DealNews is reader-supported.
We may earn commissions on qualifying purchases.

Walmart Cell Phone Deals

How to Shop and Save on Cell Phones at Walmart

There are a lot of places to buy a phone, but perhaps you are considering Walmart for their wide selection of handsets at low prices. Walmart also takes action to improve the phone shopping experience for customers. Last year, the megaretailer added even more dedicated wireless experts in stores and made online upgrades easier.

When you shop Walmart cell phones , you may have questions about which options are best for you. Here, we’ve broken down the carriers, plans, and phones available to help you make the right choice. You may even save some money in the process with Walmart phone deals !

Service Providers

When shopping for a cell phone, one detail you’ll need to determine early on is which provider to go with. Walmart sells phones for a variety of carriers:

Before deciding on a carrier you aren’t familiar with, do a coverage check. Check the provider’s website or do an internet search for the provider name and “coverage map” or “zip code map” to confirm your area is eligible for service.

Walmart Phone Plan Types

Prepaid

All of the providers listed above offer prepaid options, which do not require a contract or a credit check. With these plans, you can purchase a prepaid phone outright, or bring your own unlocked phone and purchase a SIM card for the carrier. The service plan is paid for in advance, and typically includes unlimited talk and text with a specified amount of data. The plan lasts for a certain amount of time, such as 30 days. If that time runs out before you purchase another plan, you no longer have service.

Postpaid

Postpaid plans typically involve purchasing a phone from a carrier through an installment agreement — which is a payment plan that essentially ties you to a carrier for at least 24 months until the device is paid off. You are billed for service through a monthly statement and get continuous coverage as long as it’s paid. Walmart sells phones for postpaid plans offered by AT&T and Verizon for upgrades only. You can purchase a new phone from Walmart and keep your existing service plan and phone number with your provider.

Unlocked vs. Locked Phones

Walmart sells unlocked cell phones that will work with any compatible cell phone carrier. Some phones will only work on GSM or CDMA networks, while others can work on both. If you have a certain carrier in mind, you’ll need to verify the phone will work there before purchasing. Once you’ve decided on a carrier, you can purchase a SIM card to start getting service.

A locked phone is restricted to a particular carrier and can’t be activated with other providers. Many of the phones Walmart sells, including prepaid models, are listed for a particular carrier.  You would only buy it if you plan to use that provider.

It’s possible to unlock a phone once you’ve paid off an installment agreement or, in the case of prepaid models, after a certain length of time (typically 12 months). This would allow you to switch to another provider. You can contact the carrier to request unlocking.

Choosing a Phone

Besides choosing a carrier and a plan type, there’s also deciding on the phone itself. Will you go with the latest iPhone or a brand new Samsung model? Alternatively, you might opt for a budget smartphone — or even a basic flip phone — to save money.  There are tons of options, but it often comes down to your preferred operating system: iOS for Apple iPhones or Android for Samsung, LG, and other brands.  Although much less common, you can still find Windows and Blackberry phones as well.

When buying a phone, consider these basic specs according to your individual needs:

  • Screen size
  • Processor
  • Storage space
  • Camera
  • Battery life

You’ll also want to check out reviews to compare other people’s experience with any model you are thinking about buying.

Check Out This Blog Article About Phones

When Is the Best Time to Buy a New Phone?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there Walmart cell phone deals?

Walmart is known for everyday low pricing, but they do have special offers on phones. This Savings Spotlight page features their current cell phone deals. The offers mostly consist of price reductions or rollbacks on phones, or discounts on bundles. You can also shop for cell phone accessories on sale.

As far as plans go, Walmart Family Mobile has some of their lowest pricing on no-contract unlimited plans, including one for unlimited talk and text with up to 2GB of data at 4G LTE for $24.88 per month.

Does Walmart sell refurbished phones?

Yes, Walmart sells a selection of refurbished phones , including refurbished iPhones . These are sold by Walmart or third-party sellers. Buying refurbished can save you money, but check the details carefully. Look for warranty information, a description of the condition, and whether the phone has any carrier restrictions. If the handset is sold by a third party, click the seller name on the page to see ratings and reviews. You’ll also want to check out how much the phone would cost new to ensure it’s worth buying a refurb. If the savings aren’t significant, it could be worth spending a little extra to get a new model.

By: Sarah Jones, Coupon Content Manager

Sarah Jones is the resident coupon expert at DealNews and oversees a team that covers deals, coupons, and Black Friday content. Her articles or quotes have been featured on sites such as Christian Science Monitor, Oprah.com, Fox Business, Kiplinger, and Lifehacker.

Want to know the moment we post a great deal on Phones & Cell Phones?  

Don't miss a single chance to save. Here are more Phones & Cell Phones discounts.

up to $200 off at Adorama
50% off at Best Buy
50% off at Groupon
QVC Coupons
Verizon Home Internet Coupons
25% off at Vistaprint
up to 50% off at Walmart