How to Get a Free Cell Phone

Last updated 08 April 2024

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How to Get a Free Phone:

There are several ways to get a free smartphone. Eligible low-income consumers can get a free phone through the government’s Lifeline program. Others can take advantage of deals from carriers that offer free cell phones (yes, even iPhones) to new customers who switch.

The big three carriers AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile provide trade-in deals that can get you a free smartphone or a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Keep reading to learn more about getting your next smartphone for free.

1. Find free cell phones when switching carriers

One of the best ways to get your hands on a free phone is to switch to a new carrier. Below are just a few carriers that offer free phones to brand-new customers.

Free phones from Verizon

Verizon regularly offers a handful of free phones to new customers with no trade-in required. The catch is that you’ll technically be purchasing your phone on a 36-month payment plan. Verizon credits your monthly bill and then cancels out that month’s device payment.

If you decide to leave Verizon before the 36 months are up, you will have to pay for the phone in full. You can expect that these free phones will not be flagship-level devices like the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S-series, but you should still be able to get a serviceable and 5G-capable phone for free from Verizon.

Here are some examples of free phones that Verizon has offered:

For a full list of free phones from Verizon, you can visit their website.

Free phones from AT&T

AT&T free phones are typically offered as part of a trade-in deal, though sometimes you will find them discounted to free when you switch to AT&T and sign up for one of their top-tier unlimited plans. This offer is usually more common on slightly older phone models like the iPhone 12 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. But if you're looking to get a newer model for free, you'll have to trade in an eligible, older device.

For the latest on which free AT&T phones you can find, check out our AT&T deals page.

Free phones from T-Mobile

T-Mobile's free phones are super easy to find on their website. And unlike some other carriers, you'll find much newer phone models at zero cost without any trade-in requirements. Often, eligibility will require you to purchase the phone via monthly installment payments, and then T-Mobile will discount your monthly phone bill for the cost of the device throughout your installment plan (usually 24 months), making the phone completely free.

Free phones from Metro by T-Mobile

While its parent company (T-Mobile) doesn’t offer free phones without a trade-in on the regular, Metro by T-Mobile often does. If you go to a Metro by T-Mobile store to purchase and activate your new phone, you’ll get an immediate rebate making the phone free. If, however, you purchase the phone online, you’ll have to pay for the phone upfront and receive the rebate after you activate the device.

Some examples of phones Metro by T-Mobile has offered for free to new customers include:

Free phones from Cricket

Cricket is another carrier that often gives free phones to new customers. You may need to port in your old phone number to be eligible for the free device. Cricket will also require you to activate a line on a plan with a specific minimum monthly price. Usually, the lower-priced phones will require a lower-priced plan, while the higher-priced phones will require a higher-priced plan.

Right now, you can grab a TCL 30 Z free when you switch to Cricket.

2. Get free phones with trade-in

The phones you can get for free by switching to a new carrier are usually budget to mid-range devices. If you want a higher-tiered flagship-level phone for free—like the iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S24—you will likely have to trade in your old phone.

The major carriers offer big trade-in cell phone deals for old phones, which usually cover the cost of the base model of the current flagship phones. For example, the base Apple iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini were available for free with trade-in from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile for most of the phones’ existence. Usually, you’ll have to get your new phone on an installment plan, and the carrier will apply credits each month to your bill. Most carriers will let you trade in your device via the mail or in person at a physical store.

Check out our guide to the best trade-in deals and current iPhone trade-in deals available to see if you can get your hands on one of the hottest phones for free.

3. Use buy one, get one free deals

Another way to get a high-end smartphone for free is by taking advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) deal. Of course, this means you have to pay full price for one device. However, if you and your loved one each need a new phone, this is a great way to save big on your devices.

Usually, the carrier credits you with the base model of the series you are purchasing. So, if, for example, you buy the iPhone 15 Pro on a BOGO offer, you could get the iPhone 15 for free or another iPhone for cheap.

Check out our guide on the best BOGO deals to see if you can get yourself two phones for the price of one.

4. Determine if you qualify for a free government phone

Through the government's Lifeline program, eligible low-income people can acquire a free Android phone and phone plan. Anyone enrolled in one of the following programs is eligible to get a free phone from the government:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Medicaid
Federal Public Housing Assistance
Tribal-specific programs

Those not enrolled in any of the above programs may still be eligible for the Lifeline program based solely on their income.

Carriers in each state can get you set up with your free government phone and service. These carriers include Assurance Wireless, Life Wireless, Q Link Wireless, and Safelink Wireless.

You can learn more about the Lifeline program in our full guide on free government cell phones.