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We've put together our top picks for the least expensive cell phones for seniors, so you can find the right phone for your budget
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We understand that searching for an affordable cell phone can be intimidating and overwhelming. If you’re budget-conscious like us, we believe that you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality for value. On our list of the cheapest cell phones for seniors, we found devices that bring the best of both.
The Cheapest Cell Phones for Seniors
The rate of older adults using cell phones has increased to over 90 percent, and, of those cell phone users, 61 percent use a smartphone.1 That’s why the Jitterbug Smart3 made our list. It’s the least expensive smartphone on the market made specifically for older adults with a host of useful features. In addition to talk, text, and internet, the phone can double as a medical alert device when you add one of Lively’s Health & Safety Packages, starting at $24.99 per month.
Jitterbug Smart3
The Jitterbug Smart3 costs $149.99, with additional fees for activation, shipping, and taxes. This smartphone runs on Lively’s network, which provides coverage throughout the nation. Flexibility is essential to us, so we appreciate that there are no long-term contracts or cancellation fees with these plans. Talk and text plans start at just $14.99 per month for 300 minutes. You can also choose their Unlimited Talk and Text plan for $19.99 per month with an additional data plan purchase. For those who want it all, a completely unlimited talk, text, and data plan is $49.99 per month.
Did You Know: Lively is featured on our list of the best cell phones for seniors twice! Their senior-friendly smartphone and flip phone both made the cut.
Research shows that seniors who use smartphone apps have increased feelings of connectedness with friends and family.2 With internet access, smartphones can help older adults connect to resources that promote physical and mental well-being. The Jitterbug Smart3 allows users to stay connected through mobile apps, video chatting, texts, calls, and more. Plus, its simple design makes it ideal for first-time smartphone users.
FYI: Our in-depth cell phones for seniors buyer’s guide breaks down how to choose the best phone for your needs and budget.
Want to take a closer look at pricing for the Jitterbug Smart3? Our Lively pricing page covers everything you need to know about the phone and its talk, text, and data plans.
We chose the Alcatel GO FLIP 4 because it offers the right balance between Consumer Cellular’s Link II and the Jitterbug Smart3. It combines the durability of a flip phone and the technological capabilities of a smartphone, all at the great price of $96. Additionally, it works on T-Mobile’s nationwide network, one of the country’s largest providers. Older adults who purchase this phone can choose any of T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ plans to go with it. T-Mobile’s three 55+ plans offer discounted rates, great perks, and unlimited talk, text, and data. Overall, they offer some of the best value for seniors on the market. For the latest details, head over to our full review of T-Mobile’s 55+ plans.
Alcatel GO FLIP 4 from T-Mobile
The Alcatel GO FLIP 4 costs $96; however, T-Mobile also has a payment plan with no interest financing for $4 per month for 24 months. If you plan on having the phone for a while and don’t want to pay the full cost upfront, this is an affordable option. You can save extra money with one of T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ plans. Unlimited talk, text, and data start at $27.50 per line for two lines or $40 per month for one line. T-Mobile’s pricing is certainly competitive; given that many unlimited plans on major networks start at $50+, that’s a deal! You’ll also get extra perks with T-Mobile’s unlimited plans like mobile hotspot data, weekly freebie giveaways, and in-flight Wi-Fi.
The Alcatel GO FLIP 4 is a perfect companion for older adults who want smartphone essentials but are loyal to the flip phone style. It’s also a great option for those who venture out often, as the internet capabilities can assist with location, navigation, and looking things up on the go. Older adults who work on their laptops or other devices outside of the home can benefit from the mobile hotspot data included with T-Mobile’s unlimited plans.
Lively’s products offer features that cater to the needs of older adults, including medical alert capabilities, which is why the Jitterbug Flip2 made the cut. This phone offers medical alert features and a simple flip phone design at an affordable price point, so you can stay safe and connected without putting a dent in your wallet. With the Jitterbug Flip2, seniors have options to connect to Urgent Response staff in an emergency and even speak with a registered nurse or doctor and order prescriptions over the phone. Talk about quality customer service!
The phone is designed with big buttons and a large screen, perfect for older hands and eyes. It has an 8MP camera, which provides clearer photos than other flip phones with 2MP cameras. Lively has also teamed up with Lyft to make it convenient to get a ride to any location, such as the grocery store, doctor’s office, or to visit friends and family.
Jitterbug Flip2
The Lively Flip is $99.99, with additional tax, shipping, and activation fees. You’ll also choose from a few different packages for talk, text, and data, with rates starting at $14.99 for 300 minutes, plus $0.10 per text. If you want to upgrade to the Unlimited Talk & Text plan, you’ll pay $19.99 per month. Health & Safety Packages are also available, starting at $24.99 per month.
If you or your loved one are looking for a simple, affordable cell phone that does the job and does it well, the Jitterbug Flip2 may be for you. It’s a great option for older adults who are not necessarily interested in the bells and whistles of smartphones or who don’t frequently use the internet.
However, if you love to connect with your family and friends through phone calls and texts, then the Jitterbug Flip2 paired with Lively’s Unlimited Talk and Text plan provides the best deal. Jitterbug Flip2 is also great for seniors who live alone and could benefit from the added protection of the Urgent Response features, ensuring they’re protected in and outside of their home.
