AT&T and Verizon are both from the ‘BIG 3’. But, several reasons can be responsible for your decision to switch between the carriers. And the process can be a little tricky too. And, also there are several things you have to keep in mind before switch from AT&T to Verizon.
In this article, I will tell you how you can switch from AT&T to Verizon and what things you would keep in mind. So, without further ado – let’s get started with –
- Things To Keep In mind Before Switch From AT&T To Verizon
- 1) Switch With New Number
- 2) Switch With Existing Number
- How To Bring Your Old Phone To Verizon
- How To Find IMEI On Android
- How To Find IMEI On iPhone
- Verizon Top Plans
- Verizon Phone Deals For New Customers
- Why should I transfer from AT&T to Verizon?
- Does Verizon pay for the termination fees?
- Does Verizon offer free phones?
- How Can I switch from Verizon to AT&T?
- Final Verdict
Things To Keep In mind Before Switch From AT&T To Verizon
If you signed a contract with AT&T, you shouldn’t switch carriers before the contract ends. Or you have to pay substantial termination fees. Also, you need to switch a few days before your running plan ends with AT&T.
If you switch after starting the cycle, AT&T won’t refund you the money. That means, you are paying for plans from both carriers but using only Verizon’s service.
Don’t terminate your current service until you successfully switch. Also, if you want to keep your current number after switching, have an alternate contact number. The transferring process may take some time, where you can miss some critical cases.
How To Switch From AT&T To Verizon
Let us get straight to the step-by-step process you need to follow to switch from AT&T to Verizon.
There are two ways you can follow for moving from AT&T to Verizon. If you want a new SIM card and number, your process will differ from keeping the existing phone number.
1) Switch With New Number
I) Chose A Plan
The first thing you need to do when transferring is select a suitable plan. Verizon has many discounts for new customers. You should take those benefits by visiting the Verizon website.
II) Provide Information
After selecting a plan, Verizon will redirect you to a form where you need to add all the necessary information, including your social security number and present and past address. You’ll also need to select which carrier you switched from.
III) Order A Phone And SIM Card
For the new customers, Verizon has huge discounts on purchasing a Mobile Phone. If you don’t want to bring your mobile phone, you can choose from these awesome deals. For bringing your old phone to the Verizon network, I will inform you in a while.
After you select a new phone/unlock your old phone on the Verizon network, you will be given a new number and an option to have the SIM card mailed if you don’t have an eSIM. It will take a few days to receive your SIM card.
2) Switch With Existing Number
I) Check your number compatibility
To transfer your number for AT&T to Verizon, you first need to know if your number is compatible with the Verizon network. If you activate a line with Verizon, you will get the option to switch the number. Or, you can know beforehand with the help of Verizon’s webtool.
II) Transfer your number
If your number is compatible, you can purchase a plan and select the switch number option. But, if it doesn’t get approval, you can contact Verizon at (800) 922-0204 for further help.
Your old number should be working during the transfer process, but the new Verizon Wireless number won’t be able to receive any phone calls. The transferring process will take 4-24 hours; on the other hand, landline numbers will take 2 – 10 business days.
III) Select A Phone and Order SIM
After your number is transferred, you can purchase a new phone by clicking the ‘Start Shopping’ option. Verizon has several offers for new customers. But, I would recommend not getting “free phones” from the provider as to get the phone, you need to sign a contract. Also, the facility needs you to subscribe to a 5G unlimited plan and stick to it for the contract period.
Also, if you don’t have an eSIM, order a SIM to send to you through the mail.
How To Bring Your Old Phone To Verizon
I) Unlock Your Phone
You can keep your phone if the phone is unlocked. If you buy the phone from the carriers directly, it will be locked most of the time. For that, you require unlocking the phone.
You can check the phone compatibility with the Verizon network from Verizon’s website. If you find it won’t, there are instructions from AT&T to switch deals to unlock your phone and bring it to any carrier.
There are a few requirements to unlock an AT&T phone:
- You need to pay the entire payment for your phone.
- The phone mustn’t be linked with any fraud or thievery.
- Your account standard needs to be good.
- The phone needs to be activated for 60 days.
- For a prepaid device, it must take six months.
II) Bring It To Verizon Network
After you unlock your phone, it’s time to check if it will run on the Verizon network. You can quickly check smartphone compatibility with the help of Verizon’s web tool. You will know the answer immediately by providing your phone IMEI or MEID number.
IMEI number (international mobile equipment identity) is a 15-digit number that helps you GSM, WCDMA, iDEN mobile phones, and satellite phones. The unique number lets you know if it’s compatible with one network or not.
On the other hand, the MEID number is a 14-character PIN for similar reasons. You can also use this code to find out the compatibility.
How To Find IMEI On Android
On an Android device, you can find your unique IMEI number by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping the gear icon to access your Settings. Scroll down until you see About phone. From here, you should be able to locate your 15-digit IMEI number.
How To Find IMEI On iPhone
To find the IMEI number on the iPhone, you need to go to Settings, then General, and select About. Search for the serial number there. You can find the IMEI/MEID if you scroll down a little.
