If it feels like everyone is switching phone carriers this year\u2026 you\u2019re not imagining it. Americans are rethinking their phone plans in 2025 and 2026: comparing prices, weighing network performance and coverage, and trying to make sense of endless \u201climited-time offers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the major carriers are noticing. But earnings only show part of the story. As from which carriers people port from and when, insights for this study came from seven years of data from confirmed port-ins to NumberBarn between August 2018 and August 2025. This gives us a longer view of how American consumers actually behave when it comes to switching carriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand phone carrier switching trends, it helps to zoom out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As of Q2 2025, Verizon remains the largest mobile provider in the U.S., holding about 36% of all subscribers<\/a>. T-Mobile, meanwhile, has grown steadily over the past decade and now serves roughly one-third of the country, and in 2025, it became the U.S. telecom company with the highest market capitalization, at about $308 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That growth comes from long-term moves, including T-Mobile\u2019s acquisition of Sprint and its continued focus on expanding 5G coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short: the wireless market is changing, competition remains tight, and consumers are paying attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verizon\u2019s latest earnings report<\/a> mentions pressure in certain customer segments. AT&T<\/a> points to similar shifts in its consumer wireless results. T-Mobile<\/a> continues to see business growth while navigating changes in churn. No drama, just a market in motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At NumberBarn, we see something different: the exact moment someone decides it\u2019s time to leave their carrier.<\/em> Our port-in data doesn\u2019t reveal where people go next and why, but it shows when<\/em> they make the move. As the largest phone number marketplace, we port thousands of phone numbers a year, giving us a window into a wealth of different phone number and telecom trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Current Market Conditions: How Major Carriers Are Positioned in 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which Mobile Carriers Americans Leave Most in 2025 and Historically<\/h2>\n\n\n\n