Are Americans willing to switch their phone carrier for a better deal?

Are Americans willing to switch their phone carrier for a better deal?

Kineree Shah - January 30th, 2023

Half of Americans who have a wireless phone plan (either contract or no-contract) are unwilling to pay more to access 5G, according to data from YouGov Profiles (49%). But are they loyal to their current network provider, or will they switch to carriers that offer lower prices?

Our data from YouGov Telco Profiles, a consumer intelligence tool, reveals that a third of all Americans adults are happy to switch to another network provider for a better deal (35%). A notable proportion of Americans are also undecided about switching or staying the course (34%), suggesting that network providers still have a chance of retaining these consumers – but also that they may be available at the right price.

The perceived inconveniences associated with switching carriers are a substantial barrier to consumers making a switch. The idea of the hassle involved puts off half of American shoppers. This means carriers should look to improve their ability to persuade customers that switching networks can be a simple and uneventful process.

Two in five American adults aged 18-29 and 30-44 say they are likely to switch their network carrier for a better deal, making them the consumers most likely to do so. On the other hand, older consumers (65 and above) are the least likely to switch compared to other age groups.

Comparatively, the age skew among Americans who find switching a hassle is not as pronounced. Once again, 18-29 aged adults are the most likely to agree (50%), followed by 30-44 (49%), 45-64 (49%) and 65 and above (47%).

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Methodology

YouGov Telco Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data for the US is nationally representative of the online population and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race. Learn more about Profiles