Verizon 55+ Unlimited Plan 2024

The Fast Facts: Verizon’s Senior Phone Plans

While Verizon currently only offers one senior-specific phone plan: the 55+ Unlimited Phone Plan. We’d recommend several other unlimited Verizon plans for seniors who want to upgrade to a smartphone to call, text, and watch videos. But unlike AT&T and T-Mobile, which give all plans access to their fastest 5G networks, Verizon restricts access based on the plan. Check out the details below:

A Closer Look at Verizon’s Plans and Pricing

Verizon offers a variety of unlimited plans for seniors who want to live independently and stay connected with friends and family without overage charges. We reached out to Verizon customer service several times via chat and got immediate live help when asking about the best plans for seniors. Below, we’ve compiled a list of a few of our favorite senior-friendly Verizon cellular plans.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

n my experience, Verizon really shines for their in-person service. The staff I’ve interacted with at Verizon’s brick and mortar stores are always helpful and knowledgeable, and I’ve never had an issue getting my problems resolved. On the other hand, I’ve experienced some long wait times over the phone, so if you can visit your local Verizon store, it may be worth it!

Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited Plan

Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited Plan starts at $62 per month for one line or $84 monthly for two lines (plus taxes and fees). That’s an average savings of around $5 to $15 per line compared to their standard unlimited plans, which range from $65 to $75 per line for the same features. This plan includes unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data, so you can catch up with loved ones without worrying about checking the clock to ensure you stay within the limit.

Also, for streaming content, this senior-discounted plan is a lifesaver. Some plans offer only 2 GB to 10 GB of data – barely enough to watch a season of your favorite show. This plan includes high-quality streaming, so you can watch movies and use an unlimited mobile hotspot to access the internet away from home. With the unlimited mobile hotspot feature, you can use your phone’s data to connect to the internet on a tablet or laptop, saving you even more money on standard home internet services. With unlimited talk, you don’t need to buy a separate international plan; it includes unlimited service, so you can call Mexico and Canada for as long as you’d like.

The one major downside is the location requirement. To qualify for the 55+ Unlimited Plan, the account holder must have a Florida billing address. That’s on top of the age requirement, making the plan somewhat prohibitive. Let’s face it — most people are not 55+ Florida residents. However, you’re not entirely out of luck if you don’t live in Florida. Verizon has other plans worth considering.

Unlimited Welcome

If you don’t live in Florida or qualify for Verizon’s discounted 55+ Unlimited Plan, and you just want basic service, then the Unlimited Welcome plan may be a solid fit. The Unlimited Welcome plan gives you unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon's 5G nationwide network starting at $65 per month for one line. You can also get some great extras through $10 add-ons. The rates per line will decrease as you add more lines.

The plan comes with international talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada. You also get up to 480p HD streaming. A downside to this plan is that there is no hotspot data and data speeds can be slowed when there is too much traffic. We found the service incredibly consistent during our testing, the data to be rock-solid, and website, games, and apps loaded quickly. 5G coverage was recently added to our area, and these new speeds were very fast and reliable.

One more thing to note: if you bring your own device, you will receive a $180 credit on the Unlimited Welcome plan. And you will be eligible for some new phone offers.

You can save even more on this plan when you sign up for multiple lines, such as $120 per month for four lines with auto pay. We’d recommend this plan for older adults who want to share a phone plan with other family members because you get the best monthly pricing when you sign up for multiple lines. It’s also an excellent option for seniors wanting to say goodbye to their landline and upgrade to a smartphone. You can use a smartphone for movies, listening to music, and communicating with loved ones via text or voice. With unlimited talk and text, you can check in on your loved ones freely without excess fees.

