Connect with loved ones. Get in touch with the employer or business clients. Watch news or movies. Read your favorite books or periodicals. A phone is something we can’t live without now. Hence, the reason I’ve thought it’d be nice to share with you various ways how to get free cell phone service without paying.
I’ve been able to put together seven of these “ways” you can enjoy a cellular service at $0. Some of the options are just temporary solutions, whereas others that are free have some strict eligibility requirements.
Is a Free Cell Phone Service Worth it?
In a nutshell, the answer here depends on how you look at it. For me, the free cell phone service is worth it since you get to call, text, and use data services (browse, stream, or game) at no cost.
Say you’re unemployed or have a limited income, the free cell phone service is a nice way to cut down your monthly bills. A nice example is a carrier like SafeLink or Access Wireless that offers free phones from government to all eligible consumers.
If traveling in an area where your local phone service has poor coverage, the free service can also connect you temporarily. Some carriers do have free domestic roaming (and international roaming with carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile). But others, such as Boost Mobile, often have limited roaming allowances to call, with no data service.
The 7 Ways How To Get Free Cell Phone Service Without Paying
Below is a summary of the various ways you can get a free cell phone service without paying anything. I’ve divided the seven options into four main categories:
Cat 1: Apply for the Free Phone Service Government
As the name, this method involves taking advantage of the free cell phone service from the government. The service is usually available to low-income U.S. citizens who can’t afford regular phone rates. And by “low-income”, it means you will need to have proof of low income or participation in a government assistance program, as we shall see shortly.
The government is currently sponsoring the free cell phone through two different programs:
- Lifeline program
Lifeline is not exactly a new program, even though many people still don’t know about it. The government has had the program since 1985 through the federal communications commission (FCC), whereby they reimburse money to eligible telecommunication carriers (ETC) who offers the service.
There are quite a number of phone operators who are participating in the lifeline program, such as the Safelink mentioned earlier. And even though they all have the service for free, the kind of experience you get is different from one operator to another. See below.
| Carrier Network | Lifeline-Only Data | |
| SafeLink Wireless | T-Mobile/ Verizon/ AT&T | 4.5GB (6GB California) |
| Assurance Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) |
| Cintex Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB |
| AirTalk Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB |
| Newphone Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB |
| Access Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) |
| TruConnect | T-Mobile | 250MB (6GB California) |
| Life Wireless | AT&T | 4.5GB (6GB California) |
| Q Link Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB |
| StandUp Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) |
| American Assistance | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) |
| TAG Mobile | T-Mobile/ Verizon/ AT&T | 3GB (1GB California) |
| Assist Wireless | T-Mobile | 50MB or 3GB |
| Safety net Wireless | AT&T | 1GB (6GB California) |
| Easy Wireless | T-Mobile | 25MB |
The 5 Best Lifeline carriers to consider for free cell phone service include:
Best Overall: SafeLink Wireless
SafeLink is at this moment my first recommendation when it comes to the lifeline phone program. The operator is one of the brands TracFone, which Verizon has acquired recently, owns. Thus, it will soon be dropping its deal with AT&T and T-Mobile, leaving Verizon as the only carrier network.
Once eligible, SafeLink Wireless offers the lifeline-only plan with:
- Free Unlimited text
- Free Unlimited talk minutes
- Free 4.5GB of high-speed data (6GB in California)
Best of Smartphone: Cintex Wireless
Cintex is the best lifeline carrier if looking for a decent free cell phone. While the others are limited to entry-level phones, it offers even high-end brands like Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and Apple iPhone.
As for the free monthly service, Cintex Wireless offers a lifeline-only plan with:
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited talk minutes
- 4.5GB of high-speed data
Best of Browsing: Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is another decent lifeline provider you can get free cell phone service from the government. It now runs off T-Mobile towers (used to be on Sprint), which means the coverage is best in metro areas.
Assurance Wireless offers free cell phone service on the lifeline-only plan with:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- 4.5GB of high-speed data (6GB in California)
Best of Tablet: StandUp Wireless
StandUp Wireless is a nice option if looking for a free tablet from the government with ACP. It also offers a relatively decent free cell phone service per month, with up to:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- 4.5GB of high-speed data (6GB in California)
Best Alternative: Qlink Wireless
Qlink wireless is another lifeline provider you can get a free tablet from the government with ACP. The kind of tablet the company gives you isn’t the best in specs, for sure. But some people still find it useful for light tasks, such as browsing, social media, and streaming.
As for the monthly free phone service, Qlink is more or less like the others above. The lifeline-only plan includes:
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited talk minutes
- 4.5GB of high-speed data
- Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
The affordable connectivity program (ACP) is another way you can get free cell phone service from the government. It’s still a kind of new program, which the government launched at the end of 2021 to replace the emergency broadband benefit (EBB).
The EBB was more of a temporary benefit to help those families COVID-19 has affected financially afford broadband service. However, the government felt they needed a more permanent program, which lead to the creation of the ACP.
