A Guide On Free Cell Phones No Credit Check No Credit Card Needed

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Are you a student? Or a low-income earner? Would you like to upgrade to the latest smartphone? If your answer is a yes, this article covers everything you should know about free cell phones no credit check no credit card needed programs. So, by the end of the post, I would be happy to hear that you managed to grab that iPhone 12 series or Galaxy S21 you’ve been wishing for.

But again, bright minds say every sweet deal usually has a catch in it somewhere. So…

What’s the Catch in the Free Cellphones Program?

Well, first of all, the fact that you need an affordable cellphone alternative means you’re operating on a tight budget or have no money at all. As a student, that’s nothing to be ashamed of, neither is low income with the current COVID-19 economic hardships.

But, anyway, quite a number of providers can give you a free gadget that you desire. These providers can either be mobile carriers, buy now pay later electronics stores, or point-of-sale financial firms. However, they don’t give the item entirely free as the claim, rather as a leasing program. So, you’ll get a payment plan that you’ll have to settle at a certain frequency (weekly/ monthly) and rate (amount).

What Are The Best Free Cellphones With No Credit Check And No Credit Card Needed in 2023

Overall, not all mobile phones are eligible for the leasing plans. For instance, many mobile carriers usually offer slightly older versions of phones to balance the cost with the traffic package. Nonetheless, some like AT&T and Boost Mobile, as well bill me later stores do offer the latest smartphone series from both iOS and Android platforms.

What Credit Score Do I Need To Get A Free Cell Phone?

Technically, network carriers and lease-to-own companies that offer free cellphones behave like any other credit company, but in their way. While they can take any application, they only approve someone responsible enough to pay for the service provided. So, they can either rely on your credit score or income capability, as in our case with the “no credit check” policy. That means you can still get your Apple iPhone 12Pro Max with a bad or poor credit score and sometimes even without putting money down.

Free Cell Phones No Credit Check No Credit Card Needed

In case you’re wondering, bad credit is when your FICO score report shows a history of nonpayment or owes too much money. It will also show as a low credit under 600 on a scale of 300 to 850. On the other hand, a poor credit score can be if you’re below the said margin (600 points) or have no credit history at all.

In most scenarios, both poor and bad credit makes it hard for a person to borrow funds from banks and credit unions. It’s more of a risk the lender isn’t willing to take, regardless the nonpayment was the borrower’s fault or not.

17 Best Providers With Free Cell Phones At Low Monthly Charges

The good thing with mobile carriers and lease-to-own companies is that you can get budget-friendly free cell phones no credit checks no deposit no credit card plans. However, the terms in between and the goodies included will vary as we shall see below.

1. Mobile Carrier Plans

In simple words, a mobile carrier is a wireless service company that has the cellular connectivity services that you’ve subscribed to on your mobile phone. Confused? Well, don’t be. As you may have learned in high school, communication can either be fixed networks or mobile networks. So, in our case, a mobile carrier is that company you’re paying to keep the traffic between your cellphones and tablets active.

The traffic we speak of can either be in the form of data, text, or voice package. But since you also need a free cellphone, your payment plan will also include charges of the devices received.

Meanwhile, getting a free cellphone through carriers can be in the form of either individual or family payment plans. The facility even expands further to prepaid, postpaid, or pay-as-you-go plans.

Some of the leading mobile carriers that you can check for a free cellphone with a perfect, bad, or poor credit history include:

A. AT & T Prepaid

AT&T is a leading carrier here in the U.S. and also one of the best if you need free cell phones with no credit check. The program is under AT&T prepaid plan, whereby you’ll be making the respective payments in advance.

B. Boost Mobile

This is another great carrier that you can consider when looking for an affordable cell phone plan. It offers a wide selection of phones at affordable rates and without credit check for up to 18 months.

C. Visible

As a service by Verizon, Visible brings you stress-free wireless service and the latest smartphones at an affordable fee. However, the leasing program is with Affirm company, which might have a peak on your credit report but approves even FICO score below 600.

D. T-Mobile

T-Mobile is another great provider if you’re trying to rebuild your poor credit score. It allows you to get the desired cellphone at low monthly payments and zero deposit.

E. Straight Talk Wireless

Straight talk is yet enough carrier you can use to get a free cell phone with no credit check. The leasing plan is under the SmartPay credit line, but you can also check out with Affirm at a rate of as low as 0% APR.

F. Cricket Wireless

The company leases you a basic or decent mobile phone through Progressive Leasing financial company. However, you may be asked a minimum fee for the first phone before leasing up the others (up to five phones).

G. Metropcs

While it might ask for a debit/ credit card, MetroPCS is still awesome as you can get at least a $1000-worth cellphone. It provides a special financing plan with Smartpay company, thus doesn’t perform a credit check.

