Best Phone Plans for Seniors

What separates the best phone plans for seniors on this page?

Three plans, three different jobs. AT&T Prepaid scores 8.5 and costs $25 a month on the annual prepaid plan — $300 a year for unlimited on AT&T, with phone support and stores. Verizon scores 8.3 at $65 for one line, and the reason it sits here is coverage: it never lost signal on either rural drive. Cricket Wireless scores 8.2 at $55 for one line, but four lines for $100 with taxes included is where it earns its place.

Look at the prices before the scores. AT&T Prepaid is the cheapest single line by a wide margin, and the monthly price without the annual prepay is $65. Verizon's four lines run $120 with autopay. Cricket's four lines run $100, taxes included. If you are buying for one person, the math points one way; if you are buying for a household, it points another.

What should you check before buying a senior phone plan?

Our scoring puts Value at 30 and Coverage & network at 25, so start there.

• Hotspot: AT&T Prepaid includes 10 GB. Verizon's Welcome plan has no hotspot and no premium data. Cricket's base unlimited has no hotspot either.
• Network priority: AT&T Prepaid is deprioritised behind postpaid at busy times. If you stream or take calls in crowded places, that matters.
• In-person help: Cricket has thousands of stores, AT&T Prepaid has stores and phone support, and Verizon has its own. If you want a person to fix a problem, all three give you a door to walk into.
• Perks: Verizon's 55+ plan in Florida and myPlan perks add streaming at $10 each. Perks & features is 15 of the score, so only pay for them if you will use them.

AT&T Prepaid — the single line on a budget

Best for one person who wants unlimited on AT&T for $25 a month on the annual prepaid plan and will use the 10 GB hotspot. Accept the deprioritisation and the $65 monthly price if you skip the annual prepay.

Verizon — the rural driver

Best for someone who drives where signal drops. It never lost signal on either rural drive, and four lines for $120 with autopay brings the per-line cost down. One line at $65 is the trade-off.

Cricket Wireless — the family

Best for a household of four: $100 for four lines of unlimited, taxes included, on AT&T coverage, with thousands of stores for in-person help. One line at $55 is poor value, and the base unlimited has no hotspot.

For one line on a tight budget, AT&T Prepaid at $25 a month on the annual prepaid plan is the pick. For rural driving and a household of four, Verizon at $120 for four lines with autopay holds signal where others drop. For four lines with taxes included and a store nearby, Cricket Wireless at $100 is the family answer.