Consumer Cellular Cell Phone Plan Review 2025

Pros and Cons

The Buying Experience With Consumer Cellular

Testing out the IRIS Easy Flip from Consumer Cellular

I found Consumer Cellular’s website to be pretty informative and user-friendly. Here’s how to purchase a plan online:

1. Click on the “Plans” tab at the top of the home page.
2. Select how many phone lines you need.
3. Select the amount of data you think you’ll use.
4. Check the box for “Yes, I’m an AARP member” if applicable.
5. Click “Add to Cart” for your chosen plan.
6. Pick if you want to add a device or bring your own device.
7. Select the phone you want to purchase with your plan.
8. Choose if you want to keep your old phone number, and add a protection plan or roadside assistance.
9. Enter payment information and check out.

Can You Bring Your Own Device To A Consumer Cellular Plan?

You can bring your own device to a Consumer Cellular plan by signing up online or giving them a call. I called Consumer Cellular to ask about the process for bringing your current device, and I waited about two minutes before Angel in Phoenix came on the line. She was willing to answer all my questions without asking for any personal information.

After providing me with important details, she did update me on some promotions, but she kept it short. I was pleased with the interaction and didn’t feel like I was being pushed into anything. I felt I was given the right tools to make an informed decision.

Choosing a Cell Phone

With several device options that are all senior-friendly, Consumer Cellular is a solid pick for many older adults. Whether you’re hunting for the best smartphone for seniors or a bare-bones flip phone, you can likely find what you need from Consumer Cellular.

With Consumer Cellular, you’ll find cell phones from major carriers that offer 5G service and plans featuring mobile hotspot data, a new addition that we appreciate. The wide variety of phones ensures that both tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy seniors can find a phone that fits their needs.

Consumer Cellular offers phones from major manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, but it also has one phone of their own making: the IRIS Easy Flip. This phone happens to be one of our top picks for seniors looking for an easy-to-use flip phone.

Fortunately, even if you’re not looking for an ultra-easy phone like the IRIS Easy Flip, you can choose between six carriers and 33 unique devices (including different 26 phones) through Consumer Cellular.

» Related Reading: Easiest Cell Phones for Seniors

IRIS Easy Flip

Taking a photo on the IRIS Easy Flip.

The IRIS Easy Flip is the most basic, senior-friendly phone Consumer Cellular offers. The features are tailored to the needs of older users, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for simplicity. However, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it for older adults who want an advanced phone with all the bells and whistles.

Priced at $59 outright or $2 per month, the IRIS Easy Flip offers excellent value. It’s cheaper than many other flip phones I’ve tested, including Lively’s Jitterbug Flip2, priced at $79.99. It’s even $1 cheaper than the brick-style Snapfon ez4G. Check out our comparison of Lively vs. Snapfon to see which carrier is best for you.

The IRIS Easy Flip has a simple, list-based menu that allowed me to easily navigate to my calls, texts, contacts, camera, calendar, and settings. I think it’s one of the easiest phones to pick up and start using without help, though Lively’s Flip2 and Smart4 phones give the IRIS Easy Flip a run for its money when it comes to ease of use.

The phone even has Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, as well as internet access, which is great if you like to browse the web, get directions, or use social media. These features are very rare for a budget flip phone. Some of Consumer Cellular’s older flip phone models, including the Verve Snap, didn’t offer internet, so this is a nice upgrade.

The phone’s buttons were large and clearly labeled, perfect for those with arthritis or vision loss. The IRIS Easy Flip’s display was well-lit, and the phone is hearing aid compatible for those with hearing loss.

One of my favorite features is the phone’s calendar. You can add events to it, which is useful for staying on top of your schedule. I’m pretty forgetful, so I plugged in my upcoming social events and appointments for the month!

I also snapped some photos with the camera. The photo quality is not the best, thanks to the mediocre 5 MP camera, but it’s comparable to other flip phones I’ve tried. I zoomed in and out using the phone’s side volume buttons, but zooming in made the quality of the image a little worse.

The IRIS Easy Flip doesn’t have a front-facing camera, but I took selfies by flipping the phone closed and holding the side camera button for about five seconds to enable “Selfie Mode.” This let me see myself on the external screen and use the rear-facing camera to snap pics with the phone closed.

Again, the image quality wasn’t great, but it was much more comfortable than holding the phone open at arm’s length.

A photo taken on Consumer Cellular's IRIS Easy Flip

Nationwide Coverage

Consumer Cellular uses AT&T towers to provide nationwide coverage. They provide 4G data speeds in most rural areas and 5G speeds in most urban areas. Just keep in mind that if you use the IRIS Easy Flip, you won’t get access to 5G speeds anywhere.

Fortunately, I didn’t experience slower speeds very often with the IRIS Easy Flip, even when I was out of the city. For faster speeds, consult our guide to the best 5G phones for seniors.

Only having 4G in rural areas is typical of most major telecommunication providers. Also remember that tall buildings, weather, and terrain can all affect cellular coverage, so it’s best to test out your phone in places you frequent in the first month to make sure Consumer Cellular can deliver ideal service in your area.

I live on the West Coast and experienced reliable 4G and 5G coverage while trying out Consumer Cellular on multiple phones. My coverage was consistent, and I was able to make calls and send texts, no problem!

Consumer Cellular's continental U.S. coverage map

Contracts and Warranty  

Contracts

Consumer Cellular ditches all contracts to offer customers more flexibility. They also have a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you want to return anything. You can bump that up to 45 days with an AARP membership. Even if you’re not already a member, you can easily sign up when checking out on Consumer Cellular’s site or over the phone.

