One of the best deals to happen for Verizon customers is the implementation of the Verizon Edge program earlier this summer. This program essentially offers three benefits:

1. You can upgrade to a new phone sooner.

2. You make low monthly payments which results in lower out of pocket expenses.

3. No contract required.

Phones that  would  cost you up to $300 in some instances can now be had for about $25.00 per month in some instances for top tier smartphones like the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, LG G2, Moto X or Droid Maxx. Below are Verizon Edge Prices for popular smartphones in 2013:

Apple

iPhone 5c – $23.06

iPhone 5 – $23.06

iPhone 4s – $20.90

iPhone 4 – $18.97

HTC 

HTC One – $25.22

Droid DNA – $23.06

Windows Phone 8X – $16.81

Kyocera

Elite – $14.65

Samsung 

Galaxy Note 3 – $29.31

Galaxy S4 – $25.22

Galaxy s3 – $18.97

Galaxy Note 2 – $25.22

Motorola

Moto X – $25.22

Droid Maxx – $27.15

Droid Ultra – $25.22

Droid Mini  - $18.97

Droid RAZR M – $14.65

Droid 4 – $18.97

Nokia

Lumia 928 – $20.90

Lumia 822 – $14.65

LG

LG G2 – $25.22

Enact – $14.65

Lucid 2 – $12.72

Spectrum 2 – $16.81

Intuition – $16.81

The most expensive phone currently on sale is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 at just under $300, with the Motorola Droid Maxx coming in next and then you have a wide selection of top tier phones to choose from from Apple, Samsung, HTC and more. There’s no reason to spend a lot of money up front with the Verizon Edge program. At time of commitment you will be asked to pay the first installment plus applicable taxes on the full purchase price of the phone. After that, you have 23 payments remaining.

If you choose to update your phone via the Verizon Edge program you need to have made payments totaling half the original cost of the phone if you wish to trade in the phone. At six months, you can also trade in your phone too but you will have to add some funds to get the 50 percent payments – six more payments  would be required. After that, you’re welcome to upgrade at any time assuming you want to pay off half of your current phone.

Some may argue you are paying twice for the phone because you end up paying for the subsidy (assumed $20 a month), but I think that this is fine for the service Verizon offers. I have yet to find a cellular provider that offers the coverage I need in my area, and the Verizon Edge program allows me to get a cheap smartphone from Verizon and upgrade twice a year, if not more if I choose to.