How to Try Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile—For Free

If you’re having trouble getting consistently good coverage in the places you spend time, it might be time to consider switching carriers.

Before you take this rather big step, though, you should be aware that you can test drive any of the three big carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) for free for a period of 30 days. This is a win-win for carriers and customers alike: carriers get to potentially hook in a new subscriber, while we get the chance to take their networks for a spin without any financial entanglements. 

In this article, we’ll highlight the trial programs offered by the major U.S. carriers, and highlight any fine print attached to them.

T-Mobile Free Trial

T-Mobile was the first major carrier to offer a trial program under the name Network Pass, though that name has been phased out. The company’s trial is free for 30 days, with no credit card, no credit check, and no commitment. You keep your current phone and carrier service running the whole time—the trial runs alongside your existing line rather than replacing it—and if you decide to switch afterward, T-Mobile says it'll offer a deal on a new phone or help pay off your current one.

To qualify, you need to be coming from a non-T-Mobile network with an unlocked, compatible device, and you can sign up through the T-Life app. During the trial you get unlimited talk, text, and premium data, plus the same member perks regular customers get, like T-Mobile Tuesdays. 

Note that streaming tops out at 4K UHD on capable devices, otherwise it's SD. T-Mobile also includes satellite connectivity for texting in areas with no tower coverage. 

What’s Included:

• Unlimited talk, text, and premium data
• 250 GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data
• Same member perks as regular customers, including T-Mobile Tuesdays
• Streaming up to 4K UHD on capable devices (SD otherwise)
• Satellite connectivity for texting in areas without tower coverage

Verizon Free Trial

Following the popularity of T-Mobile's trial program, Verizon followed suit with its own. Like T-Mobile, Verizon’s trial is actually free—no credit card required, and no surprise charges when the 30 days are up. Your existing phone number also doesn't move anywhere; the trial runs on a separate eSIM, so you keep using your current network and number as normal while also testing Verizon's. The trial eSIM simply expires on its own at the end of the 30 days, and there’s no potential auto-enrollment to worry about. 

To sign up, simply enter your information to create a trial account via the My Verizon app, look up your phone's IMEI number to confirm it's unlocked and eSIM-compatible, then activate the eSIM Verizon texts you and toggle between networks to compare. 

Here’s what you get during your trial: unlimited talk and text, up to 100GB of full-speed data on Verizon's network, and video streaming that goes up to 4K on compatible devices. The only caveat is that Verizon’s trial doesn’t include extra dedicated mobile hotspot data. 

What’s Included:

• Unlimited talk and text
• Up to 100GB of 4G/5G data on Verizon's premium network
• Video streaming capped by network type—480p on standard 4G/5G nationwide, up to 4K where 5G Ultra Wideband is available

What’s Not Included:

• Mobile hotspot data

AT&T Free Trial

AT&T's trial is a tad more complicated than those of its competitors T-Mobile and AT&T. Firstly, it’s iPhone-only: if you have an Android device, you’re out of luck. Secondly, AT&T doesn't run the trial as a side-by-side eSIM under your existing number—it issues you a separate trial phone number to text, call, and browse from, while your current service and number keep working in parallel so you can switch back and forth to compare.

To start your trial, you first have to download the app, go through a sign-up and eligibility check, then activate the eSIM to get your trial number. AT&T is explicit that eligibility is checked before you're let in, not assumed.

Once you're in, the trial includes 100GB of data, 25GB of that earmarked specifically for personal hotspot use, unlimited talk and text within and between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, unlimited international texting to 200+ countries, and access to AT&T's 5G network. 

What’s Included: 

• 100GB of data, with 25GB earmarked for personal hotspot use
• Unlimited talk and text within and between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
• Unlimited international texting to 200+ countries
• Access to AT&T's 5G network

What's Not Included:

• Access for Android users

How the 3 Major Networks Compare for Coverage

Before trying out any of these networks, it helps to have some idea of how they compare. 

Simply put, while it used to be that Verizon ruled the land when it came to nationwide cell phone coverage—until the emergence of 5G. This new cellular technology has shaken things up, with T-Mobile leapfrogging Verizon with far more national 5G build-out across the country. 

Nonetheless, Verizon still maintains the best 4G network in the country, along with fellow telecom behemoth AT&T. Here’s how the three major carriers stack up against each other when it comes to national 4G coverage:

National 4G LTE Coverage: 

• AT&T: 60%
• Verizon: 57%
• T-Mobile: 45%

While Verizon and AT&T lead the pack in terms of national 4G coverage reach, things are different when it comes to 5G. T-Mobile has leaned into 5G, and as a result, the carrier now offers the most 5G coverage in America. Here’s a breakdown of the three national carriers: 

National 5G Coverage:

• T-Mobile: 38%
• AT&T: 31%
• Verizon: 18% 

The Bottom Line

None of these trials cost you anything but 30 days, so there's little reason not to test-drive before you switch. If 5G speed is your priority, T-Mobile's the one to try first—it now covers more ground on 5G than Verizon or AT&T. If you want the widest 4G reach or a bigger data allowance without touching a separate hotspot budget, Verizon's trial is worth checking out. And if you're an iPhone owner who wants generous hotspot data and international texting built in, AT&T's trial covers more of those bases than its rivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these free trials require a credit card or credit check?

Not for T-Mobile or Verizon—both are explicit that signing up skips the credit card and credit check entirely. AT&T's trial does involve a sign-up and eligibility check through its app, but the fine print doesn't spell out whether that includes a credit pull, so it's worth confirming directly with AT&T before you start if that's a dealbreaker.

Will I lose my phone number or current service during the trial?

No—your regular number and service keep working the entire time on all three trials. T-Mobile and Verizon load the trial onto a separate eSIM alongside your existing line, while AT&T hands you a separate trial number instead of touching your current one. Either way, you're never without service while you compare.

What happens when the 30-day trial ends?

It depends on the carrier. T-Mobile says it'll offer a deal on a new phone or help pay off your current one if you decide to switch, but doesn't force anything if you don't. Verizon's trial eSIM simply expires on its own, with no auto-enrollment to worry about. AT&T's fine print doesn't say what happens at day 30, so it's worth checking its current terms directly before you sign up.