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Consumer Cellular offers straightforward wireless plans aimed at older adults. The company continues to be highly rated by Consumer Reports in overall satisfaction, scoring better than most other cell phone carriers, including the big three: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
Consumer Cellular contracts with multiple network providers to deliver its cellular service.
Consumer Cellular cell phone plans
Monthly plans
Consumer Cellular keeps it simple, offering two types of plans: an Unlimited Talk Only plan suitable for non-smartphone users that includes unlimited minutes, and six Unlimited Talk & Text plans, which add a data package.
Unlimited Talk Only plan:
Unlimited minutes: $15.
Unlimited Talk & Text plans with data:
1GB: $20.
3GB: $25.
7GB: $35.
10GB: $40.
15GB: $45.
Unlimited data: $55.
Need a second line? You can add one to your plan and share the data for an extra $20 per month. Add a third for $15 more per month.
If you go over your data limit for the month, Consumer Cellular automatically bumps you up to the next tier, along with the price. It doesn’t automatically bump you back down at the end of your billing cycle, though, so you’ll need to remember to change your plan.
Data speed may be throttled back for unlimited plan holders that exceed 35GB in a billing cycle.
How Consumer Cellular compares on prices
Consumer Cellular is a postpaid wireless provider that caters to the value-minded shopper. Use the table below to see how the carrier stacks up against prepaid providers.
2GB or less | 3-5GB | 6-9GB | 10-25GB | Unlimited | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Prepaid | N/A. | $30 (5GB). | N/A. | $40 (15GB). | $65 and $75 options. |
Boost Mobile | $10 (1GB). $15 (2GB). | $25 (5GB). | N/A. | $35 (10GB). | $50. |
Cricket Wireless | N/A. | $30 (5GB). | N/A. | $40 (10GB). | $55. |
Google Fi | $20 (talk, text and Wi-Fi). $30 (1GB). $40 (2GB). | $50 (3GB). $60 (4GB). $70 (5GB). | $80 (6GB+). | N/A. | $70. |
Metro by T-Mobile | N/A. | N/A. | N/A. | $40 (10GB). | $50 and $60 options. |
Net10 | $20 (2GB). | $35 (5GB). | N/A. | $40 (10GB). | $50. |
Straight Talk Wireless | $30 (1,500 minutes, unlimited texts and 100MB data). | $35 (5GB). | N/A. | $45 (25GB). | $55. |
T-Mobile prepaid | N/A. | N/A. | N/A. | $40 (10GB). | $50. |
Ting | $10 (talk and text). | $25 (5GB). | N/A. | $35 (12GB). | $45. |
Total Wireless | $25 (1GB). | N/A. | N/A. | $35 (10GB). | $50 (50GB). |
Tracfone | $20 (1GB). $25 (2GB). | $30 (3GB). | $40 (8GB). | N/A. | N/A. |
U.S. Cellular prepaid | $30 (talk and text only). | N/A. | N/A. | $40 (15GB). | $55 (limited-time offer for $45). |
Verizon prepaid | $35 (talk and text only). | $40 (5GB). | N/A. | $50 (15GB). | $65. |