Consumer Cellular vs. Straight Talk
Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk have a lot to offer older adults, with flexible, affordable cell phone plans and a wide variety of devices.
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Key Takeaways
- Consumer Cellular is best for older adults who want a simple phone and straightforward, affordable plans.
- Straight Talk is best for seniors who need a good amount of data and appreciate flexibility to customize phone plans to their needs.
With a growing number of cell phone companies eager to tap into the senior market, researching the best cell phone plans can be a challenge. But we can help! We researched and tested the phones and plans from Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk, comparing both carriers in terms of price, technology, ease of use, and customer service. Keep reading to learn more about the best Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk phone plans for older adults.
A Side-by-Side Look at Consumer Cellular vs. Straight Talk
Phone Plans and Prices
Consumer Cellular Plans
Plan | Cost* | Data | Speed | Talk and text | International | Multiline discount |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited Talk and Text + 1 GB of data | $20 per month | 1 GB | 5G depending on area and with compatible device | Unlimited | Canada and Mexico included | Yes |
Unlimited Talk and Text + 5 GB of data | $25 per month | 5 GB | 5G depending on area and with compatible device | Unlimited | Canada and Mexico included | Yes |
Unlimited Talk and Text + 10 GB of data | $35 per month | 10 GB | 5G depending on area and with compatible device | Unlimited | Canada and Mexico included | Yes |
Unlimited Talk and Text + Unlimited data | $50 per month | Unlimited** | 5G depending on area and with compatible device | Unlimited | Canada and Mexico included | Yes |
*Prices include a $5 discount for opting for monthly autopay and paperless billing and do not include taxes and fees.
**If usage exceeds 50 GB, you’ll experience slower data speeds through the remainder of that billing cycle.
Consumer Cellular’s phone plans are some of the least expensive around, starting at $20 per month. Consumer Cellular, on the other hand, offers reasonably priced month-to-month plans you can upgrade anytime.
You can purchase up to three additional phone lines on Consumer Cellular’s website. If you want more than four lines, however, we discovered that you’ll need to call Consumer Cellular. But each additional phone line adds just $15 per month to your bill. You can have five lines on your account with Straight Talk but at greater cost. With the Gold Unlimited plan, a second line costs an additional $40 a month, a third adds $25 to a month, and the fourth line adds $20 per month. Five phone lines on a Gold Unlimited plan currently cost $175 a month.
We appreciate the sliding bar on Consumer Cellular’s website that shows how much it’ll cost to add additional lines to your plan. Keep in mind that each phone line shares the plan’s data, which can add up quickly with multiple lines. With no overage fees, though, this won’t be a big deal for many people.
If you go over your limit, Consumer Cellular will automatically bump you up to the next plan. While it’s a plus not having to pay overage fees, some online reviewers have mentioned that they don’t like being upgraded automatically. This is something to keep in mind if you’re trying to keep cell phone costs down.
We like that Consumer Cellular offers a good amount of data at low monthly rates. If you opt for autopay, you’ll pay just $20 a month for 1 GB of data, compared with Straight Talk’s 100 MB (which is 0.1 GB) of data for $30 a month.
>> You Might Like: A guide to getting the best deal with Consumer Cellular.
We found that Consumer Cellular offers flexible, affordable, and reliable plans designed with seniors in mind. None of their plans come with overage or activation fees, and they don’t require long-term contracts. If you’re not satisfied with your service in the first 30 days, Consumer Cellular will refund your money if you qualify. To qualify, you still need to be under the data-use threshold to qualify for a refund. AARP members get an even longer money-back period: 45 days. Members can also score 5 percent off their monthly bills and a $20 bonus for referring friends to Consumer Cellular.
Consumer Cellular offers a few perks that might appeal to older adults. If you’re in the market for a medical alert system, you can bundle one with your cell phone service with Consumer Cellular. The company offers an emergency response system called Ally with GPS location tracking and fall detection for $119 upfront and $25 per month. We also found a deal to add Signature Motor Club by Allstate Roadside Services to your plan for $3 per month or $36 per year. That’s cheaper than AAA, which currently costs $65 or more per year.
Did You Know? Cell phone usage among people 65 and older has more than doubled in the past decade!
Although Consumer Cellular offers reliable basic cell phone service, older adults with high cell phone data needs might prefer faster speeds and more data than Consumer Cellular’s basic plans offer. Straight Talk has some very high data plans and plans with cloud storage as well.
Consumer Cellular also charges 5 cents per international text sent and 10 cents a minute for roaming, so it’s not the best choice for seniors who want to stay in frequent touch with loved ones outside the U.S. However, Consumer Cellular may be a better choice than Straight Talk for older adults who like to travel abroad, because Straight Talk doesn’t offer phone service if you’re traveling outside the U.S. You can make unlimited calls from the U.S. to other countries with a Straight Talk Global Calling Card, which costs $10. (More on this later.)
