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frontpageWackyP posted Jan 31, 2025 05:23 AM
frontpageWackyP posted Jan 31, 2025 05:23 AM

Helium Mobile Zero Plan w/ 100 Minutes Talk, 300 Texts + 3GB Data Per Month

(ID Verification & Location Sharing Req.)

Free

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Deal Details
Helium Mobile has Helium Mobile Zero Plan w/ 100 Minutes Talk, 300 Texts & 3GB of Data (per month) for Free when you Bring Your Own Device and follow the instructions below by using code BREAKFREE at signup.

Thanks to community member WackyP for finding this deal.

Deal Instructions:
  1. An unlocked T-Mobile-compatible device is required.
  2. Download the Helium Mobile app (Android / iOS)
  3. Open the app and when prompted, enter invite-only code BREAKFREE
  4. Proceed through the setup process by proving the following details:
    • Valid email address
    • Your name, home address and date of birth
    • Complete the identity security check using a valid government-issued ID (i.e. a driver's license) and taking a 'selfie' photo.
  5. No credit card or other payment info is required for this free plan.
  6. You may select eSIM or physical SIM card activation (SIM card ships free).
  7. Your monthly Zero Plan w/ 100 talk minutes, 300 texts and 3GB of data will be Free

How is Helium Mobile able to offer a free phone plan? (source)
  • "Helium Mobile's free plan is made possible with its community-built network, a new type of infrastructure that is less expensive than legacy carriers. In exchange for the free plan, you'll share your anonymized location data, enabling the community to create coverage where it's most needed."
Plan Features (per month):
  • 100 minutes talk
  • 300 texts
  • 3GB of high-speed data (4G LTE/5G)
    • Note: hotspot data is not available on the free Zero plan.
  • No credit card needed
  • You may port your existing number to Helium Mobile if desired
  • Earn Rewards with Cloud Points
    • Redeem points for gift cards to travel, dining, and other experiences.
  • Helium Mobile operates on the T-Mobile network

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • Click here to read the Frequently Asked Questions page for more details.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by WackyP
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Helium Mobile has Helium Mobile Zero Plan w/ 100 Minutes Talk, 300 Texts & 3GB of Data (per month) for Free when you Bring Your Own Device and follow the instructions below by using code BREAKFREE at signup.

Thanks to community member WackyP for finding this deal.

Deal Instructions:
  1. An unlocked T-Mobile-compatible device is required.
  2. Download the Helium Mobile app (Android / iOS)
  3. Open the app and when prompted, enter invite-only code BREAKFREE
  4. Proceed through the setup process by proving the following details:
    • Valid email address
    • Your name, home address and date of birth
    • Complete the identity security check using a valid government-issued ID (i.e. a driver's license) and taking a 'selfie' photo.
  5. No credit card or other payment info is required for this free plan.
  6. You may select eSIM or physical SIM card activation (SIM card ships free).
  7. Your monthly Zero Plan w/ 100 talk minutes, 300 texts and 3GB of data will be Free

How is Helium Mobile able to offer a free phone plan? (source)
  • "Helium Mobile's free plan is made possible with its community-built network, a new type of infrastructure that is less expensive than legacy carriers. In exchange for the free plan, you'll share your anonymized location data, enabling the community to create coverage where it's most needed."
Plan Features (per month):
  • 100 minutes talk
  • 300 texts
  • 3GB of high-speed data (4G LTE/5G)
    • Note: hotspot data is not available on the free Zero plan.
  • No credit card needed
  • You may port your existing number to Helium Mobile if desired
  • Earn Rewards with Cloud Points
    • Redeem points for gift cards to travel, dining, and other experiences.
  • Helium Mobile operates on the T-Mobile network

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • Click here to read the Frequently Asked Questions page for more details.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by WackyP

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Top Comments

JediNick23
58 Posts
30 Reputation
If someone asked me how to make a free mobile data plan, my very first thought would be "control its DNS, packet-inspect everything on my network so I can tell who's doing what, sell that info to data brokers, advertisers, marketing agencies, etc., and insert enough legalese to my long-AF-that-nobody-reads-it terms of service that it's totally OK for me to do that." Classic case of "if it's free, it's because you are the product."

If you think I'm joking, check your own current paid ISP plan's terms of service. Non-trivial probability they're already doing similar to you, at least if you're not protected by something like the EU's GDPR.

