If you cannot afford to buy a smartphone right away, do not worry. You can easily get free Smartphone from the government for low-income eligible families through the Lifeline and ACP programs. To help the less fortunate people stay connected with their close ones and access technology to explore infinite opportunities in terms of education, employment, and much more, the government offers free cell phones for low-income needy people.
You, too, can get free government smartphones and even free iPhone from the government by applying for Lifeline and ACP and the participating service providers like AirTalk Wireless, Assurance Wireless, Safelink Wireless, StandUp Wireless, FeelSafe wireless, and more. Keep reading further to know how!
How to get Free Government Smartphones for Low-Income families
Yes, it is possible to get Free Government Smartphones for Low-Income families with the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program. The government offers free cell phones to low-income people to help them get access to technology, internet services, and much more. Many network service providers, like Assurance Wireless, QLink Wireless, StandUp Wireless, SafetyNet Wireless, etc., offer free smartphones to low-income people along with discounted or free monthly cell phone service plans.
Lifeline Assistance Program
The Lifeline Assistance Program was introduced in the year 1985 by the federal government to help low-income families and needy people get access to technology and communication services at an affordable price.
Through this program, eligible households can get various benefits such as free government cell phones, discounted or free cellphone service plans that include free data, and free unlimited text and talk.
Many less fortunate families have got multiple opportunities by availing the benefits of this program. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can apply for the Lifeline program.
There are many lifeline providers that come forward to do their part by offering services to low-income people at a very low cost. Some of the providers are – Assurance Wireless, Cintex Wireless, QLink Wireless, StandUp Wireless, and so on.
You can apply to the Lifeline program through any of these service providers and get free government phone.
- Website: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/
- Contact: (800) 234-9473
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a popular FCC benefits program that provides free government smartphones and telephone service plans for low-income eligible families.
This program, also known as the Emergency Broadband Benefits program EBB, was introduced to help less fortunate people get access to technology and the internet via devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, and so on.
Through this government assistance program, one can get a discount of up to $30 each month on internet service for eligible households, and this discount goes up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
The Eligible families can also get a one-time discount of up to $100 to buy a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from any of the participating providers with just one condition, you have to contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Some of the providers that participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program are QLink Wireless, SafetyNet Wireless, StandUp Wireless, and so on.
You can easily apply for this program from the link mentioned below, and you will also have to select a participating service provider. We have mentioned below a list of ACP and Lifeline participating service providers for you.
- Website: https://www.fcc.gov/acp
- Contact: (877) 384-2575
List of Companies that offer free smartphones for low-income families
Given below is a list of Network Service Providers that participate in the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program. You can apply for these programs and seek help from any of the below service providers according to your convenience. Make sure to take into consideration the features and services offered by these providers.
| Companies that offer free smartphones | Official Website to Apply | Features |
| AirTALK Wireless | https://airtalkwireless.com/ |
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| StandUp Wireless | https://standupwireless.com/apply-now/ |
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| Copper Valley Wireless |
https://www.cvtc.org/ |
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| True Wireless | https://gotruewireless.com/ |
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| ReachOut Wireless | https://reachoutwirelessphone.com/ |
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| Assist Wireless | https://www.assistwireless.com/ |
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| Terracom Wireless | https://www.terracomwireless.com/ |
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| Cintex Wireless | https://cintexwireless.com/free-phone |
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| FeelSafe Wireless |
|
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| Tag Mobile | https://www.tagmobile.com/ |
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| Infiniti Mobile | https://infinitimobile.com/ |
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| Easy Wireless | https://myeasywireless.com/ |
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| QLink Wireless | https://qlinkwireless.com/ |
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| Assurance Wireless | https://www.assurancewireless.com/ |
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| Safelink Wireless | https://www.safelinkwireless.com/ |
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| EnTouch | https://entouchwireless.com/ |
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| Access Wireless | https://www.accesswireless.com/ |
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Eligibility Criteria for Free Government Cell Phones Program
In order to be eligible for Free Government Cell Phone Programs like ACP and Lifeline, one must meet any of the below mentioned Criteria of eligibility. (If you are eligible for the Lifeline Assistance Program, you will automatically be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.)
| Income-Based Eligibility | Participation-Based Eligibility |
|
The applicant must be a participant in any of these programs – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance PHA, Supplemental Security Income SSI, the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or certain Tribal Programs. |
How to Apply for Free Government Cell Phones program?
