The Best Cell Phone Plans for Seniors: AT&T vs. Verizon vs. T-Mobile

Calling All Seniors

• AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer deals on cell phone plans for seniors, and some smaller carriers provide special services and more ways to save.
• T-Mobile's three senior cell phone plans offer the biggest savings among the big three carriers, with prices starting as low as $40 per month for a single line.
• Consumer Cellular is best in class for senior-friendly customer service, customizable plans, and low prices, including 5% off for AARP members.

The prices listed below are the lowest available with a monthly/30-day plan, may require autopay enrollment, and do not include taxes and fees unless otherwise indicated.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data Cell Phone Plans for Seniors

Limited Talk, Text, and Data Plans for Seniors

See below for more details on all these senior cell phone plans.

What Is the Cheapest Cell Phone Plan for Seniors?

Among the many discounts offered to seniors, there are significant savings to be had on monthly cell phone bills. Every major carrier — AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile — offers special deals for older subscribers, and some are better than others. Providers like Consumer Cellular and Lively (formerly GreatCall) are also worth a look for their senior-friendly phone selections and customizable plans (not everyone needs unlimited everything).

The best plan for you may not be the least expensive cell phone plan for seniors overall, but it may offer the biggest savings on the minutes, texts, data, and extra services you need. It's worth noting, also, that discounted service for seniors may not include a few of the perks offered with standard plans — like free Netflix, Hulu, or music streaming, for example.

The Best Unlimited Cell Phone Data Plans for Seniors

For smartphone users with heavy data requirements, T-Mobile offers the most unlimited plan options for seniors. There are three in all, and the prices are the lowest among the big-name providers. T-Mobile's cheapest senior cell phone plan starts at just $40 per month (with autopay) and is open to consumers 55 and older, with no special eligibility restrictions. Seniors shopping for a discounted unlimited plan from Verizon Wireless or AT&T (each offers just one) can expect to pay about $20 more per month for a single line. And there's a pretty big catch: Both of these providers offer unlimited senior cell phone plans only to Florida residents. Seniors outside of the Sunshine State need not apply, and current customers who decide to move to colder climes will have to switch plans once their billing address crosses state lines. 

To its credit, AT&T also offers an AARP discount on "eligible plans," but that applies only to top-of-the-line AT&T Unlimited Elite service. To be sure, this plan has a lot to offer — unlimited talk, text, and data (100GB at top speed), 30GB of mobile hotspot data, and HBO Max thrown into the mix — but at $85 per month for a single line and $150 for two, the $10-per-line discount that AARP membership would afford seems like, well, not a lot. And it takes a remarkable amount of fine-print reading and complicated calculation to even begin to understand how the company arrived at the advertised price it tells subscribers they should expect to pay once all discounts have finally kicked in, which may take as long as two months.

The Best Cell Phone Plans for Seniors Who Don't Need a Lot of Data

While AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile tend to focus their senior discounts on cell phone plans with unlimited everything, if you don't need all the bells and whistles, you can get a cell phone plan without data included at all. AT&T offers one cheap senior plan designed with basic phone users in mind. The company's Senior Nation plan is custom-made for non-smartphone adopters over 65 who don't require any data and need only limited talk time. At just $29.99 per month, it's the cheapest senior cell phone plan available from any of the big four providers. But it's still not the best basic phone plan from a major carrier: For a penny more, Verizon's 500MB Basic Phone Plan provides unlimited talk and unlimited texting, with 500MB of data thrown in. That plan is available to anyone of any age (with good enough credit, of course).

Seniors who sign up for Consumer Cellular service don't get any special savings unless they're AARP members, but the senior-centric brand's low-cost plans are very affordable even without discounts. An unlimited talk and text plan — hold the data — costs as little as $20 per month (just $19 with a 5% AARP credit). That's as much as 37% cheaper than AT&T's "cut-rate" Senior Nation plan and Verizon's "even-better" basic phone plan, and you never have to think twice about exceeding your talk time.

