Consumer Cellular Phones and Plans for Seniors
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December 17, 2024
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Since 1995, Consumer Cellular has been bridging the gap between older adults and the latest in cellular technology. As of this writing, it’s also one of the most affordable cellular carriers, with plans starting at $15 per month.
In this guide to Consumer Cellular for seniors, we’ll take a closer look at this popular wireless carrier. We’ll shine a spotlight on Consumer Cellular’s special discounted plan for seniors as well as provide a rundown of the rest of the company’s pricing, from contracts to discounts and fees.
Pro Tip: To learn about my favorite providers overall, read my rundown of the best cell phone plans for seniors.
Consumer Cellular Coverage
Consumer Cellular operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means it doesn't own its own physical network infrastructure, but instead leases network access from one or more of the three major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile). In the case of Consumer Cellular, it leases network access from both AT&T and T-Mobile. This arrangement allows Consumer Cellular to provide nationwide coverage to its customers without the significant investment required to build and maintain its own network infrastructure.
When a Consumer Cellular customer makes a call, sends a text message, or uses mobile data, the signal travels through the partner carrier's network infrastructure, either AT&T or T-Mobile. Consumer Cellular manages customer accounts, handles billing, and provides customer service, but the actual transmission of signals occurs through the network infrastructure of the partnering carrier.
Practically speaking, this means that Consumer Cellular subscribers essentially have access to both the AT&T and T-Mobile networks. The benefit of this is that subscribers get national coverage, including 5G. The downside is that AT&T and T-Mobile may prioritize their subscribers during widespread usage, causing your data speeds from Consumer Cellular to slow.
FYI: This page focuses on the plans and pricing of Consumer Cellular. If you want to read my firsthand experience using its network, read my Consumer Cellular review.
Purchasing Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular can be purchased in person, either at Target or other independent retailers; however, I’d recommend using its website, as this will allow you to take a comprehensive look at each of its products and services. Here, you can easily select a phone, add it to your cart, select a monthly plan, and complete your transaction using a credit card.
Let’s take a closer look at what Consumer Cellular has to offer.
Consumer Cellular Phones
Consumer Cellular offers a wide array of smartphones and flip phones, including the latest devices from Apple, Samsung, and Motorola. Despite the provider’s low cost of service (more on this below), prices for the actual devices themselves are more or less on par with prices from the major carriers.
>> One of Our Favorites: Consumer Cellular GrandPad
For example, Consumer Cellular currently sells the iPhone SE (3rd generation) for $429. T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T all sell this device for the same price. Across the board, you’ll notice comparable prices for popular phones. An exception to this would be Consumer Cellular’s proprietary devices.
Consumer Cellular offers a handful of devices branded under its own name. Currently, these include the Iris Flip phone and the Iris Connect smartphone. Costing $69 and $89, respectively, these devices are more affordable than those made by major cell phone manufacturers. In our experience, they are solid, budget-friendly choices. To learn about our hands-on experience with these phones, read my Iris Flip review and Iris Connect review.
Bring Your Own Phone to Consumer Cellular
If you already own a phone or wish to purchase a phone not offered by Consumer Cellular, then you can bring your phone to its network. For your phone to be compatible, it needs to be compatible with GSM technology. If you don’t know what this means, you can visit Consumer Cellular’s website and enter your phone’s IMEI number. This will let you know if your phone is compatible.
>>Read more: The Best Unlocked Phones for Seniors
Consumer Cellular Service Plans
Consumer Cellular currently offers four plans with unlimited talk and text. The primary difference between them is their monthly data allowances. Additionally, Consumer Cellular offers a talk-only plan for $15 per month; however, this plan is not advertised on its site. To get this plan, you’ll have to call customer service.
Consumer Cellular Plans
| Monthly cost | Talk and text | Data |
|---|---|---|
| $15 | Unlimited talk (no texts) | None |
| $20 | Unlimited | 1 GB |
| $25 | Unlimited | 5 GB |
| $35 | Unlimited | 10 GB |
| $50 | Unlimited | Unlimited* |
* Speeds will be reduced after 50 GB of data usage for the remainder of your billing cycle.
