Cell Phones are now part of our daily lives since the devices help us connect to endless communications and accomplish any online tasks. From just a phone, they are now regarded as a mini-computer. Though it’s a handy device that almost everyone holds all day, many people still cannot afford this must-have device. Cell phones from top brands cost more than a low-income citizen’s budget. The price and the monthly plans are out of their range. If you are one of them reading this article to find a way to get a free cell phone without a deposit and activation fee, then we have great news for you.
There are obvious chances for people like you who want free cell phones, rather the offers from the top MVNOs allow free cell phones with no deposit, and no activation fee. They just require a signing contract for the monthly plan; from the next minute, the device is yours. The monthly plan consists of data, talk, and text packages, the only payment you will have to provide every month. Depending on the carrier, there are several device options from top brands like iPhone, Samsung, Motorola, etc. There are several government programs under any of them you can get a free cell phone with no deposit, and no activation fee. We are going to mention them in detail. Remember that you will have to apply formally for the free cell phone, but before that, you will have to prove that you are eligible for the offer.
Ways to Get A Free Cell Phone Without Deposit and Activation Fee
Several programs from the federal government and the carriers offer free phones for eligible applicants.
1. Free Cell Phone offer on Contract
This is the simplest way to get a free Cell phone. All you have to do is sign a 2-year contract with one of the carriers offering free cell phones with no deposits or activation fee. In this offer, you will get a brand-new phone for free and only pay the monthly amount according to your chosen plan. The phone model you will get depends on the carrier you choose and their options. And the monthly plan depends on the package that includes data, talk, and text.
2. Free Government Cell Phone Program
The Federal Government has been offering free cell phones for many years. In recent years, the offer is known as ‘Obama phone’. The federal government provides low-income people free phones and the internet to bridge the digital gap. The program, widely known as the Lifeline assistance program, offers monthly subsidies to low-income or incomeless families as telecommunication bills.
Another program, ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program)(new enrollment 7th February 2024), provides free cell phones. Government doesn’t distribute the subsidy directly, instead, it works with the wireless providers to facilitate those families. Since it’s a low-cost plan, getting a luxury or flagship phone is impossible. You don’t know which phone the wireless provider will provide you. You can qualify for the program if anyone in your family has a membership in any government assistance program. So you can check here lifelinesupport.org/do-i-qualify if you qualify for the free phone.
3. Buy One, Get One Free Offer
Sometimes, wireless carriers announce promotional offers to promote their services or to celebrate any special day. Buy One, Get One Free is one of them. Here, you can own an expensive phone for free if you can luckily grab the BOGO offer. The carrier will require you to enroll in their contract for months. You will have to be active through the months with their network to get the deal’s value. The second device credit gets split as monthly credits on your phone bill.
4. Public Housing Assistance Program
You can qualify for free cell phones if your household enjoys Section 8 or other Federal Housing programs. Public Housing Assistance doesn’t provide free cell phones directly. It works as a qualification for the Lifeline and ACP that can give you a free phone. You will have to first qualify for the Lifeline or ACP, and then you can apply for the free phone upon being eligible for the federal government program. Remember that the program doesn’t give the phone completely free. The FCC, the administrative body of Lifeline and ACP, requires applicants to co-pay for the free phone and internet program. After qualifying for any of the federal assistance programs, apply through any providers offering free cell phones.
5. Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance Program
The Federal Government has always facilitated the tribal lands to create equal opportunities for everyone in the US. So that nobody gets deprived just because of the remote areas they live in. People from tribal lands enjoying the BIA program can qualify directly for the Lifeline (Obama Phone) or ACP. Once qualified or eligible for Lifeline or ACP, you can select an FCC-listed free phone provider to get the free smartphone. But the provider doesn’t guarantee you any certain model of smartphone. Rather, they offer basic smartphones from their available stocks. You must co-pay $10 as per the FCC rule, and the program will cover the remaining amount (up to $100).
Process To Get Free Cell Phone No Deposit No Activation Fee From Government Program
The Federal Government provides several connected devices to low-income households, primarily cellphones. Many carriers provide this offer along with the Government even with a no deposit and no activation fees. Those providers offer free cell phones following the Government Lifeline Assistance program’s eligibility requirements. The following will detail the eligibility criteria, the application process, and the names of major providers that will not charge any deposits or activation fees.
Eligible Requirement
Lifeline recipients are automatically eligible for Free phones. There are some qualifying criteria are discussed below:
Low Income:
- If your household income exceeds 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Federal Government assistance program:
- Medicaid
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Veterans survivor Pensions fund
- Tribal programs for Residents for Qualifying Tribal lands.
