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

Let’s take a closer look at Lively’s plans.

Unlimited Talk and Text

All three Lively phone plans offer unlimited talk and text. So you won't have to worry about running out of minutes or racking up a bill every time your grandchildren text you!

Unlimited talk and text plans are great for older adults who enjoy chatting on the phone, or texting their friends and family. What differentiates Lively's three plans is the availability of health and safety features. If you’re not interested in those layers of protection, we’d recommend going with the Basic plan for $19.99 per month.

Jitterbug Smart4 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 preferences. Lively lets you pay just for what you need with three options to choose from: 1 GB, 5 GB, or unlimited data.

If you enjoy watching videos, using Google Maps while you’re driving, checking email, or surfing the web, we’d recommend the 5 GB plan for $10 per month or the unlimited data plan for $30 per month. If you don’t use the internet much, the 1 GB plan, at $5 per month, may be your best bet. If the least expensive plan turns out not to be enough, you can always upgrade.

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 some other cellular providers, including Verizon, which powers Lively’s 4G LTE network. Verizon rounds up overage charges to $15 for each extra gigabyte used. So even if you only go over your data allowance by a small number of megabytes (fun fact: there’s 1,000 megabytes in one gigabyte), you’ll still get hit with a $15 charge.

Health and Safety Features

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

Lively’s health and safety features are optional, but they’re also one of the reasons I give this carrier high marks. These optional features provide peace of mind to older adults and their loved ones. If you think you might sometimes need additional assistance and want your cell phone to double as a medical alert device, these features make Lively a great option.

Here’s a breakdown of each service offered:

• Urgent Response: A big red button on your phone connects you to highly-trained, U.S.-based 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.

One thing that’s missing from Lively’s medical alert features is automatic fall detection, like you’ll find in a dedicated medical alert system. Lively phones don’t include a separate, wearable device, like a help pendant. So, if you’re looking for a standalone medical alert device service, I’d recommend a company like Bay Alarm Medical.

» Related Reading: Best medical alert systems for active seniors

Lively Link 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.

I found that the Lively Link app has very useful caregiver features. A caregiver of your choosing can view your phone’s exact location on a map. They can also check your device’s status and view your history of urgent calls. They can also see a “week in review” update. I was able to track my grandma’s Jitterbug Smart4 while she was running errands. This gave me peace of mind about her whereabouts and safety.

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 offers 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.

>> Seasonal Savings: Jitterbug Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

The Best Lively Cell Phones for Seniors

Many cell providers add extra bells and whistles to their devices, making them complicated for the average person to use. If you’ve ever gotten a headache trying to choose between phone models, you’ll love Lively. They keep it simple by making their phones easy and intuitive to use. They also dial down your choices to two basic 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, I’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 $79.99, making it very affordable, especially compared to smartphones. There are 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.

Lively’s flip phone is a great option if you want to keep things simple and clean. You can accept calls by opening the phone and end calls by closing it. We love the larger-than-average screen with big buttons and one-touch speed dial option. Other great features for older adults include a 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. These features can be a lifesaver for those with dexterity or vision difficulties!

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 only 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

The Jitterbug Smart4 is on our list of best smartphones for seniors, and for good reason! On the outside, the Jitterbug Smart4 looks like any ordinary, black 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

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 Link app.

I love this phone’s voice typing capabilities and its loud, clear dual speakers. But, it's not perfect. 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 want an easy-to-use smartphone, the Smart4 is an excellent option.

The Jitterbug Smart4 costs $119.99, plus a $35 activation fee. If you activate your Smart4 online or over the phone, like I did, you’ll save $10 on the activation fee.

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.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Because Lively uses another carrier’s service rather than its own, you may experience slower service during high traffic times. This is because Verizon will prioritize its own customers before those that piggyback on their network, including Lively.

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 $59 flip phone, but again, it lacks the advanced health and safety features that Lively is known for.

>> More Comparisons: Jitterbug vs. Tracfone and Jitterbug vs. Cricket

Our Methodology

Making a call on the Jitterbug Smart4

I spent over 50 hours testing and researching Lively’s Jitterbug phones. I reached out to customer service via phone to gauge their friendliness, knowledge about the products, their emergency response services, and call centers.

Then, I ordered the Jitterbug Smart4 and Jitterbug Flip2 to test with my grandma for a week. During that time, I took notes on everything from battery life to emergency call center response times. I evaluated the phones for the following criteria:

• Price: I considered all costs associated with the phones, including device fees, monthly plan fees, activation costs, and season discounts.
• Signal strength and coverage: I evaluated coverage and speed by using the phone at home and on the go. In most locations I had at least three bars of 4G service.
• Response times: I made 10 test calls to Lively’s Urgent Response center, recording average response times. It never took longer than one minute to be connected to a representative.
• Senior-friendly features: I tested the phone’s various features and evaluated their usefulness for seniors, from the camera and internet access to the voice assistant and health features.
• Customer service: I spoke with Lively’s customer service team several times to gauge their helpfulness, patience, and friendliness. I always had a positive experience with the team.

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, their phones and plans are 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.