- Go to the official website of FCC Lifeline or ACP programs –
- OR, you can apply for a free government phone through any of the ACP Lifeline participating service providers that we have mentioned above through their official website.
Documents required to apply for Lifeline and ACP Program
While applying for the Lifeline or ACP program, one must submit certain documents for verification purposes. Since the government has a limited number of resources with them and strives to allocate them among people in genuine need of them, they will verify the information entered by you with the documents you submitted. The most common documents that are generally required to apply for Lifeline and ACP Program are mentioned below –
| Proof of Identification | Proof of Address | Proof of Government Assistance Program Participation | Proof of Income |
| Permanent Resident or Resident Alien Card | Utility Bill | Program participation documents | Veterans Administration statement of benefits |
| Driver’s License, Government, State, or Tribal Issued ID | Current Income Statement, Paycheck Stub, or W2 | Notice letter of participation in a qualifying state, federal, or Tribal Program | Prior year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return |
| Certificate of Naturalization or of U.S. Citizenship | Statement of Benefits from a Qualifying Program Which Contains Name And Address | Current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying state, federal or Tribal program | Current income statement from your employer or a paycheck stub |
| Passport/Birth Certificate | Current Mortgage or Lease Statement | Another official document evidencing the consumer’s participation in a qualifying state, federal, or Tribal Program. | Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statement of benefits |
| Foreign Passport | Driver’s License, Government, State, or Tribal Issued ID |
Carriers that offer free smartphones for low-income families
Many network service providers participate in the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity ACP/EBB programs to help low-income families get access to technology and telecommunication services. Some of the well-known network carriers that you can apply for to get benefits of the ACP program have been mentioned below.
AirTALK Wireless
The first one on our list is AirTALK Wireless which is a popular lifeline and ACP service provider. This carrier provides free smartphones from the government to know income families who are eligible for it. They also have free unlimited plans that offer high-speed internet data, free talk time, and text messages.
You can easily apply for Air talk wireless government assistance to get a free smartphone. Not just that, but you can also get some high-end devices like iPhone 7, iPhone 7 plus, Samsung Galaxy A10E, Galaxy S9, and so on from them.
Apart from free government cell phones, one can also get free government tablets by contributing only $10.01 towards the purchase. As of now, they have some really interesting offer is going on their official website through which you can get Samsung Galaxy Tab S worth $150 for just $20, Apple iPad Air 2 Worth $230 for just $35, and more.
- Website: https://airtalkwireless.com/
StandUp Wireless
StandUp Wireless is another popular name when it comes to the best companies that offer free government tablets for low-income people. This wireless provider participates in a lifeline and affordable connectivity programs to provide services such as unlimited talk time, text messages, and internet data services for low-income people at affordable prices.
With this provider, you can also get if free tablet or smartphone for eligible people, along with 10 GB of high-speed data. The lifeline and ACP programs combined over free smart phone or tablets for low-income people, and even a discount of up to $100 on devices tablets, laptops, and computers.
You can easily apply for StandUp wireless free government smartphone by Applying on the official website linked below. Just make sure that you made the eligibility criteria for ACP and lifeline, as was mentioned above.
- Website: https://standupwireless.com/apply-now/
- Contact: 888-225-5322
Copper Valley Wireless
Yet another service provider through which you can apply for Lifeline and ACP benefits program is Copper Valley Wireless. This service provider very well understands the need and importance of telecommunication and internet services for people below the poverty line who cannot afford such services.
They offer a number of plans even for lifeline-eligible customers, such as – Voice Only Landline with $1 per month, Voice only Wireless with $1 per month, Voice and Data $34.25 credit towards Ala Carte Voice and data plan, etc.
They are a local provider of their services in Alaska, and you can easily apply for their benefits through their official website.
- Website: https://www.cvtc.org/
- Contact: 800.235.5414
True Wireless
True Wireless, in collaboration with the Lifeline and ACP programs, offers free or subsidized telecommunication services to needy people who are eligible for it. This Oklahoma-based wireless service provider works with the FCC to offer free and reliable cell phone and internet services.
