Consumer Cellular Cell Phone Plans 2024

A Closer Look at Consumer Cellular’s Plans and Pricing

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’s right for you and your family.

Speaking of family, you can purchase up to four lines online, but you’ll have to call customer service to add additional lines. There are multi-line discounts for each additional line, and the discount varies based on your chosen plan. (Cricket, Lively, and Tracfone, by comparison, do not offer multiline discounts.) 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!

» Further Reading: How Consumer Cellular Compares to Cricket Wireless

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’re guaranteed to get the best possible rate for your monthly usage, without overage fees.

Consumer Cellular includes a $5 monthly discount for selecting its “AutoPay” option and paperless billing in advertised prices. If you prefer to receive a paper bill without AutoPay, you’ll pay $5 more per month for your chosen plan.

When compared with other carriers, Consumer Cellular’s prices are competitive. Their 50+ unlimited data plan is $5 cheaper per month than an unlimited plan with Cricket Wireless, for example. However, this plan isn’t available to those under the age of 50, while Cricket Wireless offers its unlimited plan to all ages. Those younger than 50 can sign up for an unlimited plan if they have two or more lines. We wish Consumer Cellular still offered a single-line unlimited plan, but it was recently discontinued.

Tracfone, on the other hand, offers lower priced plans than Consumer Cellular, but the data allowance with those plans are very low. (A Tracfone plan for $15 per month comes with just 500 MB of data.) But if you want more than one cell phone line, Consumer Cellular might be cheaper and still offer more data than some Tracfone plans, even on a shared account.

Talk, Text, and Data Plans

If you’re considering purchasing a smartphone, you definitely want to choose a plan with data to utilize all the phone’s benefits and features. If you have just one phone line, a plan with 1 GB or 5 GB should be well suited for you. If you have multiple lines sharing data and minutes, you may want to consider one of the following plans:

• Unlimited minutes and text and 10 GB of data for two lines: $50 per month
• Unlimited minutes, text, and data for two lines: $70 per month ($60 per month for those 50+)

We appreciate that Consumer Cellular makes it easy to switch between plans each month. In months when you travel, you may want to bump up your data plan because you may use your smartphone more often for driving directions when you’re out of town. When you’re done traveling, you can contact Consumer Cellular to go back to your original plan.

Not sure how much data you need? The chart below shows data usage estimates for common activities so you can gauge which data plan would cover your needs. For example, with 1 GB of data, you could video chat for four hours, surf the web for 12 hours, or stream videos for two hours.

*Price is for one line and includes unlimited talk and text and individual data plans. $5 AutoPay and paperless billing discount included.

**Single-line unlimited data plan offer is only for customers age 50+. Age validation required.

How to Get the Best Deal With Consumer Cellular

While Consumer Cellular already offers affordable plans, there are a few ways to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible:

• Be an AARP member: AARP members can save 5 percent each month on any plan. They can also score an exclusive new customer deal with two lines of unlimited talk, text, and data for $55 a month. New three- and four-line plan discounts are also available. Not an AARP member? Visit our guide to AARP membership to get started, or you can sign up for your membership during checkout on the Consumer Cellular site.
• Refer a friend: When you refer a friend or family member to Consumer Cellular, you’ll both get a $20 referral credit added to your account when they sign up for service.
• Look for seasonal deals: Consumer Consumer Cellular runs seasonal promotions, like Black Friday deals, and frequent sales on devices.
• Pick up the phone: Call customer service and ask whether they have any special promotions going on or discounts you should be aware of. They’ll know the scoop!

The Best Consumer Cellular Cell Phones for Seniors

Consumer Cellular has plenty of cell phones to choose from, so we’re pretty sure you’ll find one that fits your lifestyle and needs. We’ve detailed two of our favorite Consumer Cellular senior-friendly phones below.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

You can find Consumer Cellular devices and services at a Target store near you if you want to get your hands on the products before buying.

