We’ve found several ways that you can get free phones and even free cell phone service! These deals are available from several different providers but don’t worry: we’ve addressed all of your options in this list! Show
Why do these providers offer free phones and free cell phone service?The government has created a subsidy program to help low income customers get free phones and free cell phone service. After all, having a reliable phone and service is essential in today’s fast-paced world. After all, phones are usually required to get jobs… contact emergency services… pay bills… arrange child care… contact doctor’s and other medical professionals… and so much more. Without a reliable phone, ordinary life gets very difficult very quickly. Wait – are these Obamaphones?Yes, they are often called that but this program didn’t start with Obama. This program actually has its roots back in the 1930s, when the government established the need for universal phone service. It began providing free phone service under Reagan and was later expanded by Bush and Obama… but the free phones provided by this program is nevertheless referred to as “Obamaphone” program. It is more properly referred to as the Lifeline program. Who qualifies for free phones and free cell phone service?In order to qualify to participate in the Lifeline program, you must meet the following criteria:
You must only have ONE Lifeline subsidy per household but you can transfer your benefit between providers. You can either use the subsidy to receive help with your home phone, cell phone OR high-speed broadband internet service. This is verified by the National Verifier system to prevent fraud. What if I don’t qualify for an Obamaphone?Fortunately, there are other providers that offer cheap cell phones and services for all customers (regardless of income). Mint Mobile offers wireless service starting at just $15/month! Mint has been highly recommended by many of my readers. Learn more about Mint here! Do you know of another provider we haven’t written about yet? Let us know in the comments and we’ll check it out! Are the free phones and free cell phone service plans any good?This is a question that we are asked quite often but the answer really depends on your defnition of “good.” There are several different providers that offer different plans. Some are better than others. All free cell phone service plans are held to a minimum standard.Under the FCC’s Lifeline Program for Low Income Customers (that’s the formal name for the program often called ‘Obamaphone’), there are minimum standards that all providers must meet. As of this writing, all free cell phone service plans under this program must provide at least 1,000 minutes and a minimum of 3 GB of data. The phones must have 3G data speeds. Some providers load their free phones with malware.In early 2020, it was revealed that many free phones that are provided from these government programs come preloaded with malware. The affected phones discussed in this article were provided by Assurance Wireless. The preinstalled malware “aggressively displays ads” and can’t be removed without uninstalling the Settings app which can basically destroy the phone. Thus, it is very important to carefully evaluate which plan and phone you will use. If you aren’t careful, you could end up with a nearly unusable device. How can I get free phones and free cell phone service?There are several providers that offer these plans. However, the plans are not the same from each provider. It’s important to carefully review the plan terms and figure out which one is best for you. Some providers operate nationwide and some are state-specific. Be sure to check both of our lists! 13 Nationwide ProvidersThese companies offer free cell phone services nationwide, or at least in multiple states. Safelink WirelessSafelink Wireless also offers free phones and free cell phone service. It is part of TracFone Wireless, which uses the towers from four major cell phone companies: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Their plans vary depending on which state you live in. Access WirelessAccess Wireless uses the Sprint Network to bring free cell phone service to low income customers. All information about plans is hidden behind a screen that requests your zip code, so I am unable to provide additional information here. American AssistanceAmerican Assistance offers free phones and free cell phone service with free minutes, data and unlimited free text messages. Their service uses the T-Mobile network. Assurance WirelessAssurance Wireless offers free phones and free cell phone service to low income households through the Lifeline program. Their plans include unlimited texting, as well as a free data and minute allotment. They use the Sprint network. However, it’s important to remember that this is the same company that was proven to distribute phones with malware… so be careful. FeelSafe WirelessFeelSafe Wireless offers an Obamaphone plan in California, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Life WirelessLife Wireless offers free phones. Their free cell phone service plans vary by state, but generally include unlimited text messaging (not including picture messaging), nationwide calling and other benefits. SafetyNet WirelessSafetyNet Wirelessprovides free phones and free cell phone service that includes free minutes, texting and data. In most states, the limit is 350 minutes and 3 GB data, with unlimited texting. They provide services in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. StandUp WirelessStandUp Wireless does not provide free phones but they do provide free cell phone service on compatible devices. When you bring your own device to StandUp Wireless, you’ll get 3GB of data, unlimited texts and at least 1,000 minutes per month for free. Unlimited minutes and higher data caps are available for a price. TAG MobileIn most states, TAG Mobile provides free cell phone service with 1,000 free voice minutes and unlimited texting. California residents may also receive a free