At& t Senior Cell Phone Plans
AARP members who are AT& T Wireless customers can save up to 10% on their talk and data plan monthly charges, as well as save 15% on eligible phone accessories. AARP members get:
- 10% off voice and data plan monthly charges.
- Up to $45 waived for activation or upgrade fees.
- Up to 15% off eligible phone accessories.
Apple Iphone : Best Smartphone
Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
While its not the latest iPhone, theApple iPhone 8 is one of the best in recent years for seniors and older adults. We like its straightforward home button that exits out of apps and brings you to the home screen.
What we like most about the iPhone 8 for seniors are its built-in health monitoring app, connectivity to smart devices, and accessibility features.
Health monitoring app
The Apple Health app is like having a tiny doctor in your pocket. It can record nutrition, activity, and vitals information from daily steps to blood glucose. If you need to track it, its probably there.
If you use a wearable device for seniors like the Apple Watch or a FitBit, your device will automatically sync with Apple Health.
Connectivity to smart devices
There are advantages to going with one of the most popular smartphones around. The iPhone 8 is a great choice for older adults who love to tinker with tech. For example, if you have loved ones who also use an iPhone, you can video chat with them directly through FaceTime.
Apple iPhones connect to a huge range of smart home and health devices. The iPhone is compatible with popular smart home devices like these:
Accessibility features
Toggle the VoiceOver feature on to have the phone read text aloud to you or hook it up to your hearing aid to hear conversations more clearly. You can also adjust the color settings to make the screen easier on your eyes.
How We Chose The Best Cell Phones For Seniors
Each phone on our list was ranked using over 30 metrics, including price, senior-friendly features, battery life, durability, sound quality, appearance, ease of use, and provider perks. The three most influential metrics in our evaluation were:
- Senior-friendly features: All phones that made the cut have features that meet seniors specific needs and lifestyles. While these features vary by phone, they include things like big buttons or icons, bright screens, loud and adjustable speakers, hearing aid compatibility, and an easy-to-grip design
- No long-term contracts: Cell phone plans that lock you in for years are a thing of the past. All of the cell phone models and carriers on our list offer month-to-month options, so you can cancel your service at any time without hassle.
- Price vs. quality: We know that every budget is different. While some of the cell phones on our list are more expensive than others, weve only included phones where we believe the quality matches or exceeds the price. Weve made sure to include budget-friendly cell phones on our list, along with somewhat pricier high-tech devices, so you can find the phone thats right for both your wallet and your needs
Using the above criteria, along with our research, testing, and rankings, we created this years best cell phone list to help you choose the best senior-friendly cell phone.
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Can Seniors Get A Free Government Phone
Yes, seniors can get a free government phone, depending on their state. The simplest way to qualify is by participating in government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, or food camps. Also, individuals with household incomes below 135% of the federal poverty guideline are automatically covered.
The Best Prepaid Cell Phones For Seniors
After weeks of testing devices and reading through the fine print of prepaid cellular plans, weve come up with a list of the five best prepaid options for seniors. Some of them provide a simple cellular experience, while others have advanced features like touchscreens and triple-camera arrangements. Regardless, theres sure to be a device here to suit your needs, and it wont require a long-term contract.
Here are our picks for the best prepaid phones for seniors.
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Here’s What People Are Saying Aboutjitterbug Smart3
Excellent for fraidy cats like me
I am seriously in love with this phone! It’s my very first “smartphone,” and I was terrified at first, but it is so easy to learn to use, and the mic/speaker makes it so easy to hear, talk and especially text is just amazing! I’m learning the camera functions too, thanks to the excellent user guide and tutorials. I’m so thankful I decided to give it a shot! And believe me, if this computer illiterate can make this phone work in a happy way, SO CAN YOU! GIVE IT A TRY!
How To Qualify As A Senior For Lifeline And Acp
There are several ways a senior may qualify for Lifeline and ACP.
As a senior, you may qualify for Lifeline if your income is 135% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines. To view a chart of this income table, .
You can also qualify if you are receiving benefits from one of the following programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Veterans Pensions or Survivors Pension
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At& t Unlimited 55+ Senior Plan
AT& T | Unlimited 55 Plus | $60/month or two lines for $80/month – AT& T’s feature-packed unlimited plan Like the Verizon promotion above, this deal is exclusively available for those who are over 55 and live in Florida. If you fit this criteria, you can get two unlimited data, calls, and text lines for just $80 a month or one for $60. You’ll be able to use your plan in the US, Mexico, and Canada, and 5G service is included at no extra cost. You can also text to more than 120 countries for free, and you’ll get spam and fraud call blocking. If you don’t live in Florida, AT& T’s regular unlimited plans are also a great choice.Pros: Unlimited 5G data Discount for Florida residents over 55Cons: Expensive Not available in other states
The Best Cell Phone Plans For Seniors
If youre a senior whos wondered whats the best cell phone for seniors or is tired of paying too much for cell phone service, youll be pleased to learn there are several options for switching to a cheaper provider without sacrificing service. In fact, some major wireless providers offer affordable plans specifically for people who are 55 and older. But which service offers the best cell phone plan for seniors?
