It's possible to get a free iPhone from major US carriers, but you'll usually need to commit to a specific unlimited plan and trade in an eligible device.
Boost Mobile's Smartphone Membership Plan offers a free iPhone 15 with a trade-in (iPhone 11 or newer) and purchase of their $60/month unlimited plan. Boost Infinite spreads the cost of the phone over 36 months in the form of bill credits, making it essentially free as long as you maintain the service.
AT&T frequently runs similar deals, especially on their Unlimited plans. For example, they've offered a free iPhone 15 when you trade in an older iPhone (like an iPhone 12 or newer) and activate an unlimited plan (typically AT&T Unlimited Premium). The discount comes as monthly credits over 36 months, so you need to keep the plan active to get the full discount.
Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate Plan works similarly: activate an eligible device (like an iPhone 13 or later) with the carrier, and they'll apply credits over 36 months to cover the cost of an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro. You'll need to be on Verizon's premium unlimited plan, which costs around $90 per month for a single line.
T-Mobile's Go5G plans (Go5G Next and Go5G Plus) often include free iPhone deals with trade-ins. For instance, you might be able to trade in an iPhone 11 or newer on a Go5G Plus plan and get an iPhone 15 at no extra cost, through bill credits over 24 months. One advantage of T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan is that you can sometimes upgrade after just 12 months.
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