We reviewed AT&T's plans and Verizon's plans and found that the two big guns impose contracts of up to two years in length, with fewer prepaid options. On the flip side, Consumer Cellular doesn’t lock you into a long-term contract, and you can cancel service at any time.

If you cancel after the trial period, you’ll need to pay for the entirety of that month. For example, if you cancel on May 2nd, you’ll still have to pay for the entire month of May. Fortunately, you’ll still be able to use your service for the remainder of the month if you want to, after which time your Consumer Cellular service will be cut off.

» Learn More: Best Prepaid Phone Plans for Seniors

Warranty

New phones from Consumer Cellular come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. When purchasing a phone, you can add a protection plan for around $2 to $10 per month, depending on the phone you select.

Certain cell phones also come with proprietary protection plans. For example, the iPhone Air can be purchased through Consumer Cellular with an AppleCare+ plan for $9.99 per month.

Consumer Cellular’s Asurion Protection plan covers repairs to your phone if it is damaged or malfunctions. If you purchase an expensive phone and you’re accident-prone, the protection plan may be something to consider for a little extra peace of mind.

Consumer Cellular Senior Phone Plans at a Glance

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

**Single-line unlimited data plan offer is for customers aged 50+ and 18+. Age validation required.

Consumer Cellular Plan Details

Consumer Cellular’s most basic plan is $20 per month, which is very affordable compared to most major carriers.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Consumer Cellular has streamlined their plans over the years, narrowing down from a large number of options to just four main plans and two additional senior-friendly plans. I appreciate that, as it makes choosing a plan easier for older adults.

It’s important to note that Consumer Cellular does not offer any medical alert features with their cell phone plans. You can purchase the IRIS Ally medical alert device ($99) and add a monitoring plan for $23.75 per month.

The IRIS Ally comes with the medical alert device, a wall charger and charging stand, belt clip, lanyard, and setup guide. You can also add Asurion device protection for an additional $4 per month. Alternatively, check out Lively’s Health & Safety Packages, which include phones with a direct line to urgent response agents and on-demand nurses.

Unlimited Talk and Text With 1 GB of Data for Basic Cell Phone Users

If you’re new to cell phones, need one for emergencies, or want to be reachable when you’re away from your home, the unlimited talk and text plan with 1 GB of data is a great basic choice.

It gives you the ability to always stay connected via texting or calling, and you can still use data in case of emergencies. Just keep in mind that 1 GB can be used up pretty quickly, especially if you want to browse the internet without a WiFi connection.

When paired with the IRIS Easy Flip, this is a great bundle if you want to keep things simple. At $20 per month, it’s an affordable way to keep you just a phone call or text away from your loved ones, no matter where you are.

While this plan is very affordable, consider that there are a few cheaper options on the market. For instance, Mint Mobile’s plans start at $15 per month for 5G speeds and 5 GB of data.

That said, Mint Mobile’s cheapest cell phone costs $129 — more than double that of Consumer Cellular’s IRIS Easy Flip. And with Mint Mobile, you’ll have to pay for at least three months in advance to secure the best price.

» Also Check Out: Senior Travel and Vacations

Unlimited Talk, Text, and 10 GB of Data for Smartphone Users

For older adults with a smartphone, purchasing a plan with a solid amount of data will help you get the most out of your device. A plan with 10 GB will most likely be enough for one person to send emails, browse social media, view web pages, and watch occasional videos or shows online.

If you have multiple lines with smartphones on your account or want to stream video on your phone when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, then look at bumping up to the unlimited data plan.

» Learn About: Best Senior Unlimited Cell Phone Plans

Still not sure which type of plan is right for you? Visit our senior cell phone buyer’s guide to learn more about how to choose a plan and cell phone.

No Overage Fees

No matter which plan you choose, you can change it at any time without an extra charge. If you accidentally exceed the minutes or data on your plan, Consumer Cellular will automatically upgrade you to the next-highest plan. So you’re still getting the best deal without unexpected overage charges. I appreciate this transparency in pricing!

Having said that, some seniors may find it frustrating to get automatically bumped up to the next-highest plan as soon as they exceed their data limit. Since you have to call Consumer Cellular to change back to your original plan, it can turn into a hassle for seniors on a tight budget who don’t monitor their data usage closely.

Cost

It’s easy to see that, compared to other plans out there with long-term contracts, hidden fees, and overage charges, Consumer Cellular is all about creating useful options. Depending on the plan you choose, single-line prices range from $20 to $50 per month. You’re getting a great deal if you’re using your phone for talking, texting, and light data usage.

However, Consumer Cellular’s plans are fairly basic when it comes to features. You can expect talk, text, data, and not much else.

Aside from the no contracts, excellent customer service, and AARP discounts, there’s nothing in the way of “perks.” If you’re looking for unlimited data and extra perks like service abroad and free in-flight Wi-Fi, check out T-Mobile’s unlimited 55 plans.

AT&T also offers several useful perks with their senior plan, including spam call blocking and 10GB of hotspot data per month. While Verizon offers various perks with their one 55+ plan, it’s only available to Florida residents, so it’s not a viable option for most seniors.

Consumer Cellular allows you to add up to three lines to your plan when ordering online. Each additional line is an extra $15 per month on rate-limited plans. For example, let’s say you’re paying $45 per month for unlimited talk and text and 20 GB of data. There is a $15 charge for every line you add to the plan.

So, if you’d like to add your spouse to your plan, your bill will go up to $60 per month. This means you could potentially save a bundle by picking Consumer Cellular to get quality coverage for yourself and your loved ones!

It’s also important to consider that Consumer Cellular doesn’t charge any activation fees (the SIM card is free, too), something that can’t be said for most major carriers.

» For Couples: Best 2-Line Cell Phone Plans for Seniors