How Digit Relay Scores Every Deal
Every carrier promotion is assessed across four categories by our editors, each rated on its own. The overall score is our judgement of the deal as a whole, not the total of the four ratings. No carrier pays for a higher score, and no carrier pays for placement in our rankings. Scores reflect real value to the consumer — device discount, plan cost, what you have to do to qualify, and how long you are locked in. Prices are compared on an equal footing: we use the average monthly cost over 12 months, so a short promo that jumps in price later is not presented as cheap.
Device Savings
35 pts
Total device discount — trade-in credit plus bill credits — divided by retail price. Free phone with no trade = max points.
Plan Value
30 pts
Plan price relative to comparable plans on the same network. Taxes-included pricing earns a bonus.
Requirements
25 pts
How much work the consumer has to do. No trade-in, no switch required = max points. Every additional requirement reduces the score.
Commitment Risk
10 pts
Length of commitment, bill credit structure, and early termination risk. Shorter commitments score higher.