smartphone with unlimited talk and text messaging, as well as between 1/2 and 1 GB of data! TempoTempo offers free cell phone service with unlimited minutes, unlimited text messages and 3 GB of data. Some states may not qualify for this plan, so be sure to check what’s available in your state. TerraCom WirelessThe Lifeline plans at Terracom Wireless vary depending on which state you live in. You can find the options here. TruConnectTruConnect offers free smartphones, as well as free cell phone service with minutes, texts and 3 GB of data. As of this writing, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, with more coming soon. QLinkQLink provides free cell phone service with 3 GB data, 1,000 minutes and unlimited texting. Their texting includes unlimited picture messaging, which is not always available with other providers. You can earn extra minutes and data by referring friends to QLink as well. 30+ State ProvidersYou may be able to receive assistance from other companies, depending on what state you live in. AlabamaCSpire offers a Lifeline program. However, they do not offer free phones or free cell phone service. They offer a $7.25 discount on their plan that is ordinarily $55 per month. That means you’ll pay $47.75 for the plan that includes 12 GB of high speed data. Pine Belt Communicationsparticipates in the Lifeline Assistance Program, although they do not provide very good explanations of exactly what they offer. Southern Linc provides a Lifeline Plan that includes 2000 monthly minutes and unlimited texting, However, they charge around $20 per month for this service. TWire is a LIfeline assistance program that is exclusive to Alabama residents. They offer a free cell phone, as well as a certain amount of minute and text messages per month. If you want a smartphone, you will need to pay a one-time fee of $60 to upgrade from their free basic phone. AlaskaCopper Valley Telecomhas served the Vladez and Copper River Basin areas for more than 50 years. They are now Lifeline approved providers as well. For $1 per month, you can get a voice only landline or wireless connection. For voice and data, you can get a $34.25 credit towards their Ala Carte voice and data plan. Cordova Telecom Cooperativeprovides a Lifeline cellular plan that costs just $1 per month. You have to apply in person at either their office on 2nd Street in Cordova or at Mallott’s General Store in Yukatat, although you can print the application from their website. GCI offers a Lifeline Mobile Plan and a Lifeline Wireline plan. You have to choose just one, and you can only have one Lifeline line per household. The free Wireline program includes unlimited local calling but no long distance. However, for $1 per month, you can get the Lifeline Mobile plan which includes an unlimited Nationwide talk and text plan with 10 GB of data. There is no credit check required for this program. TelAlaska offers a discount on their mobile telephone services and broadband internet services. Their basic cellular service is just $0 after the discount. ArizonaCellularOne offers a free smartphone and a Lifeline cellular plan. Choice Wireless offers standard and tribal Lifeline plans. The Standard plan includes unlimited calling and 3GB of full-speed data, as well as a credit toward a smartphone purchase. The Tribal plan includes unlimited data and free phones as well. ArkansasEasy Wireless offers free cell phone service to low income residents in Kentucky, Missouri and Oklahoma. Although the details vary by state, all of their plans include free phones and “inexpensive data options.” True Wireless has a Lifeline program but, unfortunately, all the details are locked behind a zip code check. I don’t have the ability to check every zip code, so you’ll have to click here to figure out what plans are available to you. ColoradoChoice Wirelessoffers standard and tribal Lifeline plans. The Standard plan includes unlimited calling and 3GB of full-speed data, as well as a credit toward a smartphone purchase. The Tribal plan includes unlimited data and free phones as well. Viaero Wirelesshas a Lifeline program as well. Their plan includes 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 3 GB of high speed data. However, this service costs $10 per month. GeorgiaSouthern Linc provides a Lifeline Plan that includes 2000 monthly minutes and unlimited texting, However, they charge around $20 per month for this service. HawaiiSandwich Isles Communications Inc. also has a Lifeline program, although I was not able to find any details on their website. IdahoInland Cellularoffers $9.75 off their cellular plans for Idaho residents who qualify for Lifeline. IllinoisIV Cellular has a Lifeline program for around $11 per month. KentuckyBluegrass Wireless offers discounts of up to $12.75 per month on their monthly plans. They also offer devices starting as low as $20. However, they do not have a free Obamaphone program. LouisianaNew Phone Wireless has a Lifeline program for Louisiana residents. Their free cell phone service plan includes 1,000 minutes, unlimited text messages and 3 GB of data. They also offer free phones! MarylandTrue Wireless has a Lifeline program but, unfortunately, all the details are locked behind a zip code check. I don’t have the ability to check every zip code, so you’ll have to click here to figure out what plans are available to you. MichiganThumbCellular offers a Lifeline program for Michigan residents. It appears that their program only offers a discount on the line, and that they do not offer free service or Obamaphones. MississippiCSpire offers a Lifeline program. However, they do not offer free phones or free cell phone service. They offer a $7.25 discount on their plan that is ordinarily $55 per month. That means you’ll pay $47.75 for the plan that includes 12 GB of high speed data. Southern Linc provides a Lifeline Plan that includes 2000 monthly minutes and unlimited texting, However, they charge around $20 per month for this service. MissouriNorthwest Missouri Cellularhas a Lifeline plan, but it’s