Verizon Top Plans
Verizon has several plans you can find on its website. Here are a few to ease up your selection –
Verizon Play More: Verizon’s Play More plan is one of the best-unlimited data options. It includes 5G on Verizon’s impressive network, but it also includes a free subscription to Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu.
Additionally, a six-month trial for Apple Music, a year of Discovery Plus, and the streaming gaming service (Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass). Those extras make Verizon’s Play More a top choice for unlimited data.
Verizon 15 GB Prepaid: Verizon’s prepaid plans cram a lot of data for the price. The best option gets you 15GB of data for just $50 a month, but if you set up AutoPay, that price drops to $45.
The price then drops by another $5 after three months and a further $5 after nine months. That leaves you paying just $35 for your loyalty.
Verizon 5GB tiered data: If the unlimited plans above feel too expensive, a tiered option through one of Verizon’s shared data plans could be better suited to you.
The Verizon Wireless deals include LTE and nationwide 5G coverage (though not the faster Ultra Wideband 5G).
Verizon Phone Deals For New Customers
To attract new customers, Verizon offers versatile phone discounts. If you need a new phone, click on ‘Start Shopping’ after you subscribe to a plan. Here are the current top phone deals from the provider –
iPhone 13: New Verizon customers can get up to $1,300 off any new iPhone 13 model. You’ll get up to $800 off with a select trade-in.
Plus, new members will be able to get an extra $500 to help cover the cost of switching for a total of up to $1,300 off. Existing members can get up to $800 off with a trade-in.
iPhone 12: The iPhone 12 is on sale right now at Verizon. Trade-in your old phone and open a new unlimited line to get up to $700 off. Plus, you’ll get a bonus of $500 off if you switch from a different carrier.
Those two promotions completely wipe the handset’s price off the board, leaving you with just the unlimited data plan cost.
iPhone 11: Verizon offers the iPhone 11 for free when you purchase it with an unlimited plan. That’s one of the best Verizon cell phone plans you can find. (Underneath the “64GB/$24.99” tab, you’ll find more details on the promo). It’s available online only and requires a one-time $35 activation fee.
Apple iPhone SE: The inexpensive version of Apple, Apple iPhone SE could be a great choice if looking for budget-friendly phones. You can get the phone free of cost from Verizon currently.
But, that has a 24-month contract, and you need to pay back the money in the form of a credit bill. The phone doesn’t have the most impressive specs, but that won’t be a problem if you aren’t looking for the most up-to-date iPhone.
Galaxy Z Fold 3: The hottest new phone of Samsung is on a massive sale with Verizon. You can get fantastic phone deals when you switch to Verizon or add a new line to the network. New customers who switch to the network get up to $1000 off one pomo credit.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 upgrades include a brighter display and enhanced multitasking features, complete with a Windows-like taskbar. However, the battery life could be better, the design is still quite bulky, and Samsung should have included the S Pen.
Samsung Galaxy S21: With its 6.2-inch display, a trio of rear cameras, and the same 4,000 mAh battery, the Galaxy S21 isn’t much of an upgrade over its predecessor.
It comes with a new camera module and color schemes and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888. But the Galaxy S21 turns out to be very much an iterative upgrade; the big changes come in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra this time around.
Besides, you can find a vast selection of different phones from almost any brand you prefer.
FAQs About the Switch From AT&T To Verizon
Why should I transfer from AT&T to Verizon?
There isn’t any exact reason for switching from ATT to Verizon. Both are the top providers and offer expensive but versatile plans. There could be several reasons for switching to Verizon.
Most users, they want to change because of coverage and price. The area they are dwelling in doesn’t have good coverage from AT&T, and AT&T’s plans are more expensive. Some switch to Verizon to get a better phone deal. Or, their living area has too many AT&T users, so network congestion often occurs.
Does Verizon pay for the termination fees?
Yes, Verizon does pay for the termination fee of your old contract up to $650. But instead, you need to sign a contract with Verizon, which is usually two to three years long.
Does Verizon offer free phones?
Yes, Verizon offers free phones to new customers. But, there are a few conditions, like – you need to subscribe to a 5G unlimited plan and sign a contract.
How Can I switch from Verizon to AT&T?
Both switch from ATT to Verizon or transfer from Verizon to AT&T are pretty much similar. You need to reverse the process.
Final Verdict
Verizon is one of the best carriers for expensive and high-speed plans. And in comparison to the other phone carriers, the plans include more perks like a free Netflix subscription, HBO subscription, unlimited hotspot data, and many more.
So, you can have many valid reasons to switch from AT&T to Verizon. In this article, I have told you about switching from AT&T to Verizon. Practically it won’t take more than 4-6 hours to activate the Verizon network.
Just keep in the time of switching and the contract you are signing. The contract can be lengthy, especially if you get a free cell phone or get one at a considerable discount. But, if you are satisfied with Verizon’s service and willing to stay with it for a long time, then the deals are the best option for you. This is how you can switch to Verizon from AT&T.
