Over 20 companies in the U.S. offer free cell phone service. The process to get a free phone and free phone service is simple.
Approximately 12 – 15 million Americans already participate in the free cell phone program provided by a government program called Lifeline Assistance. Now those people have a phone to help them find work, keep in contact with their families, access to emails and the internet – and to have for all the many things that require communications these days.
There are dozens of regional and national companies that are approved in each state who specialize in providing you with these free phones and free monthly service. At this point, 49 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico are participating. Nearly all these states have several companies to choose from, some with more than a dozen.
Getting a Free Government Cell Phone is as easy as 1-2-3-4
Step One: Check your eligibility. If you have not already done so, click here, and then come back to this page.
Step Two: Find out who provides the free cell phone service in your state, and that state’s specific eligibility requirements. To find out, go to our Free Government Phones by State page. Then, scroll down to find the list of states, and click on yours. The resulting page will list the mobile phone companies who will be able to provide you with your cell phone and service. And, it will list the eligibility requirements for your state.
Step Three: Find out more about each of the participating companies by clicking on the link to each provider available for your state. On each page, you will find comprehensive information on their specific phones, plans, and on how to contact them. We would strongly recommend reviewing every provider we list on your state page to make sure you find one that fits your individual needs. While the federal Lifeline program provides parameters the companies must follow, plans and phone choices often vary substantially between providers. You owe it to yourself to look at them all.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices of providers, go to each company’s website and take a look at the phones and programs they have to offer. Or give them a call and talk to them.
(Click Here now to check availability in your state.)
Step Four: Once you’ve determined which company is right for you, enroll either by phone or on the company’s website. It’s faster to enroll online if you can, so you won’t have to spend time waiting to speak to a customer service rep (and to be honest, a lot of people get lost in the automated forwarding systems these companies use). Enrolling online also allows you to easily upload any documentation they might require.
TIP: If you qualify because you are already participating in another government program such as food stamps, section 8, etc then select that method of qualification. The process is much faster, easier, and requires less paperwork.
Once you’ve completed your application you just have to wait for your phone to arrive in the mail (in some cases you can opt to pick up at a location near you). We hear that delivery times vary quite a bit between the different Lifeline cell phone companies, from a week to several weeks. So please be patient.
Now CLICK HERE to find a free government cell phone provider in your state.