Technologies
Best Senior Phone Plans of 2025
Over 55 years old? Save money on your phone bill with special plans from T-Mobile, AT&T or even small carriers like Mint.
Our Experts
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What to consider
Check that you’re actually saving money
Are you getting a better deal than a carrier’s standard plans and offers? Most seniors-only plans don’t provide substantial differences, so make sure it’s worth pursuing.
Ensure availability
Some are restricted to certain states or limited in other ways, so it’s worth checking the fine print to determine whether you’re arbitrarily shut out from an otherwise appealing senior plan.
Check the coverage area
See if users around you are happy with their carrier and plan. Online forums, social media and even asking around the neighborhood can be helpful to determine whether you’re about to sign up for disappointing speeds and service. If you’re converting to a senior plan with your existing carrier, check to see if competitors offer better service, here’s our guide to switching carriers.
Everyone with a smartphone needs a plan, and there are plenty of options that vary by data and price. Older friends and family may have different priorities, and with discounts, multi-line deals and extras, there’s a lot to consider when choosing the best phone plan for seniors. Some of these offer more data per month while others add mobile hotspot data as well as bundled extras like subscriptions to streaming services. Below we’ve rounded up the best plans for seniors and pointed out where they differ from their standard plan counterparts.
What is the best phone plan for older adults?
T-Mobile’s Essentials Choice 55 plan is a discounted version of the carrier’s Essentials plan suited for customers over 55 years old and is notably more affordable. Despite the value, Essentials Choice 55 still has 5G connectivity and 50GB of data, which is a generous allotment for a no-frills service without the extra bells and whistles of pricier plans.
Other carriers also offer discounted plans for people age 55 and older. These options can be combined with other deals and can be helpful for those on fixed incomes. Plans typically have some or all of the same features as standard plans from the same carrier. For the most part, subscribers shouldn’t expect much difference in service, but some of these plans may be missing fun perks like bundled streaming services.
Best senior phone plans of 2025
All the basics at a more affordable price
Pros
- The most affordable option among the three carriers
- 5G connectivity and 50GB of high-speed data in the US
- An affordable plan for seniors who just want to use their phone for basic apps and tasks without watching much video
Cons
- The plan only allows a maximum of two lines
- The 480p video quality is very low
- The 3G tethering speed is too slow for much more than checking email
- The plan lacks bundled extras like streaming service subscriptions
For one or two people who just want to stay connected at reasonable speeds but don’t need a lot of extra features (or don’t want to pay too much), T-Mobile offers a significantly cheaper plan for older adults than competitors with Essentials Choice 55. This plan includes 5G access and is $45 per month for one line or $60 per month total for two lines when signed up for autopay. It’s the best value for one or two people, though they won’t be able to expand to three or four lines.
The tradeoff is in the fine print, with Essentials Choice 55 customers getting lower speeds when they use over 50GB of data in a month or when T-Mobile’s network is congested from extensive customer activity, suggesting these customers are less prioritized than others. Video quality also «typically» streams at 480p, and tethering maxes out at 3G speeds (or 2G speeds in Mexico and Canada). The plan does give users access to T-Mobile’s Scam Shield, an app service that can auto-block suspected scam calls and let you change your number once a year if the calls get overwhelming. On the other hand, its mobile hotspot data is limited to T-Mobile’s older, slower 3G network.
For people with big data needs
Pros
- Cheaper than regular plans if not using autopay
- Has the same bundled perks as the standard Go5G Plus and Go5G Next plans
- New phone upgrade every two years (Go5G Plus 55) or every year (Go5G Next 55)
- Able to add up to four lines
Cons
- Same price as standard T-Mobile Go5G plans if using autopay
- More expensive than the Essentials 55 plan
T-Mobile also offers discounted versions of many of its regular plans for customers over 55 years old. For those who want a bit more functionality, data and some extras like getting a new phone every couple of years, T-Mobile’s slightly discounted Go5G Plus 55 is worth checking out.
