Thinking about switching to Consumer Cellular and want to keep your number? Not a problem.
If you need a deep dive into the how and why you can keep your number when switching, we’ve got you covered. And if you need a complete, step-by-step guide for how to switch wireless providers, we’ve got you covered there, too. But our guess is that you’re here for the spoilers.
Here’s how to switch to Consumer Cellular and keep your number in just five simple steps.
Step 1: Keep Your Current Service Active
Before you do anything, don’t cancel your current cellphone service. Your phone number must stay active during the transfer process. If you cancel before the transfer is complete, your old carrier might release your number—and you could lose it.
Once your number has successfully moved to Consumer Cellular, your old account should automatically close.
Step 2: Gather Account Info from Your Current Carrier
When you’re ready to switch, grab a recent bill or log in to your soon-to-be-former carrier’s account. You’ll need:
- Your account number
- The account holder’s name and billing address
- Any PIN or password associated with the account
Having this information handy ensures the transfer goes off without a hitch.
Step 3: Choose Your Plan and Start the Switch
Shop our range of affordable, no long-term contract plans online, call our friendly, 100% U.S. based switch pros at (888) 345-5509, or stop into your local Consumer Cellular retail store to get started.
When you sign up online, you’ll be prompted to select a plan and choose your device—or bring your own. When asked if you want to keep your existing phone number, simply select yes before proceeding.
Two quick things to remember at this step:
- If you’re bringing your own phone, be sure to check if it’s compatible first. Most unlocked GSM phones work perfectly.
- If your number is still under contract with your previous carrier, they might charge an early termination fee. Be sure to check your contract before switching.
Step 4: Complete the Transfer
We’ll take care of the heavy lifting. If you’re keeping your existing phone, your number transfer usually completes within a few hours, though it can take up to a day in some cases. And if you’ve ordered a new device, the number transfer process will begin seven days after your phone ships.
Once the transfer is done, your previous service should be automatically disconnected—but it’s always a good idea to call your old carrier to confirm.
Step 5: Insert Your SIM and Enjoy Consumer Cellular Service
When your new phone or SIM (or eSIM) card arrives, just pop in the SIM (or utilize the eSIM), follow the setup steps and you’re good to go. You’ll keep your same number, enjoy reliable nationwide coverage and start experiencing Consumer Cellular’s award-winning service.
FAQs About Switching to Consumer Cellular
Can I keep my phone when I switch?
Yes! In most cases, you can bring your current phone to Consumer Cellular. Just pop in a new SIM card (or eSIM) and you’re set.
How long does it take to transfer my number?
Most transfers complete within a few hours, though some may take up to 24 hours (or more) depending on your old carrier. We’ll notify you when your number is fully active on Consumer Cellular.
Do I need to contact my old carrier?
You don’t need to cancel your old service first. Let us handle the transfer once you provide some basic account information. Once your number moves over, your old account should automatically close. You can contact your old carrier to confirm.
What if my old phone number is part of a family plan?
If you’re on a shared plan, you’ll need to contact your current provider to get account details or transfer authorization before moving your individual line.
Can I switch to Consumer Cellular online?
Absolutely. You can start your order anytime at ConsumerCellular.com. Our online process makes it simple to keep your number, bring your own device, select a plan and set up your new service in minutes.
Ready to Make the Switch to Consumer Cellular?
It really is that easy to switch to Consumer Cellular and keep your number. Just follow these five steps and you’ll be up and running in no time, with the same number you’ve always used, on a network built for dependability and savings.
Call us at (888) 345-5509, shop online or stop into your nearest Consumer Cellular store to get started today.
© 2025 Consumer Cellular, Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. Terms and conditions apply. New service activation on approved credit. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations. Plans shown include $5 credit for AutoPay and E-billing.
Source: 2025 ACSI® Survey of customers rating their own wireless service provider. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi.org.
I have always used AT&T for my phone service and comcast for my internet. prices are going crazy. Can you provide phone, cable, and internet service? I’m living on a fixed income and am VERY un-tech savvy. I need a company that can provide all 3 services at decent price. I am currently paying $128.00 for these services. HELP!!!!!
Hi Ellen, thanks for your interest in our service! We don’t offer cable or internet services, we only offer our cell phone plans. If you’d like to take a look at those though, you can do so by going to our website here. Let us know if you have any questions though!
Can you have more than one device on your service , I’m interested in replacing my A T & T land line but I have multiple people devices ?
Hi Donald, thanks for your question! If you’re using a unit for your landline that has multiple devices, you can use it with our ZTE Home Base. If you want to use a cell phone with that line, only one cell phone can have a specific number assigned to it at a time.
100% Satisfied highly recommended! After years of dealing with all these other companies! Definitely happy I am with the right one ☝️
Hi. If I switch to Consumer Cellular and buy a phone plan and a smart phone from your website, would I be able to surf the internet from my Consumer Cellular phone? Sorry if this question is foolish, but I really don’t know. Thanks in advance.
That’s a great question, RLC. If you buy one of our smartphones, and have a plan that includes data service, you can browse the web with it.
