Consumer Cellular: 2025 Reviews
While the major cellular carriers (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile) charge upwards of $50 per month for their most basic plans, Consumer Cellular offers veritable bargains, starting at $20 per month for unlimited talk, unlimited text and 1GB of data. This begs the question: What’s the catch?
In this Consumer Cellular review, I’ll recount my experience of purchasing service with this provider and using it in my daily life. I’ll also provide a detailed rundown of its costs, as well as how its network functions. Overall, I found that while data speeds often fluctuate with Consumer Cellular, its low costs ultimately make it worthwhile, especially for those primarily looking to talk and text.
Looking for the perfect cell phone? Then check out my lists of the best cell phones for seniors and best cell phone plans for seniors.
Consumer Cellular Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low-priced plans: Starting at just $20 for their most basic unlimited talk and text plan, Consumer Cellular offers plans at a highly competitive price point.
- No long-term contracts: No Consumer Cellular plan requires a long-term contract.
- Wide range of devices: Consumer Cellular’s offerings include the whole gamut of cell phones, from basic flip phones to the newest models from Apple and Samsung.
- Roadside assistance: In addition to affordable cell phone plans, Consumer Cellular lets you add Motor Club Roadside Assistance for just $4 per month.
Cons
- No prepaid options: While I appreciated that Consumer Cellular doesn’t require long-term contracts, it would have been nice to have the option to prepay for service. When providers allow this option, it means that any unused minutes can accumulate rather than disappear at the end of each pay period.
- Confusing return policy: Many of our readers have reported being unable to return devices, even when they were in their original condition.
The Purchasing Process
Ordering a phone through Consumer Cellular is about as easy as it gets. In addition to Target and some independent retailers, Consumer Cellular devices and plans can also be purchased online.
FYI: For only $15 a month, you can add one or more phones to any existing Consumer Cellular plan, making it both easy and affordable for couples and families to share a wireless plan.
Choosing a Cellular Plan
All of Consumer Cellular’s plans come with unlimited talk and text. The differences among the plans will be the amount of data allowed.
Additional lines cost an additional $15 per month, and all of the lines will share the same data allowance.
Consumer Cellular Plans
| Talk and text | Monthly data allowance | Monthly cost for 1 line | Monthly cost for 2 lines | Monthly cost for 3 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | 1GB | $20 | $35 | $50 |
| Unlimited | 5GB | $25 | $40 | $55 |
| Unlimited | 10GB | $35 | $50 | $65 |
| Unlimited | 20GB | $45 | $60 | $75 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | $50* | 60* | $80* |
*Only available for people age 50 or older
If you want four or more lines, you’ll have to call Consumer Cellular directly at 888-345-5509.
Consumer Cellular Unlimited AARP Plan
Consumer Cellular offers discounted phone plans for AARP members.
| Talk and text | Data | Monthly cost for 1 line | Monthly cost for 2 lines | Monthly cost for 3 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | 1GB | $19 | $33.25 | $47.50 |
| Unlimited | 5GB | $23.75 | $38 | $52.25 |
| Unlimited | 10GB | $33.25 | $47.50 | $61.75 |
| Unlimited | 20GB | $42.75 | $57 | $71.25 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | $47.50 | $55 | $75 |
The more lines you have, the more you’ll save — 5 percent a month with your AARP membership, as well as a 45-day money-back guarantee and 30 percent off accessories.1
FYI: For a full list of Consumer Cellular’s plans, look below, or check out this page: Consumer Cellular Phones for Seniors.
I decided to sign up for the Unlimited Talk and Text plan with unlimited data, which is $50 per month. I also took advantage of the $15-per-month rate for each additional line and purchased two lines for my family members. I’m paying a total of $80 per month for all three lines, which is roughly $27 per line.
FYI: For only $15 a month, you can add one or more phones to any existing Consumer Cellular plan, making it both easy and affordable for couples and families to share a wireless plan.
