Best Cell Phones for Seniors

If you only need to text and call from your phone, a flip phone will do the job. If you can’t imagine living without apps, then it’s better to pay a bit more money for a smartphone with additional functionality. There are also block or slider phones. They typically have a full keyboard separate from the screen and have more functionality than flip phones.

Popular cell phone plans for seniors include:

• Pay as you go: This type of plan is exactly what it sounds like: instead of signing a contract, you just pay for what you use. These types of plans are easier to cancel than regular plans.
• Flexible: Flexible plans typically have a small base rate to start with. Text and call usage adds to the bill. This works well for seniors who want to have a phone but don’t intend on using it often.
• Unlimited: This type of plan allows seniors to call and text as much as they want. If price isn’t a big issue and you want to have free reign over your cell usage, unlimited plans are the way to go.
• Senior-specific: Several providers have special benefits for seniors. These might include discounts on regular monthly plans or additional senior-specific features like medication reminders or doctor check-in apps.
• Low-cost: Some cell phone companies offer perks to seniors. Seniors on a fixed income and those eligible for government programs can also benefit from low-cost cell phone plans.

A smartphone can do far more than a flip phone. The screens are much larger and easier to read, you can use voice capabilities to tell your phone what to do and convenient apps help with fitness tracking and medication reminders.

There’s always a learning curve for seniors who have never used a smartphone before. If you get a smartphone that’s overly complex, it can become confusing and tedious to use. Smartphones can also be difficult to set up, and because they are expensive, there is the potential for theft.

Some phone companies will either let you test out their phones before buying or provide a money-back guarantee for a limited time. It’s great to test a phone to make sure it’s loud enough, the buttons are big enough and the screen is readable.

Most phones are “locked,” meaning they are tied to a specific network. Unlocked phones are not tied to any specific network, so you can buy the phone and then choose the network you want.

A prepaid phone is a pay-as-you-go phone. You don’t have to subscribe to a monthly plan. Instead, you just pay for what you use.

If you have a flip phone, you might not need one, because flip phones are made to be durable. Dropping one in water, though, might destroy it. Protection plans are best for pricier smartphones that will cost a lot to repair.

Flip phones don’t require protective cases. Smartphones usually do require one, unless the phone is especially durable. Waterproof cases are available.