Different free government cell phone programs usually offer different amounts of free talk time, text messages, and internet data each month. However, the requirements for qualifying are usually the same, even though the specific needs might be different from one state to the next.
So, between Assurance Wireless and Q Link Wireless, which one should you choose? Well, the simple answer is either one. Both sound kind of the same, but they do different things.
If you’re trying to choose from Assurance Wireless vs QLink Wireless but aren’t sure which one is best for you, this handy chart will help you quickly and easily compare their applications, availability, cell phone plans, data packages, and prices.
Assurance Wireless vs QLink Wireless: Comparing Various Features and Benefits
| Facts | Assurance Wireless | Q link Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier Network | T-Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Free Voice Minutes | 1000 minute | 1000 minute |
| Free Text Messages | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free Browsing Data | Up to 4.5GB Data | Up to 25GB data |
| Monthly Paid Plans | For $1: Get 100MB High-speed Data For $3: Get 500MB High-speed Data For $5: Get 1GB High-speed Data For $10: Get 2GB High-speed Data For $20: Get 4GB High-speed Data For $30: Get 5GB High-speed Data | For $3: Get 100 MB Data Only For $10: Get 500 MB Data Only For $15: Get 1 GB Data Only For $25: Get 2 GB Data Only For $45: Get 4 GB Data Only For $55: Get 5 GB Data Only |
| BYOP Option | No | Yes |
| Customer Care | 1-888-898-4888 | 1 (855) 754-6543 |
You may like to read: TruConnect Vs Assurance Wireless: Which is Better?
Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is a phone service that gets money from the federal government’s Lifeline Assistance program, which is part of the Universal Service Fund. With Assurance Wireless, you can get a free smartphone, free mobile phone service, and a free monthly data plan.
Before T-Mobile bought Sprint, Virgin Mobile ran the Assurance Wireless service. Virgin Mobile was a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on the Sprint network. All users get the same free plans and services for their phones.
That’s at least 350 minutes of talk time and up to two gigabytes of data transfer to every state except California. Residents of California can use the California Freedom plan, which gives them unlimited talk time, text messages, and 6 GB of data to use online each month.
Q Link Wireless
Q Link Cellular is just an American telecommunications company based in Dania, Florida. People who qualify for the federal government’s Lifeline program can get free wireless services from Q Link Cellular.
Also, the company offers prepaid voice, text, and data services for mobile phones under the name Hello Mobile. Issa Assad, who is now the CEO of Quadrant Holdings, started Q Link Wireless as a subsidiary in 2011. Asad has been the CEO of the company since the very beginning.
Q Link Wireless, which was an early leader in the market for government-subsidized cell phones, has recently hit hard times. But, as was already said, they each have their own qualities that make them stand out. These are the things:
Assurance vs Qlink: Comparing Features & Perks
1. Application
The lifeline programs of both Q Link Wireless and Assurance Wireless benefit from this change. Not only are they easy to use, but their ideas are also very similar. You can apply in a few different ways: online at the official website, over the phone with a customer service representative, or by downloading the application form and sending it by regular mail.
But you must meet the requirements of a lifeline program to get free phone service from either one. As I said before when I talked about the service, people who get help from the government are automatically eligible for an Assurance Wireless phone. Here are a few aid programs, you should qualify for.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans’ Pension and other pension benefits
- Food Stamps or SNAP
- Federal public housing assistance (section 8)
- Medicaid
- Tribal Head Start
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- Survivors Benefit
- Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance
If you didn’t meet the government-funded programs, you can apply for lifetime assistance under low-income programs. Before applying, make sure your total income should be at the federal poverty level (135-140%). Also, be ready with valid documents to get enrolled in the Assurance Wireless available program.
2. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
When you compare providers, Q Link Wireless is the best because you can choose to only get the SIM activation kit. It works with both the lifeline program and the monthly paid package plan. But you’ll need a GSM (global system for mobile communications) phone that’s unlocked.
This is a big benefit because most groups that give out free government cell phones use technology that is a few years old. There are a few online businesses that let you pay later without checking your credit, so you might be able to get the phone you want without having to pay for it right away.
3. Availability
Since both lifeline programs use the same carrier network, this could be a way for them to work together. T-Mobile has worked with both Assurance Wireless and Q Link Wireless, which are MVNOs.
T-coverage Mobile is spotty in more remote areas, but it’s great in places with more people. T-Mobile has speeds that are as fast as lightning, which is great if you live in a big city.
It has one of the fastest 4G networks, which works best in areas with a lot of people, and it offers generous subscription plans with no limits. It has the most nationwide coverage of any country and can connect to the fastest and most reliable 5G networks.
| Alabama Arizona Arkansas | Colorado California Connecticut | District of Columbia Delaware | Florida |
| Georgia | Idaho Indiana Illinois Iowa | Kansas Kentucky | Louisiana |
| Minnesota Massachusetts Mississippi Maine Maryland Michigan Missouri | Nevada New Mexico New York Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey North Carolina | Ohio Oregon Oklahoma | Pennsylvania |
| Rhode Island | South Carolina | Tennessee Texas | Utah |
| Virginia | Washington Wisconsin West Virginia |
4. Free Cell Phone Plans
Here, too, Q Link Wireless service is better than its competitors because it gives you more free calling minutes. Their plans offer a Lifeline and an Affordable Connectivity Program for people with low incomes.
If you just got approved for Lifeline, you’ll get a free SIM card, 4.5 GB of data, unlimited texting, and at least 1000 minutes of phone time. Along with unlimited data, 1000 minutes, and unlimited texting, the ACP Plan is the only one that gives you the chance to win a brand-new tablet.
When you bundle Lifeline and ACP, you get a brand-new tablet and unlimited data, minutes, and texts. You could save $100 on a new laptop, tablet, or desktop PC if you sign up for an ACP plan.
In most states (except California), Assurance Wireless will give you a free smartphone, unlimited texting, 1,000 minutes of talk time, and 4.5 gigabytes of data if you qualify for the Lifeline Program.
Different states might be able to get different amounts of data or phone minutes. If you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, Assurance Wireless gives you unlimited data, texts, and minutes, plus 10GB of mobile hotspot data.
When a client has both Lifeline and the Advantage Customer Program, they can get a free smartphone and all of the other benefits of the Advantage Customer Program.
5. Data Packages
For 250 extra Voice Minutes at 10 cents per minute, Assurance Wireless charges an extra $5 per month. If the problem is just with the data, you can ask for more space from:
- For $1: Get 100MB High-speed Data
- For $3: Get 500MB High-speed Data
- For $5: Get 1GB High-speed Data
- For $10: Get 2GB High-speed Data
- For $20: Get 4GB High-speed Data
- For $30: Get 5GB High-speed Data
You can add data to your existing Lifeline or ACP plan through Q Link Wireless. Our different data expansion bundles will make your service much better.
- For $3: Get 100 MB Data Only
- For $10: Get 500 MB Data Only
- For $15: Get 1 GB Data Only
- For $25: Get 2 GB Data Only
- For $45: Get 4 GB Data Only
- For $55: Get 5 GB Data Only
The price of Assurance Wireless is much lower than that of Q Link Wireless.
6. Prepaid Phone Plans
Both Assurance and QLink Wireless have prepaid phone plans. It helps you to save monthly phone bills. Assurance monthly plans are relatively better than Qlink. It includes the lowest price with unlimited texts, voice minutes, and 5GB of data. Here as follows-
- $15 Monthly Plan: 5GB Data+Unlimited Texts+Unlimited Minutes
- $20 Monthly Plan: 5.5GB Data+Unlimited Texts+Unlimited Minutes
- $30 Monthly Plan: 8.5GB Data+Unlimited Texts+Unlimited Minutes
- $45 Monthly Plan: 14.5GB Data+Unlimited Texts+Unlimited Minutes
And QLink’s monthly plans offer Lifeline-Only plans and ACP+Lifeline combo plans. Here as follows-
- Lifeline-Only Plans: 4.5GB of High-Speed Data+Unlimited Texts+1000 Minutes+WiFi Calling
- Lifeline+ACP Combo Plan: High-Speed Unlimited Data (Up to 28GB)+Unlimited Texts+Unlimited Minutes+WiFi Calling
Final Thoughts
To sum up, I would say that Assurance Wireless vs QLink Wireless have always been very helpful, but especially during this epidemic. The Lifeline Help service from Q Link Wireless is better because it gives more free minutes for phone calls. Not just for the free government package options, but also for the upgraded tablet package.
The Smartphone Bundle and Data Packages from Assurance Wireless, on the other hand, did pretty well.
