Finding the right cell phone plan for seniors can be tricky. There are many carriers and phone plans to choose from, sometimes with extra discounts that seniors can take advantage of if they know to ask.
To help you find the right plan, we’ve compiled a list of the best cell phone plans that meet a senior’s unique and varied needs.
1. The Best Basic Cell Phone Plan for Seniors: Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular offers basic affordable cell phone plans. They offer monthly plans with no contract for added flexibility. They have 5 plans featuring unlimited talk and text with varying amounts of data.
The plans range from $25 to $60 per line for single line plans, or $20 to $37.50 per line when activating two lines.
They also have two talk-only plans: $15 for 250 minutes or $20 for unlimited minutes. This is an affordable option for seniors who don’t make use of texting or data features on their cell phones.
Consumer Cellular has a partnership with AARP to give seniors a discount. AARP members get five percent off their monthly phone plan and other exclusive benefits.
2. The Best Pay-as-You-Go Plan for Seniors: T-Mobile PayGo
T-Mobile offers this plan in partnership with Ultra Mobile.
For only $3 per month, seniors can enjoy 100 minutes of talk, 100 texts, and 100MB of 4G LTE data. This is ideal for the senior who still uses their home phone to call family but is looking for a cheap cell plan to use when they’re on the go.
This is a month-to-month pay-as-you-go plan. Extra data, texts, and minutes can be purchased for an additional charge.
Customers can sign up at T-Mobile retail stores, and have three options for reloading their PayGo plan balance:
- Visiting an Ultra Mobile Authorized Retailer
- Buying PayGo Recharge cards from T-Mobile retail stores
- Paying online via debit or credit card (automatic payment option available)
3. The Best Features in a Cell Phone Plan for Seniors: GreatCall
GreatCall is best known for offering the Jitterbug, a popular and easy-to-use phone designed for seniors. The Jitterbug phone now comes in a simplified smartphone version if flip phones aren’t your thing.
The Jitterbug Smart2 smartphone is ideal for the senior who is interested in a smartphone but not tech-savvy enough for or not interested in a new iPhone or Android.
It comes with:
- Simplified list-based menu
- Large 5.5-inch screen that is easy to see
- Voice-to-text feature
- Front-facing speaker for clearer call audio
- Video chat functionality
- Long-lasting battery
- 5Star Urgent Response button
In addition to their senior-focused phone offerings, GreatCall also includes some health and safety plan features designed for seniors.
They have an option called GreatCall Link designed to help keep friends and family updated on your health and safety. Whoever you designate to receive these updates can download a free app and receive alerts if you call Urgent Response, your battery is running low, stay updated on your daily activities, and check your location.
4. The Most Reliable Coverage for Seniors: Verizon 55+ Unlimited
Verizon Wireless offers the most reliable coverage in the country, but it does come at a higher cost. The 55+ Unlimited Plan offered by Verizon offers two lines with unlimited text, data, and calling for $80 per month or a single line for $60 per month.
This plan is the most expensive on our list, and many seniors may not need an unlimited plan. However, there are a lot of couples that prefer to spend their retirement traveling to new and exciting destinations. Other seniors may spend large portions of the year in a different part of the country in order to visit family, stay in a vacation home, or help care for grandchildren during summer break.
If this is the case, having a cell plan that you can count on no matter where you are may be worth the extra expense.
5. The Best Overall Phone Plan for Seniors: T-Mobile Magenta 55+
T-Mobile has the best overall senior cell plan offerings. With their 55+ plans, you get an affordable unlimited plan with the service and support of a major carrier.
They have three tiers to choose from, all three of which offer 5G access, texting abroad, scam protection, data in Mexico and Canada, and access to the weekly T-Mobile Tuesday deals.
Essentials Unlimited 55
This plan offers unlimited talk time, texts, and data at an affordable price. The Essentials plan costs $40 for a single line or $27.50 per line when you have two active lines. It also includes 3G mobile hotspot.
This is a great overall cost-effective plan for seniors.
Magenta Unlimited 55
If you need a bit more support from your phone plan while traveling, the Magenta Unlimited 55 plan could be for you. It costs $50 per month for a single line, or $35 per line per month for two lines. It comes with all of the benefits of the Essentials plan along with data abroad, 5GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot, a free hour of in-flight wifi, and a free basic Netflix subscription.
If you don’t travel or use your phone as a mobile hotspot the extra cost may not be worth it, but it’s still overall a solid cell phone plan.
Magenta Max Unlimited 55
The highest tier of T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ plans offers better speeds, streaming, and data features for $65 per month for a single line or $45 per month per line with two lines.
One unique feature of the Magenta Max plan is that T-Mobile promises that data speeds will not slow down based on usage. It also offers 4K streaming, 40GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot, unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi, and faster data and texting speeds abroad.
Seniors who frequently travel abroad or live in areas with a poor internet connection who use their mobile hotspot frequently may want to invest in this plan. Otherwise, the previous two tiers should meet most seniors’ needs.
Picking the Right Plan
All of these plans offer great cell phone support for senior citizens. Picking the right plan just comes down to evaluating your own needs and what you intend to use your cell phone for.
Many of today’s seniors are tech-savvy and want the newest technology and smartphones along with unlimited data and texting. Others just need basic plans and prefer simplified phones.
No matter what you’re looking for there will be a great cell plan out there for you.