Optimum Cell Phone Plans for Seniors

The Buying Experience with Optimum

We visited Optimum’s website to research their plans. To purchase a plan, we answered questions about the type of plan we needed – business or personal, whether or not we had Optimum internet, and our ZIP code.

Building our cart was simple. We were given the option to bring our phone, keep our number, or get a new number. A full breakdown of costs, including taxes and fees, was provided, and we appreciated that transparency. But, there was some fineprint, which we took the time to read. We learned that the monthly price would increase by $20 per month, per line after three bill cycles unless we bundled our Mobile plan with Optimum internet.

It wasn’t made clear until checkout that the monthly Mobile cost was dependent upon having a bundled plan that included internet. If you don’t read the fine print, and many people don’t, this significant price jump will come as a shock.

If you’re considering a bundled plan, check out our hands-on review of Optimum’s internet plans for seniors.

Chatting with Customer Service

To get a better handle on availability, costs, and other issues, we reached out to Optimum via phone. Many customer complaints about Optimum have centered around poor or rude customer service, so this was really important for us to find out.

A member of our tech team has had a bundled Optimum internet, TV and landline plan for around 10 years, but has never been a mobile customer. She can, however, say firsthand that Optimum’s customer service used to be subpar. But over the past year, she has been pleasantly surprised by a significant improvement in customer service. Our experience learning about Optimum Mobile definitely backed that up.

The person we spoke to was helpful, polite, and attentive. We asked questions about contracts, costs, and data slowdowns. The rep, Jose, explained that contracts are not needed for mobile plans, but that prices go up, usually on an annual basis. He mentioned that other costs, such as taxes, might go up and are out of Optimum’s control. He also explained that data speeds slow down once you hit your data cap, although you won’t be charged additional costs for added data. All of this was clearly explained in plain language, devoid of “techno-speak.”

Choosing a Cell Phone

You can bring your own phone or buy a new phone when you sign up with Optimum Mobile. They’ll pay off your old phone up to $400 per line, but only if you buy a new phone with financing.

Optimum Mobile offers a nice selection of smartphones, but they don’t include flip phones in their lineup. If you’re looking for a carrier that offers flip phones, you may be better off with carriers like Lively or Consumer Cellular. Unlike Optimum Mobile, Lively Jitterbug phones even feature an urgent response help button, which can be a lifesaver for seniors.

>> Compare Your Options: Lively review and Consumer Cellular review

Here’s a closer look at two of the many smartphones you can buy through Optimum Mobile:

iPhone 15

This iPhone has a retail price of $829. You can pay it off for $23.03 a month, over 36 months. You may be able to save some money by trading in your current phone.

This phone has a capacity of 128 GB (gigabytes). It’s lightweight with a 6.1” screen. The iPhone 15 features a dynamic island on the top of the screen, which automatically indicates alerts and activities, like airline flight status and special events. It’s made from durable materials and is dust, water, and splash resistant.

The iPhone's dynamic island can provide quick access to apps like Spotify.

We love the 48MP, autofocus camera because the quality of its high-resolution photos and videos is sharp and clear. If you love to take videos but your hands get shaky holding up your phone, you’ll appreciate iPhone 15’s action mode, which smooths out shaking, hand-held videos.

iPhone 15 is not a medical alert device, but it does have safety features that make it a good choice for seniors. These include emergency SOS, crash detection, and roadside assistance via satellite (no WiFI needed). These special features, coupled with iPhone 15’s great camera, make this phone a good choice for seniors who don’t want a separate medical alert device and love to take pictures.

>> Learn About: Best iPhones for seniors in 2024

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

This budget-friendly Android smartphone costs $169.99. You can pay it off for $4.72 a month, over 36 months. Like the iPhone 15, you may also be able to save a few bucks by trading in your old phone.

This phone has a 6.6” display, making it a good choice for seniors with vision issues. It also has a long-lasting, fast-charging battery. With the Samsung Galaxy A14, you’ll get up to 41 hours of talk time before needing a charge.

