Our team has extensively tested cellular service providers to select the best cell phone plans for seniors. We focused on finding plans with specific features that make them ideal for older adults. For instance, helpful perks like senior discounts and physical store locations for in-person support were key in choosing our picks.
Based on our criteria, the T-Mobile Essentials Choice 55 plan stood out as the best cell phone plan for seniors overall. This service offers excellent value thanks to its discounted pricing and the carrier's widespread brick-and-mortar presence.
For a budget option, we recommend the Tello Mobile Economy plan. Tello's service is low-cost with unlimited calling and texting but limited data, which may suit the needs of many seniors. Lively's Basic plan is also worth considering as a dependable service with reliable customer support and user-friendly devices tailored specifically for older adults.
Our top picks for the best cell phone plans for seniors
Best overall: T-Mobile Essentials Choice 55 Plan - See at T-Mobile
Best budget: Tello Mobile Economy Plan - See at Tello Mobile
Best for senior-centric features: Lively Basic Plan - See at Lively
Best overall
The Essentials Choice 55 plan by T-Mobile is a senior-discounted version of the regular Essentials plan with 50GB of premium data and unlimited calling and texting. You have to be 55 or older to be eligible for the plan.
- Plenty of high-speed data
- Physical stores for in-person support
- Additional plans for smartwatches
- May still be cost prohibitive despite senior discount
- Limited coverage in rural areas
Thanks to its price and overall value, the T-Mobile Essentials Choice 55 plan is the best cell phone plan for seniors overall. It offers the same service as T-Mobile's other Essential plans, but it includes a senior discount for those 55 and older.
At $45/month (or $60/month for two lines), the Essentials Choice 55 plan comes with unlimited talk and text and 50GB of fast data. 50GB of data is a substantial amount of data for most people, especially if they use WiFi at home for internet access. It's ideal for seniors who regularly use data for browsing the web, making video calls, sending and receiving photos, streaming video and music, and anything else that requires data.
We picked T-Mobile over less expensive options that offer similar connectivity and data, like Mint Mobile, because T-Mobile has widespread physical locations that can provide in-person support in addition to getting support online or on the phone. (See our Mint Mobile vs. T-Mobile guide for a comparative breakdown.)
T-Mobile also offers data plans for smartwatches, which can be an immensely valuable and helpful addition. Many smartwatches have fall and accident detection that automatically alerts emergency services and assigned contacts. Older adults with a dedicated data plan for a smartwatch can send those alerts if their phone isn't nearby.
Before signing up, make sure T-Mobile has the coverage you need by checking its coverage map and asking friends, family, or neighbors in the area or on social networks like Facebook and Nextdoor.
Best budget
Tello's Economy plan offers unlimited calling, texting, and 2GB of data for an incredibly low $10/month. It's ideal for basic connectivity, such as emails, web browsing, and simple apps.
- Exceptional value for a low cost
- Unlimited talk and text on T-Mobile's network
- Lacks physical stores for in-person support
- Smartwatch plans only available for Samsung models
The best cell phone plan for seniors on a budget is the Tello Mobile Economy plan, which includes unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of fast data for $10/month. It's an excellent deal for the basics, and it contains enough data for light web browsing, emails, maps, store apps, and so on.
Tello has 5GB, 10GB, and unlimited data plans for those who need more internet connectivity. For older adults who don't use any data at all, Tello's Build Your Own Plan lets you create a plan with, on the lowest end, unlimited text, 100 minutes of talk, and no data for just $5/month, the lowest-priced option we recommend among the best cheap cell phone plans and best prepaid phone plans.
Right now, Tello only supports smartwatch service for Samsung smartwatches, which won't be helpful if you have an Apple Watch. Still, you can use an Apple Watch connected to a phone on a Tello plan.
As we note in our Tello Mobile review, the budget carrier runs on T-Mobile's network, so it shares the same coverage for 4G LTE and standard 5G connectivity, though at deprioritized speeds during congestion. It has a solid app and access to customer support over the phone, but it lacks physical locations.
If T-Mobile provides adequate coverage but you need more monthly data than Tello's limited-data plans offer, you might find better value through the longer-term payments on Mint Mobile, another T-Mobile-backed MVNO. Read our Mint Mobile review and see our Mint Mobile vs. Tello guide for direct comparison.
Best for senior-centric features
Lively is a senior-centric carrier with low-tech phones that offers specialized customer support and services for older adults. Its Basic plan includes unlimited talk and text and 1GB of data by default, but you can add more data à la carte.