Its Go5G Plus 55 plan is $75 per month for one line or $110 per month for two lines (expandable to $165 per month for three lines or $220 per month for four lines) with autopay enabled. Note that current discounts make this plan cost the same as a standard Go5G Plus plan if using autopay, but it’s less than the regular plan if you don’t plan on using autopay. The plan includes the same perks as T-Mobile’s standard plans, like up to 4K streaming, 50GB of 4G LTE hotspot data and 15GB of high-speed data (depending on the area, it may only be 4G LTE rather than 5G speeds) in Mexico and Canada. Plus, it includes subscriptions to Apple TV Plus and Netflix.
This plan also allows subscribers to upgrade their phone every two years, the same marquee perk that the standard Go5G Plus plan launched with. The only caveat is that plan owners will need to pay off 50% of their existing phone by the time they upgrade, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for most subscribers. Subscribers can also get the same discounts on devices that T-Mobile offers new customers switching from other carriers.
The Go5G Next 55 plan is pricier at $85 per month for one line or $130 per month for two lines (also expandable up to four lines) and identical except for one thing: Subscribers can upgrade their phones using new customer device offers every year instead of every two years.
Note that T-Mobile also offers Go5G 55 plan, which is cheaper than the above plans but offers less mobile hotspot data, fewer streaming services and doesn’t include two-year phone upgrades. If you can live without the phone upgrades and want to save a few bucks every month, opt for the Go5G 55 plan, which is $60 per month for one line or $90 for two lines, has 15GB of hotspot data per month and offers Netflix with ads.
T-Mobile also still offers its Magenta 55+ line, which starts at $50 per month for one line and goes up to $140 per month for four lines, offers up to 100GB of monthly data for the account and includes 6 months of Apple TV Plus as well as Netflix with ads, but only has 5GB of hotspot data. The catch is that you can’t find this within T-Mobile’s plan comparisons — you’ll need to call them directly to sign up for this or the slightly pricier Magenta MAX 55+ plan. On T-Mobile’s main cell phone plans page, click on «Learn more about Magenta and Magenta MAX plans» and find those options in the pop-up window.
Plus, only the customer who signed up for these plans needs to be 55 years old or older; anyone on additional lines needn’t fit that criteria.
Best prepaid plan for older people
Pros
- Very affordable
- Ideal for limited budgets
Cons
- Discount diminishes if not buying a year in advance
- Data cap is limited (other carriers offer as much as 50GB)
- No bundled extras
- Hotspot usage counts against the main data cap
Mint Mobile’s Mint 55 Plus plan is a modest but affordable plan that can be as cheap as $15 per month per line if signing up for 12 months in advance, $20 a month for six months or $25 per month for three months (customers must sign up for a minimum of three months). New customers can try the network for three months at a rate of $15 a month.
The tradeoff is that the Mint 55 Plus plan only offers 5GB of data per month, and mobile hotspot usage draws from that cap. Mint runs on T-Mobile’s 5G network, providing similar 5G and 4G LTE service and availability as native T-Mobile customers. The plan doesn’t offer any bundled extras like streaming service subscriptions, but it does provide access to the «MINTech Advisor» for on-call tech support in getting started with the plan, transferring phone numbers to the service and troubleshooting issues.
Currently, you can’t sign up for Mint 55 Plus online. You’ll need to call Mint’s hotline at 833-655-1768 to sign up over a call.
For people over 55 in Florida
Pros
- Discounted plans for residents of Florida
Cons
- Not available to US residents in the other states or territories
- No bundled extra features
Verizon has discounted plans for people aged 55 years and older, but they come with a huge caveat: They’re available only to those living in Florida. If you meet this requirement, you can get discounted plans that are pretty similar to the standard Verizon plans.
Verizon offers its 55 Plus Unlimited plan with one line for $62 per month or $84 for two lines when signed up for autopay. New customers switching to Verizon may have an easier time signing up; if you’re already a Verizon customer, you’ll need to talk to customer support to get your plan changed to Unlimited 55. The plan includes 5G Ultra Wideband service with unlimited low-speed (600Kbps) mobile hotspot access but lacks the bundled extras like streaming services you can add to conventional Verizon plans.
