How to Get a Free iPad With Phone in 2024

You might be aware that the government offers various support services like healthcare, food, and phone plans for those in need. But can you really get a free iPad along with a phone from the government? It sounds enticing, but is it feasible? Let’s delve into whether obtaining a free iPad with a phone, whether from the government or elsewhere, is a viable option and explore the best alternatives.

Is it Possible to Get a Free iPad With a Phone?

It is possible to get a free phone and it is also possible to get a free or discounted tablet. However, getting both at the same time can be a bit more complicated.

There are two main ways in which you may be able to get a free iPad with a phone:

Through a Carrier or Retailer’s Promotional Deal

Many carriers and retailer companies offer frequent promotional deals on phones and/or tablets. While it is very unlikely to receive both a free iPad and a free phone through the same deal, you might be able to get a free iPad when you purchase your phone at full price (even in installments). In fact, this is exactly how I got my current tablet. However, you must keep in mind that such promotional offers always come with a list of conditions. For example, you will certainly be asked to switch to the carrier’s services and you may also be required to purchase a select plan, add a line, trade in an old eligible device in good working condition, etc.

Through Two Government Assistance Programs – Lifeline and ACP

The other option is to get free devices through a government assistance program. This option is only available for low-income people who are unable to afford these devices.

Lifeline is an assistance program that offers discounts on monthly phone, wireless, or internet services, as well as free phones. Discounted tablets, on the other hand, were offered through the much newer and short-lived ACP program (Affordable Connectivity Program). This program offered discounts on monthly internet services and internet-connected devices, such as tablets, laptops, or desktop computers. While Lifeline phones tend to be completely free of charge, ACP tablets were only discounted, as according to the government rules, each eligible household had to pay a mandatory co-pay of between $10 and $50 to receive the tablet. Many wireless companies all over the country participated in one or both of these programs. However, unfortunately, the ACP program is now coming to an end. While it will still be possible for low-income citizens to receive a free phone through Lifeline, it will not be possible to receive a free or discounted tablet (iPad or any other tablet model) through ACP any longer. The ACP stopped accepting new applications in February 2024 and will officially wind down at the end of April 2024. However, former Lifeline and ACP providers are promising to keep providing exciting benefits for customers in the future. Whether or not the benefits may someday include discounted tablets is not certain (moreover, each company will have a different offer), however, if government assistance companies do offer discounted tablets in the future, it seems that it will not be through ACP.

Nonetheless, as the ACP program was very popular and it truly aided so many low-income people to find work, work from home, join virtual classrooms, stay in touch with loved ones, etc., the government may pick up the ACP funding in the future and thus reintroduce the popular assistance program.

Why is the ACP Program Ending and Will it Return?

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is ending due to running out of funds. When the program launched in 2021, Congress allocated a set amount of money ($14.2 billion) to cover its costs, however, these funds will now be exhausted. While there have been efforts to secure more funding, like the Biden administration requesting a budget supplement and a bipartisan bill in Congress, there haven’t been definitive results.

However, there is still some hope for the program’s return. For instance, the FCC and many supporters are lobbying for additional funding to continue the program. Moreover, with over 23 million subscribers, the program demonstrates a clear need. Whether the ACP comes back depends on Congressional approval for more funding. Stay tuned for updates by checking the FCC website at https://www.fcc.gov/acp or news articles about the program.

Other Options to Get a Free iPad or Phone

Through the following options you will almost certainly not be able to get both a free iPad with a phone, however, you may be able to get the devices separately:

• Charities and non-profit organizations: Such establishments may sometimes offer either a free phone or tablet to a customer in need, however, you are highly unlikely to get both devices.
• Leasing and financial assistance: You may be able to purchase the two devices through leasing or another financial assistance option.
• Online surveys and giveaways: Nowadays, participating in online giveaway contests or taking online surveys can get you either a free phone or tablet, however, you are unlikely to get both.

