Consumer Cellular vs. TracFone

Phone Plans and Prices

Consumer Cellular Plans

Consumer Cellular has several great cell phone plans designed with seniors in mind, although they aren’t labeled as “senior plans.” Consumer Cellular pricing ranges from $20 to $50 per month. There are no activation fees, contracts, or other hidden fees.

*Price includes a $5 discount for opting in to AutoPay and paperless billing.
**Single-line unlimited data plan offer is only for customers age 50+. Age validation required.

Here are other features of Consumer Cellular phone plans:

• 5G access
• Mobile hot spots
• Premium nationwide coverage
• No overage charges
• No fee for changing plans at any time

Consumer Cellular won’t charge overage fees if you go over your data, unlike some other senior carriers, such as Lively. Customers who go over their monthly usage with Consumer Cellular will be automatically upgraded to the next plan. If you reach your limit on the highest plan in a given month, your speeds may be reduced. However, we’ve found that 20 GB is typically enough for most customers. In comparison, Tracfone will shut down your service if you surpass your plan’s allowance unless you prepay.

Consumer Cellular offers multiline plans, which is a bonus for families. You can add up to seven lines that share the plan’s data, and each additional line costs $15 per month. Plus, adding more lines brings down your plan’s cost per line. By contrast, Snapfon and Tracfone don't offer discounts on multiple lines. Straight Talk does, but only on phone plans that cost $45 or more per month. Verizon and AT&T offer multiline discounts, but overall monthly fees are much higher to begin with.

AARP members also score a discount with Consumer Cellular. Members can get two lines of unlimited talk, text, and data for $55 per month, or a 5 percent monthly discount on any plan. You’ll also get a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is 15 days longer than non-AARP members get to cancel their plan.

Consumer Cellular’s 10 GB plan is one of our favorite options for older adults. It costs $35 per month and is great for customers who want a cost-effective plan with a nice amount of data. Or, if you don’t use a lot of data, you can choose one of Consumer Cellular’s cheaper plans.

On the flip side, if you want to add additional lines or you’re a big data user, you can choose the 20 GB plan for $50 per month. Consumer Cellular’s 20 GB data plan is competitive across the industry.

» Related Reading: Best unlimited phone plans for seniors

Picking a Consumer Cellular phone plan is much simpler than choosing a plan with the big guys, such as AT&T or Verizon. If you’re looking for a straightforward and easy-to-understand month-to-month plan with unlimited data, Consumer Cellular is a great choice. The company’s plans are designed for older adults, and customer service representatives are experienced in working with seniors. Plus, their AARP discounts are a great perk. And unlike Tracfone, Consumer Cellular plans and services have a money-back guarantee.

You can visit our 2024 Consumer Cellular review to learn more about our experience with this carrier.

TracFone Plans

TracFone has several plans available, but the ones listed below are our top picks for older adults. None of the plans have contracts or activation fees. All plans come with unlimited carry-over minutes, too. Customers should know that plans and services are nonrefundable.

TracFone has 5G nationwide coverage and sells prepaid and pay-as-you-go phone plans. Customers have the option of using auto-refill or paying upfront and refilling as needed. This means that unlike Consumer Cellular, where customers pay on a monthly basis, TracFone customers must prepay in 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day increments (whatever your plan’s service period is). Some plans even have a 365-day service period.

Just keep in mind that if you choose a 60-day or 90-day plan, the amount of talk, text, and data that comes with your plan will need to last you for that period. This is unusual, as carriers typically offer monthly allotments. Still, it offers a great way to save on a basic plan.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Not sure how much talk, text, or data you need for your plan? I’d recommend trying a 30-day plan like the Smartphone $40 plan and keeping track of your usage. If you decide that you need more or less talk, text, and data, you can easily change your plan after the first month.

Unlike Consumer Cellular, TracFone doesn’t offer unlimited data and there are no multiline discounts. Customers must pay for minutes on some plans, but minutes do carry over.

You can bring your own phone, but only if it’s an unlocked 4G LTE smartphone. Otherwise, you’ll have the option to buy a compatible phone. You can use TracFone’s compatibility tool to check if your phone is compatible with the network.

Want to avoid overage fees? If you need more minutes or monthly data, Tracfone sells top-up add-ons (adding 1 GB of data is $10). But be careful — while plans may start cheap, the more data you add, the more expensive the plan becomes.

We liked the Smartphone $20 plan, which is about $15 per month with auto-refill. Keeping your plan on auto-refill is an easy way to save on any TracFone plan. This plan gets you unlimited talk and text, 1 GB of data each month, and unlimited carry-over minutes. It’s comparable to Consumer Cellular’s $20 plan.

We visited Tracfone’s website to select a plan. First, we went to the “Shop” tab up top and chose “Service Plans” from the drop-down menu. We selected the Smartphone $20 plan, clicked on “I am a new customer,” and added it to the cart. Next, the prompt asked whether we were buying a new phone or bringing one. We chose BYOP. It then asked for our location, and we added a SIM card to our cart. Other than paying for taxes, shipping was free. It was a simple enough process!

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Remember that SIM cards and airtime are nonrefundable, so if you’re less than confident about installing a SIM card yourself, consider getting help in person at a cell phone store or retail outlet.

TracFone has multiple plans that are geared toward customers of all ages. We were disappointed to see they don’t offer any senior discounts. But they do have a 25 percent off coupon if you sign up to receive TracFone marketing emails, which we think is worth the extra savings!

