Choosing the correct cell phone and plan can be overwhelming due to the options available. We’ve found some very inexpensive devices, including regular flip phones (with real number buttons), iPhones, and Android-based phones. We’ve also listed some inexpensive phone plans that allow you to keep your existing phone, or bring in a new unlocked phone that you already own. Many seniors want ease of use and affordability, but continue to find different models and plans troublesome for one reason or another. Some carriers now charge $40 to $60 a month and complicate their offerings in order to charge even more. It does not have to be so; read on to learn how to avoid these high costs and save some money.
TracFone Flip Phones & Plans
One of the lowest priced and traditional options available, TracFone offers seniors old fashioned flip phones with buttons and simple monthly service plans. The refurbished Tracfone Alcatel MyFlip comes with an intuitive display, and large, easy-to-dial number pad, costing just ten bucks. The 4GB of internal memory can store your photos taken with your onboard 2MP camera. The phone has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability if needed.
TracFone also offers monthly plans with unlimited talk and text and 1GB of data for just $20 (which gets discounted to $15 if you use auto-refill for the first two months). There is an even cheaper option of $9.99 per month for a limited 30 minutes of talk per month, which is probably best suited for emergency-use only; we generally advise going with the more expensive $20-a-month auto-refill plan. If you would like to save even more, you can get a TracFone Annual Plan, which offers unlimited talk and text plus 12GB of data for just $199 per year charged annually (just $16.58 per month) plus taxes.
If you want a brand-new version of the MyFlip phone, the MyFlip 2 is only ten dollars more, at $19.88. It includes an emergency call button, an expandable 32GB micro SD slot, and can be paired with all of the same TracFone phone plans.
Finally, if you would like a more modern phone with a touch screen, the LG Journey is one of TracFone’s most practical smartphone offerings, costing only $29.99. With a 5.45 inch touch-screen, 8MP camera, and 16GB of internal memory and a strongly capable battery, this android phone is consistently one of the least expensive smart phones on the market.
Simply Mobile Phone Bundles
iPhone SE $8.33/mo + $25/mo Plan
At $8.33 per month, this is a smoking deal on a brand new iPhone SE 64GB. Choose from Black, Red or White. The iPhone is famous for its Retina display, high quality camera, and excellent user-interface. Purchase of a Simply Mobile phone plan is required at checkout, but a contract or credit check does not apply. Plans are offered from $25 per month for unlimited talk and text plus 3GB of high speed data and additional data can be purchased for $5 per month. You can pay for the phone device in 2 ways. Either over 24 months with SmartPay or you can pay the full cost of $199.99 upfront plus tax. There are no installment fees to pay overtime.
iPhone XR $14.58/mo + $25/mo Plan
Compared to the iPhone SE, the iPhone XR has a larger screen, face ID and a bigger battery. It is water resistant, has a new Liquid Retina display, iOS 12, a TrueDepth Camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture, fast internet and wireless charging capability. The cost is your choice of $14.58 per month for 24 months with SmartPay, or $349 upfront. Like the aforementioned iPhone SE, you must purchase a Simply Mobile plan at checkout to be eligible.
BLU View $29.99 (One-Time) + $25/mo Plan
If you want a very affordable smartphone to use with the $25/mo Simple Mobile Plan, consider this smartphone offering from BLU. The View 1, is similar to the LG Journey and costs only $30 total, brand new.
Ultra Mobile PayGo Phone Plan $3/mo
Operating on the reliable T-mobile network, Ultra Mobile PayGo offers users 100 minutes of talk, 100 texts and 100MB 4G LTE data for only $3 per month – a very limited offering, but quite a bit of value for only three dollars a month. Additional minutes are just 3 cents each, texts are 1 cent each and data is 3 cents per MB. Data can be used for mobile hotspot as well; know that 100MB of data will run out fairly quickly. You must bring your own T-Mobile compatible phone for this plan. Additionally, most AT&T devices are also compatible as long as they are out of contract. Universally unlocked phones from manufacturers such as Motorola and Samsung are also compatible.
Mint Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text plus 4GB Data Plan $15/mo
A subsidiary of Ultra Mobile, Mint Mobile offer this plan in a 3 month bundle, and you can renew for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. You must bring your own phone. Benefits include 5G data network, free calls to Canada and Mexico, WiFi calling and text. They have an excellent phone checker on their website to see if your device is compatible.
Tello Unlimited Talk & Text plus 1GB Data Plan $7.50/mo
This newer provider offers an unlimited talk and text plan with 1GB of data for $7.50 per month for six months (it turns into $10 per month after 6 months). You can get the same unlimited talk and text with 2GB of monthly data (instead of 1GB) for $10.50 for the first 6 months, and then $14 per month afterwards. Tello also provides a plan without any data; just unlimited talk and unlimited text for $6 per month for the first 6 months, and $8 per month thereafter.
RedPocket Unlimited Talk & Text plus 10GB Data Plan $30/mo
RedPocket has a number of options for heavy data users which all include unlimited talk and text. In conjunction with 10GB of Data for $30/mo, they offer 22GB for $40/mo, and a whopping 50GB for $50/mo. These plans are compatible with phones locked to all major carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. The RedPocket network will work with 5G enabled devices includes free unlimited worldwide calling to over 80 countries. They even offer a cheaper plan for $20/mo with 3GB of data and all of the other benefits.
Other Unlocked Phone Deals
If you need an unlocked phone to pair with one of the aforementioned phone plans from Ultra Mobile, Mint Mobile, Tello or RedPocket, a top-performing yet inexpensive Android phone is the Samsung A10s for $130. For just $70, you could also consider the BLU 50. And at a mere $50, the simple style of the Nokia 225 has limited features for ease of use and is designed for customers who primarily want to make calls and send text messages. If you prefer an Apple product, consider a refurbished Apple iPhone 7 for $130. Another way to save on an iPhone is with Gazelle.com, a marketplace for the sale of used and refurbished cell phones. Just be sure to select a phone in good or excellent condition.
In Conclusion
Some of these offers are limited or subject to change, so if you want to cut your monthly expenses consider searching now for a phone or plan that will suit you. If your existing phone is “out of contract” and can be “unlocked,” you should see if it is compatible with some of the plan providers we’ve mentioned. Lastly, if you don’t have an unlocked phone, or you need a new one, consider some of our recommendations on inexpensive unlocked phones. Most of the providers allow you to keep your existing number (though you may have to pay cancellation fees with your existing provider if you are locked into some sort of contract). If you cannot use your existing phone, you can buy a more than decent unlocked cell phone for under $100 enabling you to save hundreds or perhaps even thousands on cell phone service in the long run.