Factors to Consider Before Getting a Free iPad With a Phone

Before you choose to get a free iPad with a phone through a promotional deal or another option, make sure to take the following factors into account:

• Check the plans that will come with the free devices. Carriers may offer great plans with unlimited monthly data and additional perks, such as subscriptions to streaming services. However, their plans won’t be free of charge. Instead, they will likely be quite pricey. Lifeline providers, on the other hand, which currently only offer free phones, will likely offer highly discounted or free monthly plans with free talk minutes, texts, and data. The amounts of minutes and data may be limited or even unlimited, however, such companies don’t also offer subscriptions to yearly streaming services for free.
• Check the contract terms. Lifeline companies will only require you to obey the program’s rules and limitations, however, you won’t have to sign a contract or commit to the company for a long time. Larger carriers, on the other hand, will require you to sign a lengthy contract with them.
• Potential hidden costs. In terms of hidden costs, government assistance programs usually don’t have them, while large carriers often do.
• The iPad and phone quality. Also, make sure to compare the phones and iPads that you can receive through promotional deals and other options. Obviously, carriers often offer the newest devices, while government assistance programs are unable to do so. Moreover, as of recently, carriers offer the option to receive both a free phone and tablet, while government assistance providers don’t do so anymore due to the ending of the ACP program.
• Coverage. All Lifeline companies are MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) that use the network of one of the major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon), as such, you don’t have to worry about bad coverage at all. Yet, as MVNOs, they get deprioritized networks in times of congestion. Moreover, one of those main carriers may offer the best coverage in your area, as such, you should choose that carrier’s MVNO.

How to Get a Free iPad With Phone Through a Promo Deal

To get a free iPad with a phone through a promotional deal, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official webpages of major carriers and wireless companies that are known to often offer deals on free devices. Such companies include Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Best Buy, Amazon, etc.
2. Review each company’s current deals. These deals tend to change often, as such, you should take a good deal as soon as you see it, as it may not be valid after a week. Make sure to see each deal’s conditions, hidden fees, contracts, etc.
3. Compare the companies’ deals and choose the one that best fits your needs.
4. Once you choose a deal, press it, and follow the company’s on-screen prompts to also choose the plan and sign up for the company’s services. Then, place the order just like you normally place an online order.

What Kind of a Free iPad With Phone Can I Get Through a Promo Deal

As mentioned before, carriers and retailers tend to offer high-quality phones and iPads, even free of charge through promotional deals. However, as these deals are only available for a short while, it’s hard to determine exactly what device you might get when you are searching for it. Recently, some companies offered the following free iPads:

• Verizon recently offered an iPad (9^th Generation) for free with a new line and a 5G iPhone 14 Pro purchase.
• T-Mobile recently offered several iPad tablets.
• Amazon offers highly discounted iPad 2021, iPad Pro 2022, and iPad Pro 2021 models.
• Companies that often offer deals on free phones include Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and many of their MVNOs.

How to Get a Free iPad With Phone Through Lifeline and ACP

As discussed before, there are two government assistance programs. Lifeline offers free phones and ACP used to offer discounted tablets. While Lifeline is still available, the ACP program is currently winding down, with April 2024 being the last fully funded month. The program stopped accepting new applications on February 7, 2024. As such, it is currently only possible to get a new phone through government assistance programs, while new iPads are currently unavailable.

However, as mentioned above, things may change, as the companies that used to offer both free government phones and discounted tablets are trying to find new ways to keep their customers satisfied. Moreover, many people are demanding a renewal of the ACP program, which is not ruled out either.

In case the ACP program gets more funding and picks up, you may expect to have the same steps to get a discounted iPad or tablet. To receive a free phone as well, you would have to:

1. Make sure that you qualify for both assistance programs, as through Lifeline, you can get a free phone, and through ACP, you may potentially get a discounted tablet in the future (again, this option is currently no longer available). You could qualify for these programs based on your income (if your household’s annual income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for Lifeline and at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for ACP) or your participation in a qualifying government assistance program (such as Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, WIC, FPHA, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, Tribal programs, or if the household received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year). To participate in the two programs, you would also need to be at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor and the only applicant in your household.
2. Make sure that you can prove your eligibility. To do so, you would have to provide a clear copy (physical or digital, depending on how you wish to apply) of a valid official document that includes your personal information and either your low income or program participation (depending on your eligibility criterion). You may also need to provide copies of documents that verify your identity, age, address, and other personal information.
3. The ACP application page is currently closed, however, to apply for Lifeline online and receive a free phone, simply visit https://getinternet.gov/apply?id=nv_home&ln=RW5nbGlzaA%3D%3D. You can also apply via mail, which will take a lot more time. During the application process, make sure to provide all the required information and proof documentation.
4. Finally, if the ACP program gets restored, you would have to find a Lifeline and ACP company that offers a free (discounted) iPad with a free phone in your area. You can only apply with companies that operate in your state of residence. You can find each company’s application form on its official website. There, you will also get to choose the plan. If the ACP program resumes, make sure to choose the Lifeline and ACP Combo plan as only this way will you be able to get both devices instead of just one. While applying, make sure to provide the same information and documentation that you have provided while applying through the National Verifier, as the company may compare the two forms. If your application gets approved, expect to receive a discounted iPad, a free phone, and a monthly wireless plan with limited or unlimited talk minutes, texts, and data.

