Everyone deserves to have a phone plan, although not everyone has enough money for one. Luckily, there are many options available for low-income! If you are looking for a free phone plan, it is possible to get one if you meet the proper criteria. There are several numerous deals out there that will allow you a monthly plan with no contract or fees!
You can discover these deals online by searching around. If your income falls below certain limits, then you may qualify for government assistance programs that provide free cell phones and service plans. Below, we’ve compiled the top five free phone plan for low-income people in 2023. Check it out and see if any of them work for you!
Who Qualifies Free Phone Plan For Low Income
Anyone who has an income that falls below the Federal Poverty Level can qualify for free phone plans. If you make 125% or less of federal poverty guidelines, any company offering a free plan (or heavily subsidized plan) should work for you.
These government-assisted phone plans are available for people who match certain earnings requirements. The program that provides free phone plans for low-income participants advantages from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Participate in another federal benefits program like Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8, or have an annual household income at or below several hundred dollars per month.
The federal government’s Lifeline Assistance program is the most extensive free phone plan for low-income Americans. This one has the broadest range of eligibility requirements, and you can use it with either landline or wireless service. However, not all states provide benefits through this system, so you’ll want to check your state’s individual requirements.
Top 5 Free Phone Plan For Low Income In 2023
1. Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is a free phone plan for low-income providers that offers an average of 500 minutes, 500 texts, and 250MB of data per month. You must enroll with an eligible government benefit program like SNAP or Medicaid to qualify for this program.
You can check if you are qualified by submitting your information on Assurance Wireless. This company only offers one free phone plan, but it is pretty generous.
If you qualify for Assurance Wireless’ program, you will receive the best flip phone for seniors with unlimited texting and 250 minutes every month.
You can also get up to 500 text messages included on some plans depending on your service area. When it comes to data, you will get 500MB per month. However, you can purchase more if needed.
Assurance Wireless is an excellent plan for those just getting low-income cell phone plans and minutes on the nation’s Lifeline Assistance program. Although it doesn’t offer as many features or freedom of choice as other plans on this list, Assurance Wireless still provides an excellent phone service at no cost.
2. T-Mobile
T-Mobile offers free wireless service for anyone who is enrolled in a federal assistance program. There are multiple T-Mobile plans to choose from, so you can pick one based on an estimate of how many minutes and texts you might use every month. If you go over the limit, there is no penalty or additional costs for exceeding your limits.
In terms of features, T-Mobile offers a wide range of extras with their free cell phone plans. For example, customers who receive a free T-Mobile phone can get up to 411 calls for free per month and have the ability to check their voicemail from another phone without being charged.
You will also have access to wifi hotspots, which you can use to make free phone calls if you are in a place that offers internet.
T-Mobile is one of the most flexible plans on this list because it provides multiple offerings for low-income senior cell phone plans users. Whether you need 300 minutes per month, unlimited text messages, or more data than the standard 500MB allotted to some subsidy seekers, T-Mobile has the perfect plan at the right price.
3. AT&T
Like T-Mobile, AT&T offers free wireless service for those who are enrolled in a federal assistance program. There is only one att low-income phone plan available, but it comes with unlimited talk and text every month and 500MB of data. If you need more than the default allotment, you can purchase additional data at $10 per GB.
AT&T is one of the most affordable plans on this list because it only requires a $5 bill credit each month to receive your free phone plan for low income.
Customers looking at&t the internet for low-income families with other wireless services can also get unlimited talk and text to Mexico or Canada for free with this provider. The drawback is that you have to enroll in their program as a current or previous AT&T customer.
AT&T is an excellent option for those who already have a smartphone and don’t mind paying a little extra for additional monthly data. Although it’s not our top choice, this free phone plan still provides excellent value for money.
4. QLink Wireless
QLink Wireless is another government-assisted free internet for low-income families that offers an average of 300 minutes, unlimited texts, and 100MB of data per month.
The QLink website also affirms that those who qualify for its wireless service will have access to 411 and a voicemail without any additional charges.
In terms of extras, Qlink is one of the best plans on this list because it offers a range of freebies for those with low incomes. In addition to providing up to 300 minutes of talk-time & 100 megabytes of internet data.
Qlink also allows you to send and receive text messages from your wireless device for free each month. You can also purchase up to 500MB of additional data if you need it for $10 per month.
