California was slow to dip its toe into the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone program. Most other states approved the program years earlier, and approved more companies. But California is making up for lost time in a big way.
All of a sudden a slew of companies are offering unlimited talk and unlimited text in the Golden State. And the companies that don’t offer unlimited programs are offering 1000 or more free minutes, which blows away the plans offered in most other states.
Here’s a brief summary of the free government cell phone bonanzas available for financially distressed Californians, but you can get complete details on our (California Lifeline companies page).
Companies offering unlimited talk and unlimited text:
Assurance Wireless: The California FREEdom Plan offers you a free cell phone, unlimited free voice and unlimited free texts.
Budget Mobile: Offers low income Californians a free cell phone plus unlimited free voice and unlimited free texts.
Feel Safe Wireless: Tough to beat the Feel Safe California plan. It offers a free phone, unlimited talk, unlimited text, 100MB data and 100 free international texts.
ReachOut Wireless: ReachOut has stepped up its game in California and now provides customers with a free phone, unlimited voice minutes and unlimited texts.
Tag Mobile: Low income Californians can now get a free cell phone, unlimited voice calls and unlimited texting PLUS 100MB of data per month.
Other great California plans:
Believe it or not, even the second tier free government cell phone plans in California offer more than the best plans in most states. Here’s what we mean:
Access Wireless: Access offers financially struggling Californians a plan that includes an Android smartphone, 1000 minutes or texts, plus 200MB data usage each month. Please note that the plan offers 1000 minutes OR texts, not AND texts.
enTouch Wireless: Needy Californians can a phone and 1100 voice minutes and texts. That’s 1100 for both voice and text combined.
TruConnect (aka Surelink Mobile): TruConnect offers its California customers 1000 voice minutes plus 200 texts per month.
Total Call Mobile: If you’re a qualified Californians, Total Call offers you unlimited calling each month, but dings you for a nickel on each text.
Like we said at the beginning of this article, Lifeline Assistance companies are making up for lost time in California. Assurance, Budget, Feel Safe, ReachOut and Tag Mobile are offering plans that are unlimited and unmatched anywhere else in the nation. Access, enTouch, TruConnect (aka Telscape and Surelink Mobile), and Total Call Mobile offer plans that are a step below the top tier in California, but still better than any other plans anywhere else in the country.
Twelve percent of the nation’s population live in California, but unfortunately, 30% of those living in poverty reside there. So all these unlimited talk and unlimited text programs are sure to be good news for millions of the state’s low income residents.
We only have one question: When will other states begin following California’s example?
Obama says
The government is spying on people. Of course they will offer free everything, the taxpayers are paying for it, the government uses it to track people, listen in on calls, and read email and texts.. a win – win for the government.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Why does the government want to spy on its poorest citizens?
Earl says
I’m retired I pay my own bill
Always worked on farms and ranches
Nothing is for free
Everyone who gets a pay check is paying for these free phones
About half of the ones I’ve seen are being used by 5th graders
Oh yea their parents have iPhones
I shed tears for their lying asses
Beth Taylor says
Earl I am on SSI making $857.00 no No Food stamps I have to live in my car, I ran my on Business 7 day a week in Child Card 26 year but never paid Soc Sec, but paid all my All my taxes, until I got Parkin’s I can’t get my hair done nails done new tires iPhone my kids are 30 and 33 years old, the rent in California is out of this world no retirement pension. And you have the guts to say what you did. I have one for safety to call 911, because its scary world. May GOD have mussy on you soul
Ellen Frank says
I applied for a free phone over a month ago and am still awaiting the papers. I wish I had written down the provider, but I didn’t. Could have sworn it was through Verizon, though. Somebody, please, sign me up for free, unlimited talk, text, and data.
Free Government Cell Phones says
It shouldn’t take a full month for you receive your phone, Ellen. We can tell you for sure that you didn’t sign up for a free government cell phone with Verizon, because it does not offer free phones.
Unfortunately, no one will enroll you based on this comment left on FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net. We are an independent website that is not affiliated with any of the Lifeline Assistance companies. You must contact the companies and enroll directly via email or phone. The problem you have is that you’ve already enrolled and despite the fact that you have not received a phone, you are probably in the National Lifeline Assistance Database. If that’s the case, you will not be able to apply with any of the other companies. Your only solution is to figure out which company you originally enrolled with.
Martha Louise Alvarado says
How do i get into the screen to fill out the app to get a free cell phone, unlimited talk and unlimited text. E-mail is marthabllardalvarado@yahoo.com
Free Government Cell Phones says
There’s no way for us to analyze the tech issues remotely. We’d suggest that you phone or go online to contact your service provider.
Gregory Schmidt says
I am unemployed and unable to work for the last 3 years due to an automobile accident which I received $2500.00 for last year. I am on F/S and Medical and unable to make income at this time.
lscott says
WHY WON’T THE OTHER BONE HEAD COMPANY’S OFFER THE minutes THAT CALIF. OFFER. AT LEAST THEY CAN OFFER 500 FREE MINS. JEEEZ!!
bill says
NEED NOW PHONE
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
WE HOPE YOY GET NOW PHONE.
romancy says
How do I get one
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
Read FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net. Hint: you are on it right now.
marianne ades says
you left out one piece of information:-which companies let you use your own
phone? I have an android gsm T-Mobile/att compatible phone.
Michael Green says
Life Wireless lets you use any unlocked AT&T compatible phone (check Amazon or eBay), Just ask Life Wireless for a free cell phone, smart phone or SIM. Plug the SIM into your new unlocked phone and it will work. A locked phone is dedicated to a particular service provider. Ask the provider to unlock it. Some require you to be with them a certain amount of time before they will do it. Unlocking a phone is required by recent legislation.
Free Government Cell Phones says
All free government cell phone companies are now required to offer unlocked phones.
Larry Skuce says
These are great deals! Just make them “use friendly?! Some of them you need to be an “engineer to operate then!
Faye Pinkney says
I’m a disabled senior citizen who is also a veteran and lives in the District of Columbia. When will unlimited talk and text come to the nation’s capitol? My minutes run out quickly and when the I get to a very few left it leaves me wondering if I’ll have enough minutes to last until I’m supplied with more.
Thanks!