This post comes from partner site WhistleOut.com.
Seniors are becoming more tech savvy by the day. In fact, more than 40 percent of Americans 65 and older own a cellphone — more than twice the number in 2003. And that market is only going to grow. So if you’re older — whether you’re using your mobile device to Snapchat with your grandkids or as an only-in-an-emergency backup — there’s a plan that suits your needs.
Tips for seniors seeking cellphone bargains
Consider joining a family plan.
In the wireless market, buying in bulk can save you money. On a family plan, the more lines you have, the more the price per line drops. Plus, friends can join too!
Compare all carriers’ family plan options here.
Pay only for what you use. Carriers like Tello, Ting and US Mobile offer build-your-own plans that let you decide how much talk, text and data you need. For example, if you only need talk minutes, you can pay for just that feature.
Compare all Tello plans here| Compare all Ting plans here| Compare all US Mobile plans here
Check out straight-forward prepaid plans: Because you pay for services upfront, there are no hidden costs. With most prepaid plans, there are also no contracts, activation charges or early termination fees. Prepaid carriers Cricket Wireless and MetroPCS have all-in pricing, which means their advertised rates include the taxes, fees and surcharges that can easily add an extra $10 to your cellphone bill.
Compare all prepaid plans here
Ask your carrier if they offer any senior discounts. Carriers such as AT&T and Cricket Wireless offer various phone and plan discounts for AARP members. Since cellphone plans and offers are always changing, it’s a good idea to check in with your carrier to see if you are getting the best deal available.
Compare all AT&T plans here | Compare all Cricket wireless plans here
Best cheap unlimited cellphone plan for seniors
T-Mobile ONE 55+
What you get: Unlimited talk, text and high-speed 4G data. Some extra perks include: unlimited 3G tethering, standard definition (460p) video streaming and unlimited text, data roaming and low flat-rate calling in more than 140 countries. Plan is available for customers who are 55 and older, and you can add an extra line of service for only $10.
Click here to get details on T-Mobile’s website.
Best cheap low data plans for seniors
Freedom Pop 100 percent free plan
What you get: 200 talk minutes, 500 texts and 500MB of 4G LTE data for free. This carrier runs on the Sprint’s network, and also offer free calling to other numbers on this network.
Click here to get details on FreedomPop’s website.
Tello build your own plan
What you get: 100 talk minutes (including calls to Canada and Mexico), 200 texts and 200MB of data. Plus, there are no data overages fees. Unused balances roll over for the next 30 days, but note that all incoming texts and calls go toward your balance. Tello also runs off Sprint’s network. Bonus: All data can be shared free via the tethering/mobile hotspot feature.
Click here to get plan details on Tello’s website.
US Mobile 100 mins talk plan
What you get: 100 text and 100 talk minutes plus 100 MB of data. This carrier runs off GSM network. With US Mobile, you can take an a la carte approach with 392 possible plan combinations, allowing for data-only, text-only and talk-only plans from $4-$5 a month. Bonus: US Mobile has a “snooze option,” that lets you pay $2 a month and keep your number when you won’t be using it for a while without purchasing a plan.
Click here to get plan details on US Mobile’s website.
Do you have suggestions for seniors who are cellphone users? Share with us in comments or on our Facebook page.
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