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Free phone plan comparison calculator

A phone plan comparison calculator shows whether switching carriers saves money after upfront costs — switching fees, ETF, and phone purchase minus trade-in. It shows how many.

About this calculator

How to use

  1. Enter your current and new monthly plan costs.
  2. Add the switching fee and any early termination fee.
  3. Enter a new phone cost and your trade-in value if applicable.
  4. Enter months remaining on your current contract (for ETF calculation).
  5. Click Compare plans and read the break-even timeline.

Formulas

netSwitchingCost = switchingFee + ETF (if contractLeft > 0) + phoneCost − tradeIn
monthlySavings   = currentMonthly − newMonthly
breakEvenMonths  = ceil(netSwitchingCost ÷ monthlySavings)   [when savings > 0]
netSavingsAtN    = monthlySavings × N − netSwitchingCost

Worked example

Current plan $80/month, new plan $65/month, $35 switching fee, no ETF or phone:

netSwitchingCost = $35
monthlySavings   = $80 − $65 = $15/month
breakEvenMonths  = ceil(35 ÷ 15) = 3 months
12-month net     = $15 × 12 − $35 = $145 saved
24-month net     = $15 × 24 − $35 = $325 saved

Notes

  • Always check if the new plan rate is promotional. Many introductory rates increase after 12–24 months.
  • Device installment plans (paying for a phone in monthly installments) are different from early termination fees. Check your contract for any remaining installment balance before switching.
  • Taxes and surcharges vary by carrier and location. Compare the total bill, not just the advertised rate.

Frequently asked

How is break-even calculated?
Break-even months = upfront switching cost ÷ monthly savings. If the new plan saves $15/month and switching costs $35, break-even is ceil(35 ÷ 15) = 3 months.
What is an early termination fee?
An ETF is a penalty charged by your current carrier if you leave before your contract ends. Many carriers have eliminated ETFs, but they are still common in some device installment plans. The calculator only applies the ETF when you enter months remaining on your contract.
What counts as the switching cost?
Net switching cost = switching fee + early termination fee (if contract remains) + new phone cost − trade-in value. This is the total you pay upfront to switch.
What if the new plan is more expensive?
Monthly savings will be negative and break-even will show N/A. The calculator still shows 12-, 24-, and 36-month net costs so you can weigh any extra features against the added expense.
Should I count the phone purchase in the comparison?
Yes if you are buying a new phone to switch. No if you are bringing your current phone to the new carrier. The calculator defaults to $0 for phone cost, so it only counts what you enter.
How do I share my comparison?
Click Share to copy the page link, or Share with my numbers to include your cost inputs in the URL.