1
Assurance Wireless
T-Mobile network
4.5 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + up to 6GB high-speed data
- Devices
- Free smartphone included (BYOD available)
- Best for
- Best overall for most households
Works with BLU C5L Max
Last updated: July 2026
Q Link Wireless Shut Down — What Former Customers Can Do (2026)
Q Link Wireless is no longer operating. If your service stopped or you're trying to log in, here's what you need to know — and how to get a new Lifeline provider today.
Q Link Wireless is no longer providing service.
Their website, login system, and customer service lines are shut down. If you're trying to reach Q Link or your phone stopped working, scroll down — we'll help you fix it.
What Happened to Q Link Wireless?
Q Link Wireless stopped providing Lifeline service in late 2024. The company was suspended from the federal Lifeline program by the FCC and is no longer operating.
Per public USAC transition documentation, most former Q Link customers were transferred to StandUp Wireless. If you were transferred and want to choose a different provider, you have other options — you are not locked in.
The good news: your Lifeline benefit didn't go away. Lifeline is a federal program — it belongs to you as long as you qualify, not to Q Link. You just need to connect it to a new provider that works for you.
If Your Q Link Service Stopped: What to Do
A step-by-step walkthrough written for people who just want to get their phone working again — no jargon.
- 1
Confirm Lifeline transferred your benefit
When a provider is suspended, USAC automatically moves customer benefits to another ETC. Check your mail — you may have received a letter. If you haven't received anything, that's fine too; you can re-enroll with any Lifeline provider you want.
- 2
Pick a new Lifeline provider
See our ranked list of the best alternatives below. Pick one that covers your state and has the plan you need (talk/text only, or unlimited data, or BYOD-friendly).
- 3
Apply through the provider's site
Each provider has a short online application. You'll need to prove eligibility — a SNAP card, Medicaid card, pay stub, or benefit letter. Most approvals happen in 1–2 business days.
- 4
Request number portability (keep your old number)
You have a federal right to take your phone number with you to a new provider. When you apply, tell the new provider you want to port your old Q Link number. They'll walk you through it.
- 5
Activate your SIM or use your own unlocked phone
Your new provider will ship a SIM card (and often a free phone). If your old Q Link phone was GSM-unlocked, it might still work. If not, many people buy an unlocked replacement like the BLU C5L Max ($45) to avoid compatibility issues.
Best Q Link Wireless Alternatives in 2026
These are the top Lifeline providers we recommend for former Q Link users. All are active Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) in 2026. We've ranked them based on coverage, plan quality, device options, and customer feedback.
Top Lifeline Providers at a Glance
| Rank | Provider | Apply |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Assurance Wireless 4.5 ★ | Check availability → |
| #2 | SafeLink Wireless 4.3 ★ | Check availability → |
| #3 | TruConnect 4.4 ★ | Check availability → |
| #4 | AirTalk Wireless 4.2 ★ | Check availability → |
| #5 | TAG Mobile 4.1 ★ | Check availability → |
| #6 | Gen Mobile 4.0 ★ | Check availability → |
| #7 | Life Wireless 4.0 ★ | Check availability → |
| #8 | Cintex Wireless 3.9 ★ | Check availability → |
2
SafeLink Wireless
Verizon network
4.3 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data (varies by state)
- Devices
- Free smartphone included
- Best for
- Best for rural areas on Verizon's network
3
TruConnect
T-Mobile network
4.4 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + high-speed 5G data
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for 5G data
Works with BLU C5L Max
4
AirTalk Wireless
T-Mobile network
4.2 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + 10GB+ high-speed data
- Devices
- Free Android smartphone
- Best for
- Best for data-heavy users
Works with BLU C5L Max
5
TAG Mobile
T-Mobile network
4.1 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data (varies by state)
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for Texas and Oklahoma residents
Works with BLU C5L Max
6
Gen Mobile
T-Mobile network
4.0 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for California residents
Works with BLU C5L Max
7
Life Wireless
Multi-network
4.0 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for households that move between states
Works with BLU C5L Max
8
Cintex Wireless
T-Mobile network
3.9 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best if other providers aren't available in your area
Works with BLU C5L Max
Want a Better Phone? Get the BLU C5L Max for $45
Many former Q Link users are replacing their old basic phone with something that actually feels good to use. The BLU C5L Max is a brand new unlocked smartphone that works with any T-Mobile-based Lifeline provider — Assurance, TruConnect, AirTalk, TAG Mobile, or Gen Mobile. It's less than one month of retail cell service.
From the Cliq Mobile shop
BLU C5L Max — $45.00 + shipping
A brand new unlocked GSM smartphone for $45 + shipping. Works with any T-Mobile-based Lifeline provider (Assurance, TruConnect, AirTalk, TAG Mobile, Gen Mobile) or any T-Mobile / MetroPCS plan. Less than one month of retail cell service — and it's yours to keep.
