Jitterbug Phone Plans for Seniors 2024

The Fast Facts: Lively’s Senior Phone Plans

All three Lively plans come with unlimited talk and text. The top-tier plans have a range of health and safety features. If you go with the Jitterbug Smart4, you’ll also need to add a data package to your chosen plan for an additional monthly fee.

*Price includes a $5 monthly Paperless Billing discount but excludes taxes and fees.

A Closer Look at Lively’s Plans and Pricing

Below, we’ll take a closer look at Lively’s plans.

Unlimited Talk and Text

All three Lively phone plans offer unlimited talk and text. That means you won’t have to worry about running out of minutes or racking up a bill every time your grandchildren text you! It’s excellent for older adults who enjoy texting their friends, grandchildren, and other loved ones. What differentiates the three plans are the various health and safety features available (more on those below). If you’re not interested in extra features, we’d recommend going with the Basic plan for $19.99 per month.

Data Plans

Seniors who opt for the Jitterbug Smart4 — Lively’s “simplest smartphone ever” — must choose a data plan to go with their talk and text plan. Data plans let you use the internet when you’re away from home or not connected to Wi-Fi. How much data you need each month depends on your habits. Lively lets you pay just for what you need with four options to choose from. You can choose from 1 GB, 5 GB, or unlimited data plans.

If you enjoy watching videos, using Google Maps while you’re driving, checking email, or surfing the web while you’re out and about, we’d recommend the 5 GB plan, which costs $10 per month or unlimited data for $30 per month. Or, if you don’t use the internet much, the 1 GB plan, which costs $5 per month, may be your best bet.

If you choose a limited data plan, know that if you ever go over your data allowance, it costs $0.10 per megabyte. Thankfully, this isn’t as steep as other cellular providers.

Health and Safety Features

Lively’s Urgent Response button is clearly displayed on the home and lock screen.

The optional health and safety features offer peace of mind to older adults who require additional assistance and want their cell phone to double as a medical alert device. Below is a breakdown of each feature.

Here’s a breakdown of each service offered:

• Urgent Response: A big red button on your phone connects you to highly-trained agents who are available 24/7 should you need any help.
• Lively Rides: An operator can schedule a Lyft ride for you.
• Nurse On-Call: Call and speak to a live nurse or board-certified doctor any time without an appointment. They can order prescriptions for common medications and answer your medical questions.
• Lively Link: This is an app that keeps friends and family in the loop if your battery is running low or you call Urgent Response.
• Ask Lively: A friendly personal operator is available 24/7 to help you find addresses or phone numbers, provide directions, and more.

Lively App

If you want to access these health and safety features but aren’t in the market for a new phone, check out the Lively mobile app. You can purchase a package and access your health and safety features through the Lively app on an iPhone or Apple Watch. Just keep in mind, if you go this route, your Health & Safety Package will cost an extra $5 per month.

Lively also offers a discount on new Apple Watches. If you sign a one-year contract for the Premium Health & Safety Package, you can receive up to $100 off a new Apple Watch at Best Buy.

Lively is now available for Alexa devices. You can ask Alexa to call for help to be connected with an emergency operator. The operator will have access to your personal profile containing your conditions, medications, allergies, and more, starting at just $24.99 a month.

How to Get the Best Deal With Lively

Lively already offers great rates on phone plans for older adults, but if you’re hoping to save a few extra bucks, we have some tips for you! For starters, always check the Lively website and call customer service before purchasing a Lively phone or plan. Lively has various discounts throughout the year. Sometimes it’s a percentage off the phone’s price, a credit to your account, or a free gift, such as a car charger. Right now, the discounted Jitterbug Smart4 includes a free case and screen protector!

The Best Lively Cell Phones for Seniors

Lively simplifies their phones. They even make it easy to choose by only providing two options: The Jitterbug Flip2 and the Jitterbug Smart4. Both phones are compatible with Lively’s three phone plans. This is excellent if you want to keep things simple. However, if you’re looking for a wider selection, we’d recommend checking out other carriers we’ve reviewed, like T-Mobile that offer more options.