not like the free Obamaphone plans. It’s a low-cost plan that offers unlimited local minutes (and no data) for $8.70 per month. For $27.70/month, you can get 1,000 minutes and 9 GB of data on the Expanded Lcoal Plus plan. NebraskaViaero Wirelesshas a Lifeline program as well. Their plan includes 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 3 GB of high speed data. However, this service costs $10 per month. NevadaChoice Wireless offers standard and tribal Lifeline plans. The Standard plan includes unlimited calling and 3GB of full-speed data, as well as a credit toward a smartphone purchase. The Tribal plan includes unlimited data and free phones as well. New MexicoChoice Wireless offers standard and tribal Lifeline plans. The Standard plan includes unlimited calling and 3GB of full-speed data, as well as a credit toward a smartphone purchase. The Tribal plan includes unlimited data and free phones as well. North DakotaRed Rock Telecomoffers a $34.25 discount on their monthly bills to those who are eligible for the Lifeline Program. OklahomaPanhandle Telecommunications Systemsoffers a Lifeline discount for Oklahoma residents, but I could not find details. Pine Cellular offers a Lifeline discount to Oklahoma residents. However, it’s just a $9.25 discount for eligible subscribers, not the typical free Obamaphone plan. South DakotaRed Rock Telecomoffers a $34.25 discount on their monthly bills to those who are eligible for the Lifeline Program. TexasPanhandle Telecommunications Systemsoffers a Lifeline discount for Texas residents, but I could not find details. West Central Wireless offers a $7.25 discount to those who are eligible for the Lifeline program. UtahChoice Wireless offers standard and tribal Lifeline plans. The Standard plan includes unlimited calling and 3GB of full-speed data, as well as a credit toward a smartphone purchase. The Tribal plan includes unlimited data and free phones as well. WashingtonInland Cellularoffers $9.75 off their cellular plans for Idaho residents who qualify for Lifeline. WisconsinCellcom offers a Lifeline discount for Wisconsin residents, but the details vary by county. You’ll have to view this list for more information. WyomingUnion Wireless offers a $7.25 discount on their bills for Lifeline recipients. Nationwide Providers (Discounts, Not Free)Many mainstream providers only provide the basic Lifeline discount on your plan. However, we wanted to be thorough in our report, so we are including them here so that you can be aware of these programs as well. AT&TAT&T will reduce your bill by the amount of the federal subsidy (around $7.25 per month) if you live in certain states. If you live on federally recognized tribal lands, you can get an additional $25 per month off your bill. However, AT&T does offer internet for just $5 per month for low income customers. enTouch WirelessPlans start at $10 per month with enTouch Wireless. They offer a basic $10 discount to those who are eligible for Lifeline plans. Their cheapest plan costs $10 after the discount and provides unlimited minutes, unlimited texting, and only 1/2 GB of data. T-MobileT-Mobile offers a Lifeline discount on their regularly-priced plans. However, people who are eligible for the tribal Lifeline program may pay as little as $1 per month through T-Mobile’s Lifeline program. US CellularUS Cellular has a discounted Lifeline plan for $34.25 per month. This plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited text messages and 1 GB data. VerizonVerizon does not participate in the typical Obamaphone program. They participate in the Lifeline program, but they only offer a $9.25 discount on your usual Verizon bill. Get $5/month Internet!Nicole leads the Low Income Relief team with over 20 years of professional research and writing experience. Nicole started Low Income Relief after a personal experience with poverty. When her husband was medically discharged from the US Army, their family experienced tremendous financial hardship. Nicole was able to gather help from multiple community agencies and move into a nearby low income housing unit in just two weeks! Since then, Nicole has been dedicated to helping low income families in crisis. She regularly spends hundreds of hours combing through countless resources to make sure that Low Income Relief has the most comprehensive and complete resource directories on the internet today. Prior to starting Low Income Relief, Nicole worked as a novelist, journalist, ghostwriter and content creator. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, eHow, Livestrong, Legal Beagle, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle and more. What carrier gives you a free phone when you switch?Verizon Wireless is offering the iPhone 14 Pro for free, also available for pre-order as of September 9, 2022. To get this deal, you'll need to trade in an eligible phone and activate a new line on one of Verizon's select Unlimited Plans. Eligible plans begin at $80 per month for one line.
Who has the best free government phones?The Best Free Government Phone Service
StandUp Wireless has been providing low-income customers with free or discounted communications services for over 35 years. Under the StandUp Wireless program, you receive a free SIM card with at least 1,000 minutes, 4.5GB of free data, and unlimited texting every month.
Is Verizon giving away free phones right now?Verizon is sending free 4G flip phones to customers who are still using the company's older 3G network, which it plans to retire by the end of 2022, according to the company's support page. Verizon's issuing the devices to people who haven't yet upgraded to a 4G LTE phone.
What cell phone companies have the best deals right now?Best cell phone deals right now. 5G smartphone sale: free w/ unlimited @ Verizon. ... . iPhone 14 Pro Max: up to $1,000 off w/ trade-in + unlimited @ AT&T. ... . iPhone 13: $10/month + unlimited @ AT&T. ... . iPhone SE 2022: free w/ unlimited + new line @ Verizon. ... . Google Pixel 6: free w/ trade-in and Unlimited plan @ Verizon.. |