Most free government phones are basic Android models, and sooner or later people want something better. You can upgrade, but Lifeline itself will not pay for it. The Lifeline discount covers monthly service, so a better phone comes from your company’s store, a phone you buy elsewhere, or a different Lifeline company with a better offer.
Below are the three ways to upgrade a free government phone, with the prices and conditions large companies publish, plus straight answers on 5G phones and “free iPhone” ads. If you are still applying, see how to apply for Lifeline.
Three ways to upgrade
| Option | How it works | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy from your Lifeline company | Order a better phone through your account or the company’s shop; keep your plan and number | You pay for the phone | Keeping everything in one place |
| Bring your own phone | Put your Lifeline SIM in an unlocked, compatible phone you own or buy | Whatever the phone costs, often less secondhand | Getting the phone you actually want |
| Switch Lifeline companies | Move your benefit to a company offering a better phone to new customers | Often a small fee or none | People whose current company has a weak lineup |
None of these options changes your eligibility. You still qualify for Lifeline the same way, through income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or through a program such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or a Veterans or Survivors Pension. The upgrade is only about the device.
What large Lifeline companies offer
These come from each company’s own pages. Prices and stock change often.
| Company | Upgrade option |
|---|---|
| Assurance Wireless | Existing customers choose “Purchase New Phone” in their online account, or buy from its authorized retailers |
| Access Wireless | “Customers may purchase an upgraded handset through our online selection of phones” |
| enTouch Wireless | Upgrade “to higher grade device… for an additional cost, if available” |
| TruConnect | Its online shop lists phones such as the Moto G Play 2024 at $129, Galaxy A14 5G at $149 and iPhone 13 at $379 (check whether an offer applies to Lifeline customers) |
| Life Wireless | Sells phones, with a 30-day return window on purchased phones |
Example: Assurance Wireless phone prices
Assurance Wireless is one of the few large companies that posts a full phone list with prices. Its phone options page listed these models as of September 2026:
| Phone | Price listed | 5G? |
|---|---|---|
| Artia SP555 | $31.99 | No |
| FOXXD A55 4G LTE | $39.99 | No (4G LTE) |
| Revvl 6x Pro 5G | $90.00 | Yes |
| Samsung Galaxy A15 5G | $99.00 | Yes |
| iPhone SE | $129.99 plus taxes and shipping | No |
The same page says phones are provided free of charge to eligible customers in California, and its help center says other customers can buy a phone once approved or bring their own. So an Assurance customer outside California who wants a 5G Samsung would pay $99, not $0.
Is there a free 5G government phone?
Sometimes, but not from the government. Lifeline has no phone budget, so “free 5G government phones” are company promotions. Whether a company gives a free phone, and which one, depends on the company and often on your state.
What you can count on is this. A 5G phone only helps if your company’s network has 5G where you live and your plan includes it. For calls, texts and light browsing, a 4G LTE phone does the job. Lifeline plans also have data limits, so a faster phone does not give you more data; it only uses it faster. For the minimum data and minutes a Lifeline plan must include.
Upgrading to an iPhone
You can use an iPhone on many Lifeline plans, but a new iPhone is almost never free. Most people either buy a used or older model and bring it, or buy one from their company’s shop. Our guides to the free government iPhone and the free iPhone SE government phone cover what is realistic.
What about “free iPhone 17” ads?
Ads for a free iPhone 17 or iPhone 16 usually come from Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile, not from Lifeline. These deals are real, but they work differently from a government phone:
- They usually need a new line, a trade-in, or both, plus a paid unlimited plan.
- The phone is “free” through monthly bill credits spread over a long installment plan, often 36 months.
- If you leave the plan early, the credits stop. AT&T’s support page, for example, says that if you do not fix a lost promotion within 30 days, “you won’t get the credit each month and the balance owed on your device will be due.”
That can be a good deal for someone who can pay an unlimited plan for three years. It is not a Lifeline benefit, and it will cost far more per month than a free Lifeline plan. A “free iPhone government phone with food stamps” ad that asks only for your SNAP card and personal details is a red flag.
