Free Government Cell Phones

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Will I be able to send and receive text messages with my free government cell phone? How much does it cost?

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It depends on which free government cell phone you get. If you get one that supports SMS, you’ll be able to send and receive text messages.

Costs may vary depending on which service provider you select, but each SMS message sent or received should consume about one third of a minute. Other plans may consume as much as one minute per text.

Check with your service provider for specific details of their programs.

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Before you post your comment...

  1. If you are going to ask "how do I get a cell phone?" go here instead.
  2. If you are going to ask "how do I get a replacement phone," go here instead
  3. We are not your cell phone company. All technical questions should be asked of your vendor.
  4. Your comments are moderated, and we will manually approve those worth publishing within 24 hours.

Comments

    • We can’t kiss you, Lily, but many of our readers say they have been screwed by their service provider. Will that be sufficient to satisfy your urges?

      Reply

    • It’s 100% impossible for us to guess at the reason for your problem, Mariam. Contact your service provider’s customer service and/or tech support team.

      Reply

  4. I have my government phone but my friend gave me a galaxy for cheap because the government phone is so small but I can’t adford a phone payment so we called and had the government number switched to that phone and did everything they said to do and everything works but the texting. We’ve called multiple times and they just do the same thing over and over and it still doesn’t work. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  5. I got a quistion my old phone brock and i went and bought a new phone i called safelink and thay let me get a new sims card and let me feel out paper work to get my m8ns transferd to my new phone and new sims card ok now its pinding ok im just wanting to know whats going on where am i at on this situation her is my i.D number u guys sent me its 34906159 thank you amy stiltner

    Reply

    • We’re not Safelink, Amy. So we cannot tell you what is going on with your phone. You need to contact customer service or tech support.

      Reply

  6. If my gov Safelink runs outta talk minutes will I still be able to send and recieve text messageing? Safelink had told me yes. My daughter is outta talk minutes but is wondering if she can still send and recieve text messageing being she was told its unlimited.

    Reply

    • Contact your service provider’s customer service team by calling 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone.

      Reply

  8. Is there any way I can have my calls and texts automatically forwarded to another mobile number from my Alcatel One Touch a382g?

    Reply

    • We are experts on the free government cell phone program, Arielle, NOT on cell phone technology. In other words, beats the hell out of us. But we’d suggest that you google your phone make and model and the words “user manual.” Once you find your manual it should be reasonably easy to answer that question.

      However, that brings up a question. If you have another cell phone, why do you need a free government cell phone?

      Reply

      • I have 3 phones. The only one that stays on is my free phone. Can’t count how many times I couldn’t pay my bill and the service was cut off. Of the 3, one hasn’t been in use for over a year but is certainly still usable, thank you very much. How many phones do you have, nameless Free Government Phones rep? 😊 Probably not the best question on your part… Much love.

        Reply

    • You’ll need to re-enroll, Robert. The good news is that you now enroll with any company you want. The benefit is that some companies offer far more minutes, more texts or even data plans. So check them all out carefully to find the plan that’s best for you. Here’s where you can find all the plans available in your state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply

      • No way for us to troubleshoot your tech issues via the comments section, Rhonda. Get in touch with your service provider’s customer service or tech support team.

        Reply

        • I’m having the same problem. I can only send pictures, but I can’t get or receive texts. I tried contacting my service provider, but they kept hanging up on me. Now my phone can’t even dial the number. It’s just really frustrating. I’m a single working mom, and I have to be able to text. Please help me.

          Reply

  10. HI, great service and thank you and God bless. I got a good phone but unfortunately the earpiece doesn’t work after I dropped it many times. My neighbor bought me a cheap phone as a gift, I put the sim in, but no calls. I cannot make call out or in. I’m assuming no SMS too. I was told to ask for an “APN setting” What is your APN setting? thank you god bless. Please help!

    Reply

    • We can’t answer that question, Kelly, because we’re not your service provider. We’re an independent website with no affiliation with any of the free government cell phone companies. You need to contact your service provider’s customer service team to get your question answered.

      Reply

  11. I really just want to transfer to another company. The 1 I’m in is awful. I can’t find my paperwork & don’t know the carrier. I think it was …. Q link. I looked online, but I thought it said that they are no longer in the program
    Please help :-/

    Reply

    • We don’t have a clue, Karen. But that makes sense because we’re not your service provider. FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net is a website, not your service provider.

      Reply

  13. How do I get free unlimited text messaging with my free phone? My cellis 863 606 ****. Thank you, Jeanne Robertson

    Reply

  14. Im just recieved a replacement phone and im with trac ohone.I cant send or recieve texts becux they charge i wanted a phone with unlimited texts.What do i have to do?

    Reply

    • What do you mean by “they charge?” Are you saying that you signed up for the wrong program and that your phone is not part of the free government cell phone program?

      Reply

  15. My safelink phone sent a text message to be able to send and receive free texting How do I do It?

    Reply

    • We cannot comment on messages you received from your service provider than we have not seen. You should contact Safelink’s customer service team to resolve your question. Good luck.

      Reply

    • Contact QLink directly and ask for the company’s tech support department. They are probably the only ones who can help. You may need to request a replacement phone or upgrade to a more fully-featured model.

      Reply

  23. I received a text about the availability for free texting explain how I Can get this benefit my number is 252~508~8450 Call or Text me.

    Reply

  24. My phone will not recieve texts. It says messages I send r sent but cant receive texts. I thought it was unlimited texting

    Reply

  26. Hi I got a coolpad government phone and it won’t let me send pictures through my messages. You brother got the same phone and it let’s him so I was wondering why mine won’t let me. Please let me know as soon as possible

    Reply

    • Each plan has different number of texts you get each month with your plan. Some make it a part of the 250 minutes (like 3 texts count as one minute), and Assurance Wireless will give you unlimited texting.

