Free government phone and tablet combo — who actually offers both.

The one-benefit rule that shapes every combo offer.

Lifeline allows one benefit per household — one subsidized plan, not one phone plan plus one tablet plan. So no provider can enroll you in two free services. A legitimate "combo" is always one Lifeline plan with a promotional tablet attached as a device offer, the same way a paid carrier might throw in a second device.

That explains the pattern you'll see below: tablet offers come and go with inventory, differ by state, and sometimes carry a one-time cost or a separate data plan for the tablet. It also explains why the ads oversell — the tablet is marketing spend, not a federal entitlement. The ACP device benefit that once funded real tablet giveaways ended in June 2024.

The reliable combo: two applications, same proof.

No carrier will recommend this, because half of it isn't theirs to sell. But it works regardless of which promotions are running this month:

1. 1Enroll in a free Lifeline phone plan with the provider that has the best coverage in your state — that's your phone, your number, and your monthly service, guaranteed by the federal benefit.
2. 2Apply separately to a nonprofit refurbisher — PCs for People or Human-I-T — with the same SNAP/EBT or Medicaid proof. A tested refurbished tablet typically costs $0-50 and ships in 2-3 weeks.
3. 3If you need a tablet sooner, ask your public library about its tablet or hotspot lending program while you wait.

The proof documents are identical for both applications, so gather them once — our free tablet with EBT or Medicaid guide covers exactly what each program accepts.

Phone + tablet combo — FAQ.