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[2021.2 Update] Based on feedback from readers in the WeChat group, porting from Ting to Visible is now very slow, and FreedomPop has completely banned Visible, so it no longer works. If you want to port to Visible, avoid FreedomPop. For porting to carriers other than Visible, there do not seem to be major issues for now.

[The following was originally posted on January 11, 2021]

The blog has covered many deals involving number porting or cheap phone deals, which sparked a lot of discussion. We have already introduced several low-cost SIM cards for porting, such as Google Voice, CTExcel America, and US Mobile. This article introduces two other very cost-effective SIM options for porting: Ting and FreedomPop.

Ting

Ting SIM cards are sold at Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, and they are very easy to use.

Pros of Ting

  • The SIM card often costs as little as $0.99;
  • If online ordering has restrictions, you can do in-store pickup;
  • Activation is simple, and you can get the acct and pin yourself without contacting customer service.
  • After activation, it comes with $30 in credit, which gives you plenty of time to port out.
  • Combined with a refer ($25), you can get a total of $55 in credit.

One Ting SIM pack contains two cards, a red card and a blue card, though some newer packages only include one card. Both cards can be activated, which is essentially equivalent to getting two phone numbers. We will cover the red card first, then the blue card. The activation process does not require SMS verification.

Cons of Ting

  • It is recommended to create separate accounts for the red and blue cards; otherwise, you may trigger fraud review. YMMV.
  • The red and blue cards share the same $30 included credit. The credit is loaded onto whichever card is activated first, but the refer credit can help if you run short.
  • After you port in, charges will continue, so be sure to open the account with a virtual card such as Privacy. Then limit the virtual card to $1 in charges only (recommended), or close the card.

Red Card Activation and Porting

1. Use the refer link:

  • Ting red card signup link (each side gets $25 in credit)
  • Just choose the $10 plan. It includes $30 in credit, so there is nothing to worry about.

When signing up, do not enter a password. After registration, click the link in the email you receive to set your password.

2. Start activation:

  • Click Activate
  • Bring a phone
  • Enter a phone IMEI

A group member, Shawn, shared this site: https://www.coolgenerator.com/imei-generator. It can randomly generate an IMEI and gets around Ting’s one-SIM-per-device restriction. It has been tested and works. Choosing iPhone 8 seems to have a high success rate.

  • Check SIM (enter the 19-digit SIM serial number), then enter your address, matching the one on your credit card.
  • Enter your credit card information, submit, and activate. Be sure to use a virtual card, such as Privacy, and then limit the virtual card to $1 in charges only [recommended] or close the card.

3. Get the acct and pin

  • Path: My account -> Account settings at the bottom -> Port out information
  • It may take a few minutes after activation. You can also log out and back in again.

Blue Card Activation and Porting

This one must be activated under a separate account. The process is mostly the same, as follows:

1. Use the refer link:

  • Ting blue card signup link (each side gets $25 in credit)
  • Just choose the $10 plan. The refer gives you $25 in credit, so it is fine.

Again, do not enter a password during registration. After signing up, click the link in the email you receive to set your password.

2. Start activation:

  • Click Activate
  • Bring a phone
  • Enter a phone IMEI [same method as the red card]
  • Check SIM (enter the 19-digit SIM serial number), then enter your address, matching the one on your credit card.
  • Enter your credit card information, submit, and activate. Be sure to use a virtual card, such as Privacy, and then limit the virtual card to $1 in charges only [recommended] or close the card.

3. Get the acct and pin

  • You need to change iaccount to account in the page URL https://ting.com/iaccount/settings
  • An error will pop up; ignore it. Click Account settings under Your account, and it will be the same as the red card. The remaining steps are identical.

Porting Tips

  • For the card you use during activation, consider using a virtual card such as Privacy, then promptly set a limit or close the card.
  • You can activate and port out on the same day. After porting out, if you no longer need the account, it is recommended to delete the device and cancel the account to avoid any clawbacks.
  • It is recommended to activate and port out multiple cards at the same time. Previously, after I activated a few cards, trying another one a little later resulted in a message saying there was no service in the area, which triggered a restriction.

Buying at Best Buy

  • Buy online: Best Buy currently has it in stock for $0.99; online orders have quantity limits.
  • Buy in store: it is recommended to first check inventory in the app, click check nearby locations as circled in red, and try to go to stores showing green in stock.

I have gone to several stores showing limited stock in yellow and struck out. Even if you are a member and go to the store to pay, they may say it is unavailable, possibly to avoid triggering quantity restrictions.

Buying at Target

The cost is $1. I had previously bought it for $9.99, and within 14 days you can go to any store and ask for a price match. You only need to show the return barcode from the app order. There is a quirk here: I paid with a gift card, but they said they could only refund me in cash.

FreedomPop

FreedomPop is a SIM card advertised as letting you use service for free forever, but it has plenty of pitfalls. It works fine if you are only using it for number porting. It is often just $1 as well. It is sold at Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

Activation and Porting

  • Register an account; there is no refer bonus.
  • Click ACTIVATE, then enter the SIM card’s 19-digit serial number. After verification, choose a PLAN.
  • Scroll all the way to the bottom and choose the $0 plan, otherwise you may get clawed back.
  • Fill in your information and credit card, then CHECK OUT.
  • It is recommended to use a virtual card such as Privacy, then limit the virtual card to $1 in charges only [recommended] or close the card.
  • Choose Get a new number, then continue. After it spins for a while, it will tell you activation was successful. In your account information, it may first show pending, and after a while it will show activate. I have activated more than a dozen cards under one account without issue so far, though the actual upper limit is unknown.

For FreedomPop, you must contact customer service via chat to get the acct and pin. Once you have them, you can port out. After the new carrier activates the ported number, check your FreedomPop account to see whether you need to close the account or take any other action, and stay alert to avoid any clawbacks.

Summary

There are many deals involving number porting. Once you make good use of them, do not forget these:

Phone numbers themselves can also be used for many things, so do not let them go to waste.