Navigating all the different cell phones for Seniors can be confusing and it’s hard to find the time.
That’s why Senior Resource Connectors is here to help you pick out the perfect cell phone that meets your needs and budget. Below we highlight the best cell phones for seniors, mobile providers, and discuss related services that may help you pay for a phone.
Top cell phones for seniors
1. GreatCall Lively Flip
The best value for your money, priced at $99.99 — Monthly plan starting at $14.99/month
For most seniors, a phone that lasts long and is easy to use stands to be the best phone. When you opt to choose a phone like GreatCall Lively Flip, texting, setting timers, and playing music are easier than ever.
- Cheapest cell phone
- Easy-to-use tech
- Emergency button, 5Star Emergency Network
- Long-lasting battery, 12+ hours of call time
- 16 GB storage, thousands of pictures
- Amazon Alexa virtual assistant
2. Samsung Galaxy S20
Latest and modern design, starting at $500.00 — Monthly plans vary per network
The Samsung Galaxy S20 is a smartphone that’s versatile enough for seniors, yet easy enough to use that a grandmother (or grandfather) can learn how to use it with little help. The large screen and long battery life make it easy to watch favorite shows or chat with family members, and the smartphone’s interface has an “easy” mode for seniors who want fewer icons on their screen or larger text throughout the device.
- Latest & greatest tech
- Beautiful OLED display
- High-quality camera and video recording
- Long-lasting battery, 12+ hours in use
- Wifi-calling
- Internet access, Video Streaming, Video Chat+
- Watch favorite TV shows on favorite platforms
- Easy mode for larger text & icons
- Thousands of apps in Google Play store
- Emergency apps available (free or paid)
- Available on all major carriers
3. GreatCall Lively Smart (Jitterbug Smart2)
Inexpensive and modern design, priced at $149.99 — Monthly plan starting at $14.99/month
Given an efficient interface, easy voice recognition, a spacious display, and large button dialing, the Great Call Lively Smart (Jitterbug Smart2) is extremely popular. It also comes with impressive battery life and comes pre-loaded with multiple games and apps to help seniors connect with friends and family.
- Simple smartphone
- Large font and icon user interface
- Long-lasting battery, 12+ hours in use, lasts up to 17 days
- Emergency button, 5Star Emergency Network
- Internet access, Video Streaming, Video Chat
- GreatCAll Link for Caregivers
- Unlimited data/call plan for $49.99
4. Snapfon ez4g
Designed specifically for seniors, priced at $119
The Snapfon ez4g is engineered to be simple and easy to use. This enables it to become a successful inclusive communication device for many seniors with limited or declining vision and dexterity that may have difficulty using other devices. It also features SOS emergency features, including automatic call/text alerts to specified contacts list, emergency sirens, and is compatible with hearing aids.
- Low cost monthly plans
- Designed for seniors with a simple Nokia-like design
- Built-in protection against cell interference
- Wifi-calling
- Works with Hearing Aids Telecoil
- Rear-facing Camera
- SOS Emergency Features
5. Motorola Moto G Stylus
Ideal for budget-conscious seniors who want modern, starting at $299.
The Motorola Moto G Stylus is another modern technology pick and boasts a larger screen size and text enlargement feature allow seniors to navigate better and communicate more easily. The loudest phone in our list, the Moto G peeks at approximately 88 decibels when set on its loudspeaker. With a built-in stylus for those who prefer handwriting their notes, or doodling on the screen, this large smartphone is also a great option for seniors.
- Loud 88-decibel speaker
- Pay as you go option
- Wifi-calling
- High-quality camera and video recording
- Long-lasting battery, 12+ hours in use
- Internet access, Video Streaming, Video Chat+
- Watch favorite TV shows on favorite platforms
- Available on all major carriers
- Thousands of apps in Google Play store
- Emergency apps available (free or paid)
How to choose the best cell phones for seniors
If your loved one is showing signs of memory loss and you want to give them a cell phone so that you can always reach them, choosing the right cell phone may seem like a difficult task. Having to choose between smartphones, flip phones, and other options may be intimidating. Here are some helpful tips for choosing a cell phone for seniors:
1. Are they tech-savvy?
If you or your aging loved one likes to stay current with technology, exploring one of our smartphones would be an ideal pick. They come with robust app stores, better cameras, and the latest and great tech. If this is not something they care about or want to use, we recommend going with a flip phone or a phone with larger, easy to read and use buttons.
