Lively’s Jitterbug Phone Review: Superb for Seniors
Ninety-five percent of adults 65 and older have a cell phone now, and nearly eight out of 10 older adults own smartphones.1 But even tech-savvy seniors can benefit from cell phone design elements and features created with older adults in mind. Lively’s Jitterbug phones offer plenty of both: simple menus and large buttons for ease of use and extra safety features that help improve seniors’ quality of life. That’s why Jitterbug phones by Lively — a subsidiary of Best Buy — are two of our favorite cell phones for seniors.
Because of their simplified designs and intuitive interfaces, Jitterbug phones have consistently scored among our top-rated phones for seniors. They also performed well in our safety tests, giving users quick access to help in emergencies. Additionally, compared to other cell phones, these devices are highly affordable. Currently, they're both on sale for half off or more, depending on the phone.
In this Jitterbug phone review, we'll examine the current lineup of Jitterbug phones and their safety features. We'll also compare them to other phones made specifically for seniors.
FYI: To learn about our favorite cellular providers, check out our guide to senior cell phone plans.
Lively Jitterbug Pros and Cons
Pros
- Features for older adults: Lively devices are designed specifically for older adults, with simplified navigation and a dedicated urgent response button.
- Affordable plans: Lively plans start at $14.99 per month, making them one of the most affordable wireless providers.
- Powerful network: Lively uses Verizon's wireless network, one of the best in terms of speed and coverage.
Cons
- No 5G support: Lively phones connect to a 4G LTE network.
- Overage charges: Going over your monthly data allowance with the Smart4 means charges of $0.02 per MB. Speeds will be slower if you go over your data with the Flip2, but there are no overage fees.
- Activation fees: We had to pay a $35 activation fee for each of our Jitterbug phones.
Our methodology: How we tested Lively's Jitterbug phones
We spent two weeks testing Lively Jitterbug phones to help older adults decide if they’re the best cell phones for their needs and budgets. Here are the criteria we used to evaluate Jitterbug phones and Lively service.
- Purchase and setup: We bought both the Jitterbug Flip2 and Smart4 through Lively's website to replicate the typical customer experience. We navigated the plan selection process, paid activation fees, and followed all setup instructions to fully understand the process.
- Hands-on testing: We tested both devices’ performance during our typical daily routines. That included making calls, sending messages, and exploring each phone's unique capabilities. During these tests, we assessed audio clarity, screen readability, button responsiveness on the Flip2, and touchscreen functionality on the Smart4.
- Health features: We activated and evaluated Lively's add-on offerings, including pressing the urgent response button to connect with agents, consulting with healthcare professionals through Nurse On-Call, as well as testing voice commands on the Smart4 using Google Assistant.
- Customer service: We emailed and called Lively customer service representatives several times. In addition to noting the wait times of each call, we evaluated agent helpfulness, courteousness, and patience to make sure older adults are likely to get the help they need with billing, phone function, or service questions.
- Comparison analysis: We benchmarked Lively's pricing structure, data packages, and device costs against Consumer Cellular and other senior-focused carriers. Since Lively operates on Verizon's network, we analyzed coverage reliability and documented any limitations with data speeds and 5G availability.
Purchasing Lively Jitterbug Phones
You can purchase Lively Jitterbug phones:
- Over the phone: Call 800-650-5918
- On the company's website: Visit lively.com
- At big box stores: Check out large chain retailers, such as Best Buy and Target
We purchased our phones from the company's website, which clearly listed the two Jitterbug cell phone options: the Flip2 for $79.99 and the Smart4 for $119.99. As of this writing, however, the phones are on sale for $39.99 and $47.99, respectively. Even at the full retail price, the Smart4 is much cheaper than the average smartphone, which is expected to cost $328 or more on average by 2029.2
Having dealt with tricky cellular providers in the past, we're always on the lookout for the fine print. With Lively, there are no long-term contracts. However, we did pay a $35 activation fee for each of our phones. Pro tip!: You can save $10 on the activation fee if you activate your phone online rather than over the phone.
After choosing our phones, we paired each of them with a Lively plan. Note that this is required: Lively Jitterbug phones will not work with carriers other than Lively. Also note that none of Lively’s Jitterbug phones support 5G, meaning you'll only get 4G LTE service.
To learn more about how Lively's plans work, read our article on Jitterbug's phone plans.
FYI: If unlimited data is important to you, check out our guide to the best cell phone plans for seniors, which covers a range of plans with unlimited talk, text, and data options.
Lively Jitterbug Plans and Pricing
Lively currently offers three different plans: Basic, Preferred, and Premium.