For a more hands-on look at the Jitterbug Flip2, check out our detailed Lively review and learn why we gave Lively five out of five stars!
Priced at $49, the Consumer Cellular Link II is the least expensive phone on our list. Not only is Consumer Cellular inexpensive, their Link II also has many features useful to seniors, such as a large keypad with a bright, colorful screen for optimal visibility.
The Link II comes with Bluetooth connectivity so users can go hands-free or even connect to hearing aids. We also love that it can hold up to a 32 GB microSD card, providing a large amount of space for photos of the grandchildren, family, and friends, or even your favorite music tracks. It has a long-lasting battery life at 14 hours of talk time and 16 days of standby time, perfect for those who may forget to charge their phone every day.
Consumer Cellular Link
The pricing for both Consumer Cellular’s Link II and their cell phone plans are big wins for us. The phone itself is a one-time fee of $49 plus tax, and it’s compatible with Consumer Cellular’s wide range of plan options, starting at $20 per month for one line.
Best of all, these plans require no contracts, so you won’t have to worry about early termination fees if you need to switch services. It’s important to note that the monthly price per line for Consumer Cellular’s plans decreases as you add more lines. That means you could save a few bucks per line if you add a spouse or other family members to your plan.
If you or your loved one is new to the cell phone game, the Consumer Cellular Link II is an excellent option. It is an easy-to-use device that provides all of the essential functions older adults may need. Overall, it’s our pick for those who don’t need internet access but still want to use Bluetooth to connect to hands-free devices or hearing aids.
Buyer’s Tip: Want to save five percent on Consumer Cellular’s monthly service and usage charges and 30 percent on accessories? Our AARP guide has the details.
Are you interested in learning more about Consumer Cellular’s Link II flip phone? Visit our hands-on Consumer Cellular review.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you. The Snapfon ez4G has many of the smartphone capabilities in an easy-to-use senior-friendly package. Older adults will know where they are at all times with GPS, navigation, and a reliable 4G LTE network. They can also stay connected online with internet access and popular mobile apps like Facebook and email. Safety is always a priority for us, and we’ve found that it’s a priority for Snapfon as well. This phone has a variety of easily accessible SOS emergency features to keep you or your loved one protected at all times.
Snapfon ez4G
The Snapfon ez4G costs $99.95. Snapfon offers various mix-and-match minutes, text, and data options at different price points. Unlimited talk and text starts at $15 per month. If you want to add data, prices range from $2.50 (500 MB) to $35 per month (3 GB).
Users can also add Snapfon’s sosPlus mobile monitoring service package for $19.99 per month, which gives you access to Snapfon’s medical alert capabilities, plus 500 texts per month. The Snapfon sosPlus package connects you to a 24/7 response agent with the push of a button. With sosPlus, you can list your emergency contacts, medications, allergies, and important medical conditions.
Overall, Snapfon’s talk, text, and data plans are flexible and affordable.
Snapfon ez4G is an excellent option for on-the-go seniors. The 4G LTE internet access provides connectivity away from home, and the SOS emergency features offer monitoring for added safety. The ez4G can double as a hotspot, so older adults who enjoy working outside of the home can do so anywhere their network is available. The highest data plan is 3 GB, so this phone is best for seniors with low to moderate internet usage.
After hours of research and hands-on testing, we narrowed down the list to five cell phones with features designed specifically for seniors that are also some of the least expensive on the market. Our list contains both flip phones and smartphones for beginners to advanced cell phone users. Every phone on our list had to meet the following criteria:
Cell phone prices vary depending on the style and features of the phone. We broke down the average prices you can expect below.
| Style | Price range | One-time activation fees | Unlimited talk, text, and data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flip phone | $60-$100 | $30-$35 | $27.50 to $50 per month |
| Smartphone | $100-$1,000 | $30-$35 | $27.50 to $70 per month |
| Bar/brick | $60-$100 | $10-$35 | $27.50 to $50 per month |
Seniors can use any cell phone they’d like; however, senior-specific cell phones have user-friendly features such as larger buttons, clearer screens, and more powerful speakers to address older adults’ needs.
This depends on your estimated monthly internet use. If you or your loved one connects to the internet daily or weekly, it may be worth it to have a phone and plan that offers internet capabilities. However, data does cost extra on some plans, so you may be paying for it unnecessarily if it’s not used.
The majority of cell phones made for seniors have hearing aid compatibility through Bluetooth, but it may depend on your hearing aids’ connectivity. Many standard cell phones for seniors have M4/T4 ratings, which offer the best hearing aid connectivity and sound quality.
Most people can transfer their existing cell phone number to their new phone line. It depends on where you live and your old service provider.
For over five years, Taylor has been writing, editing, and researching products and services covering topics such as senior care and technology, Internet and the digital divide, TV, and entertainment, and education. Her research on media consumption and consumer behavior has been… Learn More About Taylor Shuman
Pew Research Center. (2021). Mobile Fact Sheet.
PMC. (2020). 15 Smartphone Apps for Older Adults to Use While in Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
