In times of increasing civil unrest and displacement, ensuring the continuity of education necessitates innovative solutions. This article advocates for the use of data-free applications to prevent educational exclusion. It examines the challenges faced by displaced and marginalised students, including disrupted educational infrastructure, limited access to quality instruction, psychological trauma and an exacerbated digital divide. By emphasising the imperative of social justice through inclusive education, the article posits that data-free applications can serve as critical tools in low-bandwidth or offline environments. These applications can bridge connectivity gaps, providing access to communication channels, support services and educational resources. By evaluating the efficacy of such applications, 2620 Google reviews of the South African data-free Moya application were collected. Thematic analysis was used for reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic, as this was a time of educational disruption. Findings reveal that users appreciate the application's utility for communication and resource access in data-constrained contexts. However, challenges related to message delivery, profile updates, account verification, feature access and network reliability were also noted. Despite these issues, the application's ability to provide data-free communication shows potential. This paper emphasises how data-free applications might revolutionise teaching in times of crisis. To guarantee that every student has the chance to learn, especially in the face of hardship, it requires all parties involved to work together. Education is a vital lifeline in times of adversity, not a luxury.