Wireless words, translated

Carriers love confusing language: it makes overpaying easier. Here's what the jargon actually means, in plain English. Armed with these, you can read any plan page and know exactly what you're getting.

Line

One phone number on your account. A family of four sharing one plan has 4 lines. Per-line prices usually drop as you add lines: that's why family plans look cheap in ads.

Data (GB)

What you use when you're on the internet without Wi-Fi. Browsing and music use little; video uses a lot. Most people use far less than they think: 5 to 15GB a month is typical.

“Unlimited” data

You can't run out, but there's a catch: after a certain amount (often 30-50GB), many carriers slow you down. Truly unlimited full-speed data usually costs more.

Deprioritization

When cell towers get crowded, some customers get slowed down first. Budget brands and cheaper plans get slowed before customers on pricier plans. It mostly matters at busy times in busy places.

MVNO (budget brand)

A smaller company that rents one of the three big networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) and resells it cheaper. Same towers, lower price. The trade-off is deprioritization (see above) and less in-store support.

Hotspot (tethering)

Using your phone's connection to get a laptop or tablet online. Plans include a set amount of high-speed hotspot data, so check this if you work on the go.

Prepaid vs. postpaid

Prepaid: you pay before the month starts, no credit check, easy to leave. Postpaid: you get a bill afterward, often required for the best phone deals. Neither is better (prepaid is usually cheaper, postpaid has more perks).

Autopay discount

Most advertised prices assume you let the carrier charge your card or bank automatically each month, often $5-10 off per line. Without autopay, you'll pay more than the advertised price.

Trade-in credit

A discount on a new phone for handing in your old one, paid out as monthly bill credits over 2-3 years, not cash. Leave early and you lose the remaining credits, which is how carriers keep you from switching.

Device financing

Paying for a phone in monthly installments (usually 24 or 36 months), interest-free, added to your bill. Fine if you stay; the remaining balance comes due if you leave.

BYOD (bring your own device)

Keeping your current phone and just switching the plan. Almost always the cheapest option, and most phones from the last ~5 years work on any carrier.

Coverage vs. speed

Coverage is whether you have signal at all; speed is how fast it is when you do. A carrier can be great at one and mediocre at the other. Which one matters more depends on where you live and what you do.

Roaming

Using your phone outside your carrier's network, usually abroad. Some plans include international roaming; on others it's shockingly expensive, so check before you travel.

eSIM

A digital version of the little SIM card chip. Lets you switch carriers with a QR code instead of waiting for a card in the mail. Most recent phones support it.