You can get a free government smartphone 2023 for eligible low-income households and even free Android tablets and internet service from True wireless. As of now, True wireless offers its services in the states of Oklahoma (OK), Texas (TX), Arkansas (AR), Rhode Island (RI), and Maryland (MD).
However, they will soon be expanding to other states as well. You can apply for their program and assistance through their official website, which has been linked below.
- Website: https://gotruewireless.com/
ReachOut Wireless
ReachOut WirelessOffers free smartphone from the government along with unlimited talk time and text messages for free of cost. You do not have to pay any charges. There is no contract that needs to be signed nor any deposit that needs to be submitted. This wireless provider does not charge for anything for eligible households.
Through the free Government Cell phone program through the Lifeline and affordable connectivity program, telecommunication companies such as ReachOut Wireless Use these funds to provide cell phones for free to low-income people and service plans to low-income people.
They offer their service in a number of states, and the features offered by them could vary from state to state. You can go to their official website given below and enter your details, such as name, email address, and city that you live in, to see if you are eligible for this program or not.
- Website: https://reachoutwirelessphone.com/
Assist Wireless
Assist Wireless is a commonly known and one of the most reliable network service providers that offer lifeline and ACP benefits to eligible low-income people who apply for these programs.
They help less fortunate people to get access to technology and explore opportunities in terms of education, employment, healthcare, and more. You can not only get a free government phone with Lifeline from this provider but also subsidized talk, text, and data services.
This provider offers its services in almost 23 locations in the state of Oklahoma. However, they are claiming to expand more in the coming time. The residents of Oklahoma can easily apply for this program and also receive further credits on events such as birthdays, anniversaries, and more!
- Website: https://www.assistwireless.com/
Terracom Wireless
Terracom Wireless provides lifeline services to eligible low-income households. One can get a free cell phone from government with Terracom Wireless, provided that they apply for the Lifeline or ACP program.
Similar to all other lifeline providers, you can get free government phone, free unlimited text messages, talk, and data.
You can check your eligibility for their free services in the link mentioned below. All you have to do is enter your ZIP code and see if they are available in your area. Note that the services offered by this provider may vary from state to state.
- Website: https://www.terracomwireless.com/
- Contact: 1-888-716-8880
Cintex Wireless
You can get free premium phones from the government with Cintex wireless service providers, such as iPhone 7, iPhone 7 plus, Galaxy A20, Galaxy S8, Google pixel 3A, and so on. You will be given a choice to select your free phone government while registering for it.
They also offer a free unlimited plan for the eligible households of the lifeline and ACP program through which one can get unlimited high-speed internet data and unlimited talk and text messages worth $50 per month. But you do not have to pay any fees for this; you will be getting it for free.
Cintex wireless is one of the very few network service providers that offer high-quality Android as well as Android phones. You can get top-notch devices from the largest distributor in the US – HTH Communications.
The process to apply for ACP and lifeline with Cintex is also quite easy and will hardly take 5 minutes. After approval of your application, you can expect to get your free government smartphone in 7 to 10 business days without any shipping fee.
Website: https://cintexwireless.com/qualify
FeelSafe Wireless
FeelSafe Wireless is a well-known wireless service provider that participates in the Lifeline and ACP programs to offer free cell phone government to low-income eligible people.
Currently, they offer their services in the states of Pennsylvania, California, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
Their cell phone service plans through the lifeline program differ for all states. For instance, they provide free unlimited talk, text messages, MMS, 2 GB data, and 100 international SMS in the state of California. Whereas in Michigan, you will get 1000 talk minutes, 500 text messages, and 500 MB data.
Tag Mobile
You can easily get a free government smart phone 2023 by applying for the Lifeline ACP programs at Tag Mobile wireless service provider. Along with the free Lifeline Phone service, you can get 8 GB of Free data with unlimited talk and text messages every month.
As of now, they provide their services in the states of West Virginia, Texas, Arizona, California, Michigan, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, Kentucky, Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Maine.
All you have to do is visit their official website mentioned below and enter your email address and ZIP code to see if their services are available in your area. It will take you only 3 Minutes to Sign Up for Lifeline’s free government phone program on their website.
- Website: https://www.tagmobile.com/
- Contact: +1 (469)450-3507
Infiniti Mobile
One of the Best 4G Nationwide Wireless Network providers in the US is Infiniti Mobile. This great service provider offers a variety of plans to choose from, and you can also add other family members for incredibly low prices.