For seniors in Florida who don’t want Verizon
Pros
- Discounted plans for residents of Florida
Cons
- Not available to US residents in the other states or territories
- No bundled extra features
Verizon isn’t the only major US carrier with a special plan aimed at older adults living in Florida. AT&T has its Unlimited 55 Plus plan for slightly cheaper ($60 for one line or $80 for two lines). The plan includes 5G access as well as voice and data connectivity in Canada and Mexico. Current AT&T customers will need to visit an AT&T store to verify that they qualify for the plan. AT&T offers additional discounts for AARP members in Florida.
Factors to consider when choosing a plan
Check that you’re actually saving money: Are you getting a better deal than a carrier’s standard plans and offers? Most seniors-only plans don’t provide substantial differences, so make sure it’s worth pursuing.
Ensure availability: Some are restricted to certain states or limited in other ways, so it’s worth checking the fine print to determine whether you’re arbitrarily shut out from an otherwise appealing plan.
Check the coverage area: See if users around you are happy with their carrier and plan. Online forums, social media and even asking around the neighborhood can be helpful to determine whether you’re about to sign up for disappointing speeds and service. If you’re converting to a senior plan with your existing carrier, check to see if competitors offer better service. For that, here’s our guide to switching carriers.
How we test
Picking a wireless plan and carrier comes down to what matters most. What works for you or your older family member’s needs may be very different from those of your friends or neighbors.
We prioritize affordability and availability in our list, but those may not be the most important factors for you. If not, we recommend checking out our more general guides for plans, like our best cellphone plans and best family phone plans.
Value for older customers aside, every carrier differs in service. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage while others work better with Verizon or T-Mobile’s networks. Our recommendations are based on years of covering and evaluating the wireless carriers, their offerings and their performance.
Senior phone plans FAQs
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Google Making AI-Powered Glasses With Warby Parker, Gentle Monster
Google revealed its first two partnerships with eyeglass brands, with more to come.
The tech world has rarely been called stylish. But at Google’s annual I/O developers conference on Tuesday, the company took one step into the fashion world — kind of. The company revealed that the first eyeglass brands to carry Android XR AI-powered glasses will be Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, with more brand partners to be revealed in the future. Android XR is Google’s upcoming platform for VR, AR and AI on glasses and headsets.
Yes, there was a Superman joke as the company joked that unlike Clark Kent, who hid his superpowers behind nerdy glasses, the Android XR glasses will give you superpowers. That remains to be seen, although NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo did show up at Google I/O wearing the XR glasses.
Warby Parker, founded in 2010, was originally an online eyeglass retailer that gained fame for its home try-on program, where customers could order five frames sent to their home to try on and then return. It also allowed customers to upload photos to see how they would look wearing different frames.
South Korean eyeglass brand Gentle Monster, founded in 2011, is known for its luxury eyeglasses and sunglasses. The company’s celebrity customers include Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish.
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Google I/O Announcements: The Latest AI Upgrades Coming to Gemini, XR and More
From its new Project Aura XR glasses to Chrome’s wants-to-be-more-helpful AI mode, Gemini Live and new Flow generative video tool, Google puts AI everywhere.
As you’d expect, this year’s Google I/O developer’s conference focused almost exclusively on AI — where the company’s Gemini AI platform stands, where it’s going and how much it’s going to cost you now for its new AI Ultra subscription plan (spoiler: $250 per month). Meanwhile, a new Flow app expands the company’s video-generation toolset, and its Android XR glasses make their debut.
Plus, all AI usage and performance numbers are up! (Given that a new 42.5-exaflop Ironwood Tensor processing unit is coming to Google Cloud later this year, they’ll continue to rise.)