Notes:
When financing your cell phone under a family plan, the respective carrier needs only one of the members (up to ten) as the primary account holder. He or she will need to pass all the other eligibility tests and is responsible if you don’t pay your bill.

free cell phones with no credit check
Carrier phone Plans

2. Buy Now, Pay Later Stores

Just as the name, this option lets you bag your dream cell phone, then pay for it over time. It’s the easiest way to own expensive phones without undergoing a credit check or putting money down.

To make it better, these buy now pay later no credit check catalogues allow you to take home more than a phone. Then, spread out the total purchase amount into small installments that you can afford to pay on time.
Five best retailers that you can get a free cellphone and pay up later include:

H. Amazon

While you might not know about it, Amazon.com does have a leasing program that you can take advantage of on select products. You just need an active Amazon account for at least one year and good payment history.

I. Overstock

At Overstock.com, you can choose a range of products, both brand new and refurbished models. It straightforward to apply and requires no credit to approve. So, you can get accepted with a bad or poor credit score. Furthermore, you can make your payments at a frequency of weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.

J. Luthersales

If your credit score is below minimum, Luthersales stocks top-quality brand gadgets that you can get at low monthly payments. The company also requires no credit card to apply and a down payment is voluntary.

K. Zebit Online Store

Zebit is yet another amazing store you can cart the latest iPhone without having to worry about your credit score. In most cases, the store relies on income and employment level to verify your identity and assess your creditworthiness.

L. Kmart

Last but not least, Kmart gives you the option to check out your purchases on a lease transaction. It requires no credit to apply and has a flexible payment plan that you can pay weekly from as low as $6.

3. Point-of-Sale Credit Platforms

This one involves using a financial technology company as a payment option when shopping online. It’s more like with the buy now pay later stores, only that you’re dealing with the credit company directly instead of through the merchant. A good example of such companies is:

M. Afterpay:

Afterpay is one of the most-talked financial technology Companies, especially to Apple users whereby it has over 424,000 reviews. The platform allows you to purchase your favorite brands on “credit”, then and pay back over the agreed time. It doesn’t run external credit checks and charges no extra fees if you pay the minimum amount on time.

N. Klarna:

Similarly, Klarna allows you to pay your online purchases right now, then pay them back later in small monthly charges. The company claims that it “may or may not perform a credit check” on applicants. So, you could try even when you have a bad or poor credit score.

O. Quadpay:

Quadpay is yet another point-of-sale platform you can use to pay for your purchase from major stores like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and others. The company is a partner with Zip Co, another credit line platform that brings you more flexible means to finance your purchases. Even so, the two companies do peak on your credit to confirm your details and amount limit.

P. Sezzle:

The platform connects you with hundreds of stores that you can bag your new cellphone, then pay up later in four installments. If you’re using the basic Sezzle payment plan, the provider doesn’t report to the credit. Thus, won’t have any effect on your credit report

Q. Affirm:

At nearly 700,000 reviews on the apps store (iOS + Android), we can agree that Affirm is the most used credit line platform. Surprisingly, the company does perform a soft credit check on its applicants but has no minimum credit score requirement. Hence, the reason you’ll hear some people claim to have been approved despite having a poor credit history.

Notes:
Unlike with the buy now pay later stores, point of sales credit platforms shows you all the consumer stores they have partnered with. So, you can easily compare the merchant with the best cell phone deals and payment rates.

Comparing the 8 best Free Cell Phones No Credit Check No Credit Card Needed

Here’s a quick summary of eight cellphone models that can be yours today at a low monthly payment plan.

Best of Samsung: Samsung Galaxy A71 Unlocked 5G Smartphone

Key Features

  • Android 10.0
  • 5G cellular technology
  • Unlocked wireless carrier
  • 128GB ROM, 6GB RAM
  • 64MP Quad Camera system
  • 6.7” edge-to-edge display
  • Dual Sim + microSD Slot
  • Fingerprint sensor under the display

Pros:

  • It can work with different carriers
  • Has a strong and reliable signal
  • Captures bright and crystal pictures
  • Supports multiple security features (unlock)
  • You can insert up to 512GB mini SD card

Cons:

  • It’s not waterproof
  • Doesn’t support wireless charging

Best of Apple: iPhone 12 Pro Max Unlocked 256GB Renewed

Key Features:

  • iOS 14
  • Fully unlocked
  • IP68 rated protection
  • State-of-the-art A14 Bionic
  • 4K 60fps video recording
  • Built-in Lithium-ion battery
  • 6.7-inch edge-to-edge display

Pros:

  • It’s a super-fast and high performance
  • Compatible with nearly all carriers
  • Can charge wirelessly or with cable
  • Captures smooth, crisp, and stable shots
  • It’s dust and water-resistant up to 20 feet.