- ✓ 5.7" curved display, 480x960
- ✓ GSM unlocked — no contract, no carrier lock
- ✓ Compatible with T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and T-Mobile-based Lifeline providers
- ✗ Does not work with: SafeLink Wireless (Verizon network), AT&T and Cricket, Sprint / Boost legacy CDMA
Heads up: the BLU C5L Max works with T-Mobile / MetroPCS networks. It does not work with SafeLink (Verizon network) or AT&T-network providers.
Can I Still Log Into Q Link Wireless?
Short answer: No. Q Link's login system, customer portal, and website are no longer operational. There is no working Q Link Wireless login as of 2026.
If you're searching for "qlinkwireless login" or "www.qlinkwireless.com login," there's nothing active to log into. Your Lifeline benefit has likely been transferred to another provider automatically — so your next step is to pick which provider you want going forward (see the ranked list above).
If you're looking for a specific account balance, unused data, or a refund — unfortunately, Q Link's customer service is not available. Your best option is to move on with a new provider and take your number with you through the portability process.
Can I Still Get a Free Tablet from Q Link?
No. Q Link's free tablet and phone-and-tablet offers ended when the company stopped operating. Videos and posts promoting a "Q Link free tablet" are outdated — and any site claiming to process a Q Link tablet claim today is harvesting your information.
If a tablet is what you're after, two current paths work: some active Lifeline providers run promotional tablet offers (verify inside their official application flow), and nonprofit refurbishers like PCs for People ship tested tablets for $0-50 with SNAP/EBT or Medicaid proof. Our free tablet with EBT guide and phone-and-tablet combo comparison cover both, provider by provider.
How to Keep Your Number When Switching from Q Link
Federal law gives you the right to port your phone number to a new provider. Here's the rough process:
- Pick your new Lifeline provider and start the application.
- Tell them you want to port your number from Q Link Wireless.
- Provide your old Q Link phone number and — if you have it — your old account number or PIN.
- If you don't have your old account info (Q Link's system is offline), the new provider may still be able to port it. Ask them to start the request anyway.
- Keep your old phone active during the port (if it still works). Number ports usually complete in a few hours to a few days.
For official guidance on number portability, see the FCC's wireless number portability page.
Providers That Work with the BLU C5L Max
If you pick up a BLU C5L Max from our shop, any of these T-Mobile network Lifeline providers will work with it. Apply through one of them, get a free SIM, pop it in, and you're up and running.
Assurance Wireless
T-Mobile network
4.5 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + up to 6GB high-speed data
- Devices
- Free smartphone included (BYOD available)
- Best for
- Best overall for most households
TruConnect
T-Mobile network
4.4 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + high-speed 5G data
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for 5G data
AirTalk Wireless
T-Mobile network
4.2 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + 10GB+ high-speed data
- Devices
- Free Android smartphone
- Best for
- Best for data-heavy users
TAG Mobile
T-Mobile network
4.1 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data (varies by state)
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for Texas and Oklahoma residents
Gen Mobile
T-Mobile network
4.0 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for California residents
Life Wireless
Multi-network
4.0 / 5
- Plan
- Unlimited talk & text + data
- Devices
- Free smartphone or BYOD
- Best for
- Best for households that move between states
Get our Q Link Alternatives Guide
Top Lifeline providers for every state, ranked. Delivered by email as a free PDF — plus monthly provider updates.
Q Link Wireless: Frequently Asked Questions
Couldn't get Lifeline with another provider?
Q Link shutting down left a lot of people without service and without an easy path back onto the benefit. If you have tried to re-enroll and been turned down, these are the cheapest paid options we would recommend in the meantime.
Check eligibility first. Lifeline is free and it beats anything on this list. Only pay if you genuinely do not qualify — see the current rules.
These are paid plans, not Lifeline. We earn a commission if you sign up through these links — it costs you nothing extra and does not change what we recommend. Full disclosure.
Lyca Mobile
T-Mobile networkBest for: Households that call family abroad. Month-to-month and multi-month unlimited plans, sold in 3-month and 6-month blocks. The longer blocks bring the effective monthly cost down but are paid in full up front.
Watch out for: As an MVNO, data can be slowed during network congestion ahead of T-Mobile's own customers
Mint Mobile
T-Mobile networkBest for: Readers who can pay for several months at once. Sold in 3-, 6-, and 12-month blocks paid in full up front. The longer the block, the lower the effective monthly cost. Introductory pricing on your first term is typically lower than the renewal rate.
Watch out for: You pay for the whole 3, 6, or 12 months at once — the advertised monthly price is not a monthly bill
Metro by T-Mobile
T-Mobile network (first-party)Best for: Readers who want in-person support. Standard month-to-month prepaid plans at several data tiers, paid monthly rather than in multi-month blocks. Some plans bundle perks like streaming subscriptions.
Watch out for: Costs more per month than the MVNO options on this page
Ready to move past Q Link?
Pick the right Lifeline provider for your state. Approval timing varies by provider and whether your eligibility can be verified automatically or needs document review.