Internet access is now essential for school, jobs, benefits applications and healthcare, but it can be one of the more expensive monthly bills. There are several programs that lower the cost of phone or internet service for people with limited incomes, and a few free ways to get online when you need to.
Quick facts
- Lifeline is a federal program that gives eligible households a monthly discount on either phone or internet service.
- The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in 2024 when its funding ran out, so older guides that mention it are out of date.
- Many internet providers have their own low-cost plans for households that receive certain benefits.
Lifeline
Lifeline, run by the Federal Communications Commission, reduces the monthly cost of phone service, internet service or a bundle of the two. You can use the discount with participating providers, which include many mobile carriers and some home internet providers. The discount amount is set by the FCC and can change, so check the current amount on the FCC Lifeline page. Residents of Tribal lands may qualify for additional support.
Who qualifies
Households generally qualify in one of two ways: by income, typically at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or by participating in a qualifying program, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit program. There is a limit of one Lifeline benefit per household, not per person.
How to apply
- Choose a participating provider in your area. You can search by ZIP code at LifelineSupport.org.
- Apply through the provider or directly through the National Verifier at the same site.
- Provide proof of eligibility, such as a benefits letter or income documents. Many applicants are verified automatically from state data.
- Recertify each year. If you do not, the benefit ends.
The FCC Lifeline Support Center can answer questions at 1-800-234-9473.
Provider discount plans
Many large internet providers offer low-cost home internet to households that receive benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or free school meals. Programs such as Comcast Internet Essentials, Spectrum Internet Assist and AT&T Access have existed for years. Names, prices and eligibility rules change, so visit your provider’s website and search for “low-income”, “affordable” or “internet assistance” or call and ask which plans fit. Look for plans with no contract, no credit check and no equipment rental fee where possible.
Free and low-cost ways to get online
- Public libraries offer free Wi-Fi and computers, printing and help with online forms. Many libraries also lend Wi-Fi hotspots you can take home, just like a book.
- Community centers, schools and some parks offer free Wi-Fi.
- Low-cost computers. Nonprofits such as PCs for People provide refurbished computers and low-cost internet to eligible households.
- Prepaid mobile plans can cost less than a contract and often include hotspot data, which can serve as basic home internet for light use.
Ways to lower your current bill
- Call your provider and ask for the lowest-priced plan, any promotions and a review of fees. Mention that you are considering switching.
- Return rented equipment and buy your own modem or router if it pays off over a year.
- Choose the speed you need. Most households that stream and video chat do not need the most expensive tier.
- Check whether bundling TV or phone really saves money, or whether separate cheaper services cost less.
Beware of “free government phone” scams
Lifeline is real, but scammers imitate it. Apply only through the official National Verifier or a provider listed there, never pay an application fee, and do not give your Social Security number to anyone who contacted you first. See our guide to avoiding assistance scams.
Official sources
How this guide differs from getting a computer
This guide is about the monthly service: the Lifeline discount, provider low-cost plans, free ways to get online, and ways to lower a current bill.
The free or low-cost computer guide is different. It is about the device itself: refurbished computers, library loans and nonprofit programmes, rather than the monthly service discount.
Frequently asked questions
How do I qualify? Generally by income, typically at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or by participating in a qualifying programme such as SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit program.
How do I apply? Choose a participating provider in your area, searching by ZIP code at LifelineSupport.org, then apply through the provider or directly through the National Verifier at the same site, with proof of eligibility such as a benefits letter or income documents.
Can I get one benefit per person? No. There is a limit of one Lifeline benefit per household, not per person. It can reduce the cost of phone service, internet service or a bundle of the two.
Do I have to recertify? Yes. Recertify each year. If you do not, the benefit ends.
Is the Affordable Connectivity Program still available? No. It ended in 2024 when its funding ran out, so older guides that mention it are out of date.
What if someone asks me to pay to apply? Do not pay. Apply only through the official National Verifier or a provider listed there, and never pay an application fee.
How this guide was researched and reviewed
The Low-Cost Finder Editorial Team prepares content from official agency and established nonprofit sources, checks it against those sources, and explains it in plain language. It is reviewed before publication and revisited when programmes change.