Consumer Cellular

[Michael Weber]

We have had consumer cellular for more than 10 years. I got it because at the time they offered up to 5 numbers for different phones. So the family shared one account. Each number cost only a few extra dollars a month. I use little data so I stay with the very inexpensive plans. As noted, you cannot use them out of the country. Even Canada. They sell a variety of phones which I have taken advantage of a few times. Zero percent interest financing if you want to do that and they add the payment onto your monthly bill. In the decade or more I’ve used them I have found no reason to complain. Their customer service has been excellent. I will note ownership recently changed so things could change.

[Lee DeRaud]

You can get unlimited data on consumer cellular.

If you really need unlimited data, there are probably cheaper alternatives. But if you're not watching movies on your phone, the lower tiers work fine. I've never gotten anywhere near the limit of my 3GB plan, even on vacations when Android Auto is constantly shoving Google Maps through the car's screen. And of course data over the WIFI at home doesn't count.

I think they are only allowed to advertise to the older crowd...

That's why I call it "BoomerCom". But yeah, there's an AARP discount.

[Alan Rutherford]

As several people said, it's the carrier that matters with coverage. I have to walk outside to make a cell call on Verizon. My wife is on AT&T and not much better. A newer phone might be somewhat better but nobody does well around here.

We've had Tracfones for years and are spending about $6-7/month each. The phones offered with the good package deals are not as full-featured as other versions of the same phones, but for what we're paying I have no complaints about the phones (as distinct from the service). Most Tracfones I've looked at lately seem to be on Verizon.

[Dave Lehnert]

I have been a Tracfone customer for years. Best deals are online with a promo code. I pay around $75 a year. You are paying full price if buying cards at the store.

I have the Amazon Alexa app on my phone. As long as I'm connected to WiFi I can make phone calls through the app, and dont cost me a thing or use my Tracfone Min. I am connected to Wifi at work and home so I dont use much Min. The calls are also clearer than the cell phone.

With Tracfone the towers it uses depends on the model phone you have. My last phone was ATT. New one is Verizon. Verizon purchased Tracfone not long ago so that may have changed.

[Steve Demuth]

My wife has a US Mobile plan, roughly $10/month. It's always worked well, but it uses the Verizon LTE network in most places, so unless your challenges are 3G related (which I don't doubt, given the age of that network). The only drawback to US Mobile is that they don't support voice calls over wifi unless you're on a GSM network. But my wife uses the phone very little, so it's not a really big deal for us.

[Alan Rutherford]

Our older Tracphones don't support wifi calling but I believe all the current ones do. That would solve our problem with coverage at home and should do the same for the OP, whether with Tracfone, Consumer Cellular or whatever.

[glenn bradley]

Been with Consumer Cellular since retirement. Very happy. Great customer service. Good prices. The AARP discount pays for our AARP membership and then some.

[Jerome Stanek]

I have a track phone and I get my cards bundled with a new phone from HSN or QVC who ever has the best deal I pay about $70 a year and I have a phone that I can sell or use.