Consumer Cellular Plans

Consumer Cellular Offers Senior-Friendly Phones

Consumer Cellular has nearly 20 cell phone options for consumers to purchase, so you can almost guarantee you’ll find one that fits your lifestyle and needs. We’ve detailed two of our favorite Consumer Cellular senior-friendly phones below.

If you already have a device that you would prefer to continue using, that’s great! Thanks to Consumer Cellular’s “bring your own phone” option, you can keep your current phone and number. With a free SIM card provided by the company, you can connect your device to their service for free. Unfortunately, the Consumer Cellular SIM card usually only works with phones previously used on AT&T or T-Mobile service. If the SIM card isn’t an option for you, Consumer Cellular has several phones to choose from at price points that are budget-friendly.

Doro 7050

At a Glance

• Simple, easy-to-use flip phone
• Assistance button for emergencies
• Camera with flash
• Great for texting and talking
• Large, high-contrast keys
• $50 equipment fee

For many wireless users who are in their golden years, a good ol’ fashion flip phone remains the most practical choice. If you consider a smartphone to be overly complex for your lifestyle, Consumer Cellular’s Doro 7050 flip phone offers simplicity and great value at just $50. Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to slide into a pocket or purse. The phone’s large, high-contrast keys make dialing a breeze for older eyes. The 3.0MP camera with a built-in flash is great for snapping cute photos of grandkids and pets! With safety in mind, Consumer Cellular has provided an assistance button on the back of the phone. When pressed three times, the button will immediately dial your pre-programmed emergency contact.

In short, the Doro 7050 flip phone is well-suited for seniors who like a very simple device without many Internet features and mainly want to use their phones for talking and texting.

Moto G Power

At a Glance

• Smartphone with great features
• Three days of battery life
• 6.4″ full high definition display
• Triple camera with digital zoom
• Great for social apps and video chatting
• $150 equipment fee

It has been reported that 68 percent of 50 to 64-year-olds and 46 percent of 65-year-olds and up use Facebook. If you enjoy checking social apps like Facebook,3 video chatting with grandchildren, and emailing from your phone, the Motorola Moto G Power could be the smartphone to keep you connected.

At just $150, the Moto G Power delivers smartphone features at a terrific value. Its large battery supplies the device with three days of battery life (no more worrying about charging your phone every day). The 6.4″ full high definition touchscreen makes navigating the phone easy to do. The built-in triple camera is equipped with a digital zoom and a front-facing lens––perfect for video chatting with loved ones!

For those who have hearing loss, both the Moto G Power and the Doro 7050 are compatible with hearing aids, this means the devices fulfill FCC requirements and experience less interference when used with hearing devices than other cellular phones that aren’t hearing aid compatible.4

Choosing a Consumer Cellular Plan

Consumer Cellular offers customizable, flexible monthly plans. Whether you anticipate using your mobile phone frequently, or just for emergencies, Consumer Cellular has a plan that is right for you and your family.

Speaking of family, you may have up to three lines on a Consumer Cellular account. Additional lines are $15 per month, per line. Minutes, texts, and data are shared between lines. Keep in mind that you can change your monthly plan anytime without racking up fees or penalties! Below are the types of plans Consumer Cellular offers.

Talk Only

“Talk Only” plans start at just $15 per month for 250 minutes. If you use your cell phone just to talk a few times a week and for emergencies, the $15 a month plan would fit your needs at a great price. If you’re concerned you may talk more than 250 minutes a month, we recommend going ahead and spending the extra $5 per month to have unlimited minutes.

• 250 minutes: $15 per month
• Unlimited minutes: $20 per month

Talk, Text, and Data

Starting at just $20 a month, you’ll get 250 minutes of talk, unlimited text, and 500MB of data. From there, it is easy to customize your plan. Say you want unlimited talk? It is just $5 more per month. Also for $5 more per month, you can bump to 3GB of data. Consumer Cellular offers plans with 500MB, 3GB, 10GB, 15GB, or unlimited data.

If you’re considering purchasing a smartphone, like the Moto G Power listed above, you may want to choose a plan with data. Wondering how much data your plan should have? It is important to keep in mind that when you are using your phone while not connected to WiFi, you’ll need data for pretty much everything other than calls and texts. The chart below can help you estimate how much data you may need. It is important to keep in mind your phone habits and how many lines will be sharing the allotted monthly data.

