Types of Cell Phone Plans for Seniors
With hundreds of different devices available and dozens of effective providers, choosing the right cell phone plan for seniors can be a tricky process. To help you break it down, here are the types of plans available.
Talk and Text Cell Phone Plans
These plans, offered by providers such as Lively, Consumer Cellular, and Snapfon, allow you to build your own plan with a monthly allowance of minutes, messages, and––in some cases––data. These are a great option for people who already have an existing home phone, allowing you to opt for an affordable monthly plan to use when you need it. With these plans, some providers will offer periods (usually weekends and nights) where calls are free.
Unlimited Cell Phone Plans
For heavier cell phone users, particularly smartphone users, an unlimited plan is ideal. These plans put no limits on the monthly usage of talk, text, or data. Some of our favorite unlimited plans come from T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, and Cricket Wireless.
With that said, the name Unlimited is often a bit misleading, as most of these plans do place limits on data. However, you won’t be charged with overage fees; rather, your data speeds will be slowed or throttled.
Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
Ideal for those who only need a cell phone in an emergency, prepaid cell phone plans require no contracts or monthly payments. Instead, you purchase a set amount of minutes, messages, and data. After purchase, you use this allowance and purchase more only when you need it.