Ive researched more than 70 phone plans to find the best phone plans, prices, key features and discounts on reliable networks that offer talk, text and data. In this article, Ill share my picks for the best cell phone plans for seniors.
- Low prices on limited data plans
- Discounts available for AARP members
- Phones are specifically designed for seniors
- Health and safety packages are available for an additional charge
- Best price for high-speed data that never slows
- 40GB of hotspot data
- Unlimited talk, text and 1GB of high-speed data
- Cheapest pre-built plan available
- 35GB data cap before reduced speeds
- Prepay three months in advance when you sign up.
- Although the contract changes, the plan price stays the same after three months.
- Unlimited talk, text and data with 5-12 Mbps speeds
- Unlimited mobile hotspot with 5 Mbps speeds
- One of the cheapest prices for unlimited data
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About Our Trusted Experts
Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade. When he’s not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he’s playing with the latest phones, tablets, and laptops. When not working, he’s a cyclist, geocacher, and spends as much time outside as he can.
Andrew Hayward has been reviewing tech and games since 2006. He’s previously been published by TechRadar, Stuff, Polygon, Macworld, and was an editor for Mac|Life. He reviewed a big chunk of the phones on this roundup due to his specialty in smartphones and other mobile devices.
- What is Greatcall?
Greatcall is a mobile network virtual operator that uses Verizon’s network to deliver its own mobile service. Beyond that, Greatcall adds on services that are great for seniors including doctors, nurses, and associates who are there to assist seniors whenever they are needed.
- How do you activate Samsung’s Easy Mode?
Go to Settings, and search for “Easy Mode.” It’s typically located under the display settings. Easy Mode organizes your apps into three columns of buttons that are large and easy to see.
- Can you still get a phone on a contract?
That usually depends on the carrier. Most phone carriers won’t have “contracts,” but they will have multi-year payment plans, which is similar to the contracts we used to have with cellular service. Check your carrier to see if contracts are in place, or avoid the contract and buy an unlocked phone that can work with any carrier.
Lifewire / Andrew Hayward
Samsung Galaxy S21 Fe
While Samsung phones arent made specifically for seniors, Samsung includes a simple feature. Dubbed Easy Mode, this setting is found on pretty much every modern Samsung device flagships, mid-range, and even budget offerings. Easy Mode enlarges the icons and puts pretty much everything within easy reach.
One of Samsungs best offerings right now is the Galaxy S21 FE. It has all the best specs and features we see in the Galaxy S21 series and comes with a very reasonable price point for a high-end smartphone. Senior citizens will enjoy a sleek design, superb performance, a gorgeous display, and more. More importantly, it also has Easy Mode.
Of course, youll have to enable Easy Mode first. Even if you arent particularly tech-savvy, enabling Easy Mode on a Samsung phone is not too tricky.
How to turn on Easy Mode on Samsung devices:
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Choosing The Best Cell Phone Plan For Seniors
Because there are so many options, both features and pricing are important to consider when it comes to senior cell phone plans. While there are several plans marketed toward seniors, a senior plan or discount doesnt necessarily make it the best choice.
A few of my top picks for senior phone plans do include senior plans and discounts, but these arent the only options available to seniors. Providers including Tello and Boost also offer great phone plans at some of the cheapest rates available without any discount. Youll see these below under Other Plans To Consider.
For this reason, its important to shop not only for senior plans but also to consider the price, features, customer service, reviews and coverage of all available phone plans. Those are the main factors I compared when researching for this article. Here are my top picks:
Below, youll find more detailed information on each cell phone plan including how much it costs, what it includes and how it compares. For even more options, be sure to check out our guide to the best cell phone plans and deals.
Skip The Phone Entirely
Cant find what you want on a cell phone without breaking the bank? You might want to get a tablet instead.
Oftentimes, these are just as affordable as smartphones. A miniature tablet isnt much larger than a smartphone, but the enlarged screen will make it easier for seniors to get around visual challenges. Theres also a larger keyboard. You can still like you normally would, too.
And if a tablet doesnt fit the bill, a smartwatch might. Replacing a standard watch with a smartwatch is a great way to make one-touch responses easier. You can use your smartwatch to supplement your cell phone.
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Activate Emergency Alert Systems
This is really a sound decision for anyone shopping for a smartphonenot just seniors! And these Emergency Alert features can be activated on just about any phone.
