In a world where connectivity is critical, a phone is the key to unlocking doors to a brighter future. Anyone who can’t afford a phone knows the difference! Kudos to the US government, which is working to bridge this gap by providing free phones.
Many wireless companies are with the government in this great initiative. These government phone companies ensure everyone has equal access to a reliable phone. So they can stay connected to the modern world.
In collaboration with many cell phone service providers, the US government offers free phones to those in need. So, who is offering a free government cell phone? Below, we’ve included a list of free government phone companies.
Can anyone get a free phone from these free government phone providers? No, you need to qualify for a free cell phone with service from these phone providers. This article will explain what it takes to get a free phone from phone service companies.
What Is the Role of Government Phone Service Providers?
The US government runs several free cell phone programs to provide free or subsidized phones to eligible individuals. Lifeline Assistance Program and Affordable Connectivity Program are two notable federal programs.
These programs aim to ensure underserved individuals and families have access to equal communication services. Several lifeline service providers collaborate with the government to provide free smart phones and service.
These providers participate in the free cell phone programs to provide free or subsidized government lifeline phones. They intend to make communication services more affordable and accessible to eligible individuals and households.
List of Free Government Phone Companies
Below is the list of free government cellphone service providers in the US.
AirTalk Wireless
AirTalk Wireless is a Lifeline and ACP provider of free government phones. They provide eligible American households free phones and tablets from many recognized brands.
If you qualify for the AirTalk Wireless free phone, you can receive unlimited free talk, text, and data. AirTalk Wireless covers all 50 states under the brands NewPhone Wireless, AirVoice Wireless, and Cintex Wireless.
AirTalk Plans
Lifeline Plan
- 4.5GB data
- 1000 Minutes talk
- Unlimited SMS
- Unlimited international Calling to 80+ countries
- Free SIM only
- Bring your own device
Lifeline & ACP Combo Plan
- Free iPhone 7, iPhone 6 Plus, Galaxy S8, etc.
- 15 GB of high-speed 4G LTE/5G data
- Unlimited talk, text, and picture messaging
- Unlimited international Calling to 80+ countries
ACP Plan
- Free basic smartphone
- 8 GB of Data
- Unlimited talk and SMS
- Unlimited international Calling to 80+ countries
Features Included
- Caller ID
- Call Waiting
- 3-Way Calling
- Voicemail
- Free shipping
Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is a federal Lifeline cellphone service provider owned by T-Mobile. They provide free mobile phone service to low-income customers. Those who qualify also get a free phone.
They provide nationwide Sprint Network coverage. You can keep your current home or cell phone number with Assurance Wireless. So, there is no hassle in switching numbers. Assurance Wireless is available in 31 states.
Assurance Wireless Government Phone Plans
- Free Smartphone
- 250 Free voice minutes each month
- 2500 Free text each month
Features Included
- Voicemail Account
- Call Waiting
- Caller ID
- 911 Access
Access Wireless
Access Wireless is an eligible telecommunications carrier and government-funded Lifeline and ACP service provider. They offer free cell phones and services for qualifying customers.
Only one Lifeline discount, either wireline or wireless service, is available per household. Their service is available in more than 26 states in the US. The best part is that Access Wireless also offers free government phones West Virginia service.
Access Wireless Plans
- Free Smartphone
- Unlimited data
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited text
- Unlimited hotspot
Q Link Wireless
Q Link Wireless is a leading cell phone service provider through the Federal Lifeline and ACP program. They offer eligible customers free unlimited talk, text, and monthly data.
Also, qualifying customers can get food stamp free government smartphones. They provide free SIM cards with free activation. You can bring your own phone and keep your number when switching to Q Link Wireless.
Q Link Wireless Plans
ACP + Lifeline
- Unlimited data
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited text
- New tablet
ACP Plan
- Unlimited data
- 1000 minutes
- Unlimited text
- New tablet
Lifeline Plan
- 4.5GB data
- 1000 minutes
- Unlimited text
Features Included
- Voicemail
- 3-Way Calling
- Emergency Service Calls to 911
- 10 Million Wi-Fi Locations
- Keep Your Phone & Number
- FREE SIM Card & Activation
American Assistance
American Assistance is a Lifeline and ACP provider brought to you by American Broadband & Telecommunications. They offer several plans based on the state you reside in. Their Lifeline program is available on one phone line per household.