Consumer Cellular Phones
Consumer Cellular offers an impressive array of phones, ranging from simple flip phones to the latest offerings from Samsung, Motorola and Apple. Consumer Cellular’s phone selection has something to satisfy almost any taste or need.
My father, for example, is an older man who has used the same flip phone since the early 2000s. It frustrates him that most major carriers no longer offer basic phones just for calling and texting. I think Consumer Cellular is a good choice for folks like him, especially with the Iris Easy Flip model they offer.
On the other end of the spectrum, older adults who use smartphones will appreciate that Consumer Cellular offers the latest models. I saw in their selection the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25.
A prevailing stereotype is that older adults aren’t interested in cutting-edge smartphones, but that’s changing as more seniors embrace technology. Studies show that roughly half of seniors with cell phones have smartphones,2 and the older people that I know get more technologically advanced by the year.
Keep Your Phone: If you already use a cell phone on another network, you can transfer your device to a Consumer Cellular plan with a SIM card, which is included when you sign up for a service plan.
Ultimately, I tested the Iris Easy Flip, the iPhone 16e and the Samsung A16, which gave me a good sense of the range of options from Consumer Cellular. Let’s take a closer look at each of them:
Iris Easy Flip ($59 One-Time Payment)
This is one of Consumer Cellular’s most affordable options, and it’s one of two phones that feature the classic clamshell design. I’ve missed the tactile experience of a flip phone; they’re perfect for older adults who want to stick to the basics.
Instead of a touch screen, the Easy Flip has raised buttons, and they’re backlit so I could see them even in the dark. Nearly half of people over age 65 suffer from arthritis,3 and the size and spacing of the buttons made it easy to dial a number or type a text message. When I made calls, I noticed the volume of the receiver was appropriately loud and clear.
The phone also featured a Favorites button. After saving my husband’s number in my phone, I was immediately able to connect to him with the press of a button. You could also program the number for another emergency contact or service, such as the police. This feature in particular made this phone seem like an ideal option for older adults. Sure, the Iris Easy Flip’s 5MP camera wasn’t going to help me win a Pulitzer in photography, but for those of us looking for a simple way to remain connected on the go, the Iris Easy Flip is a solid option.
iPhone 16e ($599 One-Time Payment)
Released in early 2025,4 the iPhone 16e offers more than enough features to impress me.
48MP camera: I appreciated the 48MP camera, which captured photos in accurate coloration.
Intuitive menu: The smartphone had the intuitive menu screens I’ve come to expect from Apple products.
Clear audio: The smartphone’s telephone function worked beautifully. The audio quality was crystal clear, even when I took the phone on bike rides through the wilderness.
Big screen: Even with a touch screen, I rarely found myself pressing the wrong button, although it could be an issue for people with arthritis.
Long battery life: Apple says the 16e’s battery lasts for 26 hours of call time, but my phone seemed to last even longer during testing.
For more adventurous phone buyers — someone looking for a camera, music player and television — the iPhone 16e is a good choice. Even if a smartphone seems a bit intimidating, the 16e’s intuitive design makes it easy to explore its wide array of features.
Samsung Galaxy A16 ($199 One-Time Payment)
Similar to the iPhone 16e, the Galaxy operates primarily through its 6.7-inch touch screen. The phone features solid resolution, which came in handy while browsing the web for complicated dinner recipes.
With up to 128GB of internal storage and Bluetooth and voice-recognition capabilities, the device is user-friendly and great for older adults who want to stream music or stay connected with loved ones.
The camera is one of the device’s best features, because it is able to help older adults take clear, crisp pictures while making new memories with loved ones. With a 13MP front-facing camera and an ultrawide lens, the device is a must-have for everyday use.
Consumer Cellular Setup
If you’ve ever activated a cell phone before, rest assured that Consumer Cellular’s setup process is about the same as with any other carrier. Even if you haven’t activated a cell phone before, the process is easy as pie. Each phone was shipped to my home in about one week. I unboxed them and plugged them into the included chargers. Once they had fully charged, I had to call a number on the back of the box and confirm my information with the support team, and then I was ready to go.
