What Carriers Are Compatible With Q Link Wireless
Q Link Wireless is a wireless provider and telecommunications company based in Florida. It participates in the government-funded Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) assistance programs, offering discounts on monthly phone, wireless, and internet services to eligible low-income customers.
In addition to offering monthly services and plans with free unlimited talk, text, and data, as well as new tablets with a large ACP discount, the company also enables customers to bring their own mobile devices and use them with Q Link’s services.
However, Q Link’s Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program has certain limitations. Not all phones can be used with Q Link’s services. Instead, the phone you decide to bring must be:
- Carrier-unlocked. If your phone is locked to work only with your previous provider’s services, you must contact your former wireless provider and ask them to unlock your phone. Your phone can only be unlocked if the device is paid off in full and if it is not flagged as lost, stolen, or involved with fraudulent activity. The agent may try to persuade you not to unlock your device and to continue using their services. However, if you wish to switch to Q Link and bring your own phone, you will have to insist.
- GSM-supported. Read more about this important condition below.
- Compatible with Q Link’s network and services. See how to check your phone’s compatibility in the next section.
Q Link Wireless is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that does not have its own network towers but uses T-Mobile’s towers and nationwide network. T-Mobile is a GSM network, as such T-Mobile and all of its MVNOs only offer GSM-supported devices, as only GSM-supported devices are compatible with GSM networks.
So to answer your question – What carriers are compatible with Q Link… The answer is all GSM carriers, T-Mobile, AT&T, and all of their MVNOs, including:
- Boost Mobile
- Consumer Cellular
- Cricket
- FreedomPop
- FreeUP Mobile
- Gen Mobile
- Good2Go Mobile
- Google Fi
- H2O Wireless
- Metro by T-Mobile
- Mint Mobile
- Net10
- Red Pocket
- Republic Wireless
- Simple Mobile
- Straight Talk
- Tello
- TextNow
- TracFone
- Ultra Mobile
- US Mobile
- Wing
As Q Link Wireless used to run on Sprint’s CDMA network and as Sprint continues to be a part of the T-Mobile company, Q Link users may also be to use a CDMA device if the device is unlocked.
How Do I Know if My Phone is Compatible With Q Link?
The only way to be entirely certain whether your phone will work on Q Link’s services is to check its compatibility.
Check your phone’s compatibility with Q Link by visiting qlinkwireless.com/byop.aspx and entering your device ID (ESN, IMEI, or MEID) number in the provided search box. The system will immediately let you know whether or not your phone is compatible.
If you have any issues finding your phone’s ID number, you can find the instructions on how to do so on the same website.
List of Phones That Are Compatible With Q Link
Now that we have determined what carriers are compatible with Q Link wireless, let’s also take a look at which phones are compatible with the provider. The list of Q Link-compatible phones is long and it includes the following devices:
- Alcatel iDOLTM 5s
- Apple iPhone 6
- Apple iPhone 7
- Apple iPhone 8
- Apple iPhone SE
- Apple iPhone X
- BLU S1/Vivo S
- Google Nexus 5
- Google Nexus 6
- Google Pixel
- Google Pixel 2
- Google Pixel XL
- LG X Charge (Amazon only)
- Motorola moto E4
- Motorola moto G4
- Motorola moto G5 plus
- Motorola moto X4
- Motorola moto Z2 play
- Orbic Wonder
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8
- Samsung Galaxy S7
- Samsung Galaxy S8
- Samsung Galaxy S8+
What Network Towers Does Q Link Use?
As we have established before, Q Link Wireless is an MVNO that uses T-Mobile’s nationwide network towers. As such, Q Link enables its customers to access T-Mobile’s network with a huge 4G coverage that reaches approximately 99% of the entire U.S. population. T-Mobile also has the largest 5G coverage, which is another great advantage of Q Link’s services.
The fact that Q Link uses T-Mobile’s network towers is vital when it comes to answering what carriers are compatible with Q Link, as T-Mobile (thus also Q Link) offers a GSM network and therefore only GSM-supported carriers are compatible with Q Link.
Can I Use My Q Link Phone With Another Carrier SIM?
Not only does Q Link’s BYOP program enable you to use your Q Link SIM card with another carrier’s phone, but you can also do the opposite – you can use your Q Link phone with another carrier’s SIM card. Again, to do so, there are certain conditions:
- If you have purchased or received free of charge (which is also possible through the Lifeline and ACP plan in certain states) directly from Q Link Wireless, you must unlock it before you can use it with any other carrier’s SIM card. To do so, contact Q Link’s customer support service and ask them to unlock your phone. The agent will let you know if your phone is eligible to be unlocked.
- The carrier with which you are planning to use your Q Link phone must offer a BYOP program and thus allow you to bring your own device.
- Your device must be compatible with the carrier’s services. Search for the carrier’s BYOP page online and there, you will likely be able to enter your phone’s ID number and check its compatibility. If the company doesn’t have an online compatibility checker, contact its customer support service.
What Are the Key Features of Q Link Wireless?
Q Link is a Lifeline and ACP provider and its key features include:
- Free monthly Lifeline plans, ACP plans, and Lifeline + ACP plans that offer free monthly phone, wireless, and internet services.
- ACP discounts on tablets
- Refill plans
- International plans
- A selection of phones
- A selection of hotspots
- Frequent deals on devices
- A BYOP program
- Free monthly services with numerous perks (see the Q Link Wireless service benefits in the next section)
What Are the Benefits of Using Q Link?
Q Link is one of the most popular Lifeline and ACP providers and for a good reason – it provides numerous benefits including:
- Free cell phone service with:
- Unlimited free talk
- Unlimited free text
- Unlimited free data
- Picture messaging
- Access to emergency services
- Other features, such as caller ID, call waiting, 3-way calling, voicemail, and call forwarding
- Free ACP tablet
- The ability to bring your own phone and number
- Access to T-Mobile’s nationwide network
- A responsive and professional customer support service