The eligibility of the ACP free cell phone service is in many ways similar to lifeline: low income or participation in government assistance programs. However, the requirements for ACP are slightly slacked since you can qualify with even programs like school lunch benefit and Pell grant, which aren’t eligible for a lifeline.
Another thing, ACP free cell phone service is available from lifeline and prepaid carriers. However, the lifeline providers have relatively better monthly allowances: the best with a lifeline + ACP combo plan.
| Carrier Network | Type of Service | High-speed Data Allowance | |
| SafeLink Wireless | T-Mobile/ Verizon/ AT&T | Lifeline | 25GB (60GB California) |
| Assurance Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 35GB |
| Q Link Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 28GB |
| Cintex Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 15GB |
| AirTalk Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 15GB |
| Newphone Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 15GB |
| Access Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 15GB |
| Life Wireless | AT&T | Lifeline | 15GB |
| TruConnect | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 14GB |
| American Assistance | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 14.5GB (16GB California) |
| Assist Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 12GB |
| Boost Mobile | AT&T/ T-Mobile | Prepaid | 10GB |
| Red Pocket | T-Mobile/ Verizon/ AT&T | Prepaid | 10GB |
| StandUp Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 10GB |
| TAG Mobile | T-Mobile/ Verizon/ AT&T | Lifeline | 8.5GB |
| Easy Wireless | T-Mobile | Lifeline | 7.5GB |
| AT&T Prepaid | AT&T | Prepaid | 5GB |
| Metro by T-Mobile | T-Mobile | Prepaid | 5GB |
| Total by Verizon | Verizon | Prepaid | 5GB |
| Straight Talk | Verizon/ AT&T/ T-Mobile | Prepaid | 5GB |
| Cricket Wireless | AT&T | Prepaid | 5GB |
As you can see on the chart, all the providers I’ve listed for the lifeline program have a free cell phone service with ACP. The only difference is that combining the lifeline with ACP benefit gives you the best monthly allowance, including up to 60GB of high-speed data (with SafeLink).
Besides the lifeline operators, though, you can also get a free wireless phone through prepaid carriers, such as:
Best Overall: AT&T Prepaid
AT&T is one of the Major phone carriers in the country, meaning it runs off its own network infrastructure. Hence, the reason you get to enjoy perks like priority data (data speed doesn’t slow during congestion), truly unlimited everything, et cetera.
AT&T is also the only Major carrier you will get free cell phone service on ACP. However, the benefit is only available on a prepaid plan and includes:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- 5GB of high-speed data
Best of Coverage: Red Pocket
Red Pocket is one of the small phone carriers that have partnered will the Big Three carriers in the country (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile). Thus, you get to enjoy the service on the network that works best for your location or fits your needs.
Red Pocket is also one of the few prepaid carriers you can get free cell phone service on ACP benefit. The featured plan includes a monthly allowance of:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- 10GB of high-speed data
Best of Smartphone: Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile is one of the few prepaid companies that give free phones when you switch, including Samsung, iPhone, and Motorola brands. It’s also currently working through T-Mobile and AT&T towers, which is pretty cool as you get to join the network best in your area.
As per our topic, Boost Mobile is also one of the prepaid carriers that give you free cell phone service on ACP. It offers a monthly allowance of:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- 10GB of high-speed data
Best Alternative: Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless is another decent prepaid carrier that gives a free phone when you switch to their service. It also runs off the nation’s second-largest LTE network, AT&T, which has coverage even in various rural areas.
If eligible, Cricket gives you a free cell phone service on ACP, with up to:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- 5GB of high-speed data
Cat 2: Take Advantage of the Free Phone Service with Carrier Deals.
The second way how to get a free cell phone without paying anything is by taking advantage of the limited-time deals from carriers. And these deals are usually available in two different ways:
- Free Trial Service Plan
This is where a cell phone provider lets you try their service before fully committing. It’s more of a temporary thing, as you get service for a couple of days: T-Mobile has the longest period of three months. But it can be handy in various situations, such as when traveling to an area where your local phone carrier doesn’t work.
Unfortunately, not many phone operators give you a free test drive. Out of the 100+ providers here in the country, only about a dozen seem to have the free trial plan at the time of writing. The good thing, though, is that all these carriers now support the eSIM feature. Thus, you can activate the service instantly without having to wait for the physical SIM card.
As for the eligibility of the free phone trial plan, it varies from one participating carrier to another. The service allowance you get also varies, as you can see below.
| Voice/ Talk Minutes | High-speed Data | |
| Verizon | Unlimited Talk | 100GB |
| T-Mobile | Unlimited | 50GB |
| Visible Wireless | YES | 50GB |
| Mint Mobile | 250 Talk Minutes | 250MB |
| Cricket Wireless | Unlimited | 3GB |
| US Mobile | Unlimited | 15GB |
| Red Pocket | Unlimited | 3GB |
Best Overall: T-Mobile
T-Mobile is currently the leading Major Carrier on 5G coverage across the country. And since it has its own cell towers, you get to enjoy perks like priority data, “truly” unlimited everything, entertainment subscriptions, et cetera.
