Lifeline is a government assistance program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Its goal is to make communication services more affordable for low-income individuals.

Eligible individuals who can take advantage of the Lifeline program will receive free monthly service from a participating service provider, and some providers, such as AirTalk, Cintex, and NewPhone, also go above and beyond to provide qualifying customers with the opportunity to receive a free 4G/5G smartphone to go along with their free monthly service plan.

Furthermore, some of the Lifeline providers also offer opportunities and discounts on upgrading devices and other perks, such as free shipping. The specific list of Lifeline perks varies by provider and state. Due to FCC regulations, only one Lifeline service is provided per home. The service is non-transferable.