Free help with internet, phones, food, and more
Real programs explained in plain words — free smartphones and phone plans through Lifeline, CalFresh food benefits, low-cost internet, and rebates for an electric car. No sign-up. No catch.
Wait, do I qualify?
Most people qualify for more than they think. Take the anonymous 2-minute check.
Take the 2-minute checkRuns entirely on your device — your answers never leave it.
Disponible en español
Low-cost home internet: enroll by phone
If anyone in your household gets CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, Lifeline, free or reduced school lunch or a Pell Grant, you may qualify for a low-cost home internet plan.
- Free enrollment helpGet Connected! Call Center: 866-828-6385 (or the state line, 833-938-3298)
- Find plans by ZIP codeInternet For All Now: low-cost plans
- Computers, help getting online, tech supportHuman-I-T sells low-cost computers, hotspots and internet plans (Chromebooks from $89.99, internet from $14.99/month), and its digital navigators give 1-on-1 help getting online plus tech support. Call 888-391-7249 for direct support from their team, or shop at store.human-i-t.org.
Numbers from the Get Connected! California mailer (CETF / DHCS, Oct 2026). Links and prices checked on the providers’ own sites on October 19, 2026. Each provider sets its own rules.
Step-by-step guides
Pick a topic. Each guide is written in plain English, walks you through what to do, and tells you exactly who to call if you get stuck.
Start here
A short tour of the site so you can find what you need
Free & low-cost internet
Home internet for $0–15 a month if you qualify
Free smartphone & cell service
A free phone and free monthly service through Lifeline
Check your EBT balance
See your balance and recent purchases with the free Propel app
Best places to spend EBT
Local farms, grocery stores, and delivery services that accept CalFresh
EV & hybrid car rebates
Income-qualified: up to $10,000 to replace an old car. PG&E also has rebates on used EVs.
A safer way to handle passwords
Remember one password instead of thirty — free and easy
findhelp.org
A national tool to find food, housing, and other services by ZIP code
Search all free programs
350+ free programs, searchable and filterable — by topic, who qualifies, and where you live. Every listing is hand-checked against the program’s official source.
Know a free program we don’t list yet? Submit it
New — Episode 2 is live
Wait, I Qualify?! — the show
A short video series about the help you probably already qualify for — and how to actually get it. Episode 1 busts the four myths that stop people from applying; Episode 2 covers a $0 phone plan, $15 internet and free Wi-Fi at the library.
Watch the showFree apps we make
Open-source, no ads, no tracking. Built right here in Nevada County to fill gaps we kept seeing.
Candela
An Android app that reads every TechEMPOWER guide out loud, even with no internet. Built for low vision, limited literacy, or listening while you drive.
Learn moreForage for All
A community map of fruit trees, berries, and edible plants on public land. Drop a pin, share what’s ripe, eat free from your own neighborhood. In your browser or on Android.
Open the map (opens in a new tab)Stuck? Talk to a real person.
Two free ways to get help — chat with our community online, or call 2-1-1 from any phone, any time of day.
Join our Discord
Ask questions, share tips, and talk to neighbors who’ve been through these programs themselves. Free to join.
Open DiscordCall 2-1-1
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone to reach a trained specialist who can connect you to local help — housing, food, utilities, and more. In Nevada County the call is answered locally by 211 Connecting Point, a public agency. Free, confidential, open 24/7, and available in Spanish and many other languages.
Toll-free 1-833-DIAL211 · TTY 1-844-521-6697. For emergencies, call 9-1-1.
About TechEMPOWER.org
TechEMPOWER.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Grass Valley, California. We write free, plain-language guides that explain how to use programs like Lifeline, CalFresh, and EV rebates — help that’s already out there, just hard to find. We don’t take a cent from the programs we list. Your tax-deductible donation keeps every guide free for everyone. Got old electronics, batteries, or an EV instead of cash? We take those too.
New guides, sent to your inbox
A short email whenever a new episode comes out, plus the occasional update: program changes and free resources. No spam, no fundraising pitches, one-click unsubscribe.