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 purchasing service with this provider and using it in my daily life. I’ll also provide a detailed rundown of its costs and how its network functions.
Overall, I found that while data speeds fluctuate with this network, its low costs ultimately make it worth the price of entry.
Pro Tip: 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.
Key Findings
- Consumer Cellular offers some of the most budget-friendly plans on the market, starting at just $20 per month for unlimited talk and text, with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Their AARP members receive additional discounts, including a special plan with two lines of unlimited talk, text, and data for $55 per month ($27.50 per line).
- Consumer Cellular provides options for all technical comfort levels and needs, from basic flip phones to modern smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy A46 ($299).
- While Consumer Cellular offers substantial savings compared to major carriers by leasing networks from AT&T and T-Mobile, users may experience slower data speeds during high-usage periods.
Consumer Cellular Pros and Cons
What We Like About Consumer Cellular
- 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. For $25 per month, you can get unlimited talk, unlimited texts, and 5 GB of data.
- No Long-Term Contracts: Unlike many traditional wireless providers, Consumer Cellular did not lock me into a long-term contract. Each of its plans is paid on a month-to-month basis, and I could upgrade my service or cancel it without paying any fees or penalties.
- Wide Range of Devices: Consumer Cellular’s offerings include the full gamut of cell phones, from basic flip phones to the newest models from Apple and Samsung. They even allow customers to use their own phones on their service, provided they use SIM cards.
- Roadside Assistance: In addition to affordable cell phone plans, Consumer Cellular lets you add Roadside Assistance for just $4 per month.
What We Didn’t Like
- 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 just about as easy as it gets. In addition to Target and some independent retailers, Consumer Cellular devices and plans can also be purchased online.
On Consumer Cellular’s website, I was able to view each of their plans and phones.
Choosing a Cellular Plan
In the past, Consumer Cellular offered plans with strictly talk and text. Recently, the provider has streamlined their offerings. Now, all of their plans come with unlimited talk and text. The difference between each plan 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.
Additionally, although not listed on its website, Consumer Cellular also has a talk-only plan for $15 per month. To subscribe to this plan, you’ll have to contact Consumer Cellular through the phone. That said, this plan only offers 300 minutes per month, so we think this won’t be the best fit for most users.
Consumer Cellular Plans
| Monthly Cost | Talk and Text | Data |
| $20 | Unlimited | 1GB |
| $25 | Unlimited | 5GB |
| $35 | Unlimited | 10GB |
| $45 | Unlimited | 20GB |
| $50 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Consumer Cellular Unlimited AARP Plan
Consumer Cellular now offers a special discounted plan for AARP members. This plan comes with two lines of unlimited talk, text, and data for $55 per month. At $27.50 per line, this is definitely one of the most affordable unlimited plans available for seniors.
To sign up for this plan, you must purchase two lines and be an AARP member.
FYI: For a full list of Consumer Cellular’s plans, look below, or check out this page: Consumer Cellular Phones for Seniors.
Ultimately, I decided to sign up for Consumer Cellular’s Unlimited Talk and Text plan with Unlimited Data, which would normally cost $50 per month. However, Consumer Cellular offers discounted rates for additional lines. Since I purchased three lines for myself and my children, the total cost for my service plan came to only $30 per month per line, meaning my grand total for service was $80 a month.
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. I can safely say that Consumer Cellular’s phone selection has something to satisfy almost any taste or need. For example, there’s my father, an older man who has had the same flip phone since the early aughts. It frustrates him that even though he needs a new phone, his major carrier no longer offers simple devices made for calling and texting only. Fortunately, Consumer Cellular has a user-friendly flip phone known as the IRIS Easy Flip, which fits the bill.
On the other end of the spectrum, Consumer Cellular offers recent, technologically advanced models such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max with a Super Retina XDR display and AI capabilities and the Samsung Galaxy S25 with 128 GB and an ultra-wide camera lens to capture memories.
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, 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 decided to test out the IRIS Easy Flip, the iPhone 16e, and the Samsung A16. Between the three of these phones, I got 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 of yore. I’ve got to say, there’s something I missed about 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. With nearly half of people over the age of 65 suffering from arthritis, the size and spacing of these buttons made it easy to dial a number or type out a text message. When I made calls with it, I noticed the volume of the receiver was appropriately loud and clear.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a great flip phone, check out my Jitterbug Flip review and my list of the best flip phones for seniors.
Additionally, the exterior of this phone featured a Favorites button; I pressed it and called a number that I had chosen, which happened to be my husband. However, it could also be another emergency contact or service, like 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, the iPhone 16e offers more than enough features to impress me. Regardless, I appreciated its 48MP camera, which captured photos in accurate coloration. In addition, the smartphone had the intuitive menu screens that I’ve come to expect from Apple products. In addition, I’m happy to report that the actual telephone function of this smartphone worked beautifully. The audio quality was crystal clear, even when I took the phone on bike rides through the wilderness. Plus, even with a touch screen, I rarely found myself pressing the wrong button, although this could be an issue for those with arthritis.
While Apple says that the 16e’s battery life lasts for 26 hours of call time, my phone seemed to last even longer during testing. For the more adventurous buyer — someone looking for not just a cell phone but also 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 made 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” touch screen; this phone features solid resolution, which came in handy while browsing the web for complicated dinner recipes. With up to 128 GB of internal storage and Bluetooth and voice recognition capabilities, this device is user-friendly and great for older adults who want to stream music or stay connected with loved ones. The camera is perhaps one of the best features of this device because it is able to help older adults take clear, crisp pictures while making new memories with loved ones. With a 13 MP front-facing camera and an ultra-wide lens, this 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. In fact, both providers offer a plan with unlimited talk, text, and data for seniors that costs $27.50 per month, per line.
In our experience, T-Mobile will offer faster data speeds, since it owns its own 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.
On the other hand, Consumer Cellular offers more affordable basic plans with solely talk and text.
To read our full comparison of these two providers, read our guide: T-Mobile vs. Consumer Cellular.
We’ve also compared Consumer Cellular to a number of other providers:
Compare Consumer Cellular to Other Brands
Consumer Cellular AARP Discount
For over a decade, Consumer Cellular has been an official partner of AARP, meaning that current members of this group receive a 5 percent discount on their monthly fees.
Now, I’m not an AARP member, but let’s say for the sake of argument that I was. Since my monthly service charge from Consumer Cellular was $80, this would have added up to an annual savings of $48.
In addition to this generous discount, AARP members receive an extended 45-day money back guarantee on their devices and service plan, 15 days more than that of regular customers.
To learn more about AARP discounts, read my guide: Is AARP Worth It?
Bottom Line
When it comes to cellular service providers geared toward older adults, Consumer Cellular is a solid choice. Its breadth of phone compatibility ensures that there’s a device for just about any taste or ability level, and the straightforward nature of its service plans takes the headache out of an industry often filled with hidden fees and 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.
Consumer Cellular FAQ’s
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Does Consumer Cellular charge overage fees?
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.
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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, so there’s no need to keep track of your calls and texts.
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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-and-text–only plan. However, the carrier does offer a plan with unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data for $20 per month.
