Our experts researched 15 cell phone plans and narrowed down the list to our top picks for seniors.
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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 is America’s largest and fastest-growing 5G network.1 Unlike the cell phone carriers that only offer one senior plan, T-Mobile understands that a phone plan isn’t one-size-fits-all. With three 55+ senior plan options, you’re sure to find one that’s right for you! All senior plans feature unlimited talk, text, and data. Those who love to travel, pack your bags — T-Mobile offers free texting and data (with select plans) abroad, along with data in Mexico and Canada.
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 Magenta 55+ and Magenta MAX 55+ plans. Each additional line comes at a discounted rate, so the more lines you add, the more you save!
Savings Tip: When you enroll with auto pay you get $5 off each line!
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.
Did You Know: 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.
Consumer Cellular has been offering simple, affordable cell phone plans for more than 25 years.4 Customers enjoy exceptional service and senior-specific phone plans, with no pesky hidden fees, contracts, or high overage charges. Consumer Cellular allows you to create your own plan, so you can choose your minutes, texts, and data.
Consumer Cellular’s pricing includes plans for every budget, starting at $15 per month for talk only 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.
Did You Know: Consumer Cellular has upgraded from 4G to 5G coverage nationwide! Snag a 5G compatible smartphone to experience the fastest speeds today.
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 service 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.
Shopping Tip: Check out our Consumer Cellular review for an in-depth look at Consumer Cellular’s plan pricing, options, and perks.
As one of the original phone providers designed specifically for seniors, Lively truly shines with their affordable phone plan options, extensive Health & Safety Packages, and some of the best senior-friendly phones on the market. With Lively, you have the flexibility to build your phone plan the way you want. You won’t be locked into a contract, so you can add Lively’s Health & Safety services, such as Urgent Response and Urgent Care, whenever you want.
Starting at just under $15 per month for the Value Talk & Text plan, Lively’s cell phone plan pricing is easy on the wallet. If you’ll be using your cell phone more frequently, go for the Unlimited Talk & Text plan. Add on as much or as little data as you want, with data prices ranging from $2.49 to $30 per month. Be aware that you’ll need to purchase a Lively phone in order to use your cell phone plan.
Pro Tip: Lively offers seasonal discounts for its Jitterbug phones. Right now, you can save 25 percent on either phone!
Lively’s highly sought-after Health & Safety Packages have two tiers — Basic and Premium. Package pricing starts at $24.99 per month for much-needed peace of mind.
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 optional Health & Safety Packages, 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 is one of the nation’s largest and oldest carriers. The company’s history dates back to Alexander Graham Bell! Florida residents can snag AT&T’s Unlimited 55+ plan. It offers unlimited talk, text, and data in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Plus, you’ll get free texting in more than 120 countries, making it excellent for travelers. AT&T offers three unlimited talk, text, and data plan options for those who live outside of the Sunshine State. Even better, AT&T goes the extra mile to protect older adults from becoming victims of fraud with free advanced security. Sadly, older adults rack up more than $3 billion in losses annually from fraud and scams.2 AT&T’s no-cost ActiveArmor service includes spam and fraud call blocking, identity monitoring, and safe browsing.
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!
Mint Mobile is a newer player on the market, but they’re already making waves with affordable prepaid plans and no contracts. Customers have the flexibility to choose from a variety of data options, ranging from 4 GB to unlimited data, so there are options for most lifestyles and budgets. Plus, all Mint Mobile plans offer unlimited talk and text, which is a great perk. The company runs on T-Mobile’s 5G network, offering reliable and fast nationwide coverage. They recently released the Mint 55+, an exclusive plan for older adults that starts at $15 per month. This plan comes with full service from a MINTech advisor at no extra cost.
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.
Deal Alert:New Customers get three months of service at Mint Mobile’s lowest price.
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.
As one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, and entertainment products and services, Verizon is a popular choice for customers seeking a reliable network with nationwide Residents of Florida aged 55 and older can take advantage of Verizon’s senior-specific 55+ plan. Don’t worry if you live in another part of the country — Verizon offers several multi-line unlimited talk, text, and data plans, so you never have to stress about overage again!
Verizon’s senior cell phone plan for Florida residents costs $60 per month for one line or $80 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.
From the Expert: Our Verizon senior plan review provides an in-depth look at our top Verizon plan recommendations.
Snapfon’s cell phone plans for older adults may be basic, but their add-on sosPlus emergency response service makes this company stand out. With a focus on service and quality, Snapfon offers competitive pricing, 100 percent U.S.-based customer service, and nationwide 5G network coverage. You can also add on their sosPlus mobile monitoring service for 24/7 assistance in case of an emergency.
Snapfon’s plan pricing starts as low as $10 per month for 100 minutes. Need more talk and text? Bump your plan up to Snapfon’s Unlimited Talk and Text plan, priced at $15 per month. Talk, text, and data plans are priced between $20 and $35 per month, offering up to 3 GB of data. Add on the sosPlus 24/7 mobile monitoring for $19.99 per month.
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 makes it easy to build the best cell phone plan for your needs and budget. They’ve taken the mobile phone industry by storm with their no-cost Freemium cell phone plan. Customers who only require minimal talk time will appreciate FreedomPop — for free! Need a bit more from your phone plan? You can upgrade from Freemium to a FreedomPop plan with additional minutes and data.
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.
Money-saving tip: FreedomPop offers $50 off any iPhone, plus one free month on its Unlimited Everything Plan with your iPhone purchase.
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.
Republic Wireless offers basic cell phone plan options for Android users. Their simple, straightforward plans come without the hassle of contracts, complex options, or hidden fees. With two of the nation’s biggest cellular networks — Sprint and T-Mobile — behind them, they have 99 percent of Americans covered.
Customers get unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data per line, starting at just $20 per month for one line (or $30 per month for two lines) 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.
Current Deal: Republic Wireless is offering major discounts on smartphones like the iPhone SE and Galaxy A13 5G. Give them a call to learn more!
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.
Here are the five most common fees to look out for:
Money-saving tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for fees to be waived! You could snag some savings by simply speaking to a customer service representative.
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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Consumer Cellular. (2022). LEARN WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT.
