Consumer Cellular vs. Boost Mobile

Phone Plans and Prices

Consumer Cellular Plans

*Price includes a $5 discount for opting in to AutoPay and paperless billing.

We gave Consumer Cellular high ratings on our list of the best cell phone plans for seniors. One reason is that, unlike most other cell phone companies, Consumer Cellular offers phone plans designed for older adults. There is no long-term contract, so you can cancel anytime. You can customize your plan to just pay for the data and services you want. There are also no activation or hidden fees that will take you by surprise.

The Buying Experience

Shopping for a phone and plan on the Consumer Cellular website is simple and straightforward, and free of confusing jargon, which we appreciate. Each plan’s features and costs are clearly explained, with a helpful sliding tool that shows you how much adding a phone line to each plan will cost each month.

» Learn More: 2024 Consumer Cellular Review 

The carrier offers discounts on multiple phone lines, which is a definite plus if you want to add others to your phone plan. Each line you add costs an extra $15 per month. An important thing to be aware of is that each phone line on your plan shares data, so if you add a few lines, it might be used up pretty quickly! But if you aren’t a heavy cell phone user, the unlimited talk, text, and 10 GB of data is a particularly good deal when you sign up for multiple lines. With three phone lines, for example, each line costs only $15 to $20 per month, based on your data plan, if you’re also signed up for autopay.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

When shopping for a Consumer Cellular plan, I discovered that you can’t complete a purchase online if you bring your own phone or have more than four lines on your account. In those cases, you’ll need to call customer service. Luckily, I’ve always had pleasant experiences with Consumer Cellular’s customer support team!

Data Overages

A plus we found in our experience with Consumer Cellular is that there are no overage fees if you exceed your plan’s monthly data allowance. Instead, the carrier automatically upgrades you to the next-higher data plan if you go over, so there’s no stress about running out of data and racking up huge fees. Older adults on a tight budget might not like the automatic upgrade to a more expensive plan, so it’s something to be aware of. And remember that even with the unlimited data plan, your speeds will be slower if you use over 20 GB of data. (Cell phone companies call that throttling.) By comparison, Boost Mobile throttles speed after you use 30 GB of data.

» Need a Lot of Data? Best Unlimited Phone Plans for Seniors

Cost

Unlike many other companies, Consumer Cellular plans don’t have an activation fee. Boost Mobile doesn’t charge an activation fee when you sign up for service online, but it might if you buy in-store, and the amount of the fee can vary. There could also be an activation fee of $25 if you bring your own phone when signing up, in person or online.

Perks and Extras

We found several discounts when we tried out Consumer Cellular’s phone plans, such as $5 off your monthly bill if you sign up for autopay, 5 percent off your monthly bill if you’re an AARP member, and a $20 credit for referrals. Talk about a deal! Consumer Cellular also offers a 100 percent risk-free money-back guarantee for 30 days — or 45 days for AARP members — if you’re not happy with your plan.

We appreciate Consumer Cellular’s add-on options that might appeal to seniors, too. The carrier currently offers a deal to add Signature Motor Club by Allstate Roadside Services to your plan for $3 per month or $36 per year, cheaper than AAA (which currently costs $65 or more per year). Signature Motor Club offers flat tire changes, tows up to 10 miles, lockout service, jump-starts, and more.

Although not built into a phone, Consumer Cellular also offers an emergency response system with GPS location tracking and fall detection. Consumer Cellular’s Iris Ally medical alert device costs $89 upfront and $25 per month. If you’re in the market for a medical alert system, the pocket-size device may be a great choice.

» Related Reading: Best Medical Alert Systems in 2024

Customer Service

You’ll need to call customer service if you bring your own phone, which was a bit of an inconvenience when we tried Consumer Cellular. However, we found customer service representatives to be friendly and helpful when answering questions.

We found Consumer Cellular’s plans are a little more straightforward than Boost Mobile’s. Consumer Cellular is also a great carrier if you want to add other lines to your account, significantly lowering monthly costs.

Boost Mobile Plans

Boost Mobile offers a variety of prepaid cell phone plans, which means you pay for your upcoming month of service rather than at the end of each service period. You don’t have to sign a contract, and you can pay by the month. Boost also offers postpaid Infinite Access plans for iPhone and Galaxy phones. These buy-now-pay-later plans have contracts and require a soft credit check.

The Buying Experience

You can find Boost Mobile stores nationwide, but not in every state. Plans are also available at Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. Purchasing in-store might offer tax-inclusive plans, depending on the store and area, and you might be able to opt out of autopaying for your phone service. If you bring your own phone (when buying in person or online), there could be a $25 activation fee as well.

