5 Ways to Buy a Cell Phone Without a Plan

Photo by kozumel

Cell phones fall out of pockets and purses, drop down toilets and generally get destroyed in innumerable ways. The problem then becomes replacing your phone at a reasonable price without having to extend or purchase an entirely new plan.

There's no way around it. Buying a new phone is going to be expensive because you won't receive the deep discounts offered when you sign up for a plan. Before you run out and sink money into a new phone, however, check with your provider to find out if your warranty covers replacement or reduction on the cost of a new phone. If not, ask if they offer free upgrades or rebates after you've had a plan for a certain period of time. 

If you find no help there, here are five ways to purchase a new cell phone without buying a plan.

1. Buy an Unlocked Phone

Purchase an "unlocked" phone, meaning the SIM card (Subscriber Identification Module) isn't associated with one specific company. These free-agent phones are compatible with any network, allowing you to use it for which service you prefer.

2. Buy Online
You'll find unlocked cell phones on eBay, Amazon.com, Best Buy and other electronic stores. 

3. Trade Up
If your phone still works and you just want an upgrade, check out TradeMyPhone, GreenPhone or CellTradeUSA to trade your working phone for another model. You'll have to pay to trade but often can find a better deal than purchasing elsewhere. You might also look on CraigsList to purchase from a private individual, but electronics purchased from this Web site come with no guarantees so buyer beware. 

4. Shop Your Provider
All the major service providers sell phones independent of extending or purchasing a new plan. The problem is you're going to pay a high premium for these phones, often three times the cost at service initiation. The advantage is you can be certain the new phone will work with your preferred network. Note the large or bold price indicated for these phones refers to the cost of purchasing with a plan. Look under this price to ascertain how much you'll actually pay. 

5. Try a Pre-Paid Phone
Pre-paid or pay-as-you-go phones are affordable and don't require a plan. You just purchase minutes as needed from a service provider. These phones offer all the benefits of a standard phone but the individual minutes are more expensive than with a plan.