For the Jitterbug Smart4, each of these plans includes unlimited talk and text, plus 1 GB of data. However, you can buy more data for additional costs per month: 5 GB of additional data costs another $5 per month, 10 GB of data costs an additional $15, and unlimited data costs an additional $30 per month.
Flip2 plans include 300 minutes and 300 texts per month, but you can upgrade to unlimited talk and text for an additional $5 per month. Each plan’s features are noted in the chart below.
Urgent Response: When we pressed the urgent response button, it connected us to a response agent. If we were in need of medical assistance, our agent could have contacted emergency services.
Lively Rides: For extra fees, we could dial zero and arrange a ride with Lyft over the phone, no app required.
Nurse on Call: We could speak to an actual nurse or doctor instead of making an appointment!
Lively Link: Family members and caregivers can download this app for free and receive notifications whenever our phone places an urgent response call or runs low on battery.
Care Advocate: Users work with experts to create personalized health and care plans.
Jitterbug Plans Comparison
| Basic | Preferred | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price (Flip2) | $15 | $34.99 | $44.99 |
| Monthly Price (Smart4) | $20 | $39.99 | $49.99 |
| Unlimited Talk and Text |
Smart4: Yes Flip2: $5 more per month |
Smart4: Yes Flip2: $5 more per month |
Smart4: Yes Flip2: $5 more per month |
| Lively Rides (for additional fees) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Urgent Response | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lively Link App | No | Yes | Yes |
| Care Advocate | No | No | Yes |
| Nurse on Call | No | No | Yes |
Setting Up Our Jitterbug Phones
Once we received our purchases, we found a phone, a wall charger, and instructions in each box that helped us through the simple setup process. For extra guidance, Lively’s website includes a help page with clickable quick-start and full service manuals for each phone. First, we plugged each of our phones into its charger, plugged those into an outlet, and waited a couple of hours for their batteries to power up.
Once they were fully charged, we dialed the service number listed in the manual, confirmed our information, and our phones were ready to use.
Keep your number: Before you activate your Lively phone, be sure to contact the customer service line, as they might be able to transfer an existing cellular or landline number to your new device.
Who Jitterbug Phones Are Best For
The Jitterbug Flip2 and the Jitterbug Smart4 cater to different types of users. The Flip2 is made for those seeking an ultra-simple device, while the Smart4 is ideal for those looking for smartphone features with a streamlined interface. Here’s more about each phone’s specifications and what we liked about each one.
Jitterbug Flip2
Unlike modern phones that can fill in for laptop computers, the Jitterbug Flip2 has a limited feature set. But for people who don’t need a lot of bells and whistles, this could be a plus.
In our test calls, we were pleased with both the volume and clarity of the audio, especially on speakerphone. With nearly one-quarter of adults 65 to 74 years old experiencing some degree of hearing loss,3 a powerful speaker is a great feature to have. The Flip2 is also hearing aid-compatible and capable of “readout” with Amazon Alexa. This means you can command the phone to read the menu aloud to you using your voice or by pressing the Alexa button.
Pro Tip: By turning on the “Just Ask Alexa” feature, you can ask Alexa questions just by flipping open your phone. The “Use From Menu” setting means you’ll have to use the down arrow to find and click on Amazon Alexa before asking something.
The Flip's screen is small (3.2 inches) when compared to a typical smartphone, but it’s very bright. We could read both numbers and messages easily in the Flip’s large 32-point font. And with the keypad’s large, backlit buttons, typing on the phone is a breeze.
Our favorite feature of the Flip, however, was the dedicated urgent response button on the side of the phone: Instead of dialing 911 in an emergency, Flip users can press one button and immediately be connected with someone who can send help, which is an invaluable feature for older adults.
Jitterbug Flip2 Video Review
Jitterbug Smart4
The Smart4 can make calls, send messages, and utilize a wide range of voice commands via Google Assistant. Additionally, it has a larger screen, at 6.6 inches, plus a longer battery life: up to 37 hours of talk time.
We tested the voice commands and were impressed by their accuracy and convenience. This allowed for hands-free calling, messaging, and browsing.
Jitterbug Smart4 Video Review
The Jitterbug Smart4 offers health and safety features unavailable with most other smartphones, such as the Urgent Response button, on-call nurse, and Care Advocate service. Like other smartphones, the device does not have fall-detection capability. But it is equipped with GPS, so the Lively Link app can send alerts to loved ones to help keep Smart4 phone users safe. GPS capability is crucial to ensure emergency responders can find users who have called for help via the Urgent Response feature.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
Lively Jitterbug phones are not the fastest on the market — they run on 4G LTE, not 5G. Lively is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), meaning their phones are on Verizon’s network. Although Verizon has a powerful nationwide network, MVNOs like Lively might experience throttled speeds during times of network congestion.