An important thing to note for online purchases: Once you activate Boost Mobile service on your phone, you authorize Boost Mobile to automatically deduct payments with whatever credit card or PayPal account you made your initial purchase with, so you’ll automatically be signed up for AutoPay. It appears that many customers don’t realize this, because some online reviewers have complained that Boost Mobile deducted payments automatically even though they didn’t opt for autopay.

» Further Reading: Boost Mobile Plans for Seniors

If you’d prefer not to have payments taken automatically, it might be a good idea to set up service in person in a physical store so you can talk to a sales associate. In-store purchases are also the only way to secure a multiline discount, available only with Boost Mobile’s $60 Unlimited Plan and $50 Unlimited Plan. Visit your local Boost Mobile retailer to learn more, as details might vary.

Data Overages

While Consumer Cellular will bump you up to the next-higher plan if you surpass your data allotment, Boost Mobile will slow your data speeds if you exceed 30 GB of data to 512 Kbps for the rest of the billing cycle. (Depending on your usage, you might not even notice!)

Cost

Boost Mobile’s prepaid plans are affordable, especially compared to other carriers. Its cheapest no-frills plan has optional add-ons you can buy for $10 a month each. They add up, so it makes sense to consider the services important to you before you choose a plan. In some instances, it may make sense to go with a more expensive Boost Mobile plan that includes add-ons, such as hot spots, high-speed data, premium voicemail, and Global Talk and Text.

» You Might Like: Eight Budgeting Tips for Seniors

Boost Mobile’s unlimited plan with 30 GB of data is the best all-around deal at $25 per month. It has lots of data at a solid value, so it’s a good option for older adults who want to use apps, watch videos, and text with family or friends. Plus, the $25-a-month plan may be less stressful to cancel if it doesn’t work for you.

Perks and Extras

Boost Mobile doesn’t offer the sort of senior-friendly perks that Consumer Cellular does, such as roadside assistance or AARP discounts. It also doesn’t include an emergency response system with fall detection. But the carrier tends to run a lot of promotions on phones and plans. Boost often has friend referral deals as well.

We also like that you can add Global Talk and Text to Boost Mobile’s $25 Unlimited plan. For $10 per month, you can talk and text from the U.S. to more than 200 other countries with this add-on. (Note: Global Talk and Text isn’t available with all phones or on all networks, and it limits calls to 20 unique phone numbers per billing cycle.) It’s a great option for older adults with loved ones in other countries who don’t want a more expensive plan. If Global Talk and Text is your only add-on, you’ll pay $35 a month instead of $50, $60, or $65. We found that Consumer Cellular, on the other hand, charges $0.05 per text message sent to international phone numbers.

Customer Service

We didn’t find the chat feature on Boost Mobile’s website helpful. To get our questions answered, we needed to give our name and phone number, which, of course, weren’t in Boost Mobile’s system before we made a purchase. It felt intrusive.

» Learn More: Technology for Seniors

Our team used Boost Mobile’s chat feature many times and found the service uneven. Some chat operators were very knowledgeable and quick. Others were not as helpful. Wait times varied from 10 to 15 minutes. There’s also no general search function on Boost Mobile’s website, so you can only click the FAQs to try to find answers to your questions. We recommend calling a Boost Mobile customer service representative if you need help. When we called, we were connected quickly to a friendly and helpful customer service representative.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Boost Mobile’s plans aren’t specifically designed for seniors, but the carrier has some of the cheapest plans around for older adults on a budget. Boost is a great choice for seniors who have loved ones in other countries and are new to the carrier, because a few Boost plans are available only to new customers.

Nationwide Coverage

Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular operates on AT&T and T-Mobile networks, and partners with international carriers. Mobile analytics firm RootMetrics rated T-Mobile the best in terms of 5G availability and speed in its 2023 analysis.2

Consumer Cellular offers 5G ultra-wideband coverage, but you will need a 5G-compatible phone to get 5G speeds. The Iris Easy Flip we tested with Consumer Cellular offered only 4G coverage. But, we didn’t have any issues talking on the phone and texting with 4G coverage, and we were happy with our service overall.

Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile is also on T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network but might tap DISH and AT&T networks in some areas. Boost Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE networks provide service to people in 99 percent of the country, although Boost Mobile notes terrain, weather, buildings, construction, and high-usage periods can affect service.

Consumer Cellular vs. Boost Mobile Phones

Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular offers a range of phones for any budget or level of tech-savviness, with the latest smartphones and older-style flip phones. The carrier also provides information on its website about hearing aid compatibility with its phones, which we appreciate.

Navigating Consumer Cellular s flip phone, the IRIS Easy Flip.

