably and receives security updates from its manufacturer.

Verizon rewards loyalty through its bill credits and data-plan discounts for customers who stick with older hardware. The carrier often bundles perks like free streaming services or discounts on accessories for BYOD customers. You'll typically pay just for the service plan itself, which ranges from basic unlimited talk-and-text tiers to premium plans with higher data speeds and priority network access.

**Buy a New Phone Outright**

Purchasing a new device directly from a retailer like Best Buy or Amazon and bringing it to Verizon eliminates carrier markup and finance charges. This requires upfront cash but avoids the 24-month payment plans that Verizon typically extends on its devices.

A mid-range smartphone from Samsung, Google, or Apple costs $300 to $600 when bought retail. Paying once beats financing it through your carrier plan, where interest and markup can add $100 or more over two years. After the purchase, your monthly service costs drop, since Verizon no longer needs to recover device costs through your bill.

**Upgrade Through Verizon**

When Verizon handles the upgrade, the carrier offers trade-in credits toward new flagships like the iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24. These credits can reach $500 to $800 depending on your old phone's condition and model. Verizon finances the remaining balance across 24 or 36 months, adding a device payment to your bill.

This path makes sense if you want the latest flagship phone but lack cash for full purchase. The trade-in credits effectively reduce the device's total cost. However, you'll pay more overall than buying outright, since you're financing at carrier rates and keeping a phone payment on your bill throughout the contract term.

**Compare Your Situation**

BYOD plans offer the lowest monthly bills but require you to stick with older hardware. Buying new unlocked phones upfront costs more initially but saves money long-term. Upgrading through Verizon strikes a middle ground, letting you get new devices without large upfront cash but at higher total cost.

Your best choice depends on phone age, cash position, and how long you keep devices. Customers who replace phones every three years or more benefit from bringing their own. Those upgrading annually pay more regardless of method, but Verizon's trade-in credits minimize the damage. Check Verizon's website or visit a store to see current trade-in values for your device before making the leap.