Pro Tip: Got the travel bug? Read our tips for senior travel to make the most of your next vacation.
Consumer Cellular, on the other hand, does let you use its service while traveling internationally. But the company recommends contacting them a couple weeks before you leave the country to see if international roaming is even possible where you’re traveling. And you’ll be responsible for international roaming fees as well. If you’re only interested in calling Canada and Mexico, however, Consumer Cellular is still a great choice!
Straight Talk Plans
Straight Talk offers many different prepaid phone plans. Below are the ones we think cover older adults’ needs.
Plan | Cost | Data | Speed | Talk and text | International | Multiline discount |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic (for flip phones only!) | $30 | 100 MB | 5G depending on area | 1,500 minutes, unlimited texting | No | No |
Bronze Unlimited | $35 ($34 with auto refill) | 10 GB + up to 5 GB mobile hot spot | 5G depending on area | Unlimited | International calls to Canada and Mexico | No |
Silver Unlimited | $45 ($42.50 with 3 months of auto refill) | Unlimited +10 GB of hot spot data | 5G depending on area | Unlimited | International calls to Canada and Mexico | Yes |
Gold Unlimited | $55 ($50 for 3 months with auto refill) | Unlimited +15 GB hot spot and 100 GB cloud storage | 5G depending on area | Unlimited | International calls to Canada and Mexico | Yes |
Platinum Unlimited | $65 ($60 for 3 months with auto refill) | Unlimited + 20 GB mobile hot spot and 100 GB cloud storage | 5G depending on area | Unlimited | International calls to Canada, Mexico, and 60 other countries | Yes |
Although monthly rates are a little higher, Straight Talk offers a wider variety of plans than Consumer Cellular. With Straight Talk, you can prepay for one month, six months, or a year of service. Straight Talk’s basic $30 plan gives you 1,500 minutes for calls, unlimited texts, and 100 MB of data. This basic plan comes with a very small amount of data. That means it’s best for those who have access to Wi-Fi most of the time and don’t need a lot of data. (If you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, watching videos, emailing, using GPS, or downloading large photos on your phone can use up a lot of data.)
Straight Talk’s Silver Unlimited plan ($45 a month) is an especially good deal if you want to add extra phone lines or stay in touch with people in Canada or Mexico. With this plan, you get unlimited talk, text, and data. With auto refill for three months, you’ll only pay $42.50 a month for the first phone line. Adding a second line adds another $30 a month, and you can add a third for $15 per month. Plus, you’ll get 10 GB of hot-spot data to use when you’re out and about.
>> Learn More: Best cell phone plans for seniors
We appreciate how Straight Talk spells out plan details, including data speeds, taxes in your area, any fees, and discounts or add-ons available. And we like that, similar to Consumer Cellular, Straight Talk gives you a bit of a break on monthly costs with autopay, which the company calls “auto refill.” While auto refill only saves $1 a month with some plans, Straight Talk’s Gold Unlimited and Platinum Unlimited plans offer $5 monthly discounts for auto refill, just like Consumer Cellular does.
Neither Straight Talk nor Consumer Cellular charge data-overage fees, but the carriers deal with data overages differently. If you run out of data with Straight Talk, you won’t be able to use the internet on your phone for the rest of the billing period. Consumer Cellular, however, bumps you up to a higher data plan when you run out of data.
During periods of high demand, data speeds might slow, which is common among cell phone carriers — even for plans with “unlimited” data. If your plan comes with a fixed amount of high-speed data (like the Bronze Plan), your data speeds may drop to 2G for the remainder of your service period after you’ve reached your high-speed data limit.
Also be aware that Straight Talk expects to implement some changes to their network late in 2024, so phones that aren’t capable of 4G service might be affected. Find more information about these network changes on their website and check to see if you’re eligible for a phone upgrade.
Straight Talk phones can’t be used when you travel outside the U.S., so they might not be the best choice for older adults with wanderlust. Staying in touch with loved ones overseas, on the other hand, is pretty straightforward: Buying the Straight Talk $10 Global Calling Card gives you unlimited international long distance calling when you call from the U.S. Your unused balance for international calls will roll over to the next service month. Alternatively, you can opt for Straight Talk’s Unlimited International Plan for $60 a month ($59 with auto refill), which lets you call China, India, Canada, and Mexico.
>> Learn About: A guide to cell phones for seniors
It’s also simple to add data to your plan: You can purchase an additional 1 GB for $5 and 2 GB for $10. (Note: Data add-ons can’t be used for hot spots.) Unused data carries over to the next service month, too.