Jitterbug Flip2

Unboxing the Jitterbug Flip2

The first Jitterbug phone for seniors on our list, the Jitterbug Flip2, costs $99.99, making it very affordable, especially compared to smartphones. There are a few less expensive senior-friendly flip phones on the market like Consumer Cellular’s affordable options; however, Lively’s medical alert capabilities are much more extensive.

A flip phone, like this one, is a great option if you want to keep things simple. You can accept calls by opening the phone; end calls by closing it. Great for older adults, the Jitterbug Flip2 offers a large screen, powerful speaker, flashlight, and built-in magnifier for reading. Plus, you can use your voice to navigate your phone, send texts, and make calls thanks to built-in Amazon Alexa functionality. What a great perk for those with dexterity or vision difficulties!

Of course, we think the most impressive feature is the Jitterbug Flip2’s Urgent Response button. Press it at any time to receive immediate assistance from an IAED certified agent. Urgent Response is available with Lively’s Preferred and Premium packages.

In addition to senior-friendly cell phones, Lively sells wearable medical alert systems. Visit our latest Lively medical alert review to learn more.

Jitterbug Smart4

My grandma trying out the Jitterbug Smart4

From the outside, the Jitterbug Smart4 looks like any ordinary smartphone. It features a 6.75-inch screen (bigger than the previous model’s 6.22-inch screen), triple rear cameras (13 MP/2 MP/2 MP), a front camera, and Google’s voice assistant. However, the key difference is that it was made for the 61 percent of adults age 65+ who use a smartphone.2

Senior-friendly features include an Urgent Response button, M3/T4 rating for hearing aid compatibility, a simple list-based menu for easy navigation, and a powerful speaker. The phone also boasts up to 37 hours of talk time, which is 15 hours more than the previous model, the Jitterbug Smart3. Great for on-the-go seniors, the Smart4 also includes GPS capabilities. This will come in handy if you need directions or roadside assistance and are unsure of your location. It’s also useful if you’re prone to becoming disoriented. You can even share your location with friends and family if they download the Lively app.

While the Smart4 is excellent for older adults, I did find that the phone was a bit laggy. During my testing, there were times when I had to press a button several times before the phone would respond. Additionally, if you’re looking for stellar camera quality, you may want to look elsewhere, as I found the Smart4’s camera to be so-so. Still, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use smartphone, the Smart4 is an excellent option.

The Jitterbug Smart4 costs $149.99, plus a $35 activation fee. You’ll also need to add a talk, text, and data plan, with options ranging from $19.99 for the Basic plan plus 1 GB of data for $5 monthly to $49.99 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data. We certainly think it’s worth the price seeing, as it’s on our list of best smartphones for seniors.

Still struggling to choose a phone? Visit our cell phone buyers guide to learn more about how to make the decision that’s right for you.

How Does Lively Compare to Other Phone Carriers?

Lively sets itself apart from other providers by offering medical alert features with their cell phones. Not even Consumer Cellular, another senior-specific provider, offers these features. However, that integration means you must purchase a Lively device to use a Lively phone plan. If you’d like similar features to Lively but want to bring your own device, consider Snapfon’s plans instead. For more information, you can visit our Jitterbug and Snapfon comparison guide.

Lively is powered by America’s largest and most dependable wireless network: Verizon. They also use 100 percent U.S.-based customer service agents. Price-wise, Lively is similar to the competition. A fully unlimited talk, text, and data plan from Lively starts at $49.99 per month. Fellow senior-friendly carrier Consumer Cellular charges $50 for the same package. Consumer Cellular does have Lively beat with its $69 flip phone, but again, it lacks the advanced health and safety features that Lively is known for.

Final Thoughts on Pricing and Value for Lively

The Jitterbug Flip2 and Jitterbug Smart4 are great phones for older adults that deliver excellent value. Compared to other options on the market, the phones and plans are both very affordable. Plus, your Lively phone doubles as a medical alert device when you choose the Preferred or Premium package, saving you the hassle of buying a second device. Overall, a phone and plan from Lively are worth considering if you‘re looking for a simple device that will help you stay connected and safe.

Visit our latest Jitterbug phone review to learn about our hands-on experience with this provider.