If you’re someone, or know someone that is a part of a low-income household that could benefit from a free phone and free phone service then you’re in luck because Assurance Wireless is a wireless phone company subsidized by the federal Lifetime Assistance program and is a part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
The Lifetime Assistance program is a federal government program created to help those who might not be able to afford a phone/phone service in a world where staying connected and learning information is vital. Qualifying customers will be able to get discounted or free phone service through the program.
And since 2020, Assurance Wireless has been using one of America’s biggest wireless networks, T-Mobile. So each person that is a part of Assurance Wireless will have access to the dependable network.
There are a seemingly a lot of huge benefits to Assurance Wireless, especially for those who don’t have access or the funds to spare to stay connected, so let’s deep dive into the company and find out Assurance Wireless pros and cons and all about what they do:
Because Assurance Wireless is a bit different than your average cell phone plan, there will be a few steps you will encounter that you might be confused by as you venture into getting a phone plan from them. We mentioned before that they are a part of the T-Mobile family, that is because they are a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). Most wireless companies in the country are MVNOs and that means they will work with bigger wireless networks- like T-Mobile, by using their data. That leads to cheaper prices for phone plans and more accessibility for the general public.
The ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program), is a large government program that not just works with Assurance Wireless, but many different cell phone plans you might recognize like Verizon, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and Straight Talk Wireless just to name a few.
With Assurance Wireless eligible households will get:
1Assurance Wireless users may experience slow data speeds when there is high network congestion.
That could be a major help to many, but now the question is…
To be an eligible candidate and receive a free phone and free service you must meet certain requirements from the Lifetime Assistance Program and/or the Affordable Connectivity Program. There are some requirements that can vary state by state but overall if you are currently receiving benefits from one of these government programs, then there’s a really good chance you will quality:
(Listed below are the programs directly from the Assurance Wireless website)
If you don’t fall under one of the categories, you may still be eligible based on your household income.
To see if Assurance Wireless is available in your state and what could be required of you via your state click here.
If you think or know you might qualify, then the next step will be applying!
To apply you need to:
There are two major Assurance Wireless plans.
One being the Assurance Wireless free ACP service, their best plan which we talked about earlier.
As a reminder, with this is what you get with this plan:
1Assurance Wireless users may experience slow data speeds when there is high network congestion.
Then there is the Assurance Wireless FREE Lifeline Service, which is supported by the Lifeline Assistance program only. With this plan you will need to qualify for Lifeline service.
And according to the website, new Assurance Wireless Free Lifeline Service members will get the following:
1The amount of data and minutes may vary state to state.
Even though Assurance Wireless plans are free, there are “Plan Add-ons” you can get via their website.
For those who have the Assurance Wireless Free Lifeline Service you can add minutes with these current deals on the website:
To add-on any of these deals to your plan, simply log into your account of the Assurance Wireless website.
Besides the one free Android™ Smartphone that you can get if you quality and are eligible, Assurance has a few “budget” smartphones. Smartphones you can find at a local retailer, not top of the line models that cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Here’s just a few of their options we found:
You can find a full list of the phones they carry on their website “Phone Guides” tab.
Assurance Wireless does have “Bring Your Own Phone” and “Keep Your Own Number” availability. To see if your phone is compatible you’ll need to:
If your phone is compatible you will be sent a free Assurance Wireless SIM card which you can then put into your existing phone to keep and use now on Assurance Wireless.
Just like most wireless phone services, you’re bound to run into both pros and cons, and Assurance Wireless is no different. Let’s take a look at their pros and cons to help you decide if this is the right company for you.
In this day and age, it’s hard to beat a free phone and free phone service. With plans and rates going up seemingly every other day, a lot of low-income households will find themselves struggling to keep up with their expenses and staying connected is super important. Making calls to family and friends, being able to call for medical attention, and helpful information to keep yourself well informed is immensely beneficial. Those who are able to qualify through the Lifetime Assistance and Affordable Connectivity Program will be able to stay connected because of Assurance.