- Food Distribution Program
Application Process
There are some basic procedures to follow to get a free cell phone. Those are:
Lifeline Organizations
- Online: Go to the National Verifier website nationalverifier.servicenowservices.com/lifeline and check your household’s eligibility status. You will get a notification saying whether you are eligible or not. After confirming your eligibility, you must submit the relevant documents in your application process.
- By mail: You can also apply through mail. You will get an application form, which you will have to download and print. To get the form visit lifelinesupport.org
- Via provider: Once you are approved, now choose a provider who offers free phones. Then apply for their service They will confirm your eligibility and implement the discount offer to your account. Visit the carrier’s website to apply. You can apply via mail or online.
- Via Commercial carrier: Many carriers offer a free phone through their plan. You can visit their website and sign up for the deals. Keep in mind, they have their procedure to apply.
Companies That Provide Free Cell Phone No Deposit No Activation Fee
1. Qlink Wireless
Qlink is known as a Lifeline assistance program provider that contributes to affordable telecommunication services in the country. It always comes forward to participate in federal government initiatives to help people consume the internet and connected devices for free or with a discount. Qlink also participates in the newly formed ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) benefits.
If you are a beneficiary of any government assistance program, you can get the free phone by qualifying for the Lifeline or ACP program. There are income-based and program-based qualification criteria for the program. Besides SSI, Medicaid and other government assistance programs can give you a free cell phone with no deposit or activation Fee from Qlink Wireless. They have the free phones line from the major brands such as Alcatel, Blackberry, HTC, Huawei, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, etc.
Benefits
97% coverage in the country. Free Unlimited minutes, texts, Up to 4.5GB of high-speed data, Hotspot data, etc. Besides, there are no annual contracts and no early termination fees.
2. Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is renowned as a Lifeline Assistance program provider. This company offers free phones and internet to eligible customers in over 40 states, and customers can call over 200 countries at lower rates. If you are already a Lifeline beneficiary, you can apply directly for Assurance Wireless free phones. Other eligibility criteria exist for low-income households, such as Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, etc. You can also apply for the ACP since Assurance Wireless provides free phones to eligible ACP applicants.
Assurance Wireless has been providing several models of free phones such as ANS Rapidz, ALCATEL Dawn, ANS UL40, ANS Wiko Life Wiko Life 2, Coolpad Avail, Coolpad Illimin, Coolpad Legacy GO, Coolpad Legacy SR, Kyocera Hydro Reach. L51, Unimax u673c, Unimax U683CL, Unimax693, ZTE Prestige 2, ZTE Quest, ZTE Quest Plus, and ZTE Tempo X. You cannot choose the mobile device according to your preference. So, you have to expect any entry-level phones from Assurance Wireless.
Assurance Wireless doesnt charge any extra bills, long-term contracts, or activation fees on the applicants. The benefits of Assurance Wireless are:
- A Free Smartphone
- Free Unlimited Data, Minutes and, Texts
- Free 10 GB Hotspot Data
- Countrywide coverage of T-Mobile networks
3. Access Wireless
Access Wireless offers free cell phones to low-income households through the Government’s Lifeline and ACP initiatives. The most attractive part is Access Wireless provides free cell phones to eligible individuals without any deposit or activation fees. It serves 40 states equally across the country. Any resident or citizen of the country who is eligible for the Lifeline program or ACP can receive the following benefits. You can qualify for the Lifeline or ACP if you enjoy a government assistance program.
Access Wireless has some of the best phones in the market for customers who want free cell phones. They are Coolpad Legacy GO, Motorola E5 Play, and LG Tribute Dynasty. Other phones that Access Wireless provides are Samsung Galaxy j3 Achieve, Samsung A10e, ZTE Blade Force, LG Tribute Empire, Motorola Z3 Play, Moto E6, and LG K30.
Benefits:
- Free cell phone with no contract
- Reward program, no additional charge, a super extensive network, and more.
- Free 1000 minutes of Talk time
- Free 4.5 GB of data
- unlimited texting
4. Cintex Wireless
Cintex Wireless is one of the renowned Lifeline providers in the country. It has exclusive Lifeline coverages in Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. It also has excellent coverage of 4G, 5G, and LTE networks across the states. Besides, Cintex Wireless provides ACP benefits to eligible families. You will get a free smartphone with no deposit, activation fee, or initial contract. Only when you qualify for the FCC’s Lifeline and ACP benefit can Cintex Wireless provide you with free phones with their plans. You can apply here at “apply.cintexwireless.com” to get any of the models Cintex Wireless provides from their stock.
Some of the phone brands that Cintex Wireless offers for free are Apple iPhone 6 16 GB, LG Stylo 4, LG M150, Motorolla E5, and Samsung Galaxy S9.
Benefits
Free 5G/4G cell phones; free data, text, and call worth around $400 monthly.
