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Guide 09 SEALED v0.2
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Phone, Internet & Computer: Getting and Keeping a Line, Getting Online, Getting a Device

Selection rule: a resource is included here only if its own subject is getting or keeping a phone number, getting home internet, getting online outside the home, getting a working computer/device, or free software that keeps an old device usable — and it is status: ACTIVE in the atlas. Streaming services, coupon/price-match/deal-finder apps, event-discovery filters, and general free-stuff link directories are out of scope even where the CSV happens to file them under "Digital Tools & Deals" — those belong to Guide 06 (Free Fun) or a future money-saving guide, not here. Campus-specific device, software, and laptop-lending programs are also out of scope: every per-campus student guide already carries its own school's laptop-loan and software-licence rows, so this guide serves the population those campus guides don't reach — plus the general public — with one pointer line instead of restating campus content. A row whose only tie to "digital" is that the CSV happens to file it in a digital-sounding category (an energy-tools web portal filed under "Phone & Internet," a housing drop-in whose computer lab is a side amenity) is excluded and pointed back to its real subject guide, with one narrow exception: a drop-in whose computer/Wi-Fi access is a genuinely usable secondary amenity is named in a short, clearly labelled block below — a reader with nowhere else to get online needs to know it exists, even if it isn't the venue's main subject.

If you need a working phone number today — free calling and texting apps

Fongo Mobile Free Canadian phone number with unlimited Canada-wide calling — not limited to Fongo-to-Fongo or a "Free Calling Cities" list, as this guide previously (and, as of today, incorrectly) stated — over WiFi or data. Also free: voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, conference calling, and fax receiving. fongo.com Anyone in Canada; no documents required. The free tier covers calling only — texting a non-Fongo number requires a paid "Canada Texting" add-on. This is the free calling app only, separate from Fongo's paid Home Phone ($4.95/mo) and Home Internet (from $40/mo) products. WiFi/data-dependent and ad-supported.

TextNow A free real Canadian phone number with unlimited calling and texting over WiFi. textnow.com Anyone in Canada; no documents required. Confirmed still free for Canadian users as of today (the app's free number, calling, and texting work over WiFi in Canada). One correction from an earlier version of this guide: TextNow's paid cellular/eSIM wireless plans run on a U.S. network only — the provider's own coverage page states coverage is "nationwide in the U.S., Puerto Rico excluded," with no Canadian carrier partner. There is no paid-SIM cellular-data option for Canadian users; treat this as a WiFi-only free number, reliable as a backup or second line rather than a full primary line if you don't have WiFi access. Ad-supported.

If you're a youth aging out of foster care and need a phone plan

TELUS Mobility for Good A free smartphone (bring-your-own-device, a $75 discount off a phone of your choice, or a certified pre-owned smartphone at no cost), plus either a free 10GB 5G+ plan for 2 years ($25/mo regular price after) or a $10/mo 20GB plan ($35/mo after), with unlimited Canada-wide talk and text. telus.com — Mobility for Good, youth Youth aging out of the child-welfare system, age 18 (in Ontario) to 26. Requires a referral/letter of eligibility from a child-welfare ministry or agency representative — not a self-serve signup. Runs on TELUS's national wireless network, so it works in Toronto. TELUS's companion "Internet for Good" HOME internet program for this same population is confirmed, as of today, still not available in Ontario (wireline-only, restricted to Alberta, British Columbia, and parts of Quebec) — don't count on this program for home internet.

Low-cost home internet you may qualify for

Connecting Families low-cost internet $10/mo home internet (10 Mbps / 100 GB) or $20/mo (50 Mbps / 200 GB) for eligible low-income families and low-income seniors, through participating ISPs serving Toronto (Bell, Rogers, TELUS, Cogeco, Beanfield, Novus, Vidéotron). A low-cost device can also be requested (through the Computers for Schools Plus program) while supplies last. ised-isde.canada.ca — Connecting Families Initiative There is no self-serve application. Only households randomly selected from maximum Canada-Child-Benefit recipients, or low-income seniors receiving at least 80% of maximum GIS, get a mailed Government of Canada invitation letter with an activation code — you cannot request a letter on demand. Once you have a letter, sign up at the Connecting Families Registration Portal (cf-fb.ca); libraries, community centres, or Computers for Success Canada (1-833-206-0599) can help with registration. The $10/$20 tiers, speeds, and data caps are confirmed unchanged today. This guide previously stated the program runs to March 2027; that specific end date could not be re-confirmed on any of the program's current pages (main page, eligibility page, or low-cost-plans page) as of today's fetch, so it has been dropped here rather than repeated on faith — the program otherwise reads as active and ongoing with no stated wind-down.