Unlimited Plus

The Unlimited Plus plan is best for those looking for unlimited data. It comes with excellent 5G coverage and faster Ultra Wideband service. This plan is $80 per month with autopay for one line. You’ll get discounts on additional lines. For example, four lines will cost $180 per month on this plan. It comes with 30 GB of hotspot data and perks like a Disney+ subscription, a family subscription to Apple Music, and international Travel Passes when paying for $10 add-ons. In our testing, we found the customizable add-ons to be a nice touch. However, the $10 add-ons could add up if you’re not careful, especially if you strive to live frugally.

The Unlimited Plus plan supports streaming in up to 720p HD. This plan is best for seniors who use their devices for streaming, video calls, or as a mobile hotspot. With the Unlimited Plus you get up to $360 of promo credit for bringing your own device. You also get up to 50 percent off of one connected device data plan, such as a tablet or smartwatch. This plan also makes you eligible for several new phone offers.

Unlimited Ultimate

The Unlimited Ultimate is on the pricier side at $90 per month for one line with AutoPay. It comes with access to 5G speeds, 60 GB of hotspot data, 1080p HD streaming, and unlimited calls and texting when traveling overseas. You also get 10 GB of international premium data per month to use for international travel in more than 210 countries. The plan comes with up to 1080p HD streaming. This plan is best for seniors who don’t mind paying more for reliable high-speed data and frequently use apps that use a lot of data.

On the positive side, with the Ultimate you also get access to discounts on device upgrades and up to $540 of promo credit for bringing your own device. This plan gets you up to 50 percent off two connected device data plans and eligibility for Ultimate phone upgrade. The Unlimited Ultimate plan is best for those who want a plan with the most perks and extra features.

Verizon offers various discounts and extras for Verizon customers.

How to Get the Best Deal With Verizon

Verizon offers several deals, discounts, and opportunities to save on smartphones. For example, when you switch to select unlimited plans and bring your smartphone, you can get up to a $500 Verizon e-gift card. You can use it with any online Verizon purchases. Additionally, if you have a tablet or smartphone from another carrier, you can bring that over to Verizon and get a $100 Verizon e-gift card.

If you’re a teacher, student, military member, veteran, corporate employee, or first responder, you may qualify for exclusive Verizon phone plan discounts. You must verify your status and eligibility for these discounts. For instance, military, first responders, teachers, and nurses can get up to $25 per month off with two to three lines on 5G Unlimited plans.

Unfortunately, Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited Plan won’t combine with AARP, military, teacher, first responder, or other discounts. However, you can still grab a great deal by researching ongoing promotions and deals through the Verizon website.

The Best Verizon Cell Phones for Seniors

Verizon offers plenty of senior-friendly smartphone options. With 4 in 10 seniors using smartphone devices,1 they require access to fast and reliable technology. For instance, 40 percent of seniors in the U.S. said they would be interested in using smartphone apps to manage their health and wellness. These range from monitoring medications to scheduling virtual doctor’s appointments. The smartphones from Verizon below can help seniors accomplish all these tasks and more.

Samsung Galaxy A01

Samsung Galaxy A01

The Samsung Galaxy A01 has refurbished and like-new devices for $45 to $80, and is an affordable choice for older adults looking for basic and advanced features. When upgrading to a smartphone, there can be a learning curve. Fortunately, the Samsung Galaxy A01 makes it easy to switch.

With smoothed edges and an ergonomic design, this phone has a durable and light plastic case that makes it easier to grip and hold for long periods. If you are new to smartphones, the Galaxy A01 has all the standard apps for social media, email, and games pre-installed. It has a front-facing camera for selfies with the grandchildren and interruption-free video calls with friends and family. A 16 GB internal memory provides plenty of space to save precious family photos and videos taken with the 13 MP dual camera.

It also has a moderately large screen size, matte finish, and high pixel density that provides clear and crisp images that are helpful for older adults with vision problems. Plus, it has face recognition technology, which lets you unlock your phone instantly without inputting a passcode. That’s super helpful for seniors who struggle to type reliably.