>> Learn more: Verizon Phones and Plans for Seniors in 2026
Why does that matter? Because if you use a cell phone to watch a lot of videos and stream content, the slower speeds might be frustrating. But while Jitterbug phones might not be best for ardent gamers, we did not experience any lagging speeds during our testing period.
Also keep in mind that the 1 GB of data included with Lively phone plans isn’t much, so be sure to factor in the costs of additional data each month, if you need it. Lively Jitterbug phones are also not the best choice for frequent travelers or people who make a lot of international calls. International roaming charges in some countries can cost $2 a minute if you want to use your Jitterbug phone while traveling.
Jitterbug vs. Consumer Cellular
Lively and Consumer Cellular are two of the most popular makers of cell phones designed especially for older adults. There are a few key differences between the two.
Lively offers only six phones on their website, compared with more than 30 on Consumer Cellular’s website. But while Lively sells two branded phones, the Jitterbug Flip2 and Smart4, Consumer Cellular has just one phone under its own brand, the IRIS Flip. Both companies allow you to use your own phone with their services, and neither company’s phones support 5G.
>> Further reading: How Snapfon and Lively phones and plans compare
All of Consumer Cellular's plans include data, but you must add a data plan for the Smart4 from Lively if you want 5 GB of data or more. Overall, Lively's data pricing is comparable to Consumer Cellular's — but keep in mind you'll also be paying a monthly service fee on top of data costs. Consumer Cellular is likely to be the more budget-friendly choice, but it will depend on the features and plans you choose.
For example, Lively’s Preferred plan for the Smart4 is $39.99 a month and includes urgent response button functioning. Consumer Cellular’s IRIS Flip doesn’t have an emergency button; for that function, you’d need to purchase a separate device, the IRIS Ally. The Ally costs $99 and an additional $25 a month for monitoring. With the Ally, however, you get automatic fall detection, which isn’t available even with the most expensive Lively service plan.
| Amount of data per month | Consumer Cellular | Lively |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $20 | $19.99 |
| 5 GB | $25 | $39.99 |
| 10 GB | $35 | $49.99 |
| 20 GB | $45 | n/a |
| Unlimited GB | $35 for 50+ users, $60 for under 50 | $50 or more depending on plan |
Consumer Cellular gives AARP members a 5 percent discount on their monthly bills. And Consumer Cellular is likely cheaper if you want multiple lines — each additional line is $15 more per month. Lively offers family plans as well: $5 off for two lines, $10 off three lines, and $15 off your monthly bill with four phone lines.
Lively's main advantage, however, is that its phones have an urgent response button and other health and safety feature add-ons that may be worth the extra money for many older adults.
To learn more, read our Consumer Cellular review.
Compare Jitterbug to Other Brands
The Bottom Line
Lively offers the best of both worlds when it comes to cell phones — they’re super easy to navigate and use but also technologically advanced. And both Jitterbug phones are currently at least 50 percent off their retail prices, making them very affordable for most seniors.
Lively also offers affordable plans that can be customized, depending on the features you want. If you mainly call and text and maybe take photos with your phone, you can choose a simple flip phone and service for just $20 a month. Or you can opt for the Smart4 and the Premium phone plan, which gives you access to a 24-hour on-call nurse, Care Advocate services, and an urgent response button.
Although the Smart4 offers these additional health features, it’s not a perfect substitute for a medical alert system and shouldn't be thought of as such. But for the older adult looking for a simple and affordable way to keep in touch with friends and family, Lively is an excellent option.
To learn more about our favorite cellular providers, check out our additional guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Can I keep my cell phone number when switching to Lively?
Yes. Contact Lively’s customer support line to confirm that your current number is eligible. Additionally, wait until your account has been transferred before canceling your current service.
-
Does Lively have overage charges?
Yes, Lively has data overage charges. We recommend checking Lively’s website for the latest per-minute, per-text, and per-MB overage rates, as these can change with plan updates.
-
Do Lively phones come with any kind of warranty or return policy?
Lively phones offer a 30-day return window and a one-year warranty on the device, batteries, and accessories. Returns incur a $10 restock fee and are only accepted if total talk time is under 30 minutes. The first 30 days of service and related charges are nonrefundable.
-
Do Jitterbug phones have features for those who suffer from visual impairment?
Yes, Jitterbug phones have features for people with visual impairments, such as large, bright color screens, legible fonts, and voice command features.
-
How is Urgent Response different from a traditional medical alert system?
A traditional medical alert system is used primarily for health emergencies. Lively’s Urgent Response service is available in any situation in which you might need help, such as car breakdowns.
When you press the Urgent Response button, you are immediately connected to a trained agent who will assess the situation and coordinate any necessary assistance.
