Calculator
Phone Plan Savings Calculator
See what switching could save you each month and in your first year, using your own numbers.
Email me updatesBy the ForLowerBills team · Last updated: October 14, 2026 · Sources checked: October 14, 2026
No paid links on this page. Every program we mention is free to apply for. ForLowerBills.com is an independent website, not a government agency. How we make money.
Many people pay for far more phone plan than they use. Prepaid and smaller carriers often run on the same major networks for less. Our calculator uses only the numbers you type in, so you can compare any plan honestly, including one-time costs like a new SIM or what you still owe on your phone.
Phone plan savings calculator
Enter your current bill and the price of a plan you found. We do the math here on the page; nothing you type is sent or saved.
Use the total from your last bill, including taxes and fees.
The advertised monthly price you found.
Many prepaid prices include taxes; many postpaid prices don't. Check the plan's fine print.
SIM or activation fees, a new phone, or what's left on your current phone's balance.
New monthly cost—
You'd save per month—
First-year savings after one-time costs—
Where to find your numbers
- Current bill: the total on your last statement, including taxes, fees and any phone payments.
- How much data you use: check your carrier's app or your phone's settings for the last few months.
- New plan price: look on the carrier's own website, and check whether the price includes taxes and fees and how long any promotional price lasts.
- One-time costs: activation or SIM fees, a new phone if yours won't work, and any remaining balance on a phone you're paying off.
How to compare plans fairly
- Check coverage at home and work before switching. Many carriers offer coverage maps.
- Compare the price after any promotion ends, not just the first few months.
- Watch for autopay requirements, per-line pricing and data limits that slow your speed.
- Make sure your phone is unlocked and compatible with the new carrier's network.
Keep your number when you switch
Get your account number and a transfer PIN from your current carrier, then start the switch with the new carrier. Don't cancel your old service first, or you could lose your number. Our step-by-step phone plan switching guide has more detail.
If money is tight: Lifeline
The federal Lifeline program gives eligible households up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands). You can qualify through SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or the Veterans Pension, or with income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. One benefit per household.
Official sources
Get updates: Phone Plan Savings Calculator
Related guides
FAQ
Is prepaid really cheaper than postpaid?
Often, but not always. Prepaid plans frequently include taxes in the price and skip contracts, while postpaid plans may offer bundles or multi-line discounts. Use the calculator with real prices from each carrier's site.
Why doesn't the calculator show carrier prices?
Prices and promotions change often, and we don't want to show you an out-of-date number. Enter the current price from the carrier's own website.
Will I lose my phone number if I switch?
Usually not. Get a transfer PIN and your account number from your current carrier and start the switch with the new carrier before canceling anything.
Does the calculator save my information?
No. All the math happens in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to us or saved.
Disclaimers
General information only, not legal, medical, tax or financial advice.
- ForLowerBills.com is an independent website. We are not a government agency, a law firm or a debt-relief company, and we don't charge for any of this information.
- Programs, income limits and rules change. Always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.
- The calculator gives an estimate based only on the numbers you enter. Your actual bill depends on the carrier's current prices, taxes, fees and promotions.
Read our full affiliate disclosure (How we make money).
We hope this helps. — the ForLowerBills team