One thing to note about Consumer Cellular’s “Unlimited” plan is that this plan does include throttled data speeds. Consumer Cellular will slow your data speeds after 50 GB of data usage in a month. In our experience, data speeds were slowed to the point where streaming video became impossible without a Wi-Fi connection.
Additionally, if you purchase multiple lines on one account, it’s important to remember that data allowances are shared. So while 50 GB of data might seem like a lot, when split between multiple users, it becomes much easier to reach your throttling limit.
FYI: If you’re a member of AARP, then you’re eligible for a significant discount on your Consumer Cellular plan. To learn more, read my guide: Is AARP Worth It?
Consumer Cellular Overage Charges
One thing we appreciate about Consumer Cellular is that it no longer levies overage charges. Whereas carriers like Lively charge a fee per megabyte used in excess of your monthly allowance, Consumer Cellular will automatically upgrade you to a higher plan.
For example, when we exceeded our 1 GB of monthly data on the basic plan, we were automatically bumped up to the next tier, which costs $25 per month as opposed to $20. While $5 might seem significant, it pales in comparison to the extra fee that other companies charge.
Lively charges $0.10 per MB for overage charges. This means that if I had used 1 GB (1,000 megabytes) in excess of my plan’s amount, I would have been charged $100 in overage fees.
>>Read more: Lively Jitterbug Plans for Seniors
Consumer Cellular Warranties and Return Policy
Every Consumer Cellular device is backed by a 30-day risk-free guarantee. With this guarantee, you’ll have 30 days to try out your device and see if it’s a good fit for your needs. If you have second thoughts, then all you need to do is call Consumer Cellular, cancel your plan, and return your device for a full refund. After the 30-day period, you can no longer return your device; however, you can cancel your Consumer Cellular service at any time and stop making monthly payments.
Currently, Consumer Cellular does not offer a standard warranty on its devices. What it does offer, however, are protection plans. Starting at $2 per month (though the cost varies based on the device), you can purchase a SquareTrade protection plan, which covers your phone against drops, spills, and other accidental damage. Especially with more expensive devices, this type of protection plan is a relative steal.
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Recap
In our increasingly connected world, it’s essential for older adults to keep in touch with their loved ones, and smartphones provide a handy solution to achieve this. And what Consumer Cellular does better than major cellular providers is it provides straightforward service with superb customer care.
>> Seasonal Discounts: Consumer Cellular Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals
If you’re looking for a cellular provider with more advanced medical alert technology, then you might want to check out my Jitterbug Flip review. On the other hand, if all you need is a solid cell phone with billing that’s both simple and affordable, then look no further than Consumer Cellular.
To learn more about our favorite phones and plans, check out our helpful guides:
Consumer Cellular Frequently Asked Questions
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How do Consumer Cellular automatic upgrades work?
Whereas other cellular providers will charge you an overage fee for minutes or data used beyond your plan’s allowance, Consumer Cellular will automatically upgrade you to the next service plan and charge you that price. From there, you will automatically remain on the upgraded plan unless you call its customer service line and request a change.
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Does Consumer Cellular offer family plans?
Consumer Cellular allows you to add lines to your plan for $15 per month per line. Just keep in mind that these additional phones will be sharing the data offered in your plan.
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With Consumer Cellular, how do I use call waiting?
When you hear the call waiting signal, which varies depending on the device, you can put your first call on hold and answer the second call. Usually, this is done by pressing the green call button. You also have the option to not accept the second call, in which case the second caller will be routed to voicemail.
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Does Consumer Cellular have a phone designed for seniors?
Consumer Cellular offers a wide range of cellphones, from the latest devices from Apple and Samsung to a selection of easy-to-use flip phones, which include large screens, backlit keypads, and a vibrating ringer that lets you know when you have a call or message.
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Does Consumer Cellular offer a free trial period?
With Consumer Cellular’s risk-free guarantee, you can return your phone, cancel your service, and receive a full refund, provided you do so within 30 days of activating your service.