Consumer Cellular phone lines are ridiculously cheap: Here's how they do it
My mother has been teaching college for more than 30 years. She used to get phone service through Sprint (which was acquired by T-Mobile in 2020). Her phone service was so bad, she once threatened that if they didn’t let her out of her contract, she would tell every student she ever taught not to get Sprint, sullying Sprint’s reputation for the youngest generations for decades to come. They let her out of her contract immediately.
Phone service plans can spark an intense emotional reaction in us all.
Using your phone shouldn’t be difficult. You want reliable service that won’t drop when you drive down the road—one that won’t hit you with hidden fees or bounce you to 10 different call centers when you need a simple question answered.
Consumer Cellular ticks all our boxes, especially for people over 50 looking for a simple and affordable phone provider. Plans are downright cheap—you can get two unlimited lines for just $60 a month—and you can bring your own phone, so you don’t need to worry about having to change phones or paying an arm and a leg for a new smartphone.
If you’re considering swapping cellular providers, here’s why we love Consumer Cellular (and think you will too).
Consumer Cellular offers phone plans as low as $20 a month.
What is Consumer Cellular?
Consumer Cellular is a phone service provider that’s been around since 1995. It’s a preferred partner of the AARP and has been since 2008. It offers a huge range of benefits for its subscribers, like low monthly fees, no-contract plans, and discounts for AARP members.
How does Consumer Cellular work?
Unlike major networks—like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T—Consumer Cellular does not have its own towers. It’s a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means it uses the towers of other providers to provide service to its subscribers. Other popular MVNOs include Mint Mobile and Visible.
Basically, it piggybacks on other networks to provide you service.
What are the perks of Consumer Cellular?
It’s inexpensive
Phone plans can really add up. Most providers offer customizable plans with varying levels of data, talk, and text. But Consumer Cellular plans are relatively cheap compared to other providers. For just $20 a month, you can get 1GB of data (which is how you surf the internet when you’re not connected to WiFi on your phone), plus unlimited talk and text. It’s a great plan if you don’t often use your phone to surf the web, but talk or text frequently. If you do use your phone to regularly surf the internet, spring for the 10G data plan ($35/month) or unlimited plan ($50/month).
Comparing plans, Verizon offers its unlimited one-phone plan for $75 a month ($25 more than Consumer Cellular), AT&T’s version of this plan is $65.99 a month ($15.99 more), and T-Mobile’s plan is $55 a month ($5 more).
You can bring your own phone
When you sign up for a new phone plan, many service providers require you to get a new phone on their network. Consumer Cellular lets you bring along your own phone, whether you’ve got the latest iPhone or your trusty flip phone. When you bring your own phone, you don’t have to worry about those extra fees that come along with a new device. If you decide to upgrade to an iPhone or Samsung phone, your bill could jump from $20 to $60, plus a smartphone fee that’ll notch that bill up even more.
To bring your own phone, check your device’s compatibility on the Consumer Cellular site to make sure it will carryover. If it won’t, don’t sweat—you can probably trade it into the provider for a flat fee that’ll help you buy your next phone.
Nationwide 5G coverage
There’s nothing worse than a phone plan that covers you at home, but drops service as soon as you drive to Target. Consumer Cellular boasts 5G coverage across the country, including 5G+, 5G, 4G, and partner coverage. The site features an interactive map so you can check coverage near you before you sign up.
AARP members get an extra 5% off
Love that low monthly rate? AARP members can get coverage for even less—you can get two unlimited lines for $55 per month, a 5% discount at Consumer Cellular and an even greater savings when compared against unlimited lines at other carriers.
US-based customer service team
Need help? The customer service team you’ll reach at Consumer Cellular is US-based. According to reviews at the Better Business Bureau, subscribers have positive interactions with the customer service team, noting that they’re easy to get a hold of and helpful when resolving issues.
No activation fee
When setting up a new line, brands pull you in with the promise of a low monthly cost, then slap you with a bevy of one-time fees, including an “activation fee.” Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have activation fees of $35 per line—but at Consumer Cellular, there’s no activation fee you need to be concerned with.
No long-term contracts
Long gone are the days of getting stuck in a multi-year contract with a cellular provider you hate. Once major providers started offering to pay cancellation fees from other phone carriers, they all stopped requiring 2- to 3-year contracts. Most major cellular providers are down to monthly or yearly contracts, including Consumer Cellular. The provider offers a month-to-month contract, so you’re not locked into a long-term contract.
How much does Consumer Cellular cost?
The cost will vary depending on the type of plan you purchase. If you sign up for more than one line or you’re an AARP member, you can unlock discounts. You can find full pricing on the website, but the cheapest one-line plan will cost $20 a month (plus local fees and taxes). The most expensive one-line plan costs $50 a month (plus fees). Both prices go up if you add a line or choose a smartphone, or if you choose to purchase a new phone that you’ll pay monthly for.
FAQs
Is Consumer Cellular good?
Reviewers love Consumer Cellular, specifically for its AARP benefits, customer service, and speedy delivery. US News & World Report gives it 4.1 stars, while The Senior List calls it one of the best service providers for older adults.
Who owns Consumer Cellular?
Consumer Cellular is owned by GTCR, a private equity firm that owns a range of health and technology companies.
What network does Consumer Cellular use?
Consumer Cellular uses towers from two other cellular networks: T-Mobile, and AT&T. It’s an MVNO, which means it borrows the technology of other cellular providers to provide expansive coverage. When networks become too busy, MVNO customers often experience lower data speeds.
Does Consumer Cellular have internet?
Consumer Cellular does not offer internet as a service, but phones purchased from the provider can access the internet. If you purchase a data plan, you can access the internet using your data.
Is Consumer Cellular as good as Verizon?
Both Consumer Cellular and Verizon are excellent cellular providers with major differences.
Consumer Cellular is cheaper; it’s a great plan if you prefer calls and texts, with a little bit of internet surfing and email use. It offers great discounts for seniors and works with just about any phone you can think of. Subscribers also like the fact that the customer service team is based in the US. The Senior List recommends Consumer Cellular over Verizon.
Verizon is a much larger provider, offering both internet and phone service plans, which can unlock further discounts if you bundle. But Verizon may have more hidden fees that Consumer Cellular does not, like activation fees. Its customer service team is also not US-based, but it does have physical stores subscribers can visit for assistance. Consumer Cellular has physical locations too (they’re in several Target and Walmart stores), but Verizon has more stores.
Where can I buy a Consumer Cellular phone?
You can buy Consumer Cellular phones from the website, whether you’re shopping a flip phone, iPhone, or Samsung Galaxy phone. You can also port over your current phone so you don’t have to worry about buying a new one at all.
Does Consumer Cellular have hotspot?
You can access a mobile hotspot through certain Consumer Cellular phones, like iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. You can visit the Consumer Cellular YouTube channel to learn how to set up a hotspot on your specific phone.
Who is the actor in the Consumer Cellular commercial?
Ted Danson stars in the Consumer Cellular commercials. You may recognize him from “Cheers” or “The Good Place.”
