What switching actually pays

“Max reimbursement per line is $800.”

T-Mobile's Keep and Switch reimburses the balance remaining on your previous carrier's device payment plan, or that carrier's early termination fee, capped at $800 per line for up to 4 lines. It pays what is owed rather than a fixed amount.

“virtual prepaid MasterCard (no cash access & expires in 6 months)”

The Keep and Switch reimbursement arrives as a virtual prepaid Mastercard which cannot be withdrawn as cash and expires 6 months after issue, so an unspent balance is lost.

“Starting July 9, 2026, Keep and Switch is open only to brand-new customer accounts.”

Since 9 July 2026 Keep and Switch has been open only to brand-new customer accounts, so an existing T-Mobile customer adding a line cannot use it.

“Up to $800 via 24 or 36 monthly bill credits, depending on finance agreement term; line with promo must be active and in good standing to receive credits”

T-Mobile's switching credit is set by the handset and by the length of the finance agreement, not by a single offer. Published examples on one page run from $315 for an iPhone 15 to $800 for a Motorola razr and $900 for a Galaxy S26, while the promotional terms page carries $1,100 on several Apple iPhone trade-in promotions. Whichever applies, it is paid over either 24 or 36 monthly bill credits depending on the finance agreement term. There is no one figure that applies to everybody.

“up to 36 monthly bill credits”

T-Mobile's device promotions are paid as up to 36 monthly bill credits against the device being financed, rather than as money.

“When you cancel service, the monthly bill credits will stop and you will need to pay the full balance on your device.”

Cancelling stops the remaining credits and makes the outstanding device balance payable in full, so leaving part-way costs both the unpaid credits and the rest of the handset.

“Customers enrolling July 1, 2024 and later will forfeit the remainder of their monthly RDC if they choose to pay off their EIP early.”

Anyone who took the promotion on or after 1 July 2024 forfeits the remaining credits by paying the device agreement off early. T-Mobile's page also still prints the earlier rule, under which credits continued; for anybody switching now it is the later rule that applies.

“$35 device connection charge due at sale”

A $35 device connection charge is payable per device at the point of sale, plus tax on the full pre-credit price of the handset.

“Less up to $1,000 trade-in/promo credit applied over 36 mos.”

Verizon's trade-in and promotional credit is capped at $1,000 and is spread across 36 monthly bills rather than paid at once.

“Today that means a free phone when they trade-in any phone, any condition from Apple, Google or Samsung.”

Verizon's own announcement promises a handset at no charge in exchange for a trade-in of any phone, in any condition, from Apple, Google or Samsung.

“Trade-in credit is determined based on the market value of your device(s)...Final value is confirmed after Verizon receives the device and validates make/model, memory, color, storage, carrier, and condition.”

Verizon's trade-in terms say the credit is set by the device's market value and confirmed only after inspection of make, model, memory, colour, storage, carrier and condition, where condition covers whether the device powers on, battery damage and screen cracks.

“Pay off your device's device payment agreement early.”

Verizon lists paying off the device agreement early as one of the ways promotional credits stop, alongside cancelling the line and moving to an ineligible plan.

“Your line must stay on myPlan for a full 36 months to get promotional discounts. If you change to any other plan you lose the rest of the promotional value.”

Verizon requires the line to remain on an eligible plan for the full 36 months, and says changing plan forfeits the rest of the promotional value.

“*Ends 11/15/26. Receive $350 is a combination of $250 in bill credits ($6.95/month for 36 months) and a $100 Digital Costco Shop Card. Terms and restrictions apply.”

Costco advertises $350 for switching to AT&T, which it states is one bundled offer made of $250 in AT&T bill credits at $6.95 a month for 36 months plus a $100 Costco Shop Card. Only the $100 is Costco's own money, and the wording describes the two halves of this offer rather than permission to add a separate AT&T promotion to it. It ends on 15 November 2026, which the page prints as 11/15/26.

“$150 Costco Digital Shop Card + $250 Prepaid Visa Card”

Costco advertises $400 in value for switching to T-Mobile on Experience Beyond, made of a $150 Costco Digital Shop Card and a $250 prepaid Visa. The shop card takes up to 16 weeks after the transaction and the Visa up to 14 weeks after the rebate is submitted, so neither is money at the till.

“May not be combined with some offers, discounts or promotions.”

Sam's Club's $150 eGift card offer warns that it may not be combined with some offers, discounts or promotions, without naming which. It requires a device purchase on a finance agreement, qualifying credit, a plan of $85 a month or more with AutoPay, and tax on the pre-credit price at the till.

“Must upgrade from Club membership to Plus membership within 90 days or be an existing Plus Member.”

The recurring $60 Sam's Club eGift card requires a Plus membership, either already held or upgraded to within 90 days, and it is capped at one per year per T-Mobile account.