Coming to their services offered in collaboration with the Lifeline and ACP programs, you can easily get a Free government cellphone when you combine your lifeline and ACP Benefits.
The process of application and qualification is quite easy, and you can get your free smartphone government shipped within 2 days of approval. Below is the link to their official website where you can apply for this program.
- Website: https://infinitimobile.com/
- Contact: 888-801-0012
Easy Wireless
Easy wireless is yet another popular wireless service provider that participates in the affordable connectivity program and the lifeline assistance program to help low-income families get affordable telecommunication services.
Not only free unlimited data, talk time, and text messages, but eligible households can also get a free smartphone government from Easy wireless.
They also provide other services, such as a free sim card and its activation. They give the option to you to either keep the phone you own or keep the number you own. You can also get a new number from them.
The office provided by Easy Wireless differs from location to location. As of now, they are offering their services in 47 states of the US.
They typically provide free government phones to eligible households by combining the benefits of ACP and the lifeline program in the states of Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and ACP-eligible Tribal Lands.
You can search for their Stores near you on their official website through the store locator.
- Website: https://myeasywireless.com/how-to-sign-up/
- Contact: +1 (877) 476-3451
QLink Wireless
If you are looking for a wireless service provider that offers free government phones, then cooling wireless is one of the best options for you. QLink is known to be one of the largest 4G LTE or 5G networks in the United States.
QLink Wireless offers you two different types of programs – Bring Your Own Phone and Keep Your Own Number. You can choose either of them depending on your convenience. You can also get free government smartphones for eligible people.
One of the most amazing plants they offer is their ‘always on plan.’ With their plan, you can get various benefits, such as free calling, free text messages, unlimited data, and much more.
They also provide other features such as three-way calling, voicemail, free sim card kit and activation, access to free Wi-Fi locations, emergency service calls to 911, and much more.
- Website: https://qlinkwireless.com/
Assurance Wireless
One of the most common names that you may have heard when it comes to nationwide present wireless service providers is Assurance wireless. This cell phone carrier is a participant of the Federal lifeline assistance program and ACP.
You can apply for a free government smartphone through Assurance wireless to get free monthly data, unlimited text messages, and free unlimited monthly calling minutes.
Eligible households can get a free government cell phone with the combined ACP+ Lifeline Plan. The eligibility criteria are the same as the lifeline assistant program, but the services offered are made from state to state.
Website: assurancewireless.com
Safelink Wireless
In collaboration with the lifeline assistance program and affordable connectivity program, Safelink Wireless provides free talk time, text messages, and high-speed internet data.
This Lifeline-supported service provider is known to offer free cell phones to low-income from the government and also cell phone service plans for free. Their ‘Keep Your Own Smartphone’ plan will allow you to have your own device and get the cell phone monthly service plan benefits through Lifeline.
- Website: https://www.safelinkwireless.com/
EnTouch Wireless
EnTouch wireless is yet another well-known nationwide wireless service phone provider. This carrier participates in the lifeline and affordable connectivity program to offer free government phone, along with free or discounted telephone service plans, including free talk time, data, and text messages.
This service provider understands the need to stay connected with your close ones and the importance of the Internet in today’s world. This is the reason why they collaborate with the government to provide quality service and high-quality phones to eligible households without charging anything from them.
You can get a FREE government smartphone from Entouch for eligible low-income people.
All the families that qualify for this program will have to simply fill in the application form on their official website and provide the basic information and documents required for further verification. After approval of your application, you will get your new phone within a few days.
Access Wireless
Access wireless offers free smartphone along with unlimited talk time, and text messages in collaboration with the lifeline and affordable connectivity programs. Access wireless is one of the few service providers that understand the importance of staying and touch with close ones and the use of technology for getting access to education, job opportunities, and so on.
By offering free government cell phones and cell phone service plans for eligible households, access wireless has been giving access to technology to low-income families.
Their programs are government funded, and the services offered differ from state to state. They provide other features such as nationwide coverage, international calling, and free long-distance.
All you have to do to get the benefits of their program is go to the official website of Access wireless, which has been linked below and enter your ZIP code to apply for their program.
