Clark Howard

The best cell phone plans for seniors

By Sally McDonald
By Sally McDonald

As the number of candles on your birthday cake increase, so do the deals and discounts!

Generally, money expert Clark Howard recommends Republic Wireless or Sprint as the best cell phone carrier deals for one person, or T-Mobile or Sprint for families. However, if you're in your golden years, you might be able to save even more!

Cell phone plans for older adults

With many senior mobile plans, it might feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick. Several carriers boast simplicity and ease of use — which is great — but seniors deserve options.

Currently, T-Mobile is the only major wireless carrier with a plan that serves both new and current senior customers. (Sprint's new plan is for new customers only.) Verizon does offer a plan specifically for seniors, but it's not available to new customers and there's no option for unlimited data.

The good news is many major networks are starting to focus on older adults, and new plans are popping up to help you keep more money in your pocket. Here’s a look at several different mobile plans designed just for seniors.

Sprint (ages 55 and up): Unlimited talk, text and data

After the recent news of a possible merger with T-Mobile, Sprint announced a new plan: Sprint Unlimited 55+

    • Two lines, $50/month for the first line and $20/month for the second line
    • Without the AutoPay discount, you'll pay $5 more per line
  • What you get: Two lines with unlimited talk, text and data
  • How to get it: You have to go to a Sprint store to get the deal

With this plan, you can bring your own compatible device! Need more information? Check out the FAQs here.

T-Mobile (ages 55 and up): Unlimited talk, text and data

If you're 55 or older, T-Mobile recently launched a new plan: T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+.

    • Two lines, each $35/month
    • Without the AutoPay discount, you'll pay $5 more per line
  • What you get: Two lines of T-Mobile ONE with unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE data
  • How to get it: Call 1-866-454-1206, go to the website or visit a local retail store

Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan (ages 65 and up): Choose talk, text and data limits

    • Voice is $29.99 for 200 minutes (overage is $0.45 per minute)
    • Unlimited messaging is an extra $20
    • 2GB of data is an extra $30 (overage is $10 per 1GB)
  • How to get it: Visit this website to learn more about the plan

Verizon also has a plan for adults who are 55 and older, but it's only valid for those with Florida billing address.

Consumer Cellular (no age minimum): Choose talk, text and data limits

    • Unlimited talk is $20
    • Unlimited texts with 3GB of data is an extra $20 per month
    • Additional lines are $15 per month
  • How to get it: Visit this website to learn more about the plan

Jitterbug (no age minimum): Choose talk and text limits

    • Plans start at $14.99 per month for 200 minutes
    • Watch out for additional fees: $99.99 for the phone, a one-time activation fee of $35, and a $10 shipping and handling fee
  • How to get it: Visit this website to learn more about these plans

Wireless carriers offering senior discounts

If you aren’t sure if a senior-specific plan is the way to go, this list of cell phone plans and deals can help you choose the plan that’s right for you at any age.

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