      Reply

  29. Why can’t I get text from my job .I’ve texted to 42800 like I was told and it comes back sorry this service not available with your plan .I’ve called safe links and was told everything is OK,but still no text

    Reply

  31. Want to know why this year my text messages is costing $.30 for each incoming/outgoing text messages? This was not a charge since I’ve had this service. Will it be possible to return to no cost text as before? Plus there is a $1.00 fee for incoming/outgoing call’s. Please advise if there is something new going that I’m not aware of. Thank you!

    Reply

  33. I have just received my phone. Can you go on the internet with these phones? Mine won’t connect me to the internet. Please reply. If you can please tell me who I would speak with. Thank you very much.

    Reply

  34. I just got the same text today @the “safelink.com/sms”. NOTHING.
    Also got a text saying “Welcome to SafeLink, we hope you will enjoy your service!” -which I have been for the past @2yrs., ever since a rep from their co. signed me up at the local DSS office. Don’t know why they sent the “welcome text” though-As I just said, I’ve had their service for @2yrs. I did, however, just receive a replacement phone as mine was lost recently, so maybe that’s the reason for the “welcome text”.

    THE SAFELINK.COM/SMS ?
    I have a feeling, if anyone-like me-w/the “government phone/plan” for people w/low-income, calls to ask a REPRESENTATIVE about this, I bet you’ll be told what I was told @1wk. ago, concerning “Safelink” promotions, etc.-which is:

    The government phone/plan is for Safelink, yes-but what we have isn’t “technically” SafeLink-it’s “LIFELINE”. It does state this on our recertification we have to do for our continued phone service every so often. Yes, it’s SafeLink, linked up w/Assurance Wireless, but being LIFELINE, I have a feeling we’ll be told that SafeLink promo’s are only for “straight” SafeLink accounts-NOT LifeLine 🙁
    However, IF that’s the case, we shouldn’t be getting the misleading text to begin with!
    *Note-that text they sent us all @the “free texting” didn’t take out’ve my 250minutes. They’re lucky for that!

    Reply

  35. Every commenter on here needs to get a clue. Are y’all daft enough to think that you get a completely free ride (Free Talk/Text)? I mean c’mon, you can see that some of the posts on here go back to 2012 (2 yrs. ago). Stop relying on the Gov’t for everything.

    Reply

  36. ok, it says text messages from your cell at NO extra cost! Don’t know how? Learn at safelink.com/sms
    I can’t get NO where. Why the false info?
    ty Norma

    Reply

  38. Im trying to get information about the free talk and text for my phone but cant send or receive text messages. I’ve tried changing my plan but it didnt work. What’s the problem.?

    Reply

  40. i have at&t i can send and my girlfriend can receive texts from my phone to her safelink phone. all the sudden she can still send them to me but she cant receive texts from me. anybody else can send and receive texts to her safe link phone. i call att&t thinking it was my phone. its not! what gives? why cant she receive texts from me? and nobody touched any settings on either phone….

    Reply

  41. I have the same problem my phone says to go to safelink.com/sms to learn how to text from my phone at no extra cost but there is no info on that subject

    Reply

  42. I have the same problem as everybody else does. Why is it
    You tell us one thing, and then it. Turns out we can,t. So what give? The government want,s us to trust them but how can we when your telling us half truths and other stuff so hat give

    Reply

  43. I got on my phone that if I go to safelink.com/sms. That I can get free text message on my safelink cell phone.

    Reply

  44. I too got the message saying to go to Safelink.com/sms to get free text message minutes. Can’t find the link. I was under the impression that I got 250 free call minutes and 1000 free text minutes when I applied for the phone. So where are the 1000 free text minutes? Thank you…

    Reply

  45. I got a message this morning on my safelink phone that said CLEARLY THAT I COULD use TEXT (sms) messaging completely FREE if I went to “www.safelink/sms” and YET there is NO INFO for this!

    (A) HOW can I receive FREE texting w/o charging my minutes (JUST AS THE PHONE MESSAGE CLEARLY indicated????

    (B) I certainly hope that YOUR text message did NOT take away from MY minutes!!!

    I ask for someone to call/text/email me with clarifiied-directions.

    Genuinely, Kindly–
    Thank You –
    KATHY

    Reply

  46. Hey
    my boyfriend and I was wondering if it takes minutes from his government phone if he text’s someone and receives messages from the other person. Because it charges him whenever he has to go to his voice mail or call someone he looses hours on his phone.
    We would like to find out if it’s unlimited for texting so He can save on minutes because the government gives him so meany amount of minutes a month.
    Because we are about to get our apartment by the end of this month and we need to be able to contact people about our apartment and when we can move into our place.

    -Alex

    Reply

  49. I asked to change my package to free talk and text and got a message back that said ok and it would be working on the 27th of Sept. It is not. I keep getting a message that says your balance is too low. I saw this on your ad on the TV- FREE TALK AND TEXT-250 minutes for both. Am I understanding ths wrong? ???????????

    Reply

  50. The contract says that I have free texts, but after I get my minutes (250) I try to text and the response says because of low balance, my text didnt go thru. Seems like the only way I can text is if I put money on the phone.

    Reply

  52. Hello! I have recently received a SafeLink Cell Phone and I know I can send texts but I cannot receive texts.. or I can’t make calls or receive calls either… What can I do and What does this mean??

    Thank you,
    Julia

    Reply