Google’s Project Aura, a developer kit for Android XR that includes new AR glasses from Xreal, is the company’s next step in the company’s roadmap toward glasses-based, AI-driven extended reality. CNET’s Scott Stein goes in-depth in an exclusive interview with Shahram Izadi, Google’s VP and GM for Android XR about that future. And headset-based Project Moohan, developed in conjunction with Samsung, is now available, and Google’s working with Samsung to extend beyond headsets.
For a play-by-play of the event, you can read the archive of our live blog.
Google already held a separate event for Android, where it launched Android 16, debuting its new Material 3 Expressive interface, updates to security and an update on Gemini integration and features.
A lot of the whizzy new AI features are only available via one of its subscription levels. AI Pro is just a rebranding of Google’s $20-per-month Gemini Advanced plan (adding some new features), but Google AI Ultra is a pricier new option — $250 per month, with half off the first three months for the moment — that provides access to the latest, spiffiest and least usage-limited of all its tools and models, as well as a prototype for managing AI agents and the 30 terabytes of storage you’re going to need to store it all. They’re both available today.
Google also wants to make your automation sound smarter with Personalized Smart Replies, which makes your generated answers sound more like you, as well as plowing through pieces of information on your device to provide relevant information. It’ll be in Gmail this summer for subscribers. Eventually, it’ll be everywhere.
Also, it includes lots of better models, better coding tools and other details on developer-friendly things you expect from a developer conference. The announcement included its conversational Gemini Live, formerly part of Project Astra, its interactive, agentic, voice AI, kitchen sink AI app. (As Managing Editor Patrick Holland says, «Astra is a rehearsal of features that, when they’re ready for the spotlight, get added to Gemini Live.») And for researchers, NotebookLM incorporates Gemini Live to improve its… everything.
It’s available now in the US.
Chrome AI Mode
People (that is, those over 18) who pony up for the subscriptions, plus users on the Chrome Beta, Dev and Canary tracks, will be able to try out the company’s expanded Gemini integration with Chrome — summary, research and agentic chat based on the contents of your screen, somewhat like Gemini Live does for phones (which, by the way, is available for free on Android and iOS as of today). But the Chrome version is more suited to the type of things you do at a computer rather than a phone. (Microsoft already does this with Copilot in its own Edge browser.)
Eventually, Google plans for Gemini in Chrome to be capable of synthesizing using multiple tabs and voice navigation.
The company is also expanding how you can interact with its AI Overviews in Google Search as part of AI Mode, with interactions with AI Overviews and more agentic shopping help. It’s a new tab with search, or on the search bar, and it’s available now. It includes deeper searches, Personal Context — which uses all the information it knows about you, and that’s a lot — to make suggestions and customize replies.
The company detailed its new AI Mode for shopping, which has an improved conversational shopping experience, a checkout that monitors for the best pricing, and an updated «try on» interface that lets you upload a photo of yourself rather than modeling it on a generic body.
Google plans to launch it soon, though the updated «try on» feature is now available in the US via Search Labs.
Google Beam
Formerly known as Project Starline, Google Beam is the updated version of the company’s 3D videoconferencing, now with AI. It uses a six-camera array to capture all angles of you, which the AI then stitches together, uses head tracking to follow your movements, and sends at up to 60 frames per second.
The platform uses a light field display that doesn’t require wearing any special equipment, but that technology also tends to be sensitive to off-angle viewing. HP is an old hand in the large-scale scanning biz, including 3D scanning, so the partnership with Google isn’t a big surprise.
Flow and other generative creative tools
Google Flow is a new tool that builds on Imagen 4 and Veo 3 to perform tasks like creating AI video clips and stitching them into longer sequences, or extending them, with a single prompt while keeping them consistent from scene to scene. It also provides editing tools like camera controls. It’s available as part of Gemini AI Ultra.
Imagen 4 image generation is more detailed, with improved tonality and better text and typography. And it’s faster. Meanwhile, Veo 3, also available today, has a better understanding of physics and native audio generation — sound effects, background sounds and dialogue.
Of course, all this is available under the AI Pro plan. Google’s Synth ID gen AI detection tool is also available today.
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