Since Assurance Wireless uses T-Mobile as their main network provider, anyone planning to sign up or already signed up will have access to T-Mobile’s network. T-Mobile is a strong network, flourishing in cities and suburban areas. If you plan to bring your own 5G compatible phone, you will also have access to T-Mobile’s 5G network.
A big selling point Assurance has is no contracts and no activation fees. A lot of the time you’ll find that certain phone companies like to lock you down with a contract and that can cause stress when you need to make some changes, but since Assurance doesn’t deal with contracts, you will have that freedom to choose. No activation fees mean that when you get your Assurance SIM card and/or activate your phone for the first time you won’t have to pay for it on top of your free plan or add-ons.
Certain cell phone companies that operate with data, minutes, and text availability will have the option for any extra GBs, minutes, and texts to “rollover” to the next month of your service. That way you’ll go into the next month with extra minutes, aka anything you didn’t use last month you will now have it stacked onto the next month’s total. Assurance Wireless does not offer that perk. Anything extra will expire when the next month’s service days begin.
Through many review sites Assurance Wireless has scored a low satisfaction rate from many reviewers online. Here are some reviews we found on various websites:
“Every time I get a phone, it is not new, and they break down within 5 to 6 months! This phone can't take or send pictures, or get texts properly. Or the phone shuts down! I called last week, to get a new phone, and they said a new phone was on it's way. Well, it never came! I called them. They said it was never sent out, but to get a new/old phone, I need to give them thirty dollars! I am Disabled and I qualified for a FREE phone, and now they want money!” -Albert P. (08/09/2023) via SiteJabber
“A very poor reception, customer service lied including a supervisor for an issue has been dragging for 4 months and still no solution when they have everything recorded. However, they kept lying and saying they have no records. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY.” -Madi (11/22/2023) via Trustpilot
However, once in a sea of 1 star reviews, there will be a 5 star review like this one:
“I realize many people have thought Assurance is awful, but in my experience, they're terrific. They've replaced phones for me whenever there was a problem and their customer service people know their stuff and are extremely helpful. I've had Verizon and Apple and Assurance has much better customer service than either one.” -Merrilly Noeth (08/20/2023) also via Trustpilot
Since Assurance Wireless is a MVNO, you will be bound to notice slow internet and data speeds due to data deprioritization. In high traffic areas or network congestion, T-Mobile will prioritize direct subscribers, leaving those who aren’t a direct consumer to deal with slower speeds.
Assurance Wireless, the phone company subsidized by the federal Lifetime Assistance program and is a part of the Affordable Connectivity Program has its fair share of pros and cons.
If you want to compare and contrast Assurance Wireless to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.
Yep, we offer premium wireless service on the the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in our dewi coverage areas, you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.
Nope, it’s pay as you go.
Yeah! You put your card on file and prepay each month so that you never experience any disruption.
Yep, but it’s super easy to unlock your device as long as it’s paid off. Chat with us and a real human can help you here.
We have some recommendations on what we think you should get, from iPhones to Droids. Check out our list here which includes affordable places online to get a good deal.
It means we are building a phone network that is powered by the people. Your neighbors put small radios on their roof and help extend the phone network to cover deadzones™ and get even faster speeds. Right now our DeWi network is available in Austin, but we’ll be expanding to other cities REALLY soon. Learn more about DeWi here.
Great question. If you’re in Austin, TX, you’ll install 2 new SIMs. The REALLY nationwide SIM as your first SIM, which will give you voice / text & data on the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network powered by T-Mobile®.
Your 2nd SIM will give you access to the REALLY DeWi network in Austin, TX, which you’ll prioritize when available so that you get even faster speeds and better coverage.
Depending on your device, you may be able to install eSIMs via a QR code.
Yep, we are powered by T-Mobile®, the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. If you are in Austin, TX you’ll also get access to our decentralized phone network powered by the people which will give you even faster speeds and better coverage.
The plan is unlimited, but once you reach 20GB you may experience slower speeds depending on network usage.
You get 10GB of hotspot data per month, but can add more if you need to.
You can chat with us, text us, or login to your account to top off. It only takes a few seconds.