A cheaper iPhone path
- Buy a used or refurbished iPhone that is unlocked. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then About. If Carrier Lock says “No SIM restrictions,” it is unlocked.
- Check the IMEI in your Lifeline company’s compatibility checker before you pay.
- Know the SIM type. iPhone 14 and later models sold in the US are eSIM only, so your company must support eSIM.
- Ask your company for a SIM or eSIM and move your service over.
Before you buy a phone to bring
- Check that the phone is unlocked. A phone locked to another carrier will not work.
- Check it runs on your company’s network. Assurance Wireless, for example, uses the T-Mobile network.
- Run the company’s compatibility check with the phone’s IMEI number (dial *#06# to see it).
- Make sure it supports the SIM type your company uses, physical SIM or eSIM.
Our full walkthrough is in bring your own phone to Lifeline.
Switching companies for a better phone
If another company is offering a better phone, you can move your benefit to it with a transfer; see how to transfer Lifeline. Compare phone offers and plans in our Lifeline providers guide first.
Questions to ask before you switch:
- Is the phone free, or is there a charge or shipping fee?
- Is it new or refurbished, and is it 4G or 5G?
- Does the new company’s network cover your home and work?
- How much data does the plan include, and can you use hotspot?
- Will you keep your phone number?
The best free government phone program is the one with good coverage where you live and enough data for your needs. A nicer phone on a network with weak signal at home is a downgrade.
Offers also differ by state. People searching for a free government phone in Texas, Illinois or Florida will see different companies and deals, because each company is approved state by state. Texas also runs its own Lifeline process instead of the National Verifier.
What happens to your old phone
It is yours to keep in most cases, but it may be locked to your current company. If you want to use it with another carrier or sell it, check whether you can unlock a free government phone. If your old phone was lost rather than replaced, read lost or stolen Lifeline phone replacement instead.
Before you give away or sell the old phone, back up your contacts and photos, sign out of your Google or Apple account, and do a factory reset. Take the SIM card out too.
Watch out for “free upgrade” offers
Be careful with ads that promise a free new flagship phone for anyone on SNAP or Medicaid. Qualifying for Lifeline through SNAP gives you a service discount, not a device. Real offers state the price, the plan and any conditions in writing.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) once gave a one-time discount of up to $100 toward a laptop, desktop or tablet from a participating company, if the household paid more than $10 and less than $50. The ACP ended on June 1, 2024 after it ran out of money, so any ad still promising that device discount is out of date.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upgrade my free government phone for free? Rarely. Lifeline pays for service, not phones. Some companies give new customers a phone, which is why some people transfer, but upgrades for existing customers are usually paid.
Where can I get a free government phone today? Apply for Lifeline with a company in your state. Whether a phone is included, and how fast it ships, depends on the company. Assurance Wireless, for example, says approved customers get delivery within 2 business days.
Can I get a free iPhone from the government? No. The government does not give out iPhones. Some Lifeline companies sell older iPhones at a discount, and carriers offer “free” iPhones tied to paid plans.
Will upgrading my phone change my Lifeline plan? No. Your plan and discount stay the same unless you switch companies or change plans yourself.
Does a 5G phone give me more data? No. Your data limit comes from the plan. A 5G phone can load pages faster where 5G is available.
Can I keep my number when I upgrade? Yes, if you stay with the same company. If you switch, ask the new company to port your number.
Sources: Assurance Wireless: Phone options, Assurance Wireless: Terms, Access Wireless: Lifeline support, enTouch Wireless: Terms, TruConnect shop, Life Wireless: Returns, Assurance Wireless: Phones and prices, AT&T: Stay eligible for your promotion, Tom’s Guide: Best iPhone 17 deals, Apple: Unlock your iPhone for a different carrier, Apple: Which SIM your iPhone uses, FCC: Affordable Connectivity Program.