What is the difference between Unlocked and SIM-Free?

Question

Accepted Answer

Both unlocked iPhones and SIM-free iPhones work with any carrier, but the terms describe different histories.

What each term means

SIM-free means the iPhone was sold without a SIM card and was never locked to any carrier. It left the factory unattached to any network. Apple Store sells all of its devices as SIM-free.
Unlocked means the iPhone was originally locked to a specific carrier but has since had that restriction removed, either by the carrier after a contract ended or by the refurbisher before resale.

In both cases, you can insert any compatible SIM card and connect to any network.

Practical differences when buying refurbished

For everyday use, unlocked and SIM-free phones behave the same way. However, there are a few nuances worth knowing:

Carrier history. An unlocked phone may still carry a record of its original carrier in its settings. This does not affect functionality but may appear during setup.
Relocking risk. In rare cases, a carrier-unlocked phone could theoretically be relocked if the original owner fails to meet contract terms. Buying from a reputable refurbisher eliminates this risk.
Resale value. SIM-free phones sometimes command a slightly higher resale value because they have a cleaner carrier history.

If you are planning to use the phone internationally or switch carriers frequently, either option works well. See our guide on whether an unlocked iPhone works overseas for more details.

How to filter on RefurbMe

RefurbMe makes it easy to find phones that are not tied to a carrier. You can filter for unlocked phones only when browsing listings. This filter shows both SIM-free and unlocked devices, so you will only see phones compatible with any carrier.