Motorola Moto G Play

Motorola Moto G Play

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly smartphone, the Motorola moto g play may meet your needs. With an affordable retail prepay price of $169.99, this smartphone has up to 72 hours of usage, so you can watch movies with the grandkids, send emails, or video chat with friends. Plus, you can do it all on the ultra-wide 7.6-inch Max Vision HD+ display, which makes games, videos, and text appear sharper and more legible. If you enjoy taking photographs of the grandkids, this smartphone has a 13 MP camera with phase detection and autofocus to capture crisp and clear pictures.

Additionally, this smartphone is accident-proof with a water-repellant design. So if you accidentally drop your phone in water, you don’t have to cover it in rice or worry about extensive damage. We also like that this smartphone needs just 20 minutes of charging time for up to nine hours of battery power. This phone offers an excellent value for the price.

How Does Verizon Compare to Other Phone Carriers?

On average, Americans spend $157 per month on cell phone plans from major carriers. With these high prices, it’s important to shop around to find the right plan that meets your budgets and needs. Although Verizon’s senior phone plan is a bit more expensive than other carriers, the ease of use and additional unlimited features make it a solid offer. Below, we’ve compared Verizon’s Unlimited 55+ Plan to the industry’s best senior cell phone plans.

As you can see, Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited Plan is one of the most expensive senior phone plans. However, the unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data, plus their network’s reliability and reputation, are well worth the price. In contrast, T-Mobile’s Essentials Unlimited 55+ plans claim to provide a savings of 50 percent compared to those of competitors – but only offer 3 GB of mobile hotspot data and 2 GB of data in Mexico and Canada. On the other hand, Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited Plan provides unlimited calling and texting to and from Mexico and Canada, plus unlimited hotspot data. If these features are important, we’d recommend going with Verizon.

Although AT&T's senior plans and Lively's phone plans provide excellent discounts, only select plans offer unlimited data. If data is important to you, it may be better to choose a plan with unlimited data like Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited. Just remember that it’s available in Florida only, so if you live in another state, we’d recommend checking out Verizon’s other senior-friendly plans, which we covered previously.

Our Methodology: How We Tested Verizon Wireless

Testing out an iPhone on Verizon's service

Our tech team spent over 50 hours conducting extensive research and testing for Verizon's plans. Over the course of a week, we examined key aspects such as affordability, features, overall value, customer support quality, speeds, coverage, service consistency, and more. Here’s a breakdown of our comprehensive evaluation of Verizon.

• Pricing: We reviewed and compared Verizon’s pricing to assess their affordability and overall value. Our evaluation included base monthly rate and discounts, along with extra charges, such as activation fees, taxes, or costs for data overages or international calls.
• Data allowance: We compared data limits and speeds for the plans evaluated. Some plans offer unlimited data, but they may throttle speeds after reaching a certain threshold.
• Coverage: Reliable coverage is essential for older adults. We tested Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks at home, during walks, and on errands to gauge the system’s dependability, particularly in rural or remote areas.
• Customer Support: Effective customer support is particularly important for older adults who may need help with understanding plan offerings and differences between plans and pricing. We contacted Verizon’s customer service team several times to evaluate their response speed, support, and helpfulness.

Final Thoughts on Pricing and Value for Verizon

The Verizon 55+ Unlimited Plan checks all the boxes for smartphone users, thanks to its unlimited talk/data/text, hotspot features, 4G LTE nationwide coverage, and high-quality streaming. As a bonus, Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited plan is compatible with many of its entry-level smartphones, meaning you can enjoy its features on the latest senior-friendly phones.

Like any quality service, you can expect to pay slightly more, but knowing that you can connect to loved ones from anywhere is well worth the cost. The major drawback with Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited senior plan is that only seniors in Florida can enjoy it. Hopefully, coverage will extend to other parts of the U.S. soon. Until then, we’d recommend checking out Verizon’s other unlimited plans for older adults who want dependable network coverage and high-quality service.

Still need help deciding which cell phone or provider to go with? Visit our senior cell phone buyer’s guide for more information.