diff --git a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/CompactDecimalFormat.java b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/CompactDecimalFormat.java
index 7feeb33383c..18e1ee1b35c 100644
--- a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/CompactDecimalFormat.java
+++ b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/CompactDecimalFormat.java
@@ -13,10 +13,20 @@ import java.text.ParsePosition;
 import java.util.Locale;
 
 import com.ibm.icu.impl.number.DecimalFormatProperties;
+import com.ibm.icu.number.NumberFormatter;
 import com.ibm.icu.util.CurrencyAmount;
 import com.ibm.icu.util.ULocale;
 
 /**
+ * Formats numbers in compact (abbreviated) notation, like "1.2K" instead of "1200".
+ *
+ * <p>
+ * <strong>IMPORTANT:</strong> New users are strongly encouraged to see if
+ * {@link NumberFormatter} fits their use case.  Although not deprecated, this
+ * class, CompactDecimalFormat, is on life support and is provided for
+ * backwards compatibility only.
+ * <hr>
+ *
  * The CompactDecimalFormat produces abbreviated numbers, suitable for display in environments will
  * limited real estate. For example, 'Hits: 1.2B' instead of 'Hits: 1,200,000,000'. The format will
  * be appropriate for the given language, such as "1,2 Mrd." for German.
diff --git a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/DecimalFormat.java b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/DecimalFormat.java
index 5f68fe60469..cf56e20aab0 100644
--- a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/DecimalFormat.java
+++ b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/DecimalFormat.java
@@ -34,7 +34,16 @@ import com.ibm.icu.util.ULocale;
 import com.ibm.icu.util.ULocale.Category;
 
 /**
- * {@icuenhanced java.text.DecimalFormat}.{@icu _usage_} <code>DecimalFormat</code> is the primary
+ * {@icuenhanced java.text.DecimalFormat}.{@icu _usage_}
+ *
+ * <p>
+ * <strong>IMPORTANT:</strong> New users are strongly encouraged to see if
+ * {@link NumberFormatter} fits their use case.  Although not deprecated, this
+ * class, DecimalFormat, is on life support and is only provided for
+ * java.text.DecimalFormat compatibility.
+ * <hr>
+ *
+ * <code>DecimalFormat</code> is the primary
  * concrete subclass of {@link NumberFormat}. It has a variety of features designed to make it
  * possible to parse and format numbers in any locale, including support for Western, Arabic, or
  * Indic digits. It supports different flavors of numbers, including integers ("123"), fixed-point
diff --git a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/MeasureFormat.java b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/MeasureFormat.java
index 0d950cbc0a3..500ee5dc3b7 100644
--- a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/MeasureFormat.java
+++ b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/MeasureFormat.java
@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@ import com.ibm.icu.util.UResourceBundle;
  * A formatter for Measure objects.
  *
  * <p>
+ * <strong>IMPORTANT:</strong> New users are strongly encouraged to see if
+ * {@link NumberFormatter} fits their use case.  Although not deprecated, this
+ * class, MeasureFormat, is on life support and is provided for
+ * backwards compatibility only.
+ * <hr>
+ *
+ * <p>
  * To format a Measure object, first create a formatter object using a MeasureFormat factory method. Then
  * use that object's format or formatMeasures methods.
  *
diff --git a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/NumberFormat.java b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/NumberFormat.java
index e97ca196dbf..38885def708 100644
--- a/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/NumberFormat.java
+++ b/icu4j/main/classes/core/src/com/ibm/icu/text/NumberFormat.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import com.ibm.icu.impl.ICUData;
 import com.ibm.icu.impl.ICUResourceBundle;
+import com.ibm.icu.number.NumberFormatter;
 import com.ibm.icu.util.Currency;
 import com.ibm.icu.util.Currency.CurrencyUsage;
 import com.ibm.icu.util.CurrencyAmount;
@@ -35,6 +36,13 @@ import com.ibm.icu.util.UResourceBundle;
 /**
  * {@icuenhanced java.text.NumberFormat}.{@icu _usage_}
  *
+ * <p>
+ * <strong>IMPORTANT:</strong> New users are strongly encouraged to see if
+ * {@link NumberFormatter} fits their use case.  Although not deprecated, this
+ * class, NumberFormat, is on life support and is only provided for
+ * java.text.NumberFormat compatibility.
+ * <hr>
+ *
  * <code>NumberFormat</code> is the abstract base class for all number
  * formats. This class provides the interface for formatting and parsing
  * numbers. <code>NumberFormat</code> also provides methods for determining