Free government phone in Tennessee
Tennessee 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. Tennessee has no extra state program.
- Apply at getinternet.gov, the FCC's National Verifier site, or through a Lifeline company. Both lead to the same check.
- In May 2026, 14 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Tennessee. The most customers were with AirTalk Wireless, SafeLink Wireless and Infiniti Mobile.
Who qualifies in Tennessee
Under the federal rules, either one of these is enough:
- Someone in your household gets one of these benefits:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Medicaid (called TennCare in Tennessee)
- 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 Tennessee
- Tennessee has no state Lifeline program.
- The Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) has no Lifeline page for residents.
- No Tennessee page states an income limit or extra qualifying program. So the federal rules apply.
- Tennessee joined the National Verifier in the December 2018 group. That is the federal system that checks who qualifies.
- It checks SNAP, Medicaid, public housing and the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit automatically.
- A 2022 state law gave the TPUC power to approve wireless Lifeline carriers (Public Chapter 789, Tenn. Code Ann. 65-4-104(c)). Before that, wireless carriers had to go to the FCC.
- In 2022 the TPUC approved carriers including Life Wireless, Q Link Wireless, TruConnect and enTouch Wireless.
- Some phone companies choose market regulation under the Market Regulation Act of 2009. The TPUC does not regulate them.
- The TPUC Consumer Services Division handles complaints: (800) 342-8359 or 615-741-2904.
Check if you qualify with our quick tool, or read the full rules.
How to apply in Tennessee
In Tennessee, 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 Tennessee
In May 2026, 14 companies gave Lifeline cell phone service in Tennessee. These are the 8 with the most customers. The counts come from USAC, which runs Lifeline. They show who serves Tennessee, not who is best.
| Company | Lifeline customers | Free plan data |
|---|---|---|
| AirTalk Wireless | 38,587 | 5GB |
| SafeLink Wireless | 24,398* | Not stated |
| Infiniti Mobile | 20,814 | |
| TAG Mobile | 15,678 | Up to 16GB |
| Assurance Wireless | 10,650 | 10GB |
| Gen Mobile | 4,640 | |
| StandUp Wireless | 3,120 | 5GB |
| TruConnect | 2,920 | 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 Tennessee, 31 companies did this, with 2,991 customers in all.
Not every company serves every part of Tennessee. 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 Tennessee
Phone companies claimed Lifeline for 130,793 subscribers in Tennessee in May 2026, down 4.0% since May 2025 (USAC). That is the 15th highest count among the 50 states and DC. Lifeline enrollment in every state.
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