>> Compare Your Options: Best smartphones for older adults

It has a 13 MP camera. The photo quality of this phone may lag behind the iPhone 15, but will still give you great shots of the grandkids, and vacation selfies. If you’re looking for a high-quality Android phone that won’t break the bank, the Samsung Galaxy A14 may be a great choice for you.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Already have a phone you love? You can easily bring your phone to Optimum, as long as it’s compatible with their service and isn’t locked to another carrier. Just make sure that your device is compatible by using Optimum’s compatibility checker.

Nationwide Coverage

Optimum Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G national network. In New York where one of our tech experts lives, Optimum Mobile provides coverage up and down the state in urban, rural, and suburban areas. We checked out ZIP codes from Brooklyn to Niagara Falls and found that every area was able to access 5G speeds. Optimum’s Mobile network may be less extensive in some other areas of the country.

>> Learn More: T-Mobile phone plans for seniors

As mentioned before, you’ll need to bundle internet into your plan if you want to get the best prices. Optimum internet is only available in 21 states. If you’re not in an Optimum service area, you may wish to check out Consumer Cellular, which runs on AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s networks.

Optimum Phone Plans at a Glance

Optimum Plan Details

Optimum has mobile plans for all types of internet users. Every plan includes unlimited talk and text. Here’s a closer look at two of our favorite Optimum Mobile plans for seniors.

5 GB Plan: Best for Light Data Users

Optimum’s 5 GB plan costs $25 per month per line, for up to five lines. No discount is given for multiple line purchases. Even so, this is a cost-effective plan for individual users or couples who want one-to-two phone lines at a budget price.

You can’t access mobile hotspots with this plan, so keep that in mind if you’re on the go or travel extensively. However, you can buy a travel pass that enables phone calls and texts from many countries.

The 5 GB plan comes with 5 GB of data. It’s a good choice for moderate internet users who enjoy streaming music and using social media. For comparison, Consumer Cellular’s GB plan also costs $25 per month, but the carrier offers multi-line discounts of $15 for each additional line.

Unlimited Plan: Best for Heavy Data Users and Multi-line Discounts

Optimum’s Unlimited plan includes multiple line discounts, making it a great option for families:

• 1 line: $45 per month
• 2 to 4 lines: $30 per line, per month
• 5 lines: $25 per line, per month

This plan comes with mobile hotspot access and 20 GB of data. If you're a heavy internet user or need lots of lines, this plan may be a good choice for you. For comparison, Lively’s plans with unlimited data start at $49.99 per month, making it $5 more than Optimum’s single-line unlimited plan. And, Lively doesn't offer multi-line discounts, so Optimum has a leg-up on family plans.

>> Learn About: Best unlimited phone plans for seniors

Optimum vs. Other Phone Carriers

Here’s a ballpark view of how Optimum Mobile stacks up against other phone carriers:

Our Methodology: How We Reviewed and Rated Optimum Mobile

Our tech team spent 50 hours researching and reviewing Optimum’s mobile plans with the needs of seniors in mind. We reviewed Optimum’s claims against the average customer’s experience by reading and assessing dozens of customer reviews.

We compared Optimum to other providers to gauge the differences in important attributes like cost, types of phones offered, network availability, and internet speed.

Here’s what our testing process looked like:

1. We started by researching Optimum’s phone plans through their website. We considered important attributes, including cost and hidden fees, ease of use, and 5G availability.
2. Then, we reviewed each plan to determine which would be best for seniors and ordered a plan online.
3. We checked out the selection of phones Optimum offered.
4. We reached out to customer service via phone multiple times to gauge the quality of the information we were given.
5. We compared Optimum to other mobile providers to determine where seniors can get the best deals plus have a great consumer experience.

The Bottom Line on Optimum

Optimum offers four senior-friendly mobile plans that accommodate a wide range of budgets, starting at $15 per month for one line. Whether you’re looking for a plan with 1 GB of data or an unlimited option, there is something for most types of phone users. We’ve found that Optimum’s customer service has greatly improved in recent years, which is a big plus in our book. To get the best savings, a bundled plan that includes internet is required.