Cell Phone Discounts for Seniors
Many carriers, such as Consumer Cellular, Verizon, and Mint Mobile, offer discounted cell phone plans for seniors.
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While cell phones and plans can quickly get expensive, there are several ways to save on your cell phone costs. Our team of tech experts spend hours researching and testing out the best cell phone plans for seniors, so we’ve got the inside scoop on scoring a deal. We’ll explore senior discounts for cell phones, carriers who offer cell phone plans for seniors, and how to get a free phone to reduce your expenses.
From the Pros: Before you start shopping for a cell phone, review our cell phone buyer’s guide for tips on the best senior cell phones and plans.
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Senior Discounts for Cell Phones
Seniors may get discounts on cell phones and cell phone plans from several sources:
- The cell phone carriers Lively, Consumer Cellular, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offer discounted cell phone plans specifically for seniors.
- The Lifeline Assistance Program is a federal initiative that helps low-income individuals, including seniors, access discounted cell phone service.
- AARP members may have access to discounted monthly cell phone plans or discounted cell phones from certain carriers.
FYI: Cell phone discounts are just one type of discount available to seniors. Check out the many other discounts for seniors to save even more.
Cell Phone Plan Discounts for Seniors
The best cell phone carriers offer discounts specifically for seniors. Here’s how they compare.
Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular's IRIS Flip has a large screen and keypad for easy viewing.
Consumer Cellular has been in business for more than 20 years and offers affordable phone plans and cell phones designed for seniors. There are no contracts or cancellation fees, and the plans feature upfront pricing without hidden fees or price hikes. Consumer Cellular offers an additional 5 percent discount for AARP members, as well as an extended 45-day risk-free guarantee.
» Learn More: Consumer Cellular review
All plans include unlimited talk and text, but data amounts vary. The 1 GB data plan is $20 per month for one line, while the 10 GB of data plan costs $35 per month. Unlimited talk, text, and data costs $50 per month.
While Consumer Cellular has affordable prices, it lacks the medical alert features that other carriers with a focus on older adults, like Lively, offer with their phones.
Lively
Trying out the Jitterbug Smart4
Lively created one of the first cell phones for seniors, and the company’s new Jitterbug Smart4 and Jitterbug Flip2 phones are full of helpful features for seniors. These phones offer hearing aid compatibility, easy-to-use features, and 24/7 emergency response, so they can double as a medical alert device.
Lively’s plans are also affordably priced. Lively offers a Basic plan with unlimited talk and text for $19.99 per month. The Preferred plan includes unlimited talk and text, plus features like Urgent Response. The Premium plan for $49.99 per month includes all Lively features, such as Nurse On-Call, which connects you with a registered nurse or a board-certified doctor. These prices are a bit more expensive than Consumer Cellular’s rates if you want to add data, but come with the advantage of the emergency response features.
AT&T
Apple's iPhone 15
AT&T’s Unlimited 55+ plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data. The plan costs $40 to $60 per month, per line, and is an ideal choice for tech-savvy seniors who want a plan that includes unlimited data. This plan is only available to seniors who live in Florida, but seniors who don’t live in Florida can get an AT&T Unlimited Starter plan for $65.99 per month with one line. Prices decrease significantly the more lines you add.
Unlike Consumer Cellular, which has no contracts, AT&T requires a contract and charges activation fees. AT&T offers several discounts and credits for AARP members, and Florida residents can save up to $50 on their activation fees.
Mint Mobile
Testing out Mint Mobile's service on an iPhone
If you’re looking for a low-cost plan, you’ll find it with Mint Mobile. The Mint 55+ unlimited talk and text plan with 5 GB of data is just $15 per month. You can also get that plan with 40 GB of data for just $30 per month, meaning Mint offers some of the most affordable cell phone plan prices for seniors.
» Related Reading: Mint Mobile review
There are other perks to choosing Mint, too. The service is prepaid, so you aren’t locked into a contract. The plan options are flexible, and you can bring your own phone. However, Mint is entirely online. You can’t go to a brick-and-mortar store for help with setup, like you could with a provider like AT&T.
Verizon
Verizon’s 55+ Unlimited Plan is a little more expensive than senior plans from other carriers. The plan, which includes unlimited talk, text, and data, starts at $62 per month. However, you get extra perks like coverage in Canada and Mexico, as well as unlimited hot spot data. Like AT&T, Verizon only offers this plan to seniors in Florida.
» Learn More: Verizon review
While that is the only senior-specific plan that Verizon offers, seniors can still get good value from other Verizon plans, like the Unlimited Welcome plan. That plan starts at $60 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data. Verizon also offers a 15 GB prepaid plan that starts at $45 per month.
From the Pros:Choosing an affordable cell phone plan is an important step in managing your finances. Our financial guide for seniors has other tips that can help you with financial planning and more.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile offers three plans for seniors age 55+, and all plans include unlimited talk, text, and data. T-Mobile's plan prices start at $45 per month, per line, and range up to $85 per month, per line, with differences in streaming quality and mobile hot spot data. Top plans also come with extra perks like in-flight Wi-Fi and free streaming services. Adding multiple lines will get you the best value with these plans, so they’re ideal for seniors who need multiple lines.
» Learn More: T-Mobile 55+ review
Like Consumer Cellular, T-Mobile doesn’t require any contracts. The company is known for providing great customer support, and its plans are affordably priced. However, you’ll pay some additional taxes and fees for the Essentials Choice plans.
Free Phones for Seniors
Seniors may also be able to get free phones from government programs like Assurance Wireless. This federal Lifeline Assistance program is available to income-based qualifying seniors. New customers can receive a free Android smartphone and can make free monthly calls, texts, and data with a $0 monthly bill.
Carriers often run deals offering a free phone when you sign up for a certain package or a new phone line. Several carriers offer free phones for seniors, so you can save on your phone purchase while finding a plan that works well for your needs and budget, too.
From the Pros: Not sure which phone is right for you? Our guide to the best cell phones for seniors breaks down the details you need to know about each phone.
