If you have your eyes set on the newest iPhone 7, but your credit is less-than-stellar, you still have options. Unfortunately, you may have more trouble actually finding a carrier or store that has an iPhone 7 in stock than actually qualifying! Here is what you should know about getting an iPhone with bad, or even no, credit.
iPhone 7 with AT&T
If you want to go with AT&T, you can expect a credit check regardless of which type of plan you choose. You have a few ways to get the latest iPhone with AT&T:
- AT&T Next plan, which requires 30 monthly payments of $21.67. After you make 24 payments, you can trade in the phone and upgrade. After making 30 payments, you will own the phone outright. You can get this plan with $0 down if you have qualifying credit.
- AT&T Next Every Year, which requires 24 monthly installments of $27.09. After you make 12 payments, you can trade in the phone and upgrade. And you will own the phone after making a full 24 payments.
- Full retail price of $649.99 (save up to $25/month on a Mobile Share Value plan)
Just to be clear, the AT&T Next program is a financing arrangement that requires 24 to 30 monthly payments with 0% APR. There are options to trade in your phone early and upgrade to the latest iPhone. However, if you do that, you will start from the beginning in terms of your monthly installment requirements.
AT&T Next requires a credit check unless you are an existing customer with an account in good standing.
Be aware that AT&T Next appears to have strict credit requirements, as many people with good credit have even been denied. AT&T seems to base the requirements on a credit class and AT&T credit history more than your credit history with other companies.
If you have bad credit, you may not get approved for the Next plan with $0 down. Your options will be signing up for a two-year contract, which will require paying the subsidized cost of the phone ($199).
Or choosing AT&T Next with Downpayment, making a $195 downpayment and paying $16.25 per month for 28 months. This option, however, comes with a reduced device access fee of up to $25 per month and allows you to upgrade in as little as 12 months.
When you sign up for AT&T service, they will run a credit check. If your credit score is below 600, you will most likely be required to pay a security deposit or downpayment of $100 to $1,000 — with an average amount between $450 and $750. If you have declared bankruptcy and your credit score has not improved, you will probably be denied.
View Phones & Plans on AT&T
iPhone 7 with Verizon
With Verizon, you have two ways to get an iPhone 7 now that they replaced both the Edge plan and subsidized contracts with the Verizon Plan:
- $27.08 for 24 months with 0% APR (2 year contract)
- $649.99 full price with no contract
Verizon does not let you sign up for their prepaid ALLSET plan with an iPhone 7, unless you buy it elsewhere and bring it to the plan.
Let’s start with the contract option.
If you want to buy a Verizon iPhone 6s with a 2-year contract, they will run your credit. It seems most people with a credit score of at least 600-625 do not have to pay a deposit unless they have a bankruptcy on their record.
If you have bad credit, you may need to pay a deposit to start service. Verizon deposits range from $150 to $1,000 per line, not per account. Most people get a deposit of around $400. This deposit will be on top of the monthly cost of the phone.
The most popular way to get the iPhone 7 with Verizon used to be through their Edge plan. This early upgrade plan is no longer available.
View Phones & Plans on Verizon
iPhone 7 with Sprint
There are three ways to get an iPhone 7 through Sprint:
- Lease through iPhone Forever plan with $0 today and $22 per month (Editor’s Note: Sprint currently has a promo where your lease price can be as low as $15/month and you will always have the latest iPhone).
- Finance with Easy Pay plan for $27.09 per month
- 2-year contract with $200 due today and an additional $25 per month
Sprint’s iPhone Forever (formerly iPhone for Like) Plan, is the cheapest way to get your hands on the iPhone 7. The plan offers unlimited data for $50 a month and lets you “lease” your new iPhone from Sprint. If you get the 32GB iPhone 7, you can lease it for $0 down and $22 a month, for a total cost of $72 per month (plus taxes).
And, right now, you will be guaranteed a new iPhone whenever one is released, when you trade in your old one. (The old iPhone for Life Plan only guaranteed a new iPhone every 24 months when you trade in your old one.)
Sprint claims this is “the most economical way to get an iPhone 7 today,” and it’s the first national carrier to offer a leasing option. After running the numbers, we found it to be the cheapest way to get a new iPhone 7 – and you can do it for $0 down.
There is a credit check required. Sprint has pretty easy credit requirements, and you will most likely get approved as long as you do not have serious recent derogatory marks on your credit like bankruptcy or charged-off telecommunications accounts.
If you would rather finance your new iPhone 6s, you can also go with the new Easy Pay program.
Easy Pay lets you keep your iPhone after 24 months with low monthly payments and taxes paid upfront. You can also choose an Early Upgrade option for an extra $5 per month. If you go with the Easy Pay installment plan, you will pay a sales tax of $52 upfront. There will also be a $50/month charge for the Unlimited plan plus the installment payment of $27.09 per month.
You can be a new or existing customer to be eligible for Easy Pay, but a credit check will be required. The good news is it seems there are no real credit requirements to get approved, but you may need to make a down payment if you have bad credit with a score of less than 640.
You can also go with a 2-year contract and pay the subsidized cost of $216 (including taxes) upfront. If you have bad credit, you will probably be required to pay a deposit to set up service, however. The good news is Sprint has the lowest initial deposit among carriers of just $50, but it can be as high as $1,000. Most people pay a deposit between $50 and $750. If you know you have credit problems, you may be better off trying for the Easy Pay plan.
View Phones & Plans on Sprint
iPhone 7 with T-Mobile
T-Mobile offers prepaid plans with no contracts. Frankly, it may be your best option to obtain the newest iPhone, if you have poor credit or even no credit at all.
To get an iPhone 7 at T-Mobile, your best option is purchasing the phone with the Equipment Installment Program. The amount you need to pay up-front depends on a credit check, though. If you have very good credit, you can qualify for $0 down and monthly payments of $27.08 for 24 months with 0% APR.
If you have bad credit, you will be required to pay an upfront cost of $360 for the 32GB iPhone 6 (or up to $470 if you want the 128GB version), with 24 monthly payments of $12.08.
You can also choose a no credit check option. If you don’t want a credit check, you have two options:
- Pay in advance: Pay device cost ($649.92) plus the first month of service upfront.
- Simple Choice no credit: Pay device cost ($649.92) plus a refundable deposit equal to about one month’s service.
- This option gives you the Simple Choice Family Plan discounts.
View Phones & Plans on T-Mobile
How To Estimate Your Deposit
If you do have poor credit and want to estimate what your deposit might be, check out our Wireless Deposit Calculator. From there, you can find out what deposits are required by other consumers with similar credit.
If you want the latest iPhone, poor credit or no credit does not mean you will be denied.