Consumer Cellular vs. T-Mobile
In terms of unlimited phone plans for seniors, both T-Mobile and Consumer Cellular are among our favorites. Both providers offer discounted plans for seniors with unlimited talk, text and data; however, Consumer Cellular’s plan is slightly more affordable.
With Consumer Cellular, AARP members can get two lines of unlimited talk, text and data for $55 per month ($27.50 per line). T-Mobile’s most affordable senior plan is $60 for two lines ($30 per line). Elsewhere, Consumer Cellular’s plans are generally more affordable, with unlimited talk and text options starting at $20 per month per line. T-Mobile, on the other hand, does not offer any talk and text plans; all options have unlimited data.
That said, T-Mobile will offer faster data speeds, since it owns its wireless network. Consumer Cellular, however, leases T-Mobile’s network (as well as that of AT&T), so in times of heavy usage, Consumer Cellular users may experience slowed data speeds.
To read our full comparison of these two providers, read our guide: T-Mobile vs. Consumer Cellular. Or, check out the best T-Mobile phones for seniors.
Compare Consumer Cellular to Other Brands
Bottom Line
When it comes to cellular service providers geared toward older adults, Consumer Cellular is a solid choice. Their general phone compatibility ensures that there’s a device for just about any taste or ability level. Their service plans are also straightforward, which is a welcome relief from dealing with complicated contracts.
Arguably, the only thing missing from Consumer Cellular would be more robust features for medical alert functionality, like the kind that’s built into the Jitterbug Smart4; however, for those looking for a simple and affordable way to have a cell phone, Consumer Cellular has just what you’re looking for.
If you’d like to see some of our other favorite wireless providers, check out my reviews of T-Mobile plans for seniors and Verizon senior plans.
Methodology
Here is how we evaluate cellular providers:
Customer service: To gauge support quality, we reached out to each provider’s customer-service team to see how well they handled troubleshooting without relying on endless robo-call menus.
Pricing and contracts: Most plans range from $15 to $60 per month. Many providers offer month-to-month options, but others, such as Mint Mobile, require you to prepay for several months in advance.
Reliable coverage: We tested each carrier to evaluate both coverage and data speeds.
Safety features: Providers such as Lively stood out for offering extras such as 24/7 urgent-response call centers. We rated carriers with those types of features more favorably.
Straightforward plans: Since hidden fees and extra charges are common with cell phone plans, we prioritized providers that keep them to a minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does Consumer Cellular charge overage fees?
If you have selected auto-upgrade, instead of overage charges, Consumer Cellular automatically upgrades you to a plan that covers the amount of data you’ve used. For example, if you’re using a plan with 1GB of data, and you go over this amount, they’ll simply upgrade you to the next plan. Otherwise, if you did not select auto-upgrade, your speeds will be slowed after your allotted monthly usage is reached.
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Do you get free minutes on nights and weekends?
As of 2025, all of Consumer Cellular’s plans include unlimited talk and text, so there’s no need to keep track of your calls and messages.
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With Consumer Cellular, can I keep my existing cell phone number?
Depending on your current service provider, you most likely can transfer your existing number to Consumer Cellular’s network. Just be sure to undergo the transfer process before canceling with your current service provider. This way, the number will remain active so that Consumer Cellular can guide you through the process.
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Does Consumer Cellular have a plan with just talk and text?
Consumer Cellular discontinued its talk-only plan. However, the carrier does offer a plan with unlimited talk and text and 1GB of data for $20 per month.
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How good is the service with Consumer Cellular?
Consumer Cellular provides good service through T-Mobile and AT&T networks. The carrier piggybacks off their networks, though, which means your speeds may slow down after your monthly allotment of high-speed data — up to 50GB with unlimited plans — is used.
You can expect typical download speeds of 11 to 64 Mbps on 4G LTE networks, or speeds of 35 to 258 Mbps on 5G networks.
