What is an Unlocked phone vs a Locked phone?
- An unlocked phone is not tied to a specific phone carrier and can be used on any carrier you choose. That means:
- You have more models of phones to choose from than what the carriers offer.
- When traveling, you can easily use international SIM cards.
- You can switch carriers without penalty.
- Phones that are locked are tied to a specific carrier and can only be used with that carrier. For example, a device locked to T-Mobile, can only be used with T-Mobile.
There are two types of unlocked phones: CDMA Unlocked and GSM unlocked
What is CDMA unlocked?
- CDMA is unlocked to support any and every carrier
What is GSM unlocked?
- While CDMA might support every carrier, GSM unlocked can only support carrier who have GSM technology, such as T-Mobile and AT&T
Company |
Host network(s) |
Bring Your Own Device Link |
|
Access Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Affinity Cellular |
Verizon |
|
|
Airvoice Wireless |
AT&T |
|
|
Allvoi Wireless |
AT&T |
|
|
Armed Forces Wireless / My AF Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Assist Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Assurance Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Best Cellular |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Black Wireless |
AT&T |
|
|
boom! MOBILE |
T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Boost Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Cell Nuvo |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Consumer Cellular |
AT&T, T-Mobile |
|
|
CREDO Mobile |
Verizon |
|
|
Cricket Wireless |
AT&T |
cricketwireless.com/support/switch-to-cricket/bring-your-own-device-byod.html |
|
easyGO Wireless |
AT&T |
|
|
EcoMobile |
T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
EXTREMEConnect .me |
AT&T, T-Mobile |
|
|
enTouch Wireless |
Verizon |
|
|
Feelsafe Wireless |
AT&T |
|
|
Flash Wireless |
Verizon |
flashwireless.com/BYOD/BYOD-Approval-Tool/ctl/ByodApproval/mid/4721 |
|
FreedomPop |
AT&T |
support.freedompop.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025858354-Can-I-switch-phones- |
|
FreeUP Mobile |
AT&T |
|
|
Gen Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Good2Go Mobile |
AT&T |
|
|
Google Fi |
T-Mobile |
|
|
GoSmart Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
h2o Wireless |
AT&T |
|
|
Hello Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Jethro Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Jolt Mobile |
AT&T |
|
|
Kroger Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Kynect |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Liberty Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Lycamobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Madstar Mobile |
Sprint* |
|
|
Metro by T-Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Mint Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Net10 Wireless |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Optimum Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Page Plus Cellular |
Verizon |
pagepluscellular.com/accessories/byop-3-in-1-sim-activation-kit |
|
Patriot Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Pix Wireless |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Pulse Cellular |
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon |
|
|
Puppy Wireless |
Sprint*, Verizon |
|
|
Pure TalkUSA |
AT&T |
|
|
Q Link Wireless |
T-Mobile, Sprint* |
|
|
Reach Mobile |
AT&T, Verizon |
|
|
Red Pocket Mobile |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Republic Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Seawolf Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Selectel Wireless |
Verizon |
|
|
Simple Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Spectrum Mobile |
Verizon |
|
|
SpeedTalk Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
StandUp Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Straight Talk |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
TAG Mobile |
T-Mobile, Verizon |
tagmobile.com/blog/steps-to-bring-your-own-device-to-tag-mobile |
|
Telcel América |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Tello Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
TerraCom Wireless |
T-Mobile |
|
|
TextNow |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Ting |
T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Total Wireless |
Verizon |
|
|
Tracfone |
AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Twigby |
Verizon |
|
|
Ultra Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Unreal Mobile |
AT&T |
help.unrealmobile.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032395952-The-Bring-Your-Own-Phone-process |
|
US Mobile |
T-Mobile, Verizon |
|
|
Visible |
Verizon |
|
|
Walmart Family Mobile |
T-Mobile |
|
|
Wing |
AT&T, T-Mobile |
|
|
Xfinity Mobile |
Verizon |
