TerraCom Wireless - Lifeline Plans

As a participant in the Federal Lifeline program, TerraCom Wireless offers free Smartphones along with free cellular and internet service to eligible households. Their website advertises Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, and Unlimited Data, but be sure to read the fine print. It’s not available in all areas.

According to their website (as of April 2024), TerraCom offers service in the following states:

Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

All states do not have the same plan options. Listed below are the TerraCom plans available to eligible households by state:

Oklahoma and Washington

Tribal Voice Base Plan

• 2,000 Voice Minutes
• 1,000 Text
• Monthly Cost: Free

Tribal Broadband Base Plan

• 2,000 Voice Minutes
• 1,000 Text
• 4.5GB Data
• Monthly Cost: Free

Non-Tribal Voice Plans

• 1,000 Voice Minutes
• 1,000Texts
• Monthly Cost: Free

Non-Tribal Broadband *

• 500 Voice minutes
• 1,000 Texts
• 4.5GB of Data
• Monthly Cost: Free

Kansas

Voice Base Plan

• 1840 Voice Minutes
• Unlimited Text
• Monthly Cost: Free

Broadband Base Plan*

• 920 Voice Minutes
• 1,000 Texts
• 4.5GB Data
• Monthly Cost: Free

Nebraska

Voice Base Plan

• 1350 Voice Minutes
• 1,000 Texts
• Monthly Cost: Free

Broadband Base Plan*

• 690 Voice Minutes
• 1,000 Texts
• 4.5 GB Data
• Monthly Cost Free

All Other States

Voice Base Plan

• 1000 Voice Minutes
• 1,000 Texts
• Monthly Cost: Free

Broadband Base Plan*

• 500 Voice Minutes
• 1,000 Texts
• 4.5 GB Data
• Monthly Cost: Free

All the plans listed above, the unused minutes do not roll over.

*Plans only available on data capable phones.

How to Qualify for Lifeline

Although the TerraCom Wireless website doesn’t clearly outline the requirements needed to qualify for Lifeline, we will list the requirements below. You may also find this information on the USAC website. To qualify you must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

1. Lifeline: Have a household income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guideline


2. You or a member of your household is receiving benefits from one of the following government assistance programs.


• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Additional Programs if living on Tribal lands:

• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• Tribal Head Start
• Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Signing up for Lifeline

To receive the free phone service, you must first enroll in the Lifeline program. To do so, visit the National Verifier website and apply. Before starting your application, however, it’s best to have the necessary documents in hand to make the application process painless.

You will need not only documents that prove you are eligible such as a program Award letter or Benefits letter, but you’ll also need to prove your identity and that you are living. The image below outlines examples of acceptable forms of proof.

Once your Lifeline application is approved, you can then go to the TerraCom website to sign up for their service (When this article was written, TerraCom did not accept online applications. You had to call the Customer Service Center at 1-888-716-8880). TerraCom does not run credit checks or require you to sign a contract. After TerraCom approves. your application, your device should be shipped within 5 to 7 business days. This may vary depending on demand. If you didn’t keep track of the date of your application, you can always check the status of your application on the TerraCom Wireless website.

As TerraCom Wireless does not take responsibility for phones after they are delivered to a mailbox (i.e., a phone stolen from the mailbox), it’s best to monitor your mailbox daily until the phone is received.

If you do enroll with TerraCom Wireless you can always check the status of your application here

Do Your Homework

This person’s opinion (and it’s just an opinion): Other wireless providers offer coverage in the states listed on this page. Their offerings are clear and easy to understand. They also offer unlimited talk, text, and data. Please do your homework before signing up with any wireless provider. To view more wireless options, please visit the “By Provider” page or the State Listing page on this website.

Things to Consider

• If you already have a cell number and become eligible for the free Lifeline phone, you can keep your existing phone number. Call customer support at 1-888-716-8880 to have the number ported.


• Every call made or received uses airtime minutes. Additionally, one minute is deducted for incoming and/or outgoing text messages. There’s a possibility that unusually long text messages may cost more. Make sure to check your plan details.


• You can always check your airtime balance on your phone by pressing *646* and pressing the talk/send key. Or, if you’re not comfortable with that method, you can call customer service to check your balance.


• TerraCom’s wireless plans do not include international calling.


• Only one Lifeline eligible phone is allowed per economic unit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: This site was created to help people find information about free government phones. The ower of this site does not mail, activate or repair free government phones nor provide phone service. If you have questions about phone service it is suggested that you contact the phone service provider directly.

Last Modified: 2 August 2026