Rogers Connected for Success Low-cost Ignite Internet (25/50/150 Mbps, unlimited data, WiFi modem included, no activation or install fees), plus TV bundles and mobile plans. rogers.com/connectedforsuccess For people receiving eligible provincial income or disability support (OW, ODSP), seniors on the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement, or rent-geared-to-income tenants of a partner non-profit housing organization. Proof of assistance/benefit receipt required, and must be resubmitted every 2 years to stay enrolled. Applications are reviewed within about 3 weeks — all confirmed unchanged today. Specific Ontario pricing still isn't shown on the public page — only the speed tiers are confirmed.

Connected for Success — Affordable Internet & Mobile (TCHC tenants) Discounted high-speed internet, plus a no-cost 5G smartphone bundled with a $25/month mobile plan, for Toronto Community Housing tenants. torontohousing.ca — Affordable Internet and Mobile Program Any Toronto Community Housing tenant qualifies automatically — call 1-866-689-0758 to confirm. No documents required for this TCHC-tenant path. Internet pricing itself still isn't published (described only as "high-speed, low-cost"); the mobile offer is a genuine $25/month discount plan with a free phone, not a fully free service — confirmed unchanged today. TCHC tenants who don't fit this specific program may also be eligible for the broader Rogers Connected for Success door above.

Free wifi and computer access outside your home

Digital Innovation Hubs (Toronto Public Library) Free access to 3D printers, professional design workstations, and audio/video production equipment, plus classes and staff support, at 13 branches. tpl.ca — Digital Innovation Hubs Anyone, at any of the 13 participating branches; no documents required to walk in. Free except $0.15/gram for 3D-print filament (about $1.50 for an average print job, $0.15 minimum charge per job); fines apply for damaged or lost equipment. Branch list and fee both confirmed exactly unchanged today.

Toronto Public Library — free computer and printing access Every TPL card unlocks free computer terminals and printing at branches, on top of the library's books/media/programs. tpl.ca Anyone; ID and proof of address needed to register for a free card. (For everything else a TPL card unlocks — free streaming, ebooks, borrowable instruments — see Guide 06: Free Fun; that's the same card, a different guide's subject.)

Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending (Toronto Public Library) A take-home Wi-Fi hotspot with an unlimited monthly data plan (50GB at Max LTE speed), keep for up to 6 months, no overdue fines — but this is not currently a walk-in program. torontopubliclibrary.ca — Wi-Fi Hotspots Confirmed live today: lending runs only through referrals from participating agencies in the City's Community Coordination Plan — you cannot walk into a branch and request one. The provider's own page also states, as of today, "All hotspots have been allocated at this time," meaning even the referral pathway currently has no devices to hand out. The page still carries a leftover pandemic-era line that hotspots "will return to being loaned from library branches in early 2021" — a date that has never been updated. This page was fetched twice, three days apart (2026-07-27 and 2026-07-30), with zero change either time, which is strong evidence this reflects the program's genuine current state rather than an unmaintained page: if you need a device today, ask a referring community agency, not a library branch.

Also available inside other services (secondary amenities)

These two aren't phone/internet/computer programs first — their core purpose is housing/youth support and food/hygiene drop-in, and each belongs to a different guide for that reason. But both include a working computer lab or Wi-Fi as part of what's inside, confirmed current today, and for a reader with nowhere else to get online that matters enough to name here — labelled honestly as a secondary amenity, not the reason to go.

Friends of Ruby — Drop-In Centre A computer lab with free Wi-Fi, phone, and fax service, inside a 2SLGBTQIA+ youth drop-in centre that also offers groceries, laundry, harm-reduction kits, and case management. friendsofruby.ca — Drop-In Services 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and young adults 16-29, particularly those unhoused, vulnerably housed, or at risk of homelessness. This week's drop-in hours (confirmed today): Mon 12:30-6:30pm, Tue 11:30am-6:30pm, Wed 12-6:30pm, Thu 11:30am-6:30pm, Fri 12-6:30pm — no weekend walk-in. 70 Richmond St E. The full service (housing, case management, mental-health support) belongs to a housing or youth guide; the computer lab/Wi-Fi is the only reason it's named here.

Evangel Hall Mission — Drop-In Centre Computer and Wi-Fi access, part of a Monday-Friday drop-in that also offers meals, hot showers, laundry, and referrals, plus Sunday dinner. evangelhall.ca — Drop-In Centre Anyone; no documents required; walk-in Mon-Fri 9:00am-12:00pm (registration for showers/laundry begins at 9am). 552 Adelaide St W; 416-504-3563. Confirmed current today. The full service (meals, showers, clothing bank, nursing care) belongs to a food/drop-in guide; the computer/Wi-Fi access is the only reason it's named here.

Getting an actual device — affordable refurbished computers

Free Geek Toronto Refurbished laptops and desktops sold below market price, with a 90-day hardware warranty. Also runs digital skills training and takes e-waste drop-off. freegeektoronto.org Anyone, Toronto. Not free — below-market prices, not a giveaway (about 25% of refurbished computers sell for under $100). Store at C3-180 Sudbury St, open Tuesday-Saturday 12-5pm. All confirmed unchanged today.