How long does it normally take for the data setup? I bought a new phone thru CC , with the 10gb. Plan, wi-fi works, but no data, it’s been 24 hrs. They tell me it’s still ‘processing’
Thank you for reaching out, John. Transfers typically complete within 24 hours if all of the information provided is correct. We can check on the delay if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
Voice mail with CC is really squirrelly. Sometimes they are days late; sometimes I never receive them. Just finally got 2 at the same time, one left yesterday and one left a few hours ago. Never had this happen with Verizon. CC is less expensive, but at the cost of unreliable voice mail.
It’s definitely frustrating when you don’t get your voicemails in time, Miriam. This can sometimes be affected by the signal. We’d be happy to take a closer look if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
Hello I am thinking of switching to CC but not aware of the service features available. Do you have spam blocker, name id, caller id, text to voice mail, visual voicemail, to name a few. I know CC has text and data but what else is offered please?
Hi Mykal, thanks for your interest in our service! We do not have a feature for blocking spam, but you can download an app to help filter that if you are using a smartphone. We do offer caller ID, visual voicemail, call forwarding, and many others. To get a better idea of our services, check out our website here for further assistance.
Where can I go in person to check phones out?
Hi Pat, thanks for your question! You can find our phones in partnered retail locations such as Target. To find the location that is closest to you, visit our website here.
Thank you Jacob
I did check out the link but was unable to see the features offered. I want to change but not loose some key features like visual voicemail, caller id blocking that allows me to block certain calls like telemarketers or unwanted callers.
How will my name id be listed for callers to see? Do you offer any name to be listed as long as it is legal? Ex I have a business name one of my lines
Hi Myka, the caller ID would show as wireless caller with the number. We do not have the option to change it to something else. While the phones can block numbers while they come in, we don’t have a program that blocks numbers before they make that call.
If I activate a plan in zip code 85501 will I have service in zip 99901 when I travel
Thanks for your interest in our service, Dennis! the best way to view our coverage is by going to our website here. You can enter your address or other locations you visit frequently and view the coverage we offer. If you have any questions about the coverage or map at all just let us know.
So can I surf the Internet on your service and can I keep my old iPhone that I have as well : my wife and I would get the service what would the total price be for us to and is there any extra charge for the Internet service specifically I like to listen to podcasts while I’m taking my walk on my phone how does this work with pricing
Thanks ,
Chris
Hi Chris, thanks for your interest in our service! If your phone is unlocked from the provider, is GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable, it may work on our network. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we have had good experiences with iPhones switching over as long as it meets the mentioned requirements. The costs are going to depend on the exact plan that’s picked out for the account. Check out our plan options and their costs by going to our website here. Just let us know if you have any questions!
Do your services run on AT&T towers or Verizon?
I have been a CC customer for several years. Very satisfied overall. I recently added a new line the data started being used up quickly with that line. I log in to the CC account on line to turn the data off on that line. That line was still able to use data. Come to be informed from CC you also have to turn off data in the phone settings. What good is the switch on line in their system if it don’t turn off the data on one phone.
Hi Andrew, thanks for your post. In general, switching that switch off for data should turn the feature off for that line, but there are times where something on the back end doesn’t get switched off, so turning it off in the phone as well is just an extra layer to make sure the phone isn’t able to get that connection. We appreciate your feedback on this process though and have passed it along for you. Thanks!
I have an AT&T prepaid phone. How do I switch over to CC? Can you keep my same phone number?
Hi Karen, thanks for your interest in our service! You can switch over by going to our website here or by giving us a call at 800-686-4460 to place an order for service. If you’re wanting to keep using that same phone, you will want to make sure it’s unlocked from AT&T, is GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we’ll do all we can to see if we can get it connected for you. As long as the number remains active with the current provider during the transfer process, you can switch it over. We will also need the current account number, PIN number if there is one, billing address, and the account holder’s first and last name to submit to your current provider so that they will release the number to us so we would recommend having a bill readily available for this process.
Since changing to Consumer Cellular, we no longer have phone service where we used to when we fish along the coast. We will have to switch phone services, again.
Hi Patricia, thanks for your post. I’m sorry to hear that you’re thinking of switching services. We’d be happy to look into what is going on with service in that location if you’d like and assist with that. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our live agents here to follow up on this.
Phone plans
Hi Edward, thanks for your post. You can find our plans listed on our website here. If you have any questions about them, let us know!
I’m looking into switching but, I can’t find any info. about what kind of credit do Vets. receive? Like AARP members.
Waiting for phones to arrive for my new CC service. I know if I call someone with a cell phone, my name is whatever they call me in their contact list, or no name at all if I’m not in their list. For landlines, I usually see a name. I would like to know what name will appear in a land line caller ID when I call somebody?
Hi Margaret, when you call someone with a landline the name shown should say “Wireless Caller” and the phone number.
Hello, We have been CC customers for years and love our cell service. We are looking into a home base to use as our “home phone”. If we order a CC home base will Consumers Cellular assign our area code plus a new number for that base? I’m not sure we want to keep our old AT&T number due to so many “robo” calls. A new number should put a stop to them. Thanks.
Hi Bruce, thanks for your question! If you’re wanting a new number, we would assign one that is local to your area for you. If you’d like to transfer your number over, we can also help with this as well.
