Everyone asks me if free phones are legit — here's what I tell them

(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

I’ve been testing phones for nearly 18 years now, and through that span, phone carriers have consistently advertised free phones. Even now, as prices on some of the best phones continue to soar, carriers continue to entice shoppers with free phone deals.They say nothing’s free in life, so why would you think it’s any different with phones? I know the feeling of being drawn to a deal that lands you an iPhone 17 Pro Max for free, but when you write about different phone deals for a living, I can tell you if it’s legit or not. Here’s what you need to know about free phone deals.Billing credits that keep you locked in

(Image credit: Shisu_Ka / Shutterstock)Many carriers offer "free" phones by financing flagship devices over 24 or 36 months. Take the iPhone 17 Pro Max: you’re essentially financing the full $1,199 cost, which the carrier then covers through monthly bill credits.To qualify for them, you usually need to be on a top-tier unlimited cell phone plan, which can easily run $100/month for a single line. If that's not enough, you only receive the full discount if you stick it out until the end of the agreement.If you try to leave early, those monthly credits vanish, and you’re immediately on the hook for the remaining balance of the phone. But the real problem is the premium price tag — you're often forced to overpay for data and perks you'll never use.The trade-in requirement