Verizon offers up to $1,100 off the new iPhone 17 lineup — making the iPhone 17 Pro effectively free when you trade in an eligible device and activate the Unlimited Ultimate plan. The discount is applied as bill credits over 36 months and is available equally to both new and existing customers.
How the ‘free’ phone really works
Verizon does not offer a one-time discount on your bill to make up for the phone’s cost, but instead applies credits each month that account for the full cost of the phone over 24 months.
Since the iPhone 17 Pro’s price at full retail is around $1,100, the credit can zero out your device payments when you fulfill all of the conditions. Miss a credit requirement and the rest of the credits go cold.
The plan you must have here is Unlimited Ultimate with Auto Pay. Credits linked to line for full term of 36 months. If you cancel the line, downgrade your plan or switch carriers before 30 months has passed, you will owe the balance of the phone that had not been paid — as bill credits aren’t available.
Who is eligible and which trade-ins count
Verizon is offering new customers who add a line, as well as current customers upgrading a line, this promo. One fine-print provision is relevant: The trade-in device must have been active on an account for at least 60 days before you buy your new phone. That language is written in order to restrict quick-flip trade-ins between lines.
To get the full $1,100 credit, the trade-in needs to be from Apple, Google, Motorola or Samsung. Verizon says “any condition,” which traditionally included cracked screens and older batteries (although the exact credit tier still depends on model and market value). Flagship models generally bring in the most credits; very old or off-brand phones might only be eligible for smaller ones.
What you’ll pay: A true cost picture
Plus the plan price, which will be at least the cost of Unlimited Ultimate ($90 per month before taxes and fees with Auto Pay) and then any additional add-ons you pick.
In most states, sales tax on the phone’s full retail price must be paid at checkout, even if the device is “free” through credits. A one-time setup or upgrade fee (normally about $35) commonly does apply.
Example: if the iPhone 17 Pro price at MSRP is around $1,100, Verizon’s credits would be in the neighborhood of $30.56 per month for 36 months. Your device payment is reflected as reduced by that credit (meaning the phone costs $0/mo), and you continue to pay your Unlimited Ultimate plan and any taxes on fees.
Leave early and you owe the device balance. So at month 18, if you jump ship early, you’re about halfway on the credits; what you owe is what isn’t paid after 18 months of your phone’s price.
Fine print that can bite
Send your trade-in on time and in the condition specified.
If Verizon finds that it’s not as you described, your credit may be lowered. Proof-of-shipment and photos of lost packages can save you hours and pounds if a shipment goes missing. When the return is made within the normal window, restocking fees may apply and credits can be reversed.
Bill credits start after 1 to 2 billing cycles. Keep an eye on your account for the line-item credit; if you don’t see it, reach out to support right away. Consumer advocates, including Consumer Reports, advise holding onto emails and tracking numbers for all trade-ins until the first batch of credits appears — an insurance policy in case you ever have to challenge a carrier’s assertion that it never got the phone.
How it compares to the market
Competing carriers often run $800 — $1,000 in trade-in credits for new iPhones attached to the priciest unlimited plans. Hitting those three notes is difficult to impossible elsewhere — even Verizon’s up-to-$1,100 headline number is about as aggressive as things get, and the “any condition” clause on trade-ins for major brands makes it easier for you to qualify. The trade-off is that you agree to sign up for the most expensive plan for three years.
U.S. upgrade cycles have now stretched to almost 3 years, which aligns with a 36-month credit term, industry analysts at Counterpoint Research wrote in a Monday note. If you’re the type to hold on to your phone that long and want top-of-the-line network amenities, such as high hotspot allotments or priority data, this framework can provide some real value.
A rapid-checklist before you order
Confirm your line is eligible: new or upgrading a line on Unlimited Ultimate with Auto Pay and check that your trade-in has been active for at least 60 days.
Back up your current phone and turn off Find My or other activation locks before you ship the trade-in. Photograph its state and note the IMEI and tracking number.
Budget for out-of-pocket costs: sales tax on the full phone price in many states, plus the activation/upgrade fee. Factor in plan taxes and surcharges to calculate your overall monthly bill.
Look for credits to begin within two billing cycles.
Remind yourself to check your first three bills so you can escalate any missing or incorrect credits right away.
Bottom line: If you’re OK with the premium plan for as long as it lasts and have an Apple, Google, Motorola or Samsung from Verizon trade-in that’s eligible, Verizon can zero out the iPhone 17 Pro’s cost to you while benefiting from top-tier network perks.
