What’s the Best Simple Cell Phone for Seniors?

Q: I would love to see an article on the best cell phone for senior citizens. I’m currently shopping for my aunt and frustrated that we can’t turn to Wirecutter for the “right” answer, which we just did to buy a blood pressure monitor!

Our must-have requirements are:

• Big, easy-to-use buttons (my aunt has a $10 Alcatel from Walmart right now and can barely operate the directional buttons with her shaky hands)
• SOS or 911 feature (if she’s having a stroke, she may not remember the number for 911, or how to dial it)
• Maybe GPS or a “Find Me” feature for 911 or family to locate
• Zero complexity, for someone who doesn’t even own a microwave or VCR/DVR
• A carrier plan that’s affordable

Jitterbug Flip

A cell phone for seniors

The Jitterbug Flip is simple and easy to use, with a large number pad and an emergency button that the owner can use to connect to a call center that will contact emergency services and access the exact location of the caller.

Buying Options

Buy from Amazon

A: We asked Laurie Orlov of Aging In Place Technology Watch, a market research firm that focuses on technology for seniors, to recommend a simple-to-use emergency phone for a senior with dexterity issues. She suggested we check out GreatCall, maker of the Jitterbug and other senior-oriented phones and calling plans.

The Jitterbug Flip ($100, with a $35 activation fee) is a simple flip phone, with large number-pad buttons and easy controls (up/down, yes/no, on/off, and speaker). The Flip also has a red “5Star” emergency button at the bottom of the keypad, which will connect the phone's owner with a call center that can access their exact location and contact emergency services on their behalf. The Flip has voice dialing, so the owner can just say who they want to call instead of dialing. And if the owner is ever confused about a feature, GreatCall says its customer service can help users do anything from programming their phones to placing calls.

PCMag gave the Flip an Excellent rating, citing strong call quality and great battery life (the reviewer measured over 10 hours of talk time on a single charge; if the phone sees use only occasionally or for emergencies, you should rarely need to charge it).

GreatCall’s most basic plan that includes calls and the 5Star service runs $25, with 50 minutes of talk. Voicemail ($3 per month) and text (300 texts for $3 per month) are extra. If you want to forgo access to 5Star, you can get 200 minutes of talk for $15 per month.

GreatCall also offers a free app for caregivers called Link. This app shows you the Flip’s location and battery status, and it receives an emergency notification whenever the 5Star button is pressed.

Consumer Cellular is another popular choice for people who want no-frills phones and calling plans (we chose this service as offering the best prepaid and alternative phone plan due to its good coverage and low rates). But the company's basic flip phone, the Doro PhoneEasy 626, doesn’t have GPS functionality, and the emergency-call button must be pressed three times to place an emergency call. The company has a $10, pay-as-you-go plan (you’d pay 25 cents per minute for calls); the next cheapest plan is $15 for 250 minutes. Overall, we think GreatCall is a better choice for what you’re looking for.

The Wirecutter’s editors answer reader questions all the time. Send an email to askwirecutter@thewirecutter.com, or talk to us on Twitter and Facebook. Published questions are edited for space and clarity.