With the popularity of cell phones on the rise, companies are constantly touting their offers for free cell phones. But are those offers real? There are some things to consider before you grab up one of those offers. Take a look at some facts and some options.

The majority of free cell phones are offered by companies that provide cell phone service. These companies can afford to make the offer because theyre assured that theyre going to have your business for a set period of time. Thats because the only way youre really going to get one of their free cell phones is by signing a contract that binds you to cell phone service for a specific period of time. With that contract, youre agreeing to pay for the service usually for one or two years whether you use it or not.

But if you price cell phones purchased outright, isnt it better to sign that contract than to pay the full price for a phone? Probably, but you should carefully evaluate your situation and be sure youre going to want to pay for the service for that length of time.

Keep in mind that there are dozens of companies out there providing cell phone service, and theyre all vying for a specific customer base. Because of the situation, you have the upper hand at least to some degree. One of the gimmicks these companies use is to offer free cell phones in an attempt to gain new customers. Before you sign up, get a value for the phone theyre offering for free. Ask for the price of the phone if you dont sign a contract, and then price that phone with some other companies. You may find that the phone isnt worth very much anyway and that signing simply buying the phone without signing a contract is a better decision.

Choosing a cell phone service provider should not end at which of those companies will provide the best free cell phones. Evaluate the service past the phone. The price of service, terms of the contract and features (call waiting, call forwarding and voice mail) should all play a role in your decision. When you weigh those aspects, you may find that buying a cell phone from company A is a better deal that taking the free cell phones from company B.

Theres no doubt that there are free cell phones available. But as is true with most things, there are also strings attached and terms to be met in order to qualify.