When it comes to technology, two things are especially true these days:
- You can’t get by without an internet or cell phone plan.
- Cell phones are pricier than ever.
That said, you don’t have to dig out the duct tape to get another year out of your old smartphone just yet. Many cell phone and internet service providers (ISPs) offer great deals that’ll give you a year of service or the latest smartphones for free. Wondering how to get these savings? Keep reading my guide to find out more.
1. Sign up for Lifeline
Working under a tight budget or need to get service for older relatives? Lifeline is a federal program that offers discounted cell phone and internet service to qualifying households enrolled in programs like food stamps or Medicaid. If you’re a resident of a tribal land, you can potentially stack multiple federal discounts to get your cell phone service for free.
Availability and plan options vary by provider, but as an example, here’s what you’ll get on Verizon’s Lifeline wireless plan.
| Lifeline plan | Cost/amount |
|---|---|
| Cost (after Lifeline discount) | $15.75/mo. |
| Monthly phone call minutes | 1,000 |
| Long distance | Included |
| Activation fee | $35 |
Check out our Low-Income Internet Program guide to learn more about Lifeline.
2. Hop to your ISP’s cell phone plan for free service
Tired of paying too much with your current cell phone provider? Internet provider cell phone plans like Xfinity Mobile and Spectrum Mobile are leaving no stone unturned to attract customers, and this includes their deal offerings.
Many of these providers offer a year of free cell phone service when you bundle a cell phone line with your internet plan. Considering that these providers use major carrier networks and support phone number and smartphone transfers, you can often switch providers without missing a beat (or text message).
Providers regularly cycle out their deals, so use this list below to find out about the latest deals from your internet provider’s cell phone service.
3. Add or upgrade a line for a free smartphone
Is your old Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy smartphone on its last legs? The easiest way to get a free cell phone through your traditional carrier (i.e., T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) or ISP wireless provider is to upgrade your current cell phone line or add a new line to your family’s plan.
These free phone deals differ by provider and smartphone model, but generally come in a few different forms:
- Add a new line to get a new phone.
- Upgrade your existing line to a qualifying plan to get a new phone.
- Trade in your current smartphone and add or upgrade a line to a qualifying plan to get a new phone.
If you simply need a new phone, you’ll likely be satisfied with this first type of free smartphone deal. While these deals are typically for basic smartphones from manufacturers like Motorola, they’ll be sufficient for tasks like making phone calls and using GPS navigation.
How to get a free smartphone through your phone carrier
But if you want a newer Samsung, Google, or Apple smartphone for free, you’ll need to jump through a few more hoops for these deals.
First, you’ll need to upgrade to a qualifying cell phone plan. Generally, this’ll be your carrier’s mid-tier unlimited cell phone plan—you won’t be able to get the latest Google or Apple smartphone alongside a budget plan.
Next, you’ll need to trade in your old smartphone to get bill credits that’ll pay for the new smartphone of your choice. Keep in mind that carriers have trade-in value tiers based on your smartphone’s age. For example, new smartphones can fully cover the cost of your new phone, but a drastically older phone will likely be worth only a few bucks.
Not ready to sign the dotted line? Check out our free phone with internet guides to learn more about the best free phone deals from the biggest cell phone and internet providers.
Free cell phone with internet FAQ
How can you get an AT&T phone for free without paying?
AT&T’s free phone deals generally require you to sign up for a new plan and trade in an eligible smartphone. While you still have to pay your regular phone bill, you technically won’t be paying additional for the phone (if you can live with AT&T’s payment plan schedule.
How do I get free cell phone service from AT&T?
You cannot get free cell phone service from AT&T. However, Lifeline is a federal assistance program that offers a discount of at least $5.25 per month to qualifying households enrolled in programs like SNAP or Medicaid. For more information, see our comprehensive Low-Income Internet Guide.
Where can I get a free phone with AT&T?
AT&T currently offers free phone deals for the Apple iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and Motorola razr ultra. You can get these phones by signing up for a new line or upgrading your phone plan to a qualifying tier. However, AT&T’s free iPhone deal also requires you to trade in an eligible phone.
Why you should trust us
To compile this guide to free cell phone promotions, our Internet Editor, Eric Chiu, drew on our existing cell phone and deals coverage. This work includes hours of research every week into the latest phone deals—he relied on this reporting expertise to help you find the best free smartphone deals.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