Online reviewers have expressed frustration with Straight Talk customer service over the phone. Some wrote that they were hung up on and that the agents were difficult to understand. Reviewers have also posted complaints about connectivity issues and difficulty receiving promised refunds.
However, we experienced prompt and courteous service when we contacted Straight Talk with questions. At times, some of the information we received was confusing and needed clarification. There was some confusion, for example, about whether Straight Talk’s Bronze Plan included calls to Canada and Mexico. But after asking for clarification, we were satisfied we got the information we were looking for. Consumer Cellular only offers help via chat if you enter your name and email address first, while Straight Talk agents answered questions via chat quickly without asking for an email address. They didn’t push us to purchase upgrades or add-ons, which we appreciated.
FYI: Some research even suggests using a cell phone seems to improve memory among adults of all ages.2
Positive Straight Talk reviews mention that customers were happy with the service and data speeds, and that they like being able to buy Straight Talk products while shopping at Walmart. Many Straight Talk customers mention that they love the Walmart+ membership that’s included if you choose the Gold Unlimited plan ($55) or Platinum Unlimited plan ($65). Walmart+ members get special pricing on fuel and don’t have to pay shipping or delivery fees at Walmart.
Overall, Straight Talk offers several plans at prices comparable to other carriers. It’s a good option for people who would like higher data speeds and have loved ones living in other countries. Straight Talk’s $55 plan is comparable to Consumer Cellular’s unlimited plan, but you get more hot-spot data, plus 100 GB of cloud storage. Straight Talk might be the better carrier for someone who uses a lot of data and phone storage.
People who don’t mind paying for multiple months of service up-front can save money choosing that option with another carrier, such as Mint Mobile, which provides a year of service for $15 a month. Paying for a year up-front with Straight Talk’s Extended Silver plan, by comparison, only saves you a few dollars a month, so it might not be worth it.
Nationwide Coverage
Consumer Cellular
Unless you live in a rural, remote area, you’ll likely have excellent network coverage with Consumer Cellular. Consumer Cellular operates on AT&T and T-Mobile networks and partners with international carriers to provide 5G coverage where available. RootMetrics, a mobile analytics firm, rated T-Mobile the best carrier in terms of 5G availability and speed in its 2023 analysis.3
Some areas of the U.S. might only have 4G LTE coverage, which is a little slower than 5G. Still, 4G LTE is fast enough to watch videos, make calls, and browse the internet with ease. If the network is very busy, your phone might be slower at times. In our experience, this reduced speed wasn’t very noticeable.
Keep in mind that some phones might not be compatible with 5G service. For example, when we tested Consumer Cellular’s IRIS Easy Flip phone, we noticed we could only get 4G coverage. We had no problem talking on the phone and texting with the IRIS Easy Flip’s 4G coverage and found service to be reliable.
Straight Talk
As a subsidiary of Verizon (which in 2020 bought Tracfone,4 which owned Straight Talk), Straight Talk uses Verizon’s powerful network, which won J.D. Power’s 2024 award for wireless network quality for the 32nd time in a Like Consumer Cellular, Straight Talk offers 5G network coverage in most areas of the U.S. Also like Consumer Cellular, data speeds might slow enough to affect streaming quality if the network is very busy. This shouldn’t happen very often, though!
Consumer Cellular vs. Straight Talk Phones
Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular lets you bring your own phone when you sign up for service. You have the option to keep your phone number, too. This is convenient but not unusual among cell phone carriers — Mint Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and T-Mobile also let you bring your phone and keep your current phone number. Lively cell phone plans, on the other hand, must be paired with a Lively phone.
Did You Know? Older style, simple flip phones, or “dumb phones,” with limited computing capabilities are increasingly popular among Gen
If you’re in the market for a new phone, Consumer Cellular offers more than 30 different devices. From simple flip phones designed with seniors in mind to iPhones (and several Apple Watches), Consumer Cellular has it all — along with Samsung, Motorola, and Nokia phones.
For older adults who want a durable, easy-to-use phone without many bells and whistles, Consumer Cellular’s IRIS Easy Flip is a great option. This flip phone is lightweight and hearing-aid compatible. It has large, textured buttons that are clearly labeled, so it’s a good fit for people with vision loss or arthritis.
>> Further Reading: Best cell phones for seniors in 2024
We especially like the red “favorite contacts” button that’s front and center on the bottom of the keyboard. This button makes finding important numbers quick and easy. And we love the IRIS Easy Flip’s calendar app, which keeps track of your events and schedule.
The IRIS Easy Flip’s photo quality isn’t the best, as it only has a 5 megapixel camera. Although a bit grainy looking, the photo quality is comparable to other flip phones we’ve tried.
In addition to affordable cell phone plans and multiline discounts, we’ve noticed that Consumer Cellular consistently offers great sales on cell phones and monthly payment plans. That means older adults on a budget don’t have to forgo the phone they want if they can’t pay for it up front.
