Free government phone in Georgia
Georgia residents who qualify for Lifeline can get free or discounted phone service. Here is who qualifies, where to apply, and which companies serve the state.
In short
- Lifeline takes up to $9.25 a month off internet or a phone plan with data, or up to $5.25 off phone-only service. On Tribal lands it is up to $34.25.
- Georgia also has its own program, Link-Up Georgia.
- Apply at getinternet.gov, the FCC's National Verifier site, or through a Lifeline company. Both lead to the same check.
- In May 2026, 15 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Georgia. The most customers were with AirTalk Wireless, Infiniti Mobile and SafeLink Wireless.
Who qualifies in Georgia
Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:
- Someone in your household gets one of these benefits:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (including Section 8)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- a qualifying Tribal program
- Your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines. These are the government's yearly income levels by household size.
Each household can get only one Lifeline benefit.
What to know in Georgia
- The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) page says you qualify if you get one of these now: TANF, SSI, SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, LIHEAP or Federal Public Housing Assistance.
- It also lists a senior low-income discount plan from a local gas or power company.
- That is an older list. TANF (cash aid for families), LIHEAP (energy bill help) and the gas or power plan are no longer on the federal list.
- When you apply, the federal rules above are what count. You can qualify by income or by one of the programs on the federal list.
- The page lists no income limit. It says to apply through your local phone company.
Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.
Link-Up Georgia
- The Georgia PSC page also describes Link-Up Georgia. It sits alongside the federal Lifeline discount.
- Link-Up Georgia cuts the charge to connect phone service.
- AT&T Georgia customers get 100% of the connection charge waived.
- Customers of other local phone companies get half the charge or $30 off, whichever is less.
- You can enroll in both programs.
How to apply in Georgia
In Georgia, the National Verifier checks who qualifies. It is the federal system for Lifeline. You can apply on your own, or through a provider. Both lead to the same check.
Apply at getinternet.gov. This is the FCC's official National Verifier site. Have proof of who you are ready, and proof of your income or your benefit.
Companies that give Lifeline service in Georgia
In May 2026, 15 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Georgia. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Georgia, not who is best.
| Company | Lifeline customers | Free plan data |
|---|---|---|
| AirTalk Wireless | 71,695 | 5GB |
| Infiniti Mobile | 45,178 | |
| SafeLink Wireless | 26,627* | Not stated |
| TAG Mobile | 19,363 | Up to 16GB |
| Assurance Wireless | 16,379 | 10GB |
| Gen Mobile | 15,521 | |
| StandUp Wireless | 13,714 | 5GB |
| TruConnect | 5,976 | At least 4.5GB |
* SafeLink Wireless: This count also includes Lifeline customers of Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Walmart Family Mobile and TracFone. USAC counts them together with SafeLink.
Free plan data is from each company's own site. We show it for the companies we have a page on.
Some local phone companies give Lifeline on a home phone instead. In Georgia, 38 companies did this, with 2,507 customers in all.
Not every company serves every part of Georgia. To see who serves your address, enter your ZIP code in the official company finder.
If you don't qualify
Lifeline is only for households that get one of the benefits above or have a low enough income. If yours doesn't, you can still get a phone line for little or nothing. These are this month's picks from our plans page:
- Best free plan: TextNow Free, $0 a month (550 MB, select apps)
- Best under $15: Red Pocket Essentials, $10 a month (3 GB)
- Best free trial: Visible Free Trial, $0 for 15 days (Unlimited)
Each one has a catch, and the plans page says what it is. Our guides compare more options: plans that are genuinely free and free trials. The plans page also lists every plan at $15 or less.
If you applied and were turned down, read why Lifeline applications are denied first. It covers each reason and the document that fixes it.
How many people use Lifeline in Georgia
Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 229,356 subscribers in Georgia in May 2026, down 3.8% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 8th highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming