Best Cell Phone Plans for Seniors
Learn about the cheapest plans and best senior discounts
Sep 12, 2024 | Share 
Brand Guides
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Best senior discounts
1 GB of Data- Starting price: $20.00/mo.
- Discounts for AARP members
- Customizable plans
- Bring your own phone or buy a new smartphone
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Best senior phones
Basic- Starting price: $19.99/mo.
- Phones designed just for seniors
- Unlimited talk and text
- Limited phone selection
-
Best unlimited data
Visible- Starting price: $25.00/mo.
- 5-year price guarantee
- Unlimited data, talk, and text
- Speed may be deprioritized during congestion
Data as of 9/4/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
Getting older comes with some great perks—the knowledge that leggings aren’t pants and the French tuck looks like a dressing room mistake, to name just a few. But did you know you could also save on your cell phone bill if you were born before 1970?
We’ll recommend some of the best options out there for people who are 55+. Then, we’ll give you the info you need to decide on a plan that’s right for you.
On this page: Best plans | What to look for | Best senior discount | Best user-friendly phones | Best unlimited data plan | Best prepaid plan | Best for city-dwellers | Our verdict | FAQ
On this page:
- Best plans
- What to look for
- Best senior discount
- Best user-friendly phones
- Best unlimited data plan
- Best prepaid plan
- Best for city-dwellers
- Our verdict
- FAQ
The five best cell plans for seniors
| Brand | Best for | Starting Price | Shop online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Cellular | Senior discounts | $20.00/mo.* | View Plan |
| Lively | Easy-to-use phones | $19.99/mo.† | View Plan |
| Visible | Unlimited data | $25.00/mo.‡ | |
| Tracfone | Prepaid plans | $15.00/mo.§ | View Plan |
| Boost Mobile | Seniors in cities | $15.00/mo.║ | View Plan |
Data as of 9/4/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
What should you look for in a cell phone plan for seniors?
The best cell plans for seniors are inexpensive and easy to understand. They should be the same price every month, and you shouldn’t have to worry about extra fees or unexpected price hikes.
Great plans for seniors also need to come with the right phones—whether that’s a simple phone just for seniors or a high-tech smartphone with a big, fancy screen. Better yet, you can just use a phone you already have.
Finally, let’s talk stats. You need unlimited talk and text so you can connect anytime, from anywhere. You also need a decent amount of data for things like YouTube, voice assistant, and social media. Our recommendations start at 500MB for folks who mostly stay home, all the way up to unlimited data for folks who take their phones on the road.
Pro tip: Look for plans with a minimum of 5GB of monthly data if you want to stream, scroll, and use data-hungry apps like Google Maps away from home. If you mostly use your cell phone while connected to Wi-Fi, look for a plan with about 500MB of data.
Consumer Cellular: Best senior discounts on mobile plans
Starting price: $20.00/mo.
Plan details: Unlimited talk, text, and 1GB data
Network: T-Mobile and AT&T
*The totals shown here are costs for your monthly service only. They do not include any taxes and fees. Plans include a $5 monthly credit for participation in AutoPay and E-Billing.
Consumer Cellular offers nationwide coverage and a great selection of phones for seniors, starting at just $20 per month for a single line. You can save even more if you’re a member of the AARP and you’re at least 55 years old.
You can use any device you already own, or you can buy a phone directly from Consumer Cellular. The company has a selection of the latest smartphones with all the bells and whistles, or you can choose options designed just for seniors, such as the GrandPad or IRIS Easy Flip.
If you need more data or want to add extra lines to your plan, Consumer Cellular makes it easy. It’ll even help you cancel with your old provider. Plus, its U.S.-based customer service team has a great reputation.
Pros:
- Buy online or visit a real store
- Get a senior-specific phone or bring one you already own
- Talk to U.S-based customer service reps
Cons:
- Low limits on high-speed data away from home
Lively Wireless: Best easy-to-use phones
Price: $19.99/mo.*
Plan details: Unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data
Network: Verizon
*This phone requires a data plan. Data usage over plan allowance is $0.10 per megabyte. For unlimited data plans only, data speeds will be reduced to 128kbps if you exceed 20GB in a billing cycle. Speeds will be restored at the beginning of the next billing cycle.
Lively Wireless offers simplified Jitterbug smartphones that are perfect for seniors who want to stay connected, hassle-free. The first option is a Jitterbug Flip2 phone that comes with large buttons and connects to your Alexa smart speaker. Alternatively, you can choose a Jitterbug Smart4 that lets you call, text, send emails, and browse the internet.
Both phones come with a big, red urgent response button on the home screen so you can easily get help in case of an emergency.
Even better, the Lively customer service team is always on standby. With any plan, you can get answers to simple questions and have the team order a ride for you. If you pay a little more every month, you can add family alerts, 24-hour urgent response, and nurse on-call services.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use phones
- Affordable monthly prices
- Quick help in case of an emergency
Cons:
- Limited phone availability
- Low data limit for browsing away from home
Visible: Best unlimited data plan for seniors
Starting price: $25.00/mo.*
Plan details: Unlimited talk, text, and data
Network: Verizon
*Taxes and fees included. Welcome discount applied.
If you love accessing the internet on your phone and want to use any cell phone to do it, check out unlimited data plans from Visible. The starting price is low, and you can save an extra $10 per month for five years if you’re switching from T-Mobile.
The basic plan gives you unlimited data on Verizon’s robust network, but that data might be deprioritized if the network is busy. The Visible+ plan costs a little more, but you get premium features such as smartwatch service, 50GB of premium data, and faster hotspot data. Either way, video streams in SD quality.
With Visible Wireless, there are no contracts to worry about, but you can save money if you decide to pay annually. It’s a great option for seniors in rural areas.
Pros:
- Unlimited talk, text, and data
- Use your own phone or buy a new, high-tech one
- Coverage on Verizon’s robust 4G LTE/5G network
Cons:
- Data may be deprioritized on the cheaper plan
TracFone: Best prepaid phone plan for seniors
Starting price: $15.00/mo.
Plan details: Unlimited talk and text, and up to 500MB of data
Networks: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon
TracFone does billing a little differently from some of the other cell phone providers we recommend for seniors, but it might be worth the extra effort! Instead of paying month by month, you pay for a certain number of months ahead of time. The farther ahead you pay, the better your monthly rate.
Two plans cost just $15 per month—one comes with unlimited talk and no data and the other comes with 500 minutes, 500 texts, and 500MB of data every month. It’s hard to recommend no data, but 500MB may be enough if you rarely use your phone without Wi-Fi. More expensive plans offer up to 10GB of data, and prices are still lower than what you might pay on major provider networks.
TracFone offers at least 20 options for plans, so you can choose based on your unique needs. You can change anytime, too, because there are no contracts. Plus, you can earn discounts if you play games and answer surveys using the free Reward Points program. It gets complicated, but it’s a fun way to get discounts and stay entertained.
Pros:
- Bargain basement prices, paid upfront
- Buy any smartphone or bring your own
- Robust network coverage
Cons:
- Low data limits
- Confusing Reward Points discounts
Boost Mobile: Best cell plan for seniors in cities
Starting price: $25.00/mo.*
Plan details: Unlimited talk, text, and data. 30GB premium data.
Networks: T-Mobile & AT&T
*After monthly data allotment is exceeded, speeds may be reduced for the remainder of the month. Hotspot usage draws from monthly data allotment. 5G not available in all areas
Boost Mobile is our top pick for seniors who live in cities and suburbs. It piggybacks on 5G towers from AT&T and T-Mobile, so you can expect fast speeds when you aren’t on Wi-Fi. Plus, you get 30GB of premium data on even the cheapest plan.
We also like Boost’s payment structure. You can pay low rates month to month, and pricing on premium plans includes taxes and fees.
You can bring any cell phone you already own or buy one from Boost Mobile. If you’re on one of the more expensive plans, you can save big on the purchase price of a new phone.
Pros:
- Great coverage in cities and suburbs
- Plenty of high-speed data on any plan
- Special deals on device purchase
Cons:
- Slightly higher prices than you get with budget providers
- Signal may suffer in rural areas
Our Verdict: Take advantage of plans built for seniors
It’s easier than ever to get a great senior cell phone plan, and rates are very reasonable. You can pay a lot for the latest high-tech phones or pay next to nothing for simplified flip phone varieties. The options make my head spin!
I love freedom of choice, but I really don’t like confusing prices or sales shenanigans when I’m shopping for phone service. That’s why I recommend simple plans from providers that understand your needs. If you’re shopping on your own, look first to plans from Consumer Cellular, Lively, and Visible or Boost Mobile. If you don’t mind a little complication and want to get the best possible prices, check out TracFone‘s offerings.
Senior phone plans FAQ
How much data do you need for a senior cell phone plan?
Can seniors get free cell phone plans?
Disclaimers
*Consumer Cellular
The totals shown here are costs for your monthly service only. They do not include any taxes and fees. Plans include a $5 monthly credit for participation in AutoPay and E-Billing.
† Lively
This phone requires a data plan. Data usage over plan allowance is $0.10 per megabyte. For unlimited data plans only, data speeds will be reduced to 128kbps if you exceed 20GB in a billing cycle. Speeds will be restored at the beginning of the next billing cycle.
‡ Visible Wireless
Taxes and fees included. Welcome discount applied.
§ Tracfone
║ Boost Mobile
*After monthly data allotment is exceeded, speeds may be reduced for the remainder of the month. Hotspot usage draws from monthly data allotment. 5G not available in all areas
Author - Chili Palmer
Chili Palmer covers breaking news, satellite internet, mobile connectivity, and streaming services for HighSpeedInternet.com. Previously writing under the name Rebecca Palmer, Chili is passionate about providing accurate and accessible information any time you're trying to connect … whether you already speak geek or just got your first smartphone.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.
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