On a Samsung, for instance, you can send SOS messages to four contacts. All you have to do is press the power button three times in a row, which is great in an emergency situation.
Best Cell Phone Plan Options For Seniors
As most cell usage is unlimited, seniors should focus on the data usage when comparing phone plans . Keep in mind that wearable devices, such as an Apple Watch, use data so that must be taken into account when thinking about where data usage fits into the plan you choose.
Budget is also a key factor when seniors look at the amount of data their cell phone plan provides. As a rule of thumb, you shouldnt spend more than $25 a month per line if you’re a light user. Note that some senior phone plans will include 24/7 emergency response.
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How To Choose The Best Cell Phone For Seniors
While aging often brings experience, gratitude and perspective, it can also mean that living life on your own terms becomes more difficult as things youre familiar with, like day-to-day routines, people you know, societal norms, you name it, begin to change. When that happens, a good way to meet the challenge is to embrace aging in place, and the many innovations that can help create new, familiar, everyday-easy routines, like smart lighting, smart Wi-Fi thermostats, smart locks, smart speakers, video doorbells, security cameras, smoke detectors, smart burners and much more. Accepting the fact of aging, and welcoming assistive technology, can help keep you from being limited in the ways that hearing aids and amplifiers can remedy, or reading glasses, or medical alert devices, or special needs telephones or phones for seniors.
Senior Cell Phone Faq
With a large screen and uncluttered list-style menu, the Jitterbug Smart3 is the easiest cell phone for seniors to use.
The Jitterbug phone can’t be purchased or serviced through Verizon Wireless. You have to go through Lively to activate and use the Jitterbug phone.
Our top senior cell phone picks include the Jitterbug Smart3, Apple iPhone 8, Alcatel Go Flip 3, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and the Palm Phone. The best cell phone for you will match your budget, provide all of the features you enjoy, and be easy to use.
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Further Insight Into Our Methodology
Like other mobile phones, cell phones for seniors come in many shapes and sizesit all depends on the persons needs. Flip and bar phones are almost always cheaper and have greater battery capacity, given their relative lack of battery-draining features. Smartphones, on the other hand, have larger screens and offer a number of helpful applications and settings for those who want to do more than just make calls and send texts. We also consider the kind of monitoring a phone offers.
After looking at a phone’s features, we consider a couple of additional traits. One of them is cost and coverage. We first consider whether the cell phone model is unlocked. Unlocked phones offer users a choice of carrier, which enables consumers to shop around for the best plan. However unlocked phones must generally be purchased upfront by the consumer, potentially making the total initial costs higher. We also look at how many carriers service each cell phone. Once we’re done with service plans, we look at a few more points regarding the cell phone’s cost.
Last but not least, we looked at customer support. Given how much older people depend on their phones, strong customer support and a solid consumer rating are highly important. Cell phones are everyday items and, in the case of an issue or malfunction, it is essential for companies to be able to provide answers and alternatives.
How To Find Smartphone Classes For Seniors
- Learn how to use your cell phone with smartphone classes for seniors. Find out where you can find those classes so you can get the most out of your technology.
Advancements in modern tech such as cellphones are supposed to add ease to our lives and help us stay connected to those who matter most. But if you’re not used to the technology, navigating countless apps and screen displays on a new smartphone can be confusing and frustrating. Whether you useor want to useyour phone to engage on social media or simply need to optimize it to best accommodate your needs, smartphone classes for seniors can help.
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Free Phone For Seniors
A free phone for seniors seems unlikely. In reality, though, many seniors can apply for and receive a free cell phone or home phone, along with a free monthly phone plan.
Seniors having a cell phone seems almost a necessity to many. Mainly, due to emergencies. Given that so many people have limited income , cell phones might be low on the list of things they can buy. Thats where the program that provides a free phone for seniors could be a real blessing.
The federal program called Lifeline was created to provide cell phones or free home phone service for anyone for emergencies this is especially important for seniors. The Lifeline program provides a free cell phone and free minutes every month.
Seniors: Switch To A New Cell Phone Provider And Make Life Easier
If youre frustrated with the high prices and complicated details of your cell phone plan, its time to make a change. You dont have to struggle with a cell phone provider that doesnt cater to your needs especially if theyre charging high prices.
There are cell phone companies out there who understand their senior customers. And there are even plans designed just for your unique needs, from medical alerts to free calls and texts to low-priced options. You can get everything you want from your cell phone company without dealing with rising costs or complicated contracts. In fact, you might even be able to switch to a senior-friendly company to make the entire process of carrying a cell phone easier.
Take the time to do your research and find a new cell phone plan that works for you. Research companies with better service, senior-friendly cell phone choices, and affordable prices. With the right cell phone company, you can make your cell phone easier and simpler.
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