From plan options and perks to discounts and data, quite a bit goes into the ideal senior phone plan for your needs. Our technology experts spent over 100 hours researching the best senior phone plans. Ready to find out our favorites? Read on to learn which cell phone plans outranked the competition!
Our editor showing her grandma how to use the iPhone 11 Pro
Pro Tip: Need a new cell phone to go with your shiny new phone plan? Check out our list of the best cell phones for seniors.
The Best Senior Cell Phones Plans for 2023
How We Chose Our Top List
We evaluated 15 of the best-known cell phone providers to find the best solutions for seniors. Our considerations included plan pricing, senior-friendly features such as health and safety services, discounts, coverage areas, and customer service.
T-Mobile’s 55+ Unlimited plans start at $40 per month for one line or $55 per month for two lines. Unlike other small networks that only allow one line per plan, T-Mobile lets you add up to two lines on the Essentials 55 plan or four lines on the Go5G 55 and Go5G Plus 55 plans. Each additional line comes at a discounted rate, so the more lines you add, the more you save! You can also save $5 on each line when you enroll in AutoPay.
Here’s a full breakdown of each plan’s starting rate:
T-Mobile’s all-in-one Unlimited 55+ plans are great for older adults who want to stream, call, text, and use their data without any limits. The perks that come with every Unlimited 55+ plan — like hotspot data, international texts, and weekly giveaways — score high marks in our books! Check out our T-Mobile pricing guide for a full list of perks and pricing information. We also appreciate that you can bring your own phone if you want, as this can shorten the learning curve for seniors and eliminate the significant upfront costs of a phone.
Our experts took an in-depth look at T-Mobile’s plan rates, perks, and service. Find out why we awarded T-Mobile 4.5 out of 5 stars in our T-Mobile plan review. You can also watch our video review of T-Mobile’s phone plans below.
Consumer Cellular’s pricing includes plans for every budget, starting at $20 per month and reaching up to $50 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data. Your price per line will decrease as you add more lines to your plan, so Consumer Cellular is an excellent option if you need to add a spouse or partner. If you’re an AARP member, you’ll enjoy a discount of 5 percent off any Consumer Cellular service plan.
FYI: If you’re using social media to stay in touch with loved ones, make sure you’re regularly changing your password and taking safety measures to protect yourself and your identity. Read our latest article on social media safety tips to learn more.
Consumer Cellular gives you the ultimate freedom to choose the best phone plan for your needs. The ability to mix and match your talk, text, and data lets you avoid paying too much for extra services you won’t use. That’s a major plus! Flexible pricing and plans that you can change at any time without penalty puts Consumer Cellular among our top picks for seniors. Don’t forget to check out our Consumer Cellular review for a closer look at the company’s plan pricing, options, and promotional offers.
Starting at $19.99 per month for Lively’s Basic phone plan with unlimited talk and text, Lively’s cell phone plan pricing is easy on the wallet. Lively’s three plans also come with additional health and safety features. Add on as much or as little data as you want, with data prices ranging from $5 to $30 per month for 1 GB of data usage to unlimited data. Be aware that you’ll need to purchase a Lively phone in order to use your cell phone plan.
Lively’s highly sought-after Health & Safety Packages have three tiers for cell phones — Basic, Preferred, and Premium. The Basic package costs $19.99 per month, the Preferred price is $39.99 per month, and the Premium price is $49.99 per month. These packages come with a variety of features, such as help booking a ride, an Urgent Response feature, and on-call nurses.
Without a doubt, Lively understands the needs of older adults! Their customizable cell phone plans are the perfect way to avoid busting your budget. The biggest standout feature is Lively’s health and safety features, which instantly turn your phone into a medical alert device. Keep in mind that you’ll need to buy a Lively phone to pair with your plan, so if you already have a phone that you’d like to keep, you might want to look at the other cell phone plans on our list.
For a look at our hands-on experience with this provider, visit our Lively phone review.
AT&T’s senior Unlimited 55+ cell phone plan for Florida residents costs $60 per month for one line or $80 per month for two lines. AT&T’s traditional plan pricing ranges from about $65 per line for their starter plan to $85 per line for their ultimate cell phone package. The more lines you add, the greater the savings!
Get ready to save even more on your AT&T plan by simply becoming an AARP member! Members can save up to $10 per line per month on AT&T’s Unlimited Elite plan. You’ll also get up to $45 in waived activation and upgrade fees. Head over to our AARP membership guide to learn more.
AT&T is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States, serving nearly 100 million subscribers.3 AT&T’s pricing tends to be on the higher side of our top picks. However, their award-winning customer service, reliable coverage, and extensive plan offerings make them a solid contender. For customers looking for a one-stop shop to meet their wireless plan and cell phone needs, AT&T hits it out of the park with its wide selection of devices.