Overall, TracFone offers many affordable plans to keep older adults connected. For example, their $19.99 90-day plan, which is approximately $6.66 per month (or $5.99 with auto-refill), features 60 minutes of talk time and is a very cost-effective basic option for emergencies. It doesn’t get much cheaper than that!

Visit our TracFone Review to learn more.

Nationwide Coverage

Consumer Cellular

Like TracFone, Consumer Cellular uses a larger provider’s networks. Consumer Cellular uses AT&T’s networks and has nationwide 5G data speeds and 4G data speeds in most areas. Based on our experience, Consumer Cellular offers reliable, fast service. Just remember that you’ll need a 5G-compatible phone to experience 5G speeds.

» Learn About: Best 5G phones for seniors

TracFone

Tracfone uses the nation’s three biggest networks: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Tracfone customers get 4G LTE and 5G coverage, but this can vary based on where you are and what phone you have. Like Consumer Cellular, which also leases towers from larger providers, your service might be deprioritized (read: slow) during periods of heavy usage.

Consumer Cellular vs. TracFone Phones

Consumer Cellular

Like Straight Talk and Cricket, Consumer Cellular customers have the option to bring their own phones or buy a new one. Consumer Cellular sells cell phones for seniors and has several flip phones and smartphones to choose from. Some phone brands they sell include Apple, Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola. Consumer Cellular even offers its own line of phones, including IRIS Easy Flip. We’ve tested this phone and found it to be straightforward and senior-friendly.

The external screen on Consumer Cellular's IRIS Easy Flip is large and easy to see

The carrier even offers a senior-friendly tablet called the GrandPad. We found that this tablet is perfect for those with memory loss or seniors who want a larger screen. It also offers advanced security features. We were also big fans of the GrandPad’s built-in games, how-to guides, music, articles, and more — perfect for keeping home-bound seniors entertained.

Using the GrandPad tablet from Consumer Cellular

We like that Consumer Cellular frequently offers discounts on plans and phones on their website. These promotions can vary and may have limitations or require certain qualifications. And, of course, they offer a great monthly AARP membership discount.

TracFone

Similar to Consumer Cellular, you can BYOP or buy a new one with TracFone. Finding the best cell phones for seniors can be tough since there are so many to choose from, and TracFone sells dozens. These include new and reconditioned smartphones and flip phones. Some of the brands they sell are Samsung, Motorola, Apple, Nokia, Google, and more. Tracfone offers 30 days to return phones for a full refund.

» Related Reading: Best smartphones for seniors

Like Mint Mobile, Tracfone doesn’t have any physical store locations, but phones and airtime cards can be bought at Walmart and Best Buy.

Tracfone offers many phones, including the iPhone SE, one of our favorite smartphones for seniors

Our Methodology: How We Compared Consumer Cellular and Tracfone

Testing out a flip phone on Consumer Cellular's service

Our SeniorLiving.org tech experts spent two weeks testing and researching Consumer Cellular and Tracfone phones and plans. Our experts’ analysis considered the buying experience, device and service reliability, ease of use, cost, and network strength across various geographic areas. We also evaluated features that make one carrier or phone more attractive to seniors, including accessibility features, special discounts, and health and safety options. We also thoroughly researched each carrier to compare our experience with that of other customers online, to better evaluate each carrier’s strengths and weaknesses.

Here’s more detail about the criteria considered in this review:

• Pricing: In addition to considering the price and value offered by each carrier, we looked at whether a phone carrier frequently offers discounts and specials on devices and plans. We take note of perks and extras that add value, including whether carriers offer senior-specific deals such as 55+ phone plans and AARP discounts.
• Network coverage: The strength of your cell phone signal largely depends on the towers in your area, so we test cell phone service in as many areas as possible. We noted how widely available each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G network coverage is, and we researched industry data and online reviews to gauge each carrier’s network reliability across the U.S.
• Buying experience: Consumers have different preferences when it comes to how they like to shop, so we noted whether companies have a brick-and-mortar presence in U.S. stores or whether transactions need to be completed online. We also evaluated the purchasing process for each carrier, how easy it was to sign up, and the level of support offered.
• Device design: Some older adults prefer simpler phones with accessibility features such as large buttons, easy-to-use interfaces, and hearing aid compatibility, so we take note of those features. We also test other important features, such as screen readability, call clarity, and the phone’s camera.
• Customer service: Older adults less experienced with technology often appreciate customer service representatives who are easy to reach, courteous, and patient. We pay careful attention to how easy or difficult it is to get help with service or setup via phone, email, or chat. Our reviewers also take note of customer service wait times, along with the thoroughness and competence of the operators.
• Health and safety features: 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 features in their cell phones and plans.

Our Final Thoughts on Consumer Cellular vs. TracFone

Consumer Cellular and Tracfone both offer affordable, basic plans. The advantages of Consumer Cellular’s plans are that they’re tailored to older adults and offer unlimited data — unlike Tracfone. On the other hand, Tracfone has some of the cheapest plans around, with good basic features that may work better for those on a fixed income.

To reiterate one important caveat about both carriers: Because Consumer Cellular and Tracfone are MVNOs that piggyback off other carriers’ networks, you may experience slower speeds during high-traffic times. The larger carriers prioritize their customers before the MVNOs using their networks. Still, MVNO plans offer many benefits, as they tend to be more affordable, have no contracts, and provide more perks and flexibility. The savings alone might be worth it!