T-Mobile is also the overall best of the carriers with free cell phone trial service. It offers the program for up to 90 days and with a monthly allowance of:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited Data (with 50GB of premium data)
Best of Allowance: Verizon Wireless
Verizon is typically the overall best of the three major carriers in the country. It has the leading LTE coverage, including the rural areas and downtown where T-Mobile tends to struggle.
As of now, Verizon also has the best allowances on the free cell phone service with the trial plan. (The trial plan runs for 30 days).
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited Data (with 100GB of premium data)
Best of Coverage: Red Pocket
Besides the ACP benefit, Red Pocket also offers free cell phone service with a trial plan. The free test drive runs for only 7 days, but includes an allowance of:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited Data (with 3GB of high-speed data)
Best of Deal: US Mobile
US Mobile is another prepaid operator that has made a deal with both Verizon and T-Mobile. Thus, you get to join them with the network that works best in your area or fits your lifestyle.
Furthermore, US Mobile has the overall best deal of free cell phone service with a trial plan on prepaid. It has the program for ten days when applied with a new number and 100 days if you port your cell number. Then in those days, you get to receive your free service allowance with:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited Data (with 15GB of high-speed data)
Best Alternative: Visible Wireless
Visible Wireless is another great prepaid service to consider if in a Verizon hot spot. It also has some of the best deals on phones (in form of virtual gift cards) and cellular service.
On the cellular service part, Visible does give free cell phone service with a trial plan for 15 days. And the best part, the free test drive includes:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited Data (with 50GB of premium data)
- Free Promotional Service Deal
Besides trial tests, some carriers also offer free cell phone service through promotional offers. The type of deal is not so much common, as I’ve only been able to find two carriers that offer it so far. Then it’s a “limited-time thing” as you can come across it in the morning, but a few hours it’s expired.
Another thing, the free cell phone service with these promotional deals isn’t truly “free”. Before you can receive the benefit, you’ll have to purchase a product from the carrier, such as a mobile phone. But unlike the trial plan, the service here lasts a little longer, including up to six months or a year.
Red Pocket
If not eligible for the trial plan or ACP benefit, Red Pocket is also offering a free cell phone service when you purchase select phones. The deal is currently only available on the latest Apple iPhone and includes the free service for six months with:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited Data (with 25GB of high-speed data)
Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile is another prepaid carrier with a free cell phone service when you purchase a phone. The benefit is available on both Apple and Android high-end devices. But unlike with Red Pocket, here you must purchase the phone with a 6-month service, then you can get 6 months of free service.
In the extra free monthly service, Mint Mobile gives you up to:
- Unlimited talk
- Unlimited texting
- Unlimited Data (with 35GB of high-speed data)
Cat 3: Get the Free Phone Service through Someone Else
The third method how to get free cell phone service without paying anything is to have someone pay for it for you. It’s often available in two main options, including:
- Family cell phone plans
Well, this is where you enjoy a free cell phone service by joining a family plan with someone who won’t mind paying your usage bill. And this “someone” can be a parent, sibling, relative, or friend, in particular, who won’t come back to brag about it.
The good thing, though, is that many carriers often have discounts with multiple lines on an account. You can save nearly half the cost of each additional line with some like Visible by Verizon.
- Corporate Cell Phone Service/ Mobile Stipends
Corporates and various companies also do give free cell phones and services to their employees to use in work-related communication. However, many people still use these phones for personal use, albeit not all companies are open to it.
As a matter of fact, the data with company phones are usually a shared pool. And for that, you should refrain from tasks that have high data usage, like streaming or transferring/ downloading large files.
Cat 4: Get the Free Phone Service through the Internet
Lastly, you can get a free cell phone service without paying by using social media apps. It makes it possible to make unlimited calls and text domestically or internationally. However, you must connect your device to a WiFi connection, either from your home router or mobile hotspot from another device.
The recipient of your calls or text must also have the app you’ll be using and online. Nice examples of these apps are WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, Google Chat, Viber, signal, Instagram, et cetera.
Final Thoughts:
Whether it’s for a limited time or slightly longer, these are the main ways how to get free cell phone service without paying anything. The Perfect one to choose depends on your current situation, such as whether you have a low income or you’re looking for a temporary service in your traveling destination.
The lifeline and ACP benefits from the government are the best in the case where you have low or no income. Either is easy to apply as you just need to gather your proof of eligibility, such as a bank statement, payment slab, or letter of approval on supported federal assistance programs. Then visit the website of your preferred provider and follow the onscreen instructions to apply.
If looking for a temporary service to cover up the few days you’ll be outside your native coverage, the free trial service is the best. And as you can see from my chart above, all the major carriers have the program, either directly or through their brands/ subcarriers.