2. Are they on a budget?
While the majority of the phones we discussed above are low-cost, taking into account the monthly cost is important. Phones designed for seniors are available at low-cost monthly costs. Modern smartphones will have higher monthly fees, including smartphone data access. Most modern cellphones are available on a variety of networks, so if technology is important, you there are a lot of different networks to choose from.
3. Is the phone for emergencies or daily use?
If the phone isn’t going to be used often, better to settle for the less expensive alternatives that have high battery life and all the essential features. Keep in mind, a highly sought out feature in 2021 and COVID, is video chatting.
4. Medical conditions
- Do they have dementia or is dexterity a concern? Built-in GPS services are available with most smartphones, however, some of the top cell phones for seniors have GreatCall and link-tracking features.
- For dexterity concerns, consider a phone a phone with a virtual assistant, which most smartphones have, and some senior-designed phones with Alexa.
- For vision issues, we recommend phones with large buttons, displays, and text-to-voice features.
- For hearing issues, HD voice and louder speakers are helpful
Best cell phone providers for seniors
For most of the cell phones designed specifically for seniors, such as the Great Call Flip, Great Call Smart, and Snapfon, the mobile networks provided with those phones work great. However, if you are using a phone that is unlocked, like most modern smartphones including the Samsung S20 and the Motorola Moto G Stylus, you can select from a variety of cell phone providers.
Pay As You Go plans for seniors
Great plans for those who don’t really want a cell phone for daily use but for the peace of mind that comes with owning a phone when it’s needed.
1. T-Mobile
A great basic plan, as cheap as you’re going to get!
- Plan name: T-Mobile Paygo
- Monthly Price: $3
- Includes 100 minutes, 100 texts and 100MB 4G LTE; additional usage costs three cents per minute or MB and one cent per message
2. AT&T
Only pay when you use your phone and unlimited text/minutes on those days.
- Plan name: AT&T Daily
- Monthly Price: $2 per day
- Includes unlimited text messages and minutes
Top flexible cell phone plans for seniors
Flexible plans you can build with certain features. A great alternative to traditional pay-as-you-go services. Your payment will be based on usage.
1. US Mobile
Only pay for what you use, text-only options are available. Change your plan every month.
- Plan name: US Mobile Custom Plan
- Monthly Price: $2/month + select number of minutes, text, and date.
- Usage is divided into levels
2. Ting
Only pay for usage, can change every month.
- Plan name: Ting Single Line
- Monthly Price: $6/month + minutes/data/texts billed separately
- Usage is divided into levels, only pay for what level you reach
Top cell phone plans for mobile-savvy seniors
For those who love the latest and great smartphone technology, we recommend these high end carriers.
1. Mint Mobile
Mint mobile was recently purchased by actor Ryan Reynolds and has been brought into the limelight. We like this affordable alternative and it is a great option for those who need some great access but not the fastest internet connection speeds. While Mint can perform incredibly well, they are piggy-backing on t-mobile’s network, so you won’t always have priority. This is not an issue for seniors who want great smartphone access but don’t use their phones often.
- Monthly Price: $15/month
- 4GB data/month for 5G/4G. Unlimited talk, text.
2. T-Mobile
T-mobile has great nationwide covers, fantastic customer support, and an “essentials unlimited plan”, where you get unlimited talk, text, and data for a flat rate of $55. This is a bargain for an unlimited data plan, with no bogus extra fees.
- Plan name: T-Mobile Essentials Unlimited 55
- Monthly Price: $55/month or $65 for 2 phones
- Unlimited data, talk, and text
3. Verizon
Verizon has the best nationwide coverage that we’ve seen, great customer service, and a 55+ Senior Plan. This plan comes with an unlimited hot spot and Mexico/Canada service is included at no extra cost. The single-line plan is affordable, the 2 line plan is not as competitive as T-mobile.
- Plan name: 55+ Senior Phone Plan
- Monthly Price: $60/month
- Unlimited data, talk, and text
What is the easiest cell phone for seniors to use?
In conclusion, there are many great options for cell phones that serve seniors well. Our personal favourites are listed below:
- GreatCall Lively Flip
- Samsung Galaxy S20
- GreatCall Lively Smart (Jitterbug Smart2)
- Snapfon ez4g
- Motorola Moto G Stylus
Contact Senior Resource Connectors
Your roadmap when it comes to determining the best care plan for your senior loved one in Arizona – at any age or stage. Visit our resource center, view our business directory, or connect with us below.
