Consumer Cellular vs. Jitterbug, Hands-On Analysis

Plans and Costs

Both Consumer Cellular and Lively offer unlimited talk, text, and data for $50 a month. However, if you don’t need unlimited data, you can pay less with either provider. Consumer Cellular, for example, has four phone plans, all of which are month-to-month:

• 1GB: $20
• 5GB: $25
• 10GB: $35
• Unlimited: $50

Lively’s monthly costs depend on what phone you get. All of the Jitterbug Flip2’s plans include unlimited talk and text. So, you’ll only pay for those medical services — anywhere from around $20 to $50 a month. Monthly costs end there for the Jitterbug Flip2, Lively’s flip phone. But, if you opt for the Jitterbug Smart4, Lively’s smartphone, and want more than 1GB of data per month, you’ll add on the following amount each month:

• 5GB: $5
• 10GB: $15
• Unlimited: $30

This means that the Jitterbug Smart4 will cost anywhere from $20 to $80 a month, depending on which plans you choose. While we get more into detail about Jitterbug’s plans in our full Jitterbug review, note that services differ based on the plan you choose.

Aside from the amount of data you’ll get along with unlimited talk and text, you’ll choose from one of three plans no matter which Jitterbug phone you get:

• Basic: You’ll be able to call a number and ask for directions or to look up a phone number. You’ll also be able to get Lyft rides shares by calling Lively instead of using the Lyft app. The Basic plan costs about $20 a month.
• Preferred: The Preferred plan includes everything that the Basic plan includes. It also has 24/7 urgent response and smartphone alerts if you’re undergoing an emergency, all for just shy of $40 a month.
• Premium: Finally, the Premium plan adds medical advice from on-call nurses and doctors. Plus, it offers a “care advocate” who can help you stay healthy and meet your goals for $50 a month.

Note that Consumer Cellular offers none of these medical and wellness services — just cell service.

As far as contracts go, both companies are month-to-month. If you exceed your monthly data allowance with Consumer Cellular, the company will bump you up to the next data plan; this means your monthly bill will go up by anywhere from $5 to $15. With Lively, on the other hand, you’ll pay an extra $0.02 per megabyte in overage charges.

Additionally, Consumer Cellular will be cheaper if you’re looking for multiple lines. Each additional line costs only $15, while Lively offers no discounts for having multiple lines.

Senior Plans

Need phone lines for two? If you’re an AARP member, you can get two lines of unlimited talk, text, and data for a total of $55 per month — or $27.50 per line. Even if you get one line, Consumer Cellular offers AARP members a discount of 5 percent, making monthly costs:

• 1GB: $19
• 5GB: $23.75
• 10GB: $33.25
• Unlimited: $47.50

Although the differences may be small, over a year, you could save $30 a year with the unlimited plan. Keep in mind that an AARP membership costs $12 for the first year, as of 2024 — making the membership pay for itself and then some.

Lively does not offer a senior discount, so seniors will pay the same amounts as everyone else. To see how much you can save with other providers, read our list of senior discounts on cell phone plans.

Contracts

Both Lively and Consumer Cellular’s plans are entirely monthly. So, you don’t have to worry about early termination or cancellation fees with either company. That said, we’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you about Lively’s fees: a one-time $35 activation fee, plus a universal service fee of about $3 to $5. Consumer Cellular does not charge activation or one-time fees when you purchase the plan.

Technically, Consumer Cellular does not charge overage if you use more data than your monthly allotment. But, if you do go over your limit, you’ll be bumped up to the next plan. Lively will charge you $0.02 for each additional MB of data that you use.

Phones and Devices

Consumer Cellular allows you to bring your own device to their service. Do you already have a phone that uses a SIM card, whether it’s a physical SIM card or an eSim? Then you can simply get a free SIM card from Consumer Cellular and sign up for one of the plans. All you’ll pay for is your new cellular service.

Lively, however, does not allow you to bring your own phone. Instead, you’ll have to purchase one of their two options:

• Jitterbug Flip2: If you’d rather use a flip phone than a smartphone, the Jitterbug Flip2 is ideal. It has a large screen with big text; large, light-up buttons; and a loudspeaker that makes it accessible for people with visual and/or auditory issues. Plus, at only $79.99, it’s one of the cheaper phones for seniors.
• Jitterbug Smart4: On the other hand, if you want a senior-friendly smartphone, the Jitterbug Smart4 is easy to use. It boasts a nearly seven-inch screen, video chat, and the ability to convert speech to text. While the Smart4 is more expensive than the Flip2, costing around $120, it’s still much cheaper than most smartphones.

Consumer Cellular offers too many devices to count, ranging from simple flip phones to the newest smartphones for seniors. The main difference worth noting is that Consumer Cellular has the latest offerings from Samsung, Android, and Apple. This means that if you’re looking to stay on trend with your technology, then Consumer Cellular has got you covered.

Coverage

Both Consumer Cellular and Lively are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), meaning they use other networks. Consumer Cellular uses both AT&T and T-Mobile’s and will connect you to whatever signal is strongest, but Lively uses only Verizon’s. All of these networks offer 5G coverage nationwide, so you shouldn’t have trouble using your phone. However, neither of Lively’s phones supports 5G, so Consumer Cellular is better for those heavy data users.

While it’s cheaper to buy cell phone plans from MVNOs, you may notice some data throttling; the networks provide the best service to their direct customers. However, we haven’t noticed any issues testing out both Consumer Cellular and Lively in terms of coverage differences.

Our Favorite

Both Lively and Consumer Cellular offer affordable phones and plans along with contracts that won’t keep you locked in for years to come. In fact, their pricing is nearly identical. Unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data costs $20 per month, while unlimited talk, text, and data costs $50 per month.

That being said, Lively can get more expensive due to its medical services, which Consumer Cellular lacks. If you want some of the benefits of a medical alert system, namely a 24/7 urgent response team, Lively is a unique provider in that sense. Consumer Cellular is a typical cell phone provider; it has way more options in terms of devices and the ability to bring your own phone — saving you money over Lively.

To learn more about cell phones, be sure to read our guide to the best cell phones for seniors.