Cost*	Data	Video Call	Browsing Web Pages	Streaming Video
$20	500MB	2 hours	6 hours	1 hour
$25	3GB	12 hours	36 hours	6 hours
$35	10GB	40 hours	120 hours	20 hours
$45	15GB	60 hours	180 hours	30 hours
$55	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited

*includes 250 minutes of talk and unlimited text

If you go over your plan’s limit of minutes or data during the month, Consumer Cellular automatically upgrades you to a plan that covers the amount of data or minutes you’ve used. This way, you are guaranteed to get the best possible rate for your monthly usage, without overage fees.

Consumer Cellular Compared to Other Carriers

When comparing Consumer Cellular to other senior-centered wireless providers in our reviews over the years, we’ve found that Consumer Cellular remains the most budget-friendly but lacks health and safety features. On the Doro 7050, there is an emergency call Assistance Button on the back of the phone. When pressed three times consecutively, it will call your programmed emergency contact. Otherwise, there are no additional senior-focused safety features on the device.

A phone from GreatCall, like the Jitterbug Flip, might be a better fit if you want a device with robust safety features. At $99.99, the Jitterbug Flip is nearly double the cost of Consumer Cellular’s Doro 7050. The Jitterbug Flip can be equipped with additional health and safety features such as the ability to chat with an operator or live nurse on demand for an extra $34.99 per month. If safety features are not what you’re looking for in a cell phone and you desire a wireless provider that offers value and the ability to stay connected, Consumer Cellular is the better choice.

In the past year, major wireless carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile have begun offering discounted unlimited plans for those 55 and older. The larger companies may have a bigger selection of devices and features on their plans, but when it comes to price, Consumer Cellular will still save you money with no activation fee or hidden charges. Not to mention their superior, award-winning customer service and senior-friendly phones. Verizon and T-Mobile also limit their senior plans to two lines and require a proof of ID to access their discounted plans. Consumer Cellular has the option to add a third line and you won’t ever have to hassle with providing a proof of ID. If you're desiring simplicity, value, and straightforward pricing in a wireless provider, Consumer Cellular quickly rises above Verizon and T-Mobile.

Company	Plan	Lines	Cost
Consumer Cellular	Unlimited Data, Talk, and Text	2 Lines	$75 per month
Verizon 55+ Plan*	Unlimited Data, Talk, and Text	2 Lines	$80 per month
T-Mobile Essentials Unlimited 55	Unlimited Data, Talk, and Text	2 Lines	$55 per month (plus taxes and fees, which could be up to $18 more per month)

*Currently only available to residents of Florida

What Special Features Does Consumer Cellular Offer?

Easy to Follow Manuals and Videos

Consumer Cellular has a robust library of videos on their YouTube channel and manuals on their website that were crafted with seniors in mind. Whether you want to learn how to use your new Moto G Power phone or are troubleshooting your Doro 7050, there is a video or manual to assist you. Of course, their compassionate customer support team is available by phone as well.

No Activation Fees

The majority of cell phone companies charge activation fees to offset the cost of activating and programming your phone, but Consumer Cellular does not charge these typical fees.

AARP Discount

Consumer Cellular has been an approved AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) member for over 10 years. Members get exclusive discounts with Consumer Cellular including a five percent discount on service and usage every month, a 30 percent discount on accessories, and an extended 100 percent risk-free guarantee.

Unlimited Text

With all of Consumer Cellular’s data plans, unlimited texting is included.

Free Calls Between Lines on the Same Account

For those who choose a phone plan with 250 minutes of talk per month, it is important to note that calls between phones on the same account are free! A phone call to your spouse or another family member will not use up your minutes as long as they are on your Consumer Cellular account.

Some Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a tech-savvy senior or prefer to stay away from all the bells and whistles, Consumer Cellular can meet your mobile phone needs. Where the company lacks in device variety and safety features, they easily make up for it with their knowledgeable customer support team, senior-friendly phones, and flexible wireless plans that keep you connected without breaking the bank. With talk, text, and data plans starting at just $20 per month and phones for as little as $50, you’re sure to find a wireless plan and cell phone that fit your budget.