Verizon Phones and Plans for Seniors in 2026
Verizon Senior Plans: Takeaways
- For Florida residents ages 55 and over, Verizon offers unlimited talk, text, and data plans that start at $45 per month for one line or $80 for two lines.
- If you don’t live in Florida, then we’d recommend a Verizon prepaid plan, which includes unlimited talk, text, and 15 GB of data for