RCT Outreach (Renewed Computer Technologies) Affordable renewed desktop and laptop computers, with ready-to-use software and learning modules. rcto.ca/rctech-outreach Ontario residents who meet Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) standard — this guide previously said "Toronto residents," which was narrower than the program actually is; RCT's own eligibility page states "Must be a resident of Ontario." Pickup offices are in Mississauga, Toronto, Ottawa, and St. Catharines/Niagara, or the computer can be shipped anywhere for a fee. Not free — subsidized/affordable pricing, not a giveaway. (Not the same organization as reBOOT Canada, below — a similarly named but separate Toronto computer-reuse nonprofit.)

reBOOT Canada — reSTART Subsidized Computers Refurbished laptops and desktops for people on social assistance or otherwise qualifying as low-income: Standard package $165 (desktop) or $195 (laptop); Premium package $295 (laptop or desktop), tax included. Comes with Windows 11 and LibreOffice pre-installed, 90-day hardware warranty. rebootcanada.ca — reSTART Any Canadian resident receiving social assistance (ODSP, Ontario Works, OSAP, EI, OAS, WSIB, Veterans Affairs, or a similar program) or otherwise low-income; a caseworker, family member, or friend may also purchase one on a qualifying person's behalf. Toronto pickup by appointment only (1633 Eglinton Ave W; Mon-Thu 10am-5pm), or shipped anywhere in Canada for an added fee. This is a purchase, not free — same honest framing as RCT Outreach and Free Geek Toronto above. Confirmed live today; this closes the atlas's previous "no second refurbished-computer source" gap.

Free software that makes an old machine usable

LibreOffice A free, open-source word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation suite that opens and saves Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. libreoffice.org Anyone, anywhere; free download, no documents. Current stable release confirmed today (25.8.3).

Linux Mint A free, open-source, Windows-like operating system that can replace a paid Windows licence or extend the life of an older PC that no longer meets Windows 11's requirements. linuxmint.com Anyone, anywhere; free download, no documents. Current release confirmed today (Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena"). Most useful if your computer is too old to run Windows 11 or you're facing a forced upgrade because of a Windows-version end-of-support date.

Before you sign anything — compare plans without getting upsold

WhistleOut Canada A free comparison tool covering 16+ Canadian wireless carriers and 25+ internet providers by price, data, and coverage. whistleout.ca/CellPhones Anyone, anywhere; free to use, no paywall — confirmed today. Ad/affiliate-supported — the site discloses it may earn money when you click through to a plan, so treat its ranking as a starting comparison, not neutral advice.

Not what you needed?

If it's your hydro, gas, water, or property-tax bill — not phone or internet — that's the problem, that help lives in this fleet's Utilities & Bills guide (Guide 08, fleet #4).

If you're a student at a specific Toronto-area campus looking for a laptop loan, free Microsoft 365/Adobe licence, or a library equipment-lending program — every one of those already lives in your own campus's guide (Guide 04A–04H). This guide doesn't repeat campus-gated programs; it covers phone lines, home internet, and device access for everyone else, plus the handful of paths (Connecting Families, Rogers Connected for Success, RCT Outreach, Free Geek Toronto, reBOOT Canada) that happen to also serve students who qualify on income rather than enrollment.

If you're after free streaming, ebooks, borrowable instruments, or other TPL media — not computer/wifi access specifically — that's Guide 06: Free Fun, and the library rows there.

If you were looking for home energy-savings tools (the "Save on Energy" portal) — that row is filed in the atlas under "Phone & Internet" by a category quirk, but its actual subject is energy bills, and it's already cited in Guide 08.

If you're looking for housing, food, or youth drop-in support and computer/Wi-Fi access is a nice-to-have rather than the main need — Friends of Ruby and Evangel Hall Mission are named above as secondary amenities, but their full services belong to a housing, youth, or food guide.

Honest gaps

This is one of the thinnest-covered topics in the atlas relative to Food or Health — 10 rows in Phone & Internet and a handful more scattered elsewhere, against 189 Health & Wellness rows and 105 Money & Benefits rows. Rather than pad this guide with tangential entries, here's what a reader would look for and not find:

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Every entry on this page is verified against the provider's own page on its dated row in the Free Toronto Resource Atlas; this guide regenerates from the atlas — corrections happen there first. This guide passed its seal/verification pass on 2026-07-30: every <!-- FT-XXXX --> citation was re-fetched from the provider's own live page on that date..

Generated: 2026-07-29. Sealed: 2026-07-30.

Source: this library's internal records (v0.2, sealed). Cites 17 rows in this library's resource atlas, the atlas’s registry of record: FT-8003, FT-8004, FT-2035, FT-2026, FT-2034, FT-1021, FT-1025, FT-4011, FT-1026, FT-9110, FT-9718, FT-8006, FT-8005, FT-16000, FT-5015, FT-5016, FT-5008.