5. Safelink Wireless
To qualify for the Safelink Wireless Lifeline program, your household income should be less than 135% of federal poverty guidelines. For the ACP benefit, the income should be less than 200% of the 2021 federal poverty guidelines. There are also program-based criteria to meet for the free phones. You must provide the required documentation in support of your application. Visit their website safelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink to enroll for the free cell phones.
Safelink offers free cell phones from brands like Kyocera, LG, Motorola, and Nokia.
Benefits:
- A free smartphone
- Free monthly minutes plan
- Unlimited text
- 4.5 GB data
- No deposit is required, no activation fee.
6. Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile could be the best option for you especially if you plan to switch your carrier with a new Free Cell Phone with no Deposit no activation fee. They avail the free phone for the customers who want are ready to join Boost Mobile leaving their current network. All you will have to do is insert your current number to Boost Mobiles network with the phone they provide. Additionally, you will have to choose a monthly data, talk, and text plan worth $50 or more. Besides, Boost Mobile is one of the Lifelines and ACP providers you can think of to get a free phone with other features like a monthly internet subsidy. Lifeline and ACP require you to pay a token amount which is $10 and the phone is all yours for the rest of your life.
Boost Mobile offers some specific phone models to customers ready to switch to Boost Mobile. Their available options for the free phone are Galaxy A20, LG Stylo 5, Moto G Power, and Motorola G7 Play.
7. Sprint is now part of T-Mobile
T-Mobile & Sprint merged on April 1, 2020. Now Sprint is one of T-Mobile’s concerns that offer free phones and required no payment, no credit check, and no activation fees. Sprint invites and welcomes the customers by leaving their current network and switching to Sprint as a new carrier. Another way of getting a Sprint-free phone is by purchasing a monthly plan worth $35 or more. Thus, a customer can get a free cell phone from them. They offer terms and conditions that are easier for any customer. Their stock of free phone brands has several models such as iPhone 8, iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy S10+, LG Tribute Royal,
8. AT&T
AT&T directly offers free phones without any activation fee or any deposit. The only thing you have to do is buy their monthly plan that is worth $50 or more. You can also check out the possibility of free phones from AT&T under the Lifeline program. AT&T sometimes announces a BOGO offer (Buy One Get One Free) that you can wait for. They usually provide iPhone 11 Pro under the free phone deal. But with the expensive monthly plan, you should think twice before making your decision. They also have a line of Note phones, iPhones, and Galaxy phones.
9. Verizon Wireless
You can get a free phone from Verizon by signing up for the post-paid plan or a certain prepaid plan. The top carrier doesn’t obligate customers with the deposit and activation fees. But you will have to have a good credit history. Other terms and conditions are as simple as user-friendly. Just get a new number from them and order your favorite phone online. They have Samsung iPhone 7, LG Stylo 5, Alcatel Avalon V, Moto G7 Play, Galaxy S20 FE 5G, iPhone 12 Mini, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
10. Metro by T-Mobile
They offer versatile plans for users. Which is that a user can either purchase the monthly plan or switch as a new user. The free cell phone offers will require you to switch your current carrier to Metro by T-Mobile. Then you can get the new phone for free without any extra penny. The monthly plan you are about to purchase should be worth $40 or more. They have phones like Motorola Moto G Stylus and Apple iPhone SE (2020 edition).
What Should You Know About Free Phone with No Deposit and No Activation Fee?
Fortunately, getting free cell phones from the Government is possible with the Lifeline benefit. No credit check, deposit, or activation fee is required. However, there are still a few downsides, such as getting the phone late, being unable to choose the device, etc.
- Credit Check Requirement: Paid services don’t require a credit check, but most benefits still apply to phone plans. Some carriers also offer device financing with a credit check.
- Deposit Requirement: You don’t need to pay the deposit if you have a good credit score. If you have bad credit, then you have to pay a minimum payment for the device.
- Activation fee requirement: Some providers charge activation fees, while others do not. You should ask your carrier to waive it.
How to Avoid Activation Fee?
Lifeline membership allows eligible households to get free phones and free plans without activation fees. Several providers don’t charge activation fees for Lifeline recipients. There is another way to avoid cell phone activation fees. You may swap your current provider for another when their promotion deal is on. Such promotional deals ensure new customers do not have to pay an activation fee. You can also get activation fees waived if you upgrade your plan or buy a new phone at that time. Aside from Lifeline, you have to pay attention to special deals.
What States Offer Free Government Cell Phones?
In some states, some people still have difficulty affording basic phones. The Federal Government provides free phones so citizens can continue their basic communication. Luckily, several providers are working with the government, offering free smartphones and their plans. Those providers set “no money down cell phone plan” with nationwide coverage, such as T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and many more. Almost every state covers “Free cell phone with no money, no deposit, no activation fees” but with different providers. If you’re interested in this plan, contact your current provider to see if they offer a similar one. If your state is not covered, find another provider that does.
