Both T-Mobile and Verizon want to give you a free Galaxy S26 FE — but which deal is best?

Published Oct 31, 2026, 7:35 AM EDT Patrick is a deals writer and editor with over six years of experience recommending the best tech to readers. He was previously the eCommerce Editor at Android Central. Whether you're looking for a good deal on a laptop or planning to switch wireless carriers, Patrick is a pro at distilling complicated technical information into clear, easy-to-understand terms — not marketing fluff. When he isn't hunting down the best deals, Patrick enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and hanging out with his polydactyl cat. It's not uncommon to find carrier deals that land you a free phone, but there's often so much fine print involved that it doesn't always seem worth the hassle. Fortunately, both Verizon and T-Mobile are currently running Samsung Galaxy S26 FE deals that are actually good, but selecting the right offer for you may be easier said than done. Which carrier promotion should you choose to get this 'Fan Edition' smartphone without paying a cent? Let's break it down. Verizon 5G Yes International calling Yes (Unlimited Ultimate) Add a line with the Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan and Verizon will give you $700 in promo credits over 36 months. That's enough to cover the full cost of the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, no trade-in required. ►Verizon's deal: Verizon will hook you up with a free Samsung Galaxy S26 FE when you add a line with the Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome plan. These unlimited plans cost $90 and $105 per month for a single line, respectively, although you can drop that price significantly by adding multiple lines and taking advantage of AutoPay and paperless billing. Add four lines with those discounts applied, for instance, and the price of the Unlimited Plus plan will drop to $42.50 per month for each line. The Galaxy S26 FE will be free, but you still need to cover any applicable sales tax and a $40 activation fee. T-Mobile Brand T-Mobile Compatibility LTE and 5G Add a line with T-Mobile's Experience More or Experience Beyond plan and the carrier will give you enough promo credits to make the new Samsung Galaxy S26 FE completely free. ►T-Mobile's deal: T-Mobile will give you the free Galaxy S26 FE when you add a line with the Experience More or Experience Beyond plans. These plans also cost $90 and $105, respectively, before any AutoPay, paperless billing, or multiline discounts are applied. As with Verizon, I was able to drop the price down to $42.50 per month for each line when I added four lines and applied all the available discounts. You'll need to cover any applicable sales tax when ordering the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, in addition to a $35 activation fee. The Galaxy S26 FE deals are nearly identical, so which should you choose? There are a few things to consider before settling on one of these carrier deals. For starters, are you already a Verizon or T-Mobile customer, or are you willing to switch? There are often stackable new customer offers for users who switch to one of these carriers, and these can make an already-impressive deal even better if you play your cards right. You should also use each carrier's respective coverage map to see which provider works best in your area. Ultimately, it's going to depend on which of these unlimited plans you like better. Both T-Mobile and Verizon's plans come with unlimited talk, text, and data, while T-Mobile's offerings feature additional perks like streaming subscriptions and international coverage. Verizon, on the other hand, lets you build your own plan by mixing and matching additional perks for a small fee. These optional additions include streaming services, cloud storage, mobile hotspots, and so much more. ⇒ Choose T-Mobile's Galaxy S26 FE deal if: you want a traditional wireless plan with great coverage, streaming subscriptions, and loads of international benefits; everyone in your family is going to be on the same plan. ⇒ Choose Verizon's Galaxy S26 FE deal if: you want to customize your own wireless experience with mix-and-match perks; people in your family want to select their own wireless plans. Whichever carrier deal you choose, you can rest easy knowing you're getting a reliable 'Fan Edition' smartphone with a vibrant 6.7-inch 120Hz display, great battery life, and seven years of OS and security upgrades guaranteed. Needless to say, with these Galaxy S26 FE deals, you're winning either way.