Cons:

  • Lacks a fingerprint scanner
  • No expandable storage (all iPhones)
  • It’s pretty pricey(when paying upfront)

Best of LG: LG LMG850QM7X.AUSABK G8X Dual Screen

Key Features:

  • Android 9.0 Pie
  • IP68 rated protection
  • Built-in MicroSD slot
  • 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM
  • 4K 60fps video recording
  • 6.4-inch dual-screen display

Pros:

  • It has a sleek, fresh design
  • So convenient at multitasking
  • Has up to 5 feet of water-resistance
  • Has a powerful, lasting battery
  • Can add up to 1TB MicroSD card
  • You can remove the extra screen

Cons:

  • It’s pretty heavy with the second screen attached
  • Can be confusing to learn operating
  • The fingerprint sensor isn’t always responsive

Best of Motorolla: Motorola Moto G Power 64GB 2020 Release

Key Features:

  • Android 10
  • 5G wireless carrier
  • Revolutionary flip design
  • 16MP triple rear camera
  • 4GB RAM 64GB ROM

Pros:

  • It retains the charge for long
  • Easy to start and operate
  • Has a reasonable pricing
  • Can work with most carriers
  • Loads up apps and browser pages fast

Cons:

  • It doesn’t support wireless charging
  • Can’t be used in water (immersion)
  • It doesn’t run face recognition very well

Best of Google: Google Pixel 5 128GB 5G Unlocked Smartphone

Key Features

  • Android 11
  • 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM
  • 4K 60fps video recording
  • Unlocked wireless carrier
  • 5G cellular connectivity
  • Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
  • 4080mAh Li-Po built-in battery

Pros:

  • It has a simple yet well-made design
  • Offers a long battery life
  • Can work with nearly all carriers
  • Support both wirelesses and reverse charging
  • Has a smooth operating system and fast load

Cons:

  • It has no expandable storage
  • Doesn’t support facial recognition
  • Some phones have an inferior earpiece speaker

Best of Sony: Sony Xperia 1 II Unlocked XQAT51/B Smartphone

Key Features:

  • Android 10
  • 12MP quad camera
  • 6.5-inch OLED display
  • 5G Cellular technology
  • 8GB RAM, 256GB ROM
  • Face and Fingerprint unlock
  • 4000mAh Lithium-ion battery

Pros:

  • It has a sleek and attractive design
  • Easy to start and operate
  • Takes sharp, brilliant pictures
  • Supports quick Qi wireless charging
  • It can connect to car music via Bluetooth

Cons:

  • The fingerprint reader isn’t always accurate
  • It doesn’t work with CDMA carriers like Verizon

Best of OnePlus: OnePlus 8 Pro Unlocked IN2025256GB 5G

Key Features:

  • Android 10
  • Dual Nano-SIM
  • 48MP quad camera
  • 120HZ Refresh Rate
  • 5G ready connectivity
  • Built-in Alexa function
  • 12GB RAM, 256GBROM
  • 4510mAh Lithium-ion battery

Pros:

  • It runs smooth and fast
  • Has a desirable battery life
  • Features superb audio quality
  • Has a crystal and vivid display
  • Features a super-responsive touch
  • It can work with a variety of carriers

Cons:

  • It has no expandable storage
  • Can be stressful to charge wirelessly
  • The fingerprint sensor isn’t always accurate

Best of the Classic: Kyocera E4810 Duraxv Extreme Flip Phone

Key Features

  • Classic flip design
  • 4G cellular technology
  • Built-in MicroSD slot
  • IP68 rated protection
  • 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM
  • MIL-STD-810G standard

Pros:

  • It has a rugged, durable build
  • Fits easily in any pocket
  • Has a bright and colored display
  • Both drop-proof and waterproof
  • Includes a strong signal connection
  • It features crystal-clear voice reception

Cons:

  • It’s pretty easy to hit the wrong buttons
  • Can only work on the Verizon network

Final Thoughts:

To conclude, it’s safe to say that mobile technology is something we can no longer live without. Especially with the introduction of smartphones, it has become easier to do stuff like shopping, traveling, and connecting with loved ones. Furthermore, technology has opened a new era of digital information, whereby you can learn nearly anything from the comfort of your couch.

Nonetheless, high-end brands like Apple and Samsung provide their gadgets at relatively expensive rates, which might be hard to finance with a low income. But again, various groups have special plans that offer free cell phones no credit check no credit card needed. So, you can buy or even trade in your older gadget for the latest model at less and without the concerns of poor credit.

Even so, you’ll still have to decide between mobile carrier cell phone plans and a lease-to-own financing store. But since either of them is a win for me, I would recommend you go for the one that suits your situation best.