- Website: https://www.accesswireless.com/
Other Places that offer free government smartphones for low-income people
It is not quite possible that everyone will be eligible to get a free cell phone from the government in 2023 since the government has a limited number of resources. It tries to ensure that it can help as many needy people as it can. So, if you are someone who could not meet the eligibility criteria for the Lifeline program or get a free smartphone with Lifeline ACP, then you can try the below methods as well.
Given below are some of the other ways using which you can get free government smartphones for low-income people.
GCI
This is one of the easiest ways using which you can apply for the Lifeline and ACP benefits program to get a free smartphone from the government. You can directly apply through the National Verifier Database at www.checklifeline.org.
If you want, you can also visit the nearby GCI store around you, and you will be given all the assistance required. They can provide you free government phone, unlimited nationwide text and talk for just $1 per month, and also 12 GB of internet data.
Non-Profit Organizations and Charities
A countless number of non-profit organizations and charities come forward to take various initiatives through which we can help low-income families and needy people in getting the assistance they require to live a normal and healthy life.
I am sure you may have at least heard of humanitarian entities like the Salvation Army, St. Vincent De Paul, Computer for Kids, etc., that go above and beyond to help low-income families and needy people with almost any and everything.
You can visit any of these non-profit organizations near you or go to their official websites to seek help from them to get a free smartphone.
Websites like Craigslist, Freecycle
You will find a number of amazing Websites like Craigslist, Freecycle, eBay, etc., on the internet where you can sell your old items for free or at a low price and buy at low cost or get free items.
Both these websites are quite popular and free to use. All you need to do is create an account on any or both of them and enter basic information about you, like name, location, and requirements.
Many people wish to get rid of their old used items that are still in pretty good condition to throw away. Through Freecycle/Craigslist, such people can sell old items at low prices, and those who are in need of it can buy the same for a very less price.
Certainly, many people might also sell smartphones or cell phones for low cost on these websites. You can search for the same on the website and set a location filter and search for free smartphones near me.
All the relevant results will be shown to you right away. Just be sure to keep checking these websites for the latest updates since many items listed here will be sold out in just a few minutes after posting.
You get the option to enquire about a particular product or item on the website and finalize the time and location for pickup and final purchase.
Use Social Media
Social Media is a place where you can find solutions to nearly all your questions and queries of yours. Indeed, you can connect with a large number of people over various social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit pages, and so on without any geographical limits of location.
You can use these platforms to look for smartphones for free. For instance, a lot of social media influencers and even brands conduct giveaways on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram in which you can participate, and after following simple steps, you can get lucky enough to win the giveaway contest. Such contests include smartphones, cash money, etc., as winning prizes.
Using your social media, you can also reach people around you to get free smartphone by posting about your requirements on it.
FAQs
If you are looking for a free government phone, then you might have come across a number of questions during your search. Given below are some of the most commonly asked questions by people who are in a similar search. We would recommend you go through them to get any and all of your doubts cleared.
Are free phones really free For Low-Income Families?
YES. As much unbelievable as it may sound, the government does offer free phones for low-income people through its Lifeline and ACP programs. The government has since long taken such initiatives to bridge the digital gap between those who can access technology and those who can’t.
Many low-income families have benefitted from these programs, and so can you. You can easily apply for this program, and if you are eligible for them, you can easily get a free government smartphone.
Can I Apply for Lifeline free cell phone if I don’t belong to a low-income family?
The most basic requirement to apply for the Lifeline or ACP program to get a free Lifeline smartphone is to have an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You can also apply if you are a participant of any of the government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, etc.
But for these programs, too, you will need to have an income below the mentioned guidelines. If you don’t belong to a low-income family, you will most likely not be eligible for the program.
I am on food stamps. Can I get a free smartphone?
YES. If you are a participant of the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), that is, if you are on EBT Food Stamps, then you will be eligible for the Lifeline and ACP programs and thus get a free smartphone.
Can I get a free iPhone government phone?
YES. Many Wireless service providers like Cintex Wireless, Easy Wireless, AirTalk Wireless, etc. also provide iPhones such as iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 6, Plus, 6S, etc., to low-income families through the Lifeline and ACP programs.
Final Thoughts
That was all about how to get free smart phone from the government through Lifeline and ACP programs. In case of any queries, feel free to post them below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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