Pro Tip: Considering a prepaid phone plan? AT&T’s prepaid plan made it onto our list of the best prepaid phone plans for seniors!
Generally, Mint Mobile’s plans cost $15 to $30 per month for new customers, depending on the amount of data you select. After the first three months of service, customers will choose to pay for three, six, or 12 months of service at a time. If you decide to pay for 12 months of service, your plan will keep the same rates that you started with. However, rates will be slightly higher if you decide to pay for three or six months of service at a time. We’d recommend going with the 12-month plan if it’s feasible for you.
Mint Mobile’s plans are affordable and straightforward, without hidden fees or long-term commitments. It is an excellent option if you’re looking for a no-frills plan that won’t break the bank. Because this provider doesn’t require contracts, they’re also a great choice for older adults who don’t want to be tied down to a provider. Visit our Mint Mobile review to learn more.
Verizon’s senior cell phone plan for Florida residents costs $62 per month for one line or $84 per month for two lines. Traditional Verizon Unlimited plans start at $70 per line. If you add more than one line to your phone plan, you can snag major savings — up to $25 per month.
Shopping for a new phone to go with your Verizon phone plan? Be sure to ask about financing options. Verizon’s cell phone pricing is competitive, and they often offer 0 percent financing on a wide variety of cell phones. Already have a smartphone? If you bring it over to Verizon, you’ll receive a Verizon e-gift card for up to $500.
Verizon wireless plans are excellent for seniors on the go who rely heavily on their phones to stay connected with family and friends, stream videos, and browse the internet. No matter which plan you choose, Verizon offers impressive multi-line discounts. While the plans are somewhat costlier than most competitors’ plans, Verizon offers flexibility and touts the nation’s most reliable service, making it a great choice for frequent travelers or those living in rural areas. Be sure to check out our Verizon senior plan review, which provides an in-depth look at our top plan recommendations.
Snapfon’s plans start at $15 per month. If you need data, you can choose the $30 per month plan with 5 GB data, or $40 per month plan with 10 GB data. Add on the sosPlus 24/7 mobile monitoring for $19.99 per month.
With a 30-day risk-free guarantee, Snapfon’s customer-focused service and low plan pricing are an excellent combination. The add-on sosPlus personal emergency response service is ideal for older adults seeking a cell phone plan with health and safety features.
Pro Tip: Trying to decide between Snapfon and Lively cell phone plans? Learn about the coverage, plans, and pricing differences in our Lively vs. Snapfon review.
FreedomPop plans start at $0 per month. All FreedomPop plans include unlimited Wi-Fi calls for free. You choose the amount of data you need along with the number of minutes and text messages. Bundled paid plans range from around $15 to $55 per month.
With an absolutely free cellular, text, and data service plan, FreedomPop has older adults on a limited income covered. Customers looking for affordability and simplicity will appreciate FreedomPop’s no-nonsense approach to cellular service. You certainly can’t beat free service with customizable plan packages that you can upgrade at any time.
Customers get unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data per line, starting at just $19.99 per month for one line or $39.98 per month for two lines for DISH customers, with no contract required for Dish customers. You can get unlimited talk, text, and data, plus hotspot data and international calling between Canada and Mexico for only $39.99 per month. Unfortunately, if you are not a Dish customer, these prices will double.
FYI: If you are a Republic Wireless member who enrolled in a plan before May 10, 2022, you may be eligible for DISH customer rates. Contact Republic Wireless for more information.
Republic Wireless is a great choice for older adults who don’t need a phone plan with a lot of bells and whistles. The ability to add data as needed allows impressive plan flexibility.
Deciphering cell phone plan pricing can be tricky! Before locking into your new plan, ask the salesperson to total up all of the plan costs, including taxes and fees, so you know exactly what to expect when you receive your monthly billing statement. Don’t be afraid to ask for fees to be waived! You could snag some savings by simply speaking to a customer service representative.
Here are the five most common fees to look out for:
Many older adults living on a fixed income struggle to pay for cell phones and services. And how much Social Security you get certainly plays a major role! Luckily, help is available through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Lifeline program.
Participants in Medicaid health insurance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), veterans pension and survivor benefits, and other federal and state assistance programs may be eligible for free or low-cost phone service.
The FCC’s Lifeline program provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone service, broadband internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating wireline or wireless providers.
As you shop for the best cell phone plan, you’ll need to make sure you have the perfect phone to go with it! With so many choices, finding the right cell phone can seem like a daunting task. These resources will help you make the most of your new cell phone and plan.
Since graduating from Harvard with an honors degree in Statistics, Jeff has been creating content in print, online, and on television. Much of his work has been dedicated to informing seniors on how to live better lives. As Editor-in-Chief of the personal… Learn More About Jeff Hoyt
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