We like Consumer Cellular’s Iris Easy Flip phone for older adults who just want a simple phone for talking, texting, and snapping photos. The Iris Easy Flip has an easy-to-read screen and rubberized keys that help prevent your fingers from slipping. Some features we love include a voice assistant and a simple, list-based menu so you can easily access your calls, texts, contacts, camera, calendar, and settings. The phone costs $59 online through Consumer Cellular, but we’ve seen it on sale for less at brick-and-mortar retailers such as Target and Walmart.

Testing out Consumer Cellular's IRIS Flip

» Related Reading: Easiest Cell Phones for Seniors to Use

You can bring your old phone, buy one outright, or pay in monthly installments added to your bill. Consumer Cellular often has many phone options available for installments of less than $20 per month. If you buy your phone outright rather than pay it off in installments, Consumer Cellular typically offers discounts on popular products, such as Samsung and Galaxy devices. You can save even more cash by bringing your own phone, plus you can keep your old phone number if you want to. (Note that bringing your own phone is free with Consumer Cellular, but Boost charges a fee.) Some Consumer Cellular devices are available at Target, so you can check them out in person before ordering online or via phone.

Boost Mobile

You can bring your phone to Boost Mobile and keep your old phone number, too. Boost Mobile offers several Apple, Galaxy, Motorola, and Samsung smartphones for you to choose from.

Unlike some cell phone carriers, Boost offers an older-style flip phone, the Summit Flip. At $59.99, it’s about the same price as Consumer Cellular’s Iris Easy Flip. Both flip phones have a 5 MP camera, so your picture-taking experience will likely be comparable.

Summit Flip from Boost Mobile

Boost also has a trade-in program for your old phone, which you can turn in for a gift card but not for cash or money toward a new phone. Before you trade in your phone, make sure participating retailers that accept the card are the ones you’re interested in. Consumer Cellular also lets you trade in old phones, but unlike Boost, the company will put the trade-in credit toward your monthly bill or issue a refund if you already purchased a new or refurbished phone.

»  Learn More: Best Flip Phones for Seniors

When you sign up, the company will send you a SIM card to activate your service. If you have an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later phone, you should be able to use an eSIM. If not, Boost Mobile will send you a physical SIM card. Follow instructions on the Boost Mobile website or call customer service for help installing your eSIM or physical SIM card.

» From the Pros: Best Cell Phones for Seniors in 2024

We appreciate that like Consumer Cellular, Boost Mobile provides a list of hearing aid-compatible phones on its website, so you check a phone’s compatibility with your hearing device.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Not all phones are compatible with Boost Mobile service. If you plan to bring your own phone, be sure to look up your device in the Boost Mobile online directory (you can access it here) or talk to a customer-service representative before getting your SIM card.

Our Final Thoughts on Consumer Cellular vs. Boost Mobile

In general, Consumer Cellular may be a better choice for older adults who want a simple phone and data plan with no overage or activation fees. It’s also a great carrier if you’d like to add additional lines, which can lower the monthly costs for each phone quite a bit. Consumer Cellular is convenient for older adults who want to bundle other services with their service, such as an emergency response system and roadside assistance. It’s also a good choice for AARP members, since they get a nice discount on premiums!

Boost Mobile offers comparably-priced plans for those on a budget. Boost also might be a great choice for seniors who have loved ones in other countries. Boost’s Global Talk and Text add-on can be added to its lowest-priced plan for $10 per month.

At the end of the day, Consumer Cellular and Boost Mobile are two solid phone carriers for older adults. The choice will come down to your budget and preferences.

Our Methodology: How We Tested and Compared Consumer Cellular vs. Boost Mobile

Taking a photo on the IRIS Easy Flip.

Our tech experts spent around 100 hours researching Boost Mobile’s and Consumer Cellular’s phones and plans. We also enlisted input from older adults about important features, such as ease of use, coverage areas, and customer service. We used phones from both providers for a week to get an accurate assessment of speed, service, and ease of use. Below is a look at our testing process.

1. Our team started by reviewing each carrier’s phones and plans. We spoke extensively to both companies’ customer service representatives to learn more about their products. We were interested in finding out how knowledgeable the reps were and how friendly and patient they would be. We were also curious about wait times via phone and chat.
2. We purchased Boost Mobile and Consumer Cellular devices online to gauge the ease and speed of the process. We also checked out the costs and selection of devices available in brick-and-mortar stores.
3. Once our devices arrived, we used them at home and around town for a week.
4. After the testing period ended, we connected as a team and compared notes on key attributes that are important to seniors.

Here are some of the key factors we evaluated Boost Mobile and Consumer Cellular for:

• Price and value
• Coverage
• Troubleshooting and customer service
• Features and benefits for seniors