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Free government phone in Montana

Montana 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.
  • Montana also has its own program, Montana Telephone Assistance Plan (MTAP): $3.50 a month on phone service (Medicaid recipients only).
  • Apply at getinternet.gov, the FCC's National Verifier site, or through a Lifeline company. Both lead to the same check.
  • In May 2026, 8 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Montana. The most customers were with AirTalk Wireless, SafeLink Wireless and Assurance Wireless.
Updated · Last checked . Confirm the current rules on the official Montana Lifeline page before you apply.

Who qualifies in Montana

Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:

Each household can get only one Lifeline benefit.

What to know in Montana

Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.

Montana Telephone Assistance Plan (MTAP)

Extra discount: $3.50 a month on phone service (Medicaid recipients only)

Official Montana Telephone Assistance Plan (MTAP) page

How to apply in Montana

In Montana, 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 Montana

In May 2026, 8 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Montana. Here they are, with the most customers first. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Montana, not who is best.

CompanyLifeline customersFree plan data
AirTalk Wireless3,9955GB
SafeLink Wireless363*Not stated
Assurance Wireless16910GB
TruConnect123At least 4.5GB
North American Local, LLC80
StandUp Wireless685GB
Sagebrush Cellular, Inc.38
Life Wireless6Not stated

* 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 Montana, 23 companies did this, with 1,476 customers in all.

Not every company serves every part of Montana. 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:

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 Montana

Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 6,318 subscribers in Montana in May 2026, up 46.6% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 49th highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.

Other states