They offer free smartphones with a free monthly plan. Moreover, they don’t require monthly payments, background checks, or credit checks. The enrollment is fast and easy. Assurance Wireless is available in 10 states.
American Assurance Plan
- Free Smartphone
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited text
- Unlimited data
Cintex Wireless
Cintex Wireless is one of the fastest-growing Lifeline phone companies supported by the Federal Universal Service Fund. They provide free cell phone services to eligible American households.
Cintex Wireless Lifeline customers can get a free SIM card with free talk, text, and data every month. Also, their “Always On” feature lets you stay connected all month with unlimited text and picture messaging.
Cintex Plans
Since Cintex and AirTalk are both brands of HTH, they offer the same plans. Cintex Wireless also has the same plans as AirTalk Wireless, including Lifeline, ACP, and Lifeline & ACP combo plan.
SafeLink Wireless
SafeLink Wireless, owned by TracFone Wireless, is a leading provider of the Lifeline Assistance program. They provide free or discounted cell service for low income customers in all 50 states.
The SafeLink Wireless free phone program is great for low-income households. However, it still has a few drawbacks. First, they don’t offer any unlimited data plans. Also, they provide a limited amount of minutes per month.
SafeLink Wireless Plans
- Free Smartphone
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited text
- Unlimited data + hotspot
- International Calling at as low as 1 cent per minute with a $10 Global Calling Card
Read Full: SafeLink Free iPhone Government Phone: How to Get
Easy Wireless
If you are a Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Missouri resident, you can get a free phone from Easy Wireless. They offer Lifeline service in these states and prepaid wireless service in most other states. Also, they have some discounted Lifeline plans designed for residents of Tribal lands.
Easy Wireless Plans
Easy Wireless Ultimate Plan
- Free smartphone
- Unlimited talk, text, and data
Easy Wireless Plus Plan
- Free smartphone
- Unlimited talk, text, and 5G of data
Base Plan
- $25 Smartphone
- 1000 minutes of talk
- Free text
- 25 MB of Data
Tribal Plan
- Unlimited talk and text
- 4.5GB data (or 5.5GB data if you bring your own phone)
ACP Only Plan
- Free Unlimited data plan
- Unlimited talk and text
- BYOP – Bring your own phone
- Sim Card
- $30 if you don’t qualify for free
Features Included
- Caller ID
- Call Waiting
- Voice Mail
- Call Forwarding
- Three-Way Calling
- Free access to 411
- 611 Short-Code to Call Customer Service
Blue Jay Wireless LLC
Blue Jay Wireless LLC is a Lifeline service provider and offers prepaid wireless services. They provide a range of plans and no-contract services to cater to the needs of low-income customers. Blue Jay Wireless is available in more than 16 states.
Blue Jay Wireless Plans
Blue Jay Wireless California Plans
- Free – Unlimited talk and text
- $25/month – Unlimited talk and text, PLUS 5 GB data
Plans in Kentucky, Puerto Rico
- Free – 500 minutes, unlimited texts
- Free – 500 minutes, unlimited texts, 500 MB data
Plans in Other States (Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin)
- Free – 500 minutes, unlimited texts
- Free – 250 minutes, unlimited texts, and 500 MB data
- $3.50/month – 500 minutes, unlimited texts, 500Mb data.
enTouch Wireless
enTouch Wireless is one of the leading Lifeline providers for free government phone service. They are serving in 34 states. enTouch Wireless offers free cell phone service for low-income individuals and households.
In addition to offering free or discounted phone services, they offer free voice mail, caller ID, etc. New and existing enTouch Wireless customers qualify for their free phone program.
enTouch Wireless Plans
ACP + Lifeline Plans
- CA Tribal – Unlimited text, minutes, and data
- CA Non-Tribal Broadband – Unlimited text, minutes, and data
- Tribal States – Unlimited text, minutes, and data
- Non-Tribal (excludes KY, CA, & PR) – Unlimited text, minutes and 10 GB data
- Non-Tribal – Puerto Rico (PR) – Unlimited text, minutes, and 10 GB data
- Non-Tribal Kentucky – Unlimited text, minutes, and 11 GB data
Life Wireless
Life Wireless provides eligible customers with free cellular service and government phones through the Federal Lifeline program. They offer unlimited talk, text, and data with a free smartphone.
Qualifying customers can get a free Life Wireless SIM card. You can use your Life Wireless SIM card in another phone that is GSM LTE 4G/5G compatible. Also, you can bring your own phone or number.
Life Wireless Plans
- Free Smartphone
- Free unlimited talk and text
- Unlimited data
- 5 GB hotspot
Features Included:
- Call Waiting
- Three-way Calling
- Voicemail
- Caller ID Service
- No roaming charges
- No charge for domestic long-distance calls
- Free 911 Service
- Affordable Recharge Plans
Other Free Government Phone Companies
- Copper Valley Wireless
- FeelSafe Wireless
- Infiniti Mobile
- NewPhone Wireless
- SafetyNet Wireless
- StandUp Wireless
- Tag Mobile
- Terracom Wireless
- TruConnect
- Sprocket Wireless
- T-Mobile
- Budget Mobile
- True Wireless
- US Cellular
How do you find cell phone service providers in your state?
Thus far, you have learned about all the government phone companies that offer free phones. However, they are unavailable in all states, and not all offer the Lifeline discount.
You need to find a provider in your state to apply for a free phone and service. Here is how you can find a cell phone provider in your state;
- Visit the USAC Lifeline Support website or the USAC Affordable Connectivity Program website to find phone service companies in your state.
- Click on the Companies Near Me tab.
- On the following page, click Search Providers.
- Choose your ZIP code or your city and state.
- Select a program you want to apply for. Select a type of service (Optional).
You will find a list of cell phone providers in your state. The list contains the company name, website, phone number, and type of service. You can download or see the full list of free government phone companies in your state.
Visit the service provider website you want to proceed with. On the wireless provider’s website, you can apply online, download the application form, and submit it via mail. Make sure to include the necessary documents with the application.
For your information, here is the list of companies providing free government phones in New York.
Top Free Government Phone NY Companies
| Company Name | Phone | Type of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Access Wireless | 866-594-3644 | Mobile Service |
| Broadview Networks Holding | 800-276-2384 | Home Service |
| Assurance Wireless | 888-898-4888 | Mobile Service |
| Xchange Telecom | 877-853-8350 | Home Service |
| Q Link Wireless | 855-754-6543 | Mobile Service |
| Verizon | 800-837-4966 | Home Service |
| SafeLink Wireless | 800-723-3546 | Mobile Service |
| Im Telecom, LLC | 888-801-0012 | Home Service |
| Manhattan Telecommunications Corporation | 212-607-2000 | Home Service |
| Air Voice Wireless | 877-247-7799 | Mobile Service |
| BTI Communications | 888-541-3850 | Home Service |
Who Qualifies for Free Phones from Free Government Phone Providers?
The above providers offer free cell phones and services through Lifeline and ACP programs. You may qualify for free phones from these companies if your income level is at or below Federal Poverty Guidelines.
| Persons in Family | Poverty Guideline | Lifeline Income Threshold | ACP Income Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14,580 | $19,683 | $29,160 |
| 2 | $19,720 | $26,622 | $39,440 |
| 3 | $24,680 | $33,561 | $49,720 |
| 4 | $30,000 | $40,500 | $60,000 |
Also, you need to receive assistance from one of the following government assistance programs;
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps / Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)/CalFresh
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
- Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Tribal Head Start
You need to provide the supporting documents to prove your eligibility while applying. If you qualify, you can visit the available cell phone provider in your state and apply for a free government phone.
Obama Phone Providers
Obama phones and services are similar to free government phones provided by authorized Lifeline Assistance cell phone companies. The free cell phone companies mentioned above also provide free Obama phones and services.
You must go through one of these companies to apply for a free Obama phone. The eligibility criteria are the same as for free government phones. Also, you need the same documents as applying for free phones.
Final Thoughts
And voila! That is our list of free government phone companies. Not all of them may be available in your state. Also, not all of them may provide free phone even if you are eligible. But they surely provide smartphones at a discounted price. So, look for a free cell phone provider in your state and apply NOW!