For subscribers who want to make sure they aren't paying for any more than they need, Consumer Cellular has a 250-minute talk-only option for just $15 per month. From there, you can upgrade to a plan with 250 minutes of talk time, unlimited texting, and 500MB of data for $17.50, with incremental increases up to unlimited data for $35 per month. Unlimited talk-text plans start at $20 for 500MB of data and max out at $37.50 for an unlimited talk-text-data plan. And did we mention that the company's AARP discounts are good for any plan? Consumer Cellular's straightforward, hassle-free, customer-centric approach has made it a favorite with consumers both young and old: The carrier ranked highest for value in the American Customer Satisfaction Index's 2019-2020 report on wireless phone service providers.

Special Senior Service Plans

Lively (formerly GreatCall) is singled out for praise by users and reviewers for its medical alert services, accessed via select cell phones and wearables, to assist with elder care. But its reasonably priced wireless service plans in and of themselves should appeal to frugal seniors. Unlimited talk, text, and data plans are available for $59.99, which is in line with unlimited senior plan prices at AT&T and Verizon Wireless, and Lively offers discounted rates with its "Health & Safety Packages." Like Consumer Cellular, the company also offers users several plans to suit their individual usage (which means international service and other perks cost extra).

If you opt to take advantage of Lively's health and safety services, the price for an unlimited talk, text, and data plan drops to $40. The 33% savings is just enough to offset the cost of a Basic Health & Safety Package ($19.99), which includes 24/7 access to 5Star urgent response agents should you or an aged family member require immediate medical assistance. Preferred ($24.99) and Ultimate ($34.99) packages add the option of phone consultations and prescription refills from medical professionals as well as connection to Lively Link app services, which allow family members to receive medical alerts, monitor appointment schedules and activities, and track subscribers' locations, among other useful amenities.

Other Ways to Save on Cell Phone Bills

Seniors who are really trying to keep monthly payments to a bare minimum might want to consider switching to a prepaid cell phone plan. Our research revealed that prepaid plans — which are available even from the major carriers — can reduce bills significantly, with monthly costs sometimes coming in notably cheaper than standard postpaid plans. For example, a no-contract unlimited plan from AT&T Prepaid can be had for as little as $50 a month with autopay enrollment. That's $15 less than the cheapest traditional plan AT&T offers, and $10 less than AT&T's Unlimited 55+ plan with a single line. And there's no minimum age — or Florida residency — required.

Consumers willing to branch out beyond the big names will find even greater savings with smaller prepaid providers. Unlimited talk and data plans can be had for as little as $40 per month from companies such as Visible. For customers who don't require any data at all, US Mobile unlimited talk and text service starts as low as $10 a month. US Mobile's build-your-own plans start at a rock-bottom price of $2 for 75 minutes of talk.

If you're shopping specifically for an aging relative, adding them to a family plan can be a particularly economical way to provide cell phone service at a low cost. While all the dedicated senior cell phone plans we compared allow a maximum of two lines, most carriers offer deals on multi-line family plans, which provide ever deeper discounts the more family members are brought into the fold. 

Finally, people who are on a low fixed income, qualify for Medicaid, or participate in the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit program (among other federal assistance programs) may be able to sign up for government-subsidized cell phone plans. Check the Federal Communications Commission-supported Lifeline website to see eligibility requirements and further details. Some Lifeline service companies provide free phones for seniors who qualify as well as free cell phone service.

FAQ: Choosing a Cell Phone Plan 

Aside from simple dollars and cents, there are other factors, like coverage areas, customer service, extra features, and convenience, to take into account when deciding what senior cell phone plan is best for you. We've answered a few of the frequently asked questions about senior cell phone plans below.

Which Cell Phone Company Has the Best Coverage? 

For seniors in particular, being able to count on staying connected with loved ones, especially should an emergency arise, is often paramount. It may be worth paying more for what experts agree is Verizon's best-in-class nationwide coverage, although it depends on your particular area. About 70% of the country has 4G coverage from Verizon. Perhaps not surprisingly, Lively, which touts health and medical-alert services to seniors along with its cell phone plans, uses Verizon's network. AT&T has extended its 4G service to nearly 68% of the contiguous United States, and T-Mobile covers 62% of the country, according to cellular-service comparison site WhistleOut. Consumer Cellular uses both the AT&T and T-Mobile networks. When it comes to the emerging (and much faster) 5G service, T-Mobile leads the pack with 37% coverage, while AT&T and Verizon lag with 16% and 11% coverage, respectively, according to WhistleOut.

How Much Data Do You Need? 

Some seniors will never give up their flip phones and insist they want nothing to do with data. Still, a smartphone can help seniors keep in touch with grandkids and loved ones through video chat, share pictures, use GPS when out and about, manage smart-home services like alarm systems and door locks, and access beneficial health-monitoring and brain-boosting apps.

To unlock all the options that the latest phones have to offer when you can't connect to Wi-Fi, you need cellular data. It's generally estimated that about 2GB of data should satisfy smartphone owners who fall toward the lower end of the usage spectrum. If you're not planning to upload a lot of videos, stream music all day, or post a constant stream of photos on Facebook, 2GB of data will probably do. Of course, if you opt for an unlimited data plan, the sky's the limit — heck, you can "attend" a grandkid's birthday party across the country via FaceTime while relaxing on a beach near home.

Can You Buy a Phone Without a Plan? 

The short answer is yes. If you're interested in shopping around for the very best prices on cell phones, or there's a specific make and model of senior-friendly cell phone that particularly suits your fancy, most carriers will allow you to bring your own device (BYOD) with you when you sign on for a service plan. Some will even reward you for arriving already fully equipped: An online deal from Verizon, for example, offers $450 and waived activation fees for new users who bring their smartphones over to the service. The exception to the BYOD rule is Lively, which requires users to purchase one of two Jitterbug phones specially outfitted to work with the company's emergency services. 

That said, it always pays to check which phones your preferred service provider might have on sale. Phones are often sold for a song to customers activating new lines of service; some even come free of charge.

What If You Need Help Setting Up Your Phone? 

A few of the senior plans we looked at require in-store signups, which does increase the hassle factor and may make arranging cell phone service for a senior parent a bit more difficult (we'd recommend doing a quick search of stores in the area before choosing a carrier that may have limited locations nearby). At the same time, this allows seniors the opportunity to ask any questions that they have about device setup in person.

A point in AT&T's favor is that the carrier provides Right to You service for select devices purchased online: The company will send an expert to your home to activate the phone for you and set it up exactly as you'd like it. This same-day service is free of charge. 

Consumer Cellular subscribers will find a variety of helpful videos and manuals on the company's website that walk cell phone users through many of the basics, from setting up voicemail to storing contacts. If any technical difficulties should arise that Consumer Cellular's representatives can't solve over the phone, customers can take advantage of in-store technical assistance at Target retail locations where Consumer Cellular phones are sold.

Can You Use Your Cell Phone in a Different Country? 

T-Mobile is known for very good deals on international coverage. Its Unlimited Magenta plans include free data and texting while abroad in more than 200 destinations. Both Verizon and AT&T's 55+ plans, as well as the much pricier AT&T Unlimited Elite plan, have subscribers covered in Mexico and Canada, but if you're traveling farther afield you'll need to purchase international add-on packages, like AT&T's $10-per-day International Day Pass.

With Lively, international roaming and calling abroad from the United States always incurs fees. Consumer Cellular also charges extra for all international services, and support articles (and at least one user review) suggest that service may not always be available when traveling. If you venture into the land of prepaid calling plans, pay extra attention to international options and costs. Some providers, like US Mobile and Republic Wireless, offer no international coverage at all.

Plan Details

The prices listed below are the lowest available with a monthly/30-day plan, may require autopay enrollment, and do not include taxes and fees unless otherwise indicated. Savings are based on the closest comparable plan offered to the general public.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

1. T-Mobile 

Best Cell Phone Plans for Seniors Overall

T-Mobile Essentials Unlimited 55

T-Mobile Magenta Unlimited 55

T-Mobile Magenta Max Unlimited 55

2. AT&T

Lots of Ways to Save (Just Not That Much)

AT&T Senior Nation

AT&T Unlimited 55+

AT&T Unlimited Elite with AARP discount

3. Verizon 

Decent Savings for Floridians Only, and Fewer Perks 

Verizon 55+ Unlimited

4. Consumer Cellular 

Best for Customer Satisfaction and Customized Plans 

Consumer Cellular Plans

5. Lively (formerly GreatCall) 

Best for Health and Safety Services 

Lively Plans