More than a third (37%) of Gen Z leave family plans between ages 19 and 22, while nearly two-thirds (66%) evaluate their mobile plans twice per year. Slightly more (69%) say instant eSIM activation would make them more likely to switch providers, according to OXIO’s 2026 U.S. Mobile Consumer Survey.

The Gen Z figures provide “a clear preview of where telecom is heading next,” OXIO said about the mobile survey, adding that the behaviors point to easier switching and broader competition beyond traditional carriers in the future.

Most (90%) of the Gen Z survey respondents reported that store access matters when choosing a provider, while more than three-quarters (78%) said price is the top driver of mobile value, followed by performance and price. More than half (51%) have a positive view of alternative mobile providers.

Though many might have started on family mobile plans, Gen Z goes it alone earlier than previous generations, according to the report. More than half (56%) are already on individual mobile plans, while 19% left their family plans before turning 18.

The main reason for the change, according to the survey, is to gain independence. Gen Z has a desire for ownership of mobile plans, devices and other items that, for many, outweigh the desire to save money on their plans. Forty-five percent said they left family plans because they wanted their own individual plan, 44% left to have more control over their own accounts, and 29% opted for an individual plan because they found a better price elsewhere.

Gen Z also follows a regular pattern of re-evaluating their mobile plans, according to the survey. More than half (52%) re-evaluate their plan when their price increases, 44% reconsider their plan when there are coverage or service issues, and 35% look at alternatives when they buy a new device.