Apple Upgrade vs. Verizon deals: which saves you the most money on an iPhone?

Apple’s new Upgrade program lets users lease an iPhone for 12-24 months, with payments starting at $18/month for the iPhone 17e and a buy-out option that adds $331 to reach the $1,099 retail price for a 256 GB iPhone 17 Pro. Verizon’s “free” phone offers charge only $2.77 /month for the device but requires a 36-month Unlimited Ultimate plan costing $3,420, making the total cost about $3,520 versus $1,099 under Apple Upgrade.