Switching from postpaid to prepaid means paying for your plan before the month instead of after it, usually for much less. You can keep your number and, by picking a prepaid carrier on the same network, keep the same coverage: Visible, Total Wireless and Straight Talk use Verizon; Metro and Mint use T-Mobile; Cricket uses AT&T. The two things to sort out first are any phone you're still paying off, which usually comes due, and whether your phone is unlocked.
Postpaid vs prepaid in one minute
| Postpaid | Prepaid | |
|---|---|---|
| When you pay | After each month, on a bill | Before each month (or 3 to 12 months upfront) |
| Credit check | Usually | No |
| Typical price, 1 unlimited line | $50 to $100+/mo, plus taxes on most plans | $15 to $55/mo, taxes included on some |
| Phone deals | Big trade-in and switch credits, 24 to 36 months | Smaller deals, fewer long credits |
| Data priority | Higher on most plans | Often lower when a tower is busy |
| Perks | Streaming, travel and hotspot on higher plans | Fewer |
What you could save
| Moving from | To (same network) | Monthly saving | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Unlimited Plus, 1 line, $80 + tax | Visible, $25 taxes included | About $55+ | About $660+ |
| Verizon Unlimited Plus, 1 line, $80 + tax | Straight Talk Gold, $55 + tax | About $25 | About $300 |
| T-Mobile Essentials Saver, 1 line, $50 + tax | Metro Starter, $25 taxes included | About $25+ | About $300+ |
| T-Mobile Essentials Saver, 1 line, $50 + tax | Mint Unlimited, $30/mo on 12 months + tax | About $20 | About $240 |
Pick a prepaid carrier on the same network
| If you're on | Prepaid options on the same network |
|---|---|
| Verizon | Visible, Total Wireless, Straight Talk, Verizon Prepaid |
| T-Mobile | Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, T-Mobile Prepaid |
| AT&T | Cricket Wireless, AT&T Prepaid |
| Any of them | US Mobile lets you pick Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T |
Staying on the same network means your coverage at home and work shouldn't change. Data can still be slowed before the network's own postpaid customers when a tower is busy.
Before you switch: 6 things to check
- Phone balance. If you're paying off a phone, the rest usually comes due when the line leaves. Check the payoff amount in your carrier's app.
- Unlock status. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile only unlock postpaid phones once they're paid off; AT&T and T-Mobile also need 60 and 40 days of service and a request.
- Promo credits. Leaving early can cancel the monthly credits from a phone deal, so the remaining balance may be higher than you expect.
- Family plan lines. The lines you leave behind may pay more per line once yours goes.
- Things billed to your carrier: streaming bundles, device protection, and app or game purchases charged to your phone bill.
- Compatibility. Check your phone in the new carrier's bring-your-own-phone tool.
How to switch, step by step
- Get your account number and create a transfer PIN in your current carrier's app.
- Buy the prepaid plan and choose to keep your number.
- Enter your account number, PIN and billing ZIP.
- Activate the eSIM in the new carrier's app, or put in the SIM card.
- Wait for the port to finish, usually minutes to a few hours. Don't cancel your old service: the port closes it.
- Check your final postpaid bill for the phone balance and any partial-month charges.
If a port stalls, our guide to how long a port takes covers the usual fixes.
Same Verizon network, no contract, no credit check. Switching your number? Code 5OFF5 takes $5/mo off Visible+ or Visible+ Pro for 5 years.
See Visible plans →Prices checked October 31, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through this link, at no extra cost to you.
What you give up
- Big phone deals. Prepaid deals are smaller, so you'll usually buy phones outright or bring your own.
- Data priority on most plans. Some prepaid plans, like Visible+ Pro, include premium data.
- Perks like bundled streaming, in-flight Wi-Fi or large hotspot allowances on top postpaid plans.
- Stores and phone support at some carriers. Visible and Mint are online only; Metro, Cricket and Straight Talk (at Walmart) have stores.
- International roaming. Check before you travel; many prepaid plans include Mexico and Canada but less elsewhere.
Moving a family plan to prepaid
Each person can move their own number, but the account owner has to provide the account number and PIN. On Visible each line becomes its own account; Mint, Metro and Cricket offer multi-line pricing. See how to leave a family plan and take your number.
If you still owe on your phone
Pay it off and bring the phone, or compare the cost of staying: our guide to switching while you still owe has the math. A prepaid plan that saves $50 a month covers a $400 balance in about 8 months.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from postpaid to prepaid and keep my number? +
Will my coverage change if I switch to prepaid? +
Can I use my postpaid phone on prepaid? +
Do I need to cancel my postpaid plan? +
Is prepaid really cheaper? +
Does prepaid need a credit check? +
Can I switch from postpaid to prepaid with the same carrier? +
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Jean has tested carrier plans independently since 2019, running SIMs on all three networks and paying for every line himself. He ranks carriers on the bill you actually get, taxes and fees included, not the price on the ad.