If you already have a device that you would prefer to continue using, that’s fine! Thanks to Consumer Cellular’s bring-your-own-phone option, you can keep your current phone and number. Switching phones and phone numbers can be a hassle, so this is a nice perk.

Tracfone and Cricket also allow you to bring an unlocked phone. Lively, for another comparison, does not offer a bring-your-own-phone option and requires you purchase a phone from Lively to get on their phone plans. With Consumer Cellular you can save some money since you won’t have to purchase a new phone.

IRIS Easy Flip

Taking a photo on the IRIS Easy Flip.

For older adults who prefer a simple device, a good ol’-fashioned flip phone remains a practical choice. If you consider a smartphone to be overly complex for your lifestyle and mainly want to use your cell phone for talking and texting, Consumer Cellular’s IRIS Easy Flip offers simplicity at an unbeatable price of just $59. It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to slide into a pocket or purse. The phone’s large, high-contrast keys make dialing a breeze for older eyes. Visit our list of the best flip phones for seniors to learn more.

Our favorite IRIS Easy Flip features for seniors:

• Simple, easy-to-use flip phone
• Great for texting and talking
• Large, rubberized high-contrast keys
• $59

Moto G Stylus 5G

Moto G 5G

Research suggests 73 percent of 50- to 64-year-olds and 45 percent of those 65 and older use social media.1 If you enjoy checking social media, video chatting with grandchildren, and emailing from your phone, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G is a powerful smartphone that keeps you connected.

At $249, the Moto G Stylus 5G delivers smartphone features at a terrific value. For comparison, other Android smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (currently priced at $699), can cost hundreds of dollars more. The Moto G Stylus 5G doesn’t have a top-quality camera or stylus, but it provides the conveniences of a smartphone at a fraction of the cost.

Our favorite Moto G Stylus 5G features for seniors:

• Smartphone great for using social media apps and video chatting
• Two days of battery life
• 6.7″ full HD display
• 50 MP quad camera system and 32 MP “selfie” camera
• $249

How Does Consumer Cellular Compare to Other Phone Carriers?

Consumer Cellular’s unlimited data plans deliver excellent value. For comparison, Verizon’s price for an unlimited data plan is $62 per month for one line. AT&T’s cost for an unlimited plan is $60 per month for a single line. An unlimited plan with Cricket Wireless starts at $55 a month.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Consumer Cellular is a great choice if you don’t need extra features or frills. If you want a plan with extras like international service, you may want to consider larger carriers like AT&T and Verizon.

Consumer Cellular’s unlimited plan starts at $50 per month for those ages 50 and older, saving you at least $120 per year when compared to Verizon and AT&T. Plus, these big-name providers typically charge an activation fee, and Consumer Cellular doesn’t. Verizon and AT&T’s 55+ plans are also only available to Florida residents, while Consumer Cellular is available nationwide. Verizon’s 55+ plan is $62 for one line and $84 for two lines, so you would only save money if you wanted two or more phone lines. AT&T’s unlimited plans for Florida residents 55 and older are $60 for one line or $80 for two.

When compared to similar senior-focused providers we’ve reviewed, such as Lively, Consumer Cellular has fewer safety options, but a larger selection of phones to choose from at lower prices. The Jitterbug Flip2 we tested is similar to the IRIS Easy Flip, but the Jitterbug Flip2 is $79.99, whereas the IRIS Easy Flip is a more affordable $59. The Jitterbug Flip2, however, has urgent response capabilities, a better camera, and some other features that justify its higher price.

If you’re deciding between Lively and Consumer Cellular, you’ll want to read our in-depth comparison of the two providers.

Final Thoughts on Pricing and Value for Consumer Cellular

Whether you’re a tech-savvy senior or you just want something simple, Consumer Cellular offers affordable plans to meet your mobile phone needs. What the company lacks in safety features, they easily make up for with senior-friendly phones and flexible wireless plans that keep you connected without breaking the bank. With plans starting at just $20 per month and phones as low as $59, you’re sure to find a Consumer Cellular plan and cell phone that fits your budget.