QLink Wireless is a great plan for those who don’t use their free phone very often and need minutes and texts every month. QLink offers low-income assistance means that they can provide an excellent service at no cost, making this a really appealing option.
5. Assist Wireless
Finally, Assist Wireless offers a free phone plan for low income that includes 200 minutes of talk time and 500 texts per month. You can also get up to 250MB of data with this provider at no cost, though customers will be unable to send text messages unless they purchase a $10 add-on package each month.
In terms of features, Assist Wireless provides some of the best free cell phone plans with its low-income subsidized service. Those with Assist Wireless will make calls, send texts, and get internet with no monthly fee.
Assist Wireless is one of the only providers that offers 100% free wireless service, meaning they don’t charge anything for their services (minus taxes and fees). The drawback to this is that the phone selection is limited.
Assist Wireless offers so many extras, including free text messaging, making it one of our top choices for low-income customers who don’t want to pay anything at all. While the amount of data you get won’t be high or unlimited, this is one of the best senior citizen cell phone plans for those who need a primary phone.
How to Apply Free Phone Plan For Low Income
The process for how to sign up is almost the same regardless of which wireless company you choose. However, each provider will have different requirements depending on how much you make every year.
For all government-assisted phone plans mentioned above, you’ll need to complete an application for free cell phone service. The eligibility requirements are different for each provider, but most will only require that you be on a low income and meet certain other qualifiers.
You can apply for these subsidized wireless plans on the internet or by reaching your neighborhood services department. You can also enroll in a low-income phone program by checking out state and federal assistance programs.
To find out which free phone plans you’re eligible for, visit the official website of your wireless carrier. From there, it’s just a matter of applying to get approved for free government-assisted cell phone service!
How We Picked the Free Cell Phone Plans
In order to help you decide which free phone plan for low income is the best choice for you, we considered several things. When determining our top ten picks, we looked at each provider’s basic features and benefits while also considering which plans were most affordable.
We also included a wide range of wireless carriers on this list, including prepaid, postpaid, and more.
Many different low-income cell phone plans are available to those on a budget, but some plans offer more than others. To make your decision easier, we’ve made sure that every single one of the providers included in this list provides excellent service regardless of your financial situation.
We also want you to know that each company on this list is reliable and treats its customers right.
If you’re looking for some of the best free government cell phones on the market, consider any carriers we’ve listed above. Our top picks will provide unlimited talk time, texts, and data without having to pay a monthly fee. All at no cost!
FAQ About Free Phone Plan For Low Income
Is applying for a free cell phone plan risky?
The short answer is no. The only requirement that each wireless company will have is that you meet specific income requirements to qualify for a low-income subsidized phone plan.
You don’t have to suffer regarding credit checks, deposits, or even contract agreements! That being said, some companies on our list need you to register for automated payments.
How much money can I save with a free cell phone plan?
Depending on the service provider, you might be able to save up to $300 per year! That’s right – some of these companies offer completely free cell phone plans without any strings attached. This means that you can get unlimited talk and text for free, as well as up to a certain amount of data.
What are the best cell phone carriers for low income?
We recommend choosing one of our top ten providers on this list for finding the best service at an affordable rate on any budget. Each company offers excellent coverage perfect for keeping in touch with friends, family, and even your employer.
Our top picks are great providers for individuals, families, seniors, and anyone else looking to get connected.
I don’t qualify for a wireless low-income phone plan?
Many other financial aid programs are available if you don’t meet the income requirements for a free phone plan for low income. Assistance is available from local charities in your community, or you can apply for a micro-loan through a personal loan company.
Programs offer money to be used towards paying off an existing cell phone bill, so it might be worth exploring if you don’t qualify for free government assistance!
What are the disadvantages of wireless low-income phone plans?
While many people are happy with their free government-assisted cell phone plan, there are some potential downsides. Since no credit check is required, any individual can sign up.
This indicates if you don’t settle your payment, or fail to make payments on time. Your phone service can be suspended or even disconnected.
It’s also true if you’re seeking a business that requires bank account or credit card payments to be made automatically.
Final Verdict
Several providers offer many of the best free phone plans for low-income people, as shown above. There are numerous excellent free phone plans for low income available to those on a budget, as you can see.
Many of the cell phone providers at our record do not require credit checks and have some of the finest coverage in the cell phone career.