Finish the free class, keep the laptop.
California adults who need a computer can get a refurbished Chromebook through our device program. You enroll in the free 8-week digital literacy and AI course, work through 36 short lessons, and graduate with a device, a certificate, and the skills to use both. No tuition, no deposit, no credit check.
- Cost
- $0 — nothing to repay
- Who
- Adults 18+ in California
- Course
- 8 weeks · 36 lessons
- Keep
- Chromebook + certificate
Four steps from applying to owning a device.
- 01
Enroll in the free class
Sign up for the 8-week digital literacy and AI course. There is no tuition, no credit check, and no device required to start — phone or library computer is fine.
- 02
Ask for a device
The enrollment form asks whether you need a device. Say yes and you go on the device list for your cohort.
- 03
Complete the coursework
36 short self-paced lessons, roughly one to two hours a week. Devices are assigned to participants who are actively working through the lessons.
- 04
Keep the Chromebook
Graduates who finish the required hours keep their refurbished Chromebook, along with a verifiable certificate of completion.
Who gets priority
- No working computer at home
- Low-income household or receiving public benefits
- Seniors and older adults returning to work
- Actively job searching or in a career change
- Caregivers and parents sharing one device with children
Other free options
Our supply depends on donations, so we will always tell you about other routes. California public libraries lend laptops and hotspots, county workforce centers run free computer labs, and several national refurbishers sell low-cost devices to households on public benefits. If you want a device plus eight weeks of training and a coach, that is what we do.
Have hardware to give instead? Donate a computer — that is where these devices come from.
Questions about the device program
Is the laptop really free?
Yes — there is no cost, no deposit, and no payment plan. Devices come from donated and refurbished hardware funded by grants and donors, and they are distributed while supplies last.
Who qualifies for a free laptop?
Adults 18 or older living in California who enroll in our free digital literacy and AI course and indicate they need a device. Priority goes to participants with no working computer at home, low-income households, seniors, and people actively job searching.
Do I need a device to start the class?
No. Lessons work on a phone, tablet, or a borrowed library computer. That is deliberate — you can start immediately and receive a device during the cohort.
What kind of computer will I get?
A refurbished Chromebook or laptop, wiped, updated, and tested before it goes out. It is a real working machine for job applications, email, documents, and video calls — not a toy.
Is there a catch or a contract?
No contract and nothing to repay. The expectation is simply that you do the coursework: devices are limited and go to participants who are actively learning.
What if I don't get one this cohort?
Supply is limited to what donors fund, so some cohorts run out. If that happens you stay on the list for the next cohort, and you can still finish the course and earn your certificate on any device.
Do you help with internet access too?
Where funding allows, yes — hotspot data is part of what donors sponsor. We also help participants apply to low-cost home internet programs offered by California providers.
Devices go to people who start.
Applying takes about two minutes and costs nothing. You can begin the lessons on a phone today.
Tell me when devices open up
We'll email you when the next cohort and device batch are available.