People who are accident-prone or just seeking peace of mind shouldn't pick a phone insurance provider that covers very little. Everyone who purchases a plan should have the best cell phone insurance provider out there. To make your search easier, we’ve rounded up the top 10 insurance providers for you to choose from.
AppleCare+ and Samsung Protection Plus
Of course, if you have an Apple or Samsung product, you're going to be encouraged to buy their protection plans, but you might question if they're worth the price. Both cost of $99 for two years. Apple's protection plan must be purchased within the first 30 days of owning the device. Every iPhone purchased comes with a basic one-year warranty, but AppleCare+ adds an additional year to the basic warranty against wear and tear and it also covers accidental damage. Unfortunately, AppleCare+ does not cover theft. This service will also provide up to two replacement devices per year at a cost of $79 per claim, plus tax.
Samsung Protection Plus also costs $99, but making a claim will only set you back $75 per claim plus tax. Like AppleCare+, Samsung Protection Plus covers your device for two years. It covers accidental damage, operational issues, and mechanical breakdowns. Also like AppleCare+, Samsung Protection does not cover theft or loss. Samsung allows you to make up to three claims per year.
AT&T Mobile Protection Pack
AT&T offers the cheapest protection plan at $6.99 per month. With this, your phone will be covered in case of loss, theft, accidental damage, and out-of-warranty malfunctions. This company uses a tiered deductible system ranging from $50 to $199, based on the cost of your phone. This deductible is what you'd pay if you had to get a new device.
Sprint Total Equipment Protection
This plan will cost you $8 per month. It protects against loss, theft, and physical or liquid damage. Like AT&T’s insurance, Sprint's plan also works on a tiered deductible package. It's $50 or $100 based on your device. You can make up to three claims per year as long as you don’t exceed $1,500 per claim.
T-Mobile Premium Handset Protection
T-Mobile’s Premium Handset Protection works a little differently from the other insurance plans on this list. Instead of a set deductible or monthly cost, it varies based on what kind of device you own. If you own a high-end phone, you'll be charged more than someone who has an older device. T-Mobile's insurance plan protects against loss, theft, and breakdown. You're allowed to make two claims per year and up to $1,500 equipment loss per claim.
T-Mobile also has a program called JUMP! For this program, you pay $10 per month and get everything you would for the Premium Handset Protection. However, you'll also receive a locate, lock, wipe, and remote alarm. It will also provide contact backups, photo backups, and safe browsing.
Verizon Extended Equipment Coverage
Verizon’s phone insurance is provided through Asurion. Verizon Extended Equipment Coverage covers cost of replacing lost, stolen, or damaged devices. Once the one-year manufacturer’s warranty expires, Verizon Extended Coverage will also cover mechanical and electrical issues. Insurance for most phones costs $8 per month with a $99 deductible per claim. You can replace up to two devices per year with a $1,500 equipment limit.
Others
Other cell phone providers are out there, but most are very sketchy. Often, they'll claim that they don’t have deductible fees, but this is usually a blatant lie. Most of the time, what would normally be a deductible will be considered "administrative fees” instead, and can cost you a pretty penny. A good rule of thumb? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