Straight Talk
With more than 70 different phones to choose from, Straight Talk offers twice as many choices as Consumer Cellular. Although Consumer Cellular offers Apple Watches, and Straight Talk doesn’t. Straight Talk offers a choice of three flip phones, each for just $30.
Like Consumer Cellular, Straight Talk lets you bring your own phone and frequently offers discounts on many of their own. It could take a week to activate your phone after transferring from another carrier, though.
You can also pay for phones as you go. Right now, you can get a new Samsung Galaxy A14 5G for $59, or lease a Samsung Galaxy A25 5G for a little over $7.50 a month for 24 months, with the Silver Unlimited Plan or higher.
Our Final Thoughts on Consumer Cellular vs. Straight Talk
Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk both have reliable 5G networks and easy to understand phone plans with no contracts. Neither carrier operates stand-alone retail stores. But if you want to try out the phones in person and ask questions, you can pop into a Target to check out Consumer Cellular, and Walmart to learn more about Straight Talk. Both companies can be a bit of a pain if you want to bring your own phone from another carrier, but that’s not terribly unusual across the industry. Both companies also slow (or throttle) speeds when data usage reaches a certain point.
>> Learn More: Consumer Cellular vs. Visible
Overall, Consumer Cellular might be the best option for older adults who want a simple phone and plans for basic talk and text. We like that Consumer Cellular offers user-friendly devices designed with seniors in mind. We also appreciate this carrier’s senior-friendly perks, such as AARP member discounts, a medical alert system (Ally), and roadside auto-service options. These features can offer some added peace of mind. Consumer Cellular is the less expensive option if you’re looking to add multiple phone lines to your account, as each additional line adds just $15.
Straight Talk is a great option for older adults who typically use a lot of data or want a customizable phone plan tailored to their needs. And while Consumer Cellular offers affordable options, Straight Talk’s plans are comparable, as we pointed out. Straight Talk is also a good option for people who would like higher data speeds or have loved ones in other countries. Straight Talk is a great choice for frequent Walmart shoppers, particularly if they choose a plan that includes a free Walmart+ membership.
Our Methodology: How We Compared Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk
Our SeniorLiving.org tech experts tested Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk phones and plans for a week, taking note of the buying experience, device and service reliability, ease of use, costs, and network strength in different areas. Then, we compared our tests with online research of each carrier to provide you with a thorough evaluation. Lastly, we contrasted our research with our own personal experience with cell phone carriers to see how Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk Wireless measured up.
Here’s more detail about the criteria considered in this review:
- Pricing: Many seniors are on a fixed income. So we wanted to make sure our reviews are inclusive of older adults for whom price is a significant factor, as well as seniors with more wiggle room in their budgets. We also considered whether a phone carrier frequently offers discounts and specials on devices and plans.
- Network coverage: The strength of your cell phone signal largely depends on the towers in your area, so we made sure to test our cell phone service in as many different areas, rural and urban, as we could. We noted how widely available each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G network coverage is. We also researched industry data and online reviews to get a sense of each carrier’s network reliability around the U.S.
- International call and text service: One of the perks of retirement is the freedom to travel, so we include information about a carrier’s service while abroad. International service is also important to older adults who want to keep in touch with loved ones in other countries. Because of this, we made note of any extra charges for sending or receiving calls or texts outside the U.S.
- Buying experience: Consumers have different preferences when it comes to how they like to shop for cell phones and plans. We noted whether companies have a brick-and-mortar presence or whether transactions need to be completed online. If buying a phone plan requires speaking with customer service, we took note of wait times and efficiency of those calls. We also note how helpful agents — and published materials — are for helping us get our service up and running.
- Device design: Some older adults prefer a simpler phone with accessibility features, such as large buttons and excellent hearing aid compatibility, so we take note of those features. We also test other important aspects of device functionality, such as screen readability, call clarity, and the phone’s camera.
- Customer service: Customer service can be particularly important for older adults who aren’t as tech-savvy as others. We pay careful attention to how easy or difficult it is to get help with service or setup via phone or chat. In addition to wait times, we consider how patient, helpful, and thorough each carrier’s customer service representatives are.
- Health and safety features and extras: We look for, and appreciate, when carriers offer safety features older adults might be interested in, such as scam-call alerts, emergency response systems, roadside assistance, or ride-share feature.
Pew Research Center. (2022). Share of those 65 and older who are tech users has grown in the past decade.
University College London. (2022). Using cell phones could help improve memory skills.
RootMetrics. (2024). The State of 5G in the US: Who won the 5G race in 2H 2023?
J.D. Power. (2024). Verizon wins J.D. Power award for Wireless Network Quality 32nd time in a row.