If you’re a senior who’s wondered if your age merits you a deal — or if you’re just tired of paying too much for cell phone service — you’ll be pleased to learn there are several options for switching to a cheaper provider without sacrificing service. In fact, some major wireless providers offer affordable plans specifically for people who are 55 and older. But which service offers the best cell phone plan for seniors?
I’ve researched more than 70 phone plans to find the best phone plans, prices, key features and discounts on reliable networks that offer talk, text and data. In this article, I’ll share my picks for the best cell phone plans for seniors.
- Low prices on limited data plans
- Discounts available for AARP members
- Highly rated by Consumer Reports
- Phones are specifically designed for seniors
- Health and safety packages are available for an additional charge
- Best price for high-speed data that never slows
- 40GB of hotspot data
- Unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data
- Cheapest pre-built plan available
- 35GB data cap before reduced speeds
- Prepay three months in advance when you sign up
- Although you’ll have to sign a longer contract, the monthly plan price stays the same after the initial three-month new customer offer
- Unlimited talk, text and data with 5-12 Mbps speeds
- Unlimited mobile hotspot with 5 Mbps speeds
- One of the cheapest prices for unlimited data
Choosing the Best Cell Phone Plan for Seniors
Because there are so many options, both features and pricing are important to consider when it comes to senior cell phone plans. While there are several plans marketed toward seniors, a senior plan or discount doesn’t necessarily make it the best choice.
A few of my top picks for senior phone plans do include senior plans and discounts, but these aren’t the only options available to seniors. Providers including Tello and Boost also offer great phone plans at some of the cheapest rates available without any discount. You’ll see these below under “Other Plans To Consider.”
For this reason, it’s important to shop not only for senior plans but also to consider the price, features, customer service, reviews and coverage of all available phone plans. Those are the main factors I compared when researching for this article. Here are my top picks:
- Phone Plans for Seniors
- Consumer Cellular: Best Overall Cell Phone Plan for Seniors
- Lively: Best Senior Services
- Phone Plans with Senior Discounts
- T-Mobile Magenta Max 55+: Best Unlimited Data Plan for Seniors
- Other Plans To Consider
- Tello Economy: Cheapest Cell Phone Plan for Seniors
- Mint Mobile: Cheapest Unlimited Phone Plan for Seniors
- Visible: Cheapest Unlimited Hotspot Plan for Seniors
- Boost Mobile: Best Annual Phone Plan for Seniors
Below, you’ll find more detailed information on each cell phone plan including how much it costs, what it includes and how it compares. For even more options, be sure to check out our guide to the best cell phone plans and deals.
Phone Plans for Seniors
Many phone service carriers market certain plans specifically toward seniors. Generally, these are cheap plans with limited data. Carriers such as Consumer Cellular also pride themselves on excellent customer service, especially for seniors. Other carriers, like Lively, focus on senior-specific services such as easy-to-use phones that can come with health and safety features. These two companies stand out for their low prices, high reviews and senior services.
- Best Overall Cell Phone Plan for Seniors: Consumer Cellular (Review)
- Best Senior Services: Lively (Review)
Consumer Cellular
Best Cell Phone Plan for Seniors
|
Price:
$35/month (plus taxes & fees)
Talk and Text:
Unlimited
Data:
10GB
Data Cap Overage:
If you go over 10GB, you’ll be upgraded automatically to the next plan.
Hotspot Data:
Free; pulls from monthly data
|
Consumer Cellular provides a variety of customizable phone plans that range from phone calls only to unlimited data. The most affordable plan that includes unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data is available for $20 per month per line plus taxes and fees. However, you can now get 5GB of high-speed data per month for $25. Previously, this plan only offered 3GB of high-speed data, which makes this plan a great deal. Consumer Cellular also offers a 5% discount for AARP members.
Although its prices aren’t the lowest available overall, the carrier is an excellent choice for seniors given its affordable plans, high customer satisfaction scores and strong Consumer Reports ratings. Good customer service is hard to find right now due to short staffing, the expansion of the 5G network and more people switching phone plans to save money. I had a great experience with Consumer Cellular when I tested the service earlier this year. You can read my full review here.
Consumer Cellular also runs on two reliable networks: AT&T and T-Mobile. If you do switch to Consumer Cellular, you may be able to bring your own phone, either an Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or any Android phone, to save even more. You can check your phone’s eligibility online. You can also check out additional plans and information on Consumer Cellular’s website.
Lively
Best Senior Services
|
Price:
$24.99/month (plus taxes & fees)
Talk and Text:
Unlimited
Data:
500MB
Data Cap Overage:
None
Hotspot Data:
No
|
Lively is a cell phone service provider that’s marketed specifically toward seniors. The company sells cell phones made for seniors and even offers a health and safety package that provides access to emergency assistance, medical advice, locksmiths and more via the Lively app.
Lively also offers a variety of phone plans beginning at $14.99 per month without data (for the Jitterbug Flip2) or $17.48 per month with data (for the Jitterbug Smart3). For $14.99, you’ll get 300 minutes per month. For $17.48, you’ll get 300 minutes and 100MB of data. For $24.99 monthly, you can get unlimited talk and text along with 500MB of data. Lively runs on the Verizon Wireless network.
Unfortunately, Lively does not allow you to bring your own phone. Instead, you’ll have to purchase a Lively phone. As of March 2023, Lively offered the Jitterbug Flip2 for $74.99 and the Jitterbug Smart3 for $112.49. These are easy-to-use flip phones and smartphones that are specially designed for seniors.
For more information on Lively’s phone plans and devices, visit the company’s website online.
Phone Plans With Senior Discounts
Some phone plans offer discounts specifically to people who are over a certain age and/or have an AARP membership. Unfortunately, these plans aren’t always the best choice, even with the discount. Many plans with senior discounts have very limited minutes, no texting and no data. Still, there is one plan that offers a great senior discount with truly unlimited data.
- Best Unlimited Data Plan for Seniors: T-Mobile Magenta Max 55+
T-Mobile Magenta Max 55+
Best Unlimited Data Plan for Seniors
|
Price:
$65/month (taxes & fees included; autopay required to get best rate)
Talk and Text:
Unlimited
Data:
Unlimited
Data Cap Overage:
Unlimited
Hotspot Data:
40GB
|
T-Mobile Magenta Max is my top pick overall for the best unlimited data plan available, and anyone over the age of 55 can get this plan at a discounted rate. With the discount, seniors can get T-Mobile Magenta Max 55+ for $65 per month with one line or $45 per line with two to four lines with taxes and fees included. The plan includes unlimited talk, text and smartphone data with speeds that can’t slow based on usage. It also comes with 40GB of mobile hotspot data and a basic Netflix subscription.
In addition to the Magenta Max 55+ plan, T-Mobile also offers 55+ senior discounts on the basic Magenta plan ($50 monthly with the discount) and on the Essentials plan ($40 per month with the discount). If you do decide to switch to T-Mobile, you may be able to bring your own phone. You can check your phone’s eligibility online.
To learn more about unlimited plans, check out our T-Mobile vs. AT&T vs. Verizon comparison. You can also find additional T-Mobile plans and information online.
Other Plans To Consider
While senior-specific phone plans and senior discounts are great, they aren’t your only options. If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest mobile phone plan available, you’ll want to check out Tello Mobile. Mint Mobile also offers incredibly low prices, including the cheapest option for an unlimited phone plan. And Visible offers four lines for $100 per month.
In addition to senior phone plans and senior discounts, here are three other plans to consider:
- Cheapest Cell Phone Plan for Seniors: Tello Economy (Review)
- Cheapest Unlimited Phone Plan for Seniors: Mint Mobile (Review)
- Cheapest Unlimited Hotspot Plan for Seniors: Visible (Review)
- Best Annual Phone Plan for Seniors: Boost Mobile (Review)
Tello Economy
Cheapest Cell Phone Plan for Seniors
|
Price:
$10/month (plus taxes)
Talk and Text:
Unlimited
Data:
Unlimited
Data Cap Overage:
1GB
Hotspot Data:
Free; pulls from monthly data
|
Tello Mobile offers the cheapest cell phone plans I’ve found, and it runs on T-Mobile’s reliable network. You can get unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data for $10 monthly. If you don’t need the 1GB of data, you can get an even cheaper plan with unlimited talk and text for just $8 per month. You can also bring your own phone to Tello if it’s eligible.
To learn more about Tello, be sure to check out our review. You can also visit Tello’s website to begin building your perfect cheap cell phone plan.
If you’re looking for another cheap prepaid phone plan on T-Mobile’s network, also be sure to check out T-Mobile Connect. They also begin at $10 per month for 1GB of data.
Mint Mobile
Cheapest Unlimited Phone Plan for Seniors
|
Price:
$30/month (plus taxes & fees)
Talk and Text:
Unlimited
Data:
Unlimited
Data Cap Overage:
Slower speeds after 40GB
Hotspot Data:
10GB
|
Mint Mobile offers several great phone plans that are worth considering regardless of your age. In fact, Mint Unlimited is the best cheap unlimited phone plan that I’ve found. For $30 monthly, Mint offers unlimited talk, text and data. Speeds reduce after 35GB, but you can still continue to use unlimited data. To get this price, you do have to prepay for three months at a time, which makes the plan $90 at the time of payment.
Even if you don’t need unlimited data, Mint Mobile offers great plans. For $15 per month, you can get 4GB of data plus unlimited talk and text. You may also be able to bring your own phone when you switch to Mint.
For more information on Mint Mobile, be sure to read our review. You can also find additional plan information on Mint Mobile’s website.
Visible
Cheapest Unlimited Hotspot Plan for Seniors
|
Price:
$30/month (taxes & fees included)
Talk and Text:
Unlimited
Data:
Unlimited
Data Cap Overage:
None, but speeds may slow during congestion.
Hotspot Data:
Unlimited
|
If you’re looking for unlimited hotspot data or unlimited mobile data in general, Visible is a great carrier to consider. For each line, Visible costs $30 each month. Visible’s plan includes unlimited talk, text and high-speed data, though speeds may slow during congestion. The plan also includes unlimited mobile hotspot, but speeds are limited to 5 Mbps on one device. If you do need faster download speeds, you can check out Visible+ for $45 per month with unlimited mobile data in addition to 50GB of premium high-speed data.
You can also bring your own phone to Visible; check its compatibility online before switching to see if your Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Android phone is compatible. To learn more about Visible before switching, read our Visible review. Visit Visible’s website for more detailed plan information and options for switching.
Boost Mobile
Best Annual Phone Plan for Seniors
|
Price:
$100 ($8.33/month)
Talk and Text:
Unlimited
Data:
Unlimited
Data Cap Overage:
1GB
Hotspot Data:
Included; data counts towards mobile data allowance
|
Boost Mobile offers annual plans on AT&T’s network that begin as low as $100 upfront. For this price, you can get 12 months of unlimited talk and text as well as 1GB of high-speed data per month. That works out to be $8.33 per month before taxes and fees! If you need more data, Boost also offers an unlimited annual plan for $300 ($25 per month) that includes 35GB of high-speed data per month for a year. These are great options to consider if you don’t want to worry about monthly phone bills.
If you want to bring your own phone to Boost Mobile to save even more, be sure to check its compatibility before switching. In addition to checking online, I recommend checking in person at your nearest Boost Mobile store. When I tested Boost Mobile earlier this year, I found that my phone wasn’t compatible with the particular plan that I wanted despite being eligible with Boost Mobile in general. It’s also important to make sure you’ll have service in your area before switching. To learn more about Boost Mobile’s carrier crusher plans, here are the details.
Before you pay for an annual plan, take the time to read my full review of Boost Mobile here to make sure you don’t end up paying for a year’s worth of service that may not work for you. Plus, I always recommend trying at least one month of service with a carrier before committing to a full year. That way, you can make sure you’re happy with the service before you’re out too much money!
Team Clark’s Methodology
For the purposes of this review, Team Clark determined that the top three priorities for seniors when choosing cell phone carriers are price, network reliability/coverage and overall satisfaction including customer service.
Various staff members tried out each of these popular cell phone providers to get a feel for their reliability and service. We have individual reviews of those providers available on the website.
I personally researched more than 70 phone plans and analyzed the following characteristics when determining the “best” options for seniors:
- Price
- Network reliability
- Network coverage
- Monthly data allotments
- “Bring your own device” availability
- Available deals and discounts (55+, autopay, additional lines, etc.)
- Online reviews from real customers
Final Thoughts
If you’re a senior looking to save on your phone bill, look for a plan that offers the right amount of data and service. If you don’t need much mobile data, avoid pricey plans labeled “unlimited.” Also, make sure you’re switching to a network that has coverage in your area. Every wireless provider has its coverage map online, but if you’re happy with your current service, you can simply switch to a low-cost carrier that uses the same towers.
Know that senior-specific plans can be great, but a discount doesn’t necessarily make it the best option. If you aren’t sure where to begin, consider starting with one of the plans listed here.
Consumer Cellular offers exceptional service for a reasonable monthly price, which makes this provider an excellent option for seniors. If you want a senior-friendly phone as well as reliable service, Lively is a great option. But if you need an unlimited data plan, consider the senior discount you’ll get with T-Mobile’s Magenta Max 55+.
For the cheapest cell phone plan available, check out Tello Economy. For an affordable phone plan that offers unlimited data, consider Mint Mobile instead. If you need hotspot data, Visible is a great unlimited option that can keep the total bill to $30 per line per month. Finally, if you’re willing to commit for a year to Boost Mobile (and find that the service will work for you), you can get unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data per month for $100 total.
For even more options, be sure to read our guide on the best cell phone plans and deals available now. Once you’ve decided on a new phone plan and you’re ready to make the switch, check out this guide that we put together to take you step-by-step through the process.
Did we miss a plan on our list or did you find a better deal? Let us know in our Clark.com Community or check out the latest conversations around cell phones.
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