Can that be changed to our names instead of Wireless Caller?
Hi Margaret, thanks for your question. We don’t have an option to change caller ID information from wireless caller to a name. I’d be happy to pass that suggestion along for you though for in the future.
How do I tell if a phone I am bringing is VoLTE capable? They do not say it on the description where I am purchasing but I noticed the phones on Consumer Cellular descriptions do not state VoLTE either…I need help understanding. Rae (I am currently a Consumer Cellular customer, just getting a new phone)
Hi Rae, thanks for your question. If you have a question about a specific model you can contact us about it to see if it’s an option. Otherwise, if you have the IMEI of the device you’re wanting to use you can check on it by going to our website here.
I have a Trac phone. I don’t know the carrier. Can I use this phone and the number I have with this phone?
We appreciate your interest in our service, John! If your phone is unlocked from the carrier, is GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable, it may work on our network. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we’ll do all we can to see if we can get it connected for you. As long as the number remains active with the current provider during the transfer process, you can switch it over. We will also need the current account number, PIN number if there is one, billing address, and the account holder’s first and last name to submit to your current provider so that they will release the number to us so we would recommend having a bill readily available for this process.
I’m looking at switching from AT&T. I’ve been trying to unlock my phone and AT&T is giving me the run around. My phone from AT&T is paid off. Not sure what I can do to get switched.
Hi Faith, thanks for your post. I’m sorry to hear about the trouble that has been taking place with that process. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to contact them to have it unlocked or unlock it ourselves. If you want to use this existing phone, we do need to have it unlocked which would need to be done by AT&T. Otherwise, a new phone can be purchased from us to use with our service.
How easy is it to switch an IPhone 8 with Verizon to Community Cellular?
Hi David, thanks for your interest in our service! You’ll want to make sure that the phone is unlocked from Verizon, is GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable. We can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we have had good experiences in the past with iPhones switching over that meet that mentioned criteria.
Good evening. I am a former customer. I’m with aaanother carrier, however, when asked if my two phones were compatible to the 5G network? The representative infformed me “yes they were.” It never did and my service isn’t good. I left here because of misinformation given to me. I am a senior citizen and would consider returning back as a customer. Please provide me with information.
Hi John, thanks for your post. If you’d like, you can find information on our service by visiting our website here. If you have any questions, just give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our live agents here and we’d be happy to follow up in more detail.
We want to do away with our landline. Can we get our same phone number on a CC phone?
Great question, Laura! You can transfer your number to our service as long as it’s still active.
How long does it take to port the phone number over?
Hi JR, thanks for your question! If all the transfer information is correct, it can generally take cell numbers 24 hours to transfer over but it can depend on the company. If you have any questions about this at all, give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents on our website here and we’d be happy to follow up.
If a potential customer is using a Cell number that is on someone elses account with ATT can they move the Cell number they have been using. The account at ATT is not in their name and the person whose name is on the account is not switching to CC.
Hi Susan, in order for a number to be transferred from any carrier, account information with that carrier is required which would need to be provided by the account holder.
Is my Samsung a25 phone compatible with consumer cellular?
Great question, Marvin. To use your own Samsung Galaxy A25 with our service, it will need to be a VoLTE-capable, unlocked, and GSM-compatible phone. If you have the phone’s IMEI, you can check if it should be compatible here”. Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee compatibility for all phone models, but we will do all we can to get it working.
Please help. I’ve been trying for the past 4 days to get my phone back up and running, even ordered a new iPhone at full price. My fault for loosing the previous one…well “loosing is a loose therm, it was under my car seat haha”, anyways. I got a new phone and you guys never sent me a new sim card for it. Was told to go buy one from the store. Did so, but the rep at the store is telling me it’s going to give me a new number? I already have an account! I tried calling but your customer service is closed. Please someone help !
Hi Karl, I’m sorry to hear about the trouble taking place with your activation. All of our phones come with a SIM already installed, except for the iPhone 14 since it uses an eSIM card. If you need to activate the phone still, you can do so via the online account here or you can also give us a call at 888-548-6490 during our business hours and we can help with this. Alternatively, you can also chat with us here and we’d be happy to help.
We are considering dropping our landline phone. Is it possible to replace the phone number of one of our existing Consumer Cellular phones with our landline number?
Hi Karen, thanks for your question! We can definitely move your landline number onto a cell phone as long as it remains active through the switching process. We will need to get a SIM card ordered for that number to do it which you can do by giving us a call at 888-548-6490 or by going to your online account here. We will also need the current account number, PIN number if there is one, billing address, and the account holder’s first and last name to submit to your current provider so that they will release the number to us so we would recommend having a bill readily available for this process.
I would like your phone service and use my phone and my same number .
Hi Larry, thanks for your interest in our service! As long as your number remains active through the transfer process, we can help with bringing it over to our network. If your phone is unlocked, is GSM-compatible, and VoLTE capable it may work on our network. You can check to see if the phone may be compatible by plugging the IMEI into our website here. Just keep in mind we can’t guarantee compatibility for all models, but we’ll do all we can to see if we can get it connected for you.