Difference between factory unlocked and carrier unlocked

[aliamus]

Hello, Can someone tell me the difference between a factory unlocked and a carrier unlocked phone. Is is better to buy a factory unlocked phone instead of a carrier unlocked one? Thanks in advance for your help.

[ran025]

Most of the time carrier unlocked means the sim card is unlocked but may still have the restrictions of the carrier left on and factory unlocked most of the time means that the phone is totally unrestricted and usually has a different firmware from a carrier unlocked phone

[Night_Predator]

Factory unlock = use on any carrier right form day one new from box.

Carrier unlock = You either ask the carrier to unlock the phone so you can use it on other carriers networks or you get or pay someone to hack the phone to unlock it for other carriers.