What Kind of a Free iPad With Phone Can I Get Through Lifeline and ACP?

The ACP program is currently winding down. However, even when it was still active, most Lifeline and ACP companies didn’t reveal which phone and tablet model customers could get in advance, as the offer depended on the state, plan, availability, and more. The norm was to get an entry-level to mid-range Android smartphone and/or tablet. However, there were a few companies that offered more advanced smartphones and tablets, including Apple iPhones and iPads. Such companies offered the following iPads:

• Apple iPad Air
• Apple iPad Air 2
• Apple iPad Mini
• Apple iPad Mini 2
• Apple iPad Mini 3
• Apple iPad 3

Free phones still offered by these companies include:

• Apple iPhone 7
• Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
• Apple iPhone 8
• Samsung Galaxy A20S
• Alcatel Revvl 5G
• Samsung Galaxy A51
• Motorola G Stylus 2020
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
• Coolpad Belleza
• OnePlus 7T
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8
• LG V50 ThinQ 5G
• Google Pixel 4 XL, and more

Which Providers Offered a Free iPad With Phone Through Lifeline and ACP

Due to the ending of the ACP program, currently, no government assistance providers offer free or discounted iPads with phones. Moreover, even when this was a valid offer, there were only a few companies that have ever confirmed to offer discounted iPads along with free phones, including:

• AirTalk Wireless (see its service plans, tablets, and phones and apply at airtalkwireless.com)
• Cintex Wireless (see its service plans, tablets, and phones and apply at cintexwireless.com)
• NewPhone Wireless (see its service plans, tablets, and phones and apply at newphone.com)

Some other companies may also have offered discounted iPads and free phones, however, they did not reveal which tablet models they offered in advance. For instance, Easy Wireless just stated that it offers an 8-inch tablet ($120 value) for $10.99, while the tablet brand and model were never mentioned.

Why Would You Need a Free iPad With Phone?

Both phones and iPads have recently become indispensable in our everyday lives. We rely on our smart devices for communication, accessing information, work, education, entertainment, and much more. However, some people are at a disadvantage as they are unable to afford such devices. For individuals and families facing financial constraints, a free device could provide a valuable tool that would make their lives simpler.

Getting a free iPad with a phone may be especially valuable for low-income people who:

• Need a device for connectivity and communication – this way they can search for information, and access social media, email, and other online platforms.
• Need a device for education and learning purposes – this way, they would be able to access online learning materials, online classrooms, read e-books, watch videos, write assignments, etc.
• Need a device for professional or work-related use – this way, they could work remotely, attend virtual meetings, create and access documents, etc.
• Have accessibility needs – these devices come with a user-friendly interface and accessibility features, which can benefit people with disabilities and special needs.

Getting both devices could enhance the user experience, provide access to a larger screen for multimedia consumption, improve productivity, and add convenience.

FAQ

Can I Replace a Free iPad With a Phone?

It depends on the policies of the company you got the devices from. Most companies offer a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Can I Upgrade a Free iPad With a Phone?

It depends on the company, however, many companies do offer upgrades, although they are not free of charge.

Can I Still Get a Free iPad With Phone Through the Government?

No. Since the ACP program began its conclusion period, it’s only possible to get a free phone through Lifeline, while discounted ACP tablets are no longer available. Nevertheless, this may change in the future.

Where Can I Receive Updates About the ACP Program?

You can visit https://www.fcc.gov/acp. Moreover, as the former Lifeline and ACP providers promise to continue offering enticing benefits after the conclusion of the ACP program, you should also visit some of the most popular former Lifeline and ACP companies’ websites, such as AirTalk Wireless, Cintex Wireless, NewPhone Wireless, Easy Wireless, TruConnect, and StandUp Wireless.