How to check if you can get free (or subsidized) Metro by T-Mobile service

With every passing year, owning a connected smartphone becomes more and more integral. Whether it’s for looking for a job, keeping track of your kids, or just staying connected to the world around you, a smartphone is indispensable.

Unfortunately, owning a smartphone usually means a monthly fee to keep it connected. This can be quite costly. Thankfully, there’s now a way to get subsidized or even totally free Metro by T-Mobile service. This could be a huge money-saver.

Required reading: Everything you need to know about Metro by T-Mobile

The free service is made possible by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This government-sponsored program aims to make owning a connected smartphone affordable for everyone.

Let’s go over what the program offers as well as how to check if you’re eligible.

Free Metro by T-Mobile service: How does it work?

Essentially, the ACP will cover all or part of your Metro by T-Mobile service. If you opt for the company’s entry-tier plan — which gets you unlimited talk and text with 5GB of 5G data — the ACP will cover the entirety of the $30-per-month plan. That means totally free Metro by T-Mobile service!

If you don’t want that plan (or already have a different one), the ACP will slash $30 off the monthly total. This could save you up to $360 each year, which is certainly nice. With this discount, you could pay just $10 each month for unlimited talk/text with 10GB of 5G data, or just $20 each month for unlimited talk/text, unlimited data, 5GB of hotspot data, and 100GB of Google One storage.

Of course, not just anyone can get this ACP discount. You’ll need to first check your eligibility and apply at the ACP website and then visit a Metro store to get your subsidized or free Metro by T-Mobile service. Obviously, you will also need a compatible smartphone, which this program does not cover.

For more information about this program, check out T-Mobile’s announcement.