Is that what's going on here, or is their business model different somehow?
Satoshi_N
245 Posts
46 Reputation
Right now their 20$ a month plan turns out to cost a couple of dollars a month if you opt in to their location tracking. They are trying to build a network of hotpots to fill in what traditional cell towers miss. Turn on tracking and they map whenever they hit one of their hotspots. Then they try to get new ones in empty areas.

Anyways...So they will pay you in their crypto token., Which they then accept as payment.Or you can sell yourself. Im assuming they are going to expand on this somehow.

Also a while back they were talking about another app that carriers were going to opt into that allows people to use each others phones a a hotspot for a small fee.
Just a guess but maybe something with this as well.

They are not the only company going this way there are going to be some announcements very soon of others going this path
laidbackinNC
1001 Posts
384 Reputation
I gave them my email address for spam, so we'll see. Right now it looks like they just offer one plan -- $20/mo for unlimited.

634 Comments

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Feb 05, 2025 04:49 AM
862 Posts
Joined Aug 2023
Feb 05, 2025 04:49 AM
PowerfulName4771Feb 05, 2025 04:49 AM
862 Posts
Is this 3GB per month or 3 GB annual? does it get throttled down after 3GB is used?
Original Poster
Pro
Feb 05, 2025 05:15 AM
1,488 Posts
Joined Jun 2006
Feb 05, 2025 05:15 AM
WackyP
Original Poster
Pro
Feb 05, 2025 05:15 AM
1,488 Posts
There is a post claiming that after the 1st 512mb, speeds are throttled to 64kbps until the user reaches 3gb. (Edit: Disregard that sentence. Poster was evidently given wrong information.)

At the 3gb point, data completely stops. User would have the option of paying $7.50 for another gigabyte of data.
Last edited by WackyP February 4, 2025 at 09:38 PM.
1
Pro
Feb 05, 2025 05:36 AM
1,195 Posts
Joined Aug 2005
Feb 05, 2025 05:36 AM
nickdigger
Pro
Feb 05, 2025 05:36 AM
1,195 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank nickdigger

Quote from HELIUM :
Give us your name, your address, tell us the ID, a little selfie check, and this is all partnered with a 3rd party that stores all that information.

We don't store any of it. We have no access to them. And we obviously do not sell that information.
No, but the 3rd party has access to it, and might sell it. Twitter hands their user info over to a company in Israel ffs.
1
Feb 05, 2025 05:44 AM
5 Posts
Joined Apr 2017
Feb 05, 2025 05:44 AM
YounghoonGFeb 05, 2025 05:44 AM
5 Posts
I tried to join, Warning, they ask for government issued ID. I'd rather pay a small money than giving my ID to this company which I don't know how they will handle my ID.
Feb 05, 2025 06:15 AM
889 Posts
Joined Jun 2016
Feb 05, 2025 06:15 AM
kwchan79Feb 05, 2025 06:15 AM
889 Posts
Quote from GoGo16 :
Works good. Ordered SIM card and it says when they ship I will receive an email about it. Thanks 👍
any cost to switch between SIM and eSIM? or transfer eSIM from one phone to another?
Feb 05, 2025 06:40 AM
1,103 Posts
Joined Feb 2023
Feb 05, 2025 06:40 AM
oasisallureFeb 05, 2025 06:40 AM
1,103 Posts
signed up, nowhere I can find my phone number
Feb 05, 2025 06:54 AM
26 Posts
Joined Aug 2013
Feb 05, 2025 06:54 AM
therealgregorFeb 05, 2025 06:54 AM
26 Posts
Quote from SociableCable1687 :
Does Helium require an app? If app is required, can it be deleted after the SIM is installed? Is dialing done through the native dialer or Helium's dialer? Will this work on dumb phones? Thank you.

Yes.
I doubt it.
Native.
No.
2

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Feb 05, 2025 07:27 AM
20 Posts
Joined Apr 2021
Feb 05, 2025 07:27 AM
AvalancheXFeb 05, 2025 07:27 AM
20 Posts
Quote from myamex :
I am in CyberSecurity field, working as GRC of a major bank. I already freeze all my credit, and set up monitoring. Honestly, everyone's information is on darknet. There really isn't anything more that I can do on individual level. Signing up another service like this really doesn't do any more harm on privacy. I set it up on a dummy secondary phone so it doesn't track my location.
Highly doubt you work in security bud, people working in security are all well paid and they know better than to give out sensitive info voluntarily for a $5 worth of cell phone plan.
1
Feb 05, 2025 08:40 AM
3,780 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Feb 05, 2025 08:40 AM
zdiddy987Feb 05, 2025 08:40 AM
3,780 Posts
Quote from YounghoonG :
I tried to join, Warning, they ask for government issued ID. I'd rather pay a small money than giving my ID to this company which I don't know how they will handle my ID.
Yeah I was excited to get the invite but I would need 5GB monthly with unlimited calls and texts for this level of personal info
Feb 05, 2025 08:42 AM
8,196 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
Feb 05, 2025 08:42 AM
ellemdeeFeb 05, 2025 08:42 AM
8,196 Posts
Good page to read:

https://docs.helium.com/faq/helium-network

There's a link to the Helium discord at the bottom. Higher up is the written version of a lawyer shrugging and saying "hey, we're not *telling you* to use our hotspot. You're responsible for whatever you do wrong, not us." It calls into question the legal sustainability of people connecting their hotspots to their "wi-fi" as it was called on the page) but, I assume they're talking about the home's existing internet service.

Most ISPs aren't going to want you piggyback other customers of another service off your account for their service and will eventually make that illegal, if it isn't already. But, Helium doesn't want to come out and say they know about this, as it makes their business model sound unsustainable.

It sounds like they're asking for unusually in-depth personal information and, when linked to a device that tracks your location, that's a dangerous combination. Just imagine if that information was bought by/fell into the hands of [insert your favorite bad guy].
Last edited by ellemdee February 5, 2025 at 12:48 AM.
Original Poster
Pro
Feb 05, 2025 09:27 AM
1,488 Posts
Joined Jun 2006
Feb 05, 2025 09:27 AM
WackyP
Original Poster
Pro
Feb 05, 2025 09:27 AM
1,488 Posts
ID verification is essentially the same as if you do a port in deal from Total Wireless. In both case, an ID and selfie is needed and handled by a 3rd-party.

The required mapping is anonymous and not tied to a specific user. As I said previously, Helium's objective is to build a large network of hotspots. In order to attract more hotpost owners, Helium needs to show them a high enough number of users to justify starting a partnership.

For the hotspots itself, I believe what usually happens is somebody offers to pay the ISP bill of an organization in exchange for them allowing hotspot activity in the area. The ISP would not be able to tell the difference between data from Helium hotspot activity and data from the organization just offering free wi-fi.
Last edited by WackyP February 5, 2025 at 01:46 AM.
Feb 05, 2025 10:10 AM
131 Posts
Joined Apr 2014
Feb 05, 2025 10:10 AM
vindicatornrFeb 05, 2025 10:10 AM
131 Posts
Quote from WackyP :
ID verification is essentially the same as if you do a port in deal from Total Wireless. In both case, an ID and selfie is needed and handled by a 3rd-party.The required mapping is anonymous and not tied to a specific user. As I said previously, Helium's objective is to build a large network of hotspots. In order to attract more hotpost owners, Helium needs to show them a high enough number of users to justify starting a partnership.For the hotspots itself, I believe what usually happens is somebody offers to pay the ISP bill of an organization in exchange for them allowing hotspot activity in the area. The ISP would not be able to tell the difference between data from Helium hotspot activity and data from the organization just offering free wi-fi.
Someone else made that claim (elsewhere) about needing such verification, even going as far as saying it's law.
But as I told them, maybe those making such a claim can state when it was that I provided a gov ID and selfie to buy a phone or port (I never did).
While I know you aren't making that same claim as the other user, I do see you making claims of the internal workings of either helium or persona.
The issue stands that they are having you provide information that should not be needed.
If they are requiring that geo-loc be enabled, they have an email address, they have a phone #, they have a unique sim, that should be plenty to limit multi-plan abuse.
EDIT0: Hey slickdeals, I still hate this garbage desktop-web input-box interface which destroys formatting.
1
3
Feb 05, 2025 11:31 AM
4,687 Posts
Joined Mar 2013
Feb 05, 2025 11:31 AM
SKV4mFeb 05, 2025 11:31 AM
4,687 Posts
Not worth it. When they go out of business the first thing they'll sell is your personal info
Feb 05, 2025 11:47 AM
7,999 Posts
Joined Feb 2012
Feb 05, 2025 11:47 AM
fishyxFeb 05, 2025 11:47 AM
7,999 Posts
Been using a free Freeup plan for my 2nd line for at least 5 yearsSmilie Kinda surprised it's been going this long.

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Feb 05, 2025 12:35 PM
308 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
Feb 05, 2025 12:35 PM
Kiki72bFeb 05, 2025 12:35 PM
308 Posts
Offer available by invite. Joined the waitlist and received the offer/invite less than 24 hours later

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