The Unlimited Talk & Text plan from Consumer Cellular comes in ninth place in our list of the Best Cell Phone Plans of 2023. Consumer Cellular is based in Portland, Oregon, and has more than 4 million customers, most of whom are 50 years old or older.
It gives special discounts on wireless plans to AARP members. The company is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means it rents service from another carrier. All of its plans include unlimited talk time and texting. Data plans range from 1 gigabyte (GB) to unlimited data and cost between $20 and $55 per month.
Consumer Cellular Plans Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple, easy-to-understand plans at low cost | May not be adequate for heavy data users |
| Good for people who primarily use their phones to call and text | May not offer the newest phones |
| Good for less tech-savvy users |
Consumer Cellular’s strategy since the beginning has been to serve people who need a cell phone but don’t use it a lot. All of Consumer Cellular’s plans are simple. You can talk and text as much as you want, and you can choose between 1 GB and unlimited data. Consumer Cellular has one of the cheapest data plans, but compared to other cell phone plan providers in our rankings, its higher data plans may not be the best deal for heavy users. Also, if you think you don’t use much data and are thinking about the low-cost 1 GB plan, you should make sure that’s enough for you, since 1 GB usually only gives you enough data for 40 minutes of casual internet scrolling per day.
Also, since Consumer Cellular is an MVNO that rents towers from AT&T and T-Mobile, its customers may not have access to the full networks of AT&T and T-Mobile and may have slower speeds when the networks are busy because the carriers’ customers get priority.
Cell Phone Plans Available From Consumer Cellular
| COMPANY | 1 LINE | 2 LINES | 3 LINES | 4 LINES | 5 LINES |
| Consumer Cellular 1GB | $20 | $20 | $18 | N/A | N/A |
| Consumer Cellular 3GB | $25 | $23 | $20 | N/A | N/A |
| Consumer Cellular 7GB | $35 | $28 | $23 | N/A | N/A |
| Consumer Cellular 10GB | $40 | $30 | $25 | N/A | N/A |
| Consumer Cellular 15GB | $45 | $33 | $27 | N/A | N/A |
Consumer Cellular Installation Fees
Upon opening an account with Consumer Cellular, you are responsible for the first month of service as well as either the down payment or the full purchase price of your phone, plus all applicable taxes and fees. If you choose the monthly payment option, you must pay sales tax on the full purchase price of the gadget in addition to the first monthly payment.
You may also use your own phone, so long as it uses a SIM card. Consumer Cellular does not impose a SIM card fee. So, if you chose to use your own phone, you would just owe the first month’s subscription plus taxes and fees at the time of purchase.
Consumer Cellular Other Optional Features
Consumer cellular offer various optional features. New members who purchase an Apple device can add AppleCare for an extra $7.99 per month, or an Allstate-backed protection plan for most other devices beginning at $2 per month. This safeguards your device against accidental damage.
Consumers can add roadside assistance to any plan for an extra $3 per month. Consumer Cellular, in contrast to other carriers, offers only the protection package and roadside assistance as optional features.
Is Consumer Cellular Provides 5G Connection?
5G is available in over 14,000 cities around the country, but not over the all of Consumer Cellular’s service region. In regions where 5G is unavailable, 4G (LTE) service is typically still available. Generally, Consumer Cellular 5G service will be available in urban regions while 4G will be available in rural ones.
Consumer Cellular FAQs
Does Consumer Cellular offer a trial period?
Sure, but there is no free trial. Due to the fact that you pay for your first month of service at signup, your contract commences instantly. If you cancel inside the first 30 days for any reason, the service fees are returned.
You must return a phone within 14 days after purchase in like-new condition in order to receive a refund of the purchase price (or first installment) of the phone. The trial period for AARP members is 15 days longer than the regular risk-free period, but the phone return window remains 14 days.
Does Consumer Cellular offer a money-back guarantee?
If you cancel during the risk-free time, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel subsequently, however, your final bill will be prorated to the date of cancellation. To obtain a complete refund on a phone, it must be returned within 14 days.
How do I cancel my Consumer Cellular cell phone service?
Consumer Cellular customer support can be reached at 1-888-345-5509 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, seven days a week, according to the company’s website. Consumer Cellular will provide a return shipping label if you purchased a phone. Ensure the product is in like-new condition with the original box and components.
During the risk-free trial time, we recommend keeping the packaging to ensure your satisfaction with the service. Consumer Cellular’s cancellation criteria are identical to those of other carriers, despite the fact that cancellation is simple.