- Dedicated customer support and features for seniors
- In-person stores and service through Best Buy Health
- Offers service on two low-tech phones and many older phones
- Extensive health services only available on premium plans
Starting at $15/month, Lively's Basic plan offers unlimited talk, text, and customer support catered to senior customers, which is more helpful and effective than the standard one-size-fits-all customer support from traditional carriers. Seniors can even ask Lively's customer support questions about their phone, request Lyft rides, and get help finding a phone number.
The Lively Basic plan comes with 1GB of data, but you can add more. 5GB is an additional $5/month, 10GB is an extra $15/month, and unlimited data is an additional $30/month.
Lively runs on Verizon's network, which has the most comprehensive nationwide coverage for urban and rural areas.
Importantly, Lively is owned by Best Buy's Health branch, meaning you can sign up for Lively service, buy phones, and get set up or receive in-person support at Best Buy locations. In our experience, Lively's customer support over the phone is also convenient and helpful, leading you promptly and directly to an informed human representative without navigating an automated system.
Lively sells two phones designed for their service and with older adults in mind: the Jitterbug Smart4 smartphone and the Jitterbug Flip2 flip phone. These basic phones are pared down to the essentials, with large screens and buttons or interfaces and a simplified version of the Android operating system for easy access to relevant features and functions. They can be ideal for those with limited tech experience, and the Jitterbug Smart4 is among our best phones for seniors.
Lively separately sells SIM card service for certain older or budget iPhone and Android phones in either 5GB or unlimited monthly data allotments. The service is not compatible with the best phones of recent years that now require an eSIM, but it may support a phone you already have. Check the company's SIM card compatibility list for compatible phones.
Lively doesn't feature a smartwatch plan, but it offers mobile medical help with its pocketable Mobile2 device and a separate plan. It can be critical to alert and communicate with emergency services and contacts when a Lively phone isn't nearby.
Lively also offers health and medical services on its more expensive plans, including its Nurse On-Call feature, where seniors can access a nurse or doctor for medical advice, prescriptions, and prescription refills. It also has an Urgent Response feature to help with emergencies, and when you pair it with Lively's Mobile2 device (for additional monthly costs), it can automatically detect falls. Relevant contacts can be alerted with Lively Link when Urgent Response is used, and they can monitor the phone's battery status, location, and activities.
How we test cell phone plans for seniors
In line with our broader testing for the best cell phone plans, we test plans for seniors with a mix of general day-to-day use, like making calls, sending messages, and using apps with varying data needs, like web browsing or streaming video. We also conduct data speed tests in various locations to assess varying networks, like 4G LTE and 5G, and their differing signal strengths.
We assess a carrier's wireless performance and consider their plan offerings relative to value for specific use cases, such as older adults who may not frequently use data or smart technology.
We've tested every major carrier in the US and many prominent MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) like Mint Mobile, Visible Wireless, and Tello Mobile, but we haven't exhaustively tested every service available. Still, we can make confident and definitive assessments of MVNOs based on their features, plans, and value, as their wireless performance is similar, if not identical, to that of their parent network.
What to look for in a cell phone plan for seniors
Seniors looking for a phone plan need to make the same considerations as anyone else, including coverage areas, how much data they need, and whether their budget supports a chosen plan.
Though a standard phone plan may serve seniors well, many carriers offer plans specifically for older adults. These plans are often nearly identical to regular plans, with the bonus of including a senior discount or certain senior-centric features.
Carriers with physical store locations are also a key factor to consider, as some may find in-person support more helpful than working through an issue over the phone.
As with any other age group, some older adults might be less tech-savvy than others. If that's the case, you may want to look for a carrier with simple phones and a customer service team trained to help older adults who are less comfortable with phones and carriers, such as Lively, as detailed above. We've found that certain popular options for seniors, like the relatively expensive Consumer Cellular, generally offer less value than Lively for the price.
Our phone recommendations for seniors include the iPhone 16 as a top option alongside low-tech phones that may better serve some older adults. However, we would note that any of the best iPhones, best Android phones, and many older models include accessibility features like text enlargement and shortcuts that make these high-tech smartphones more convenient and easier for older adults.
Smartwatch data plans could be another important consideration. For example, a cellular-connected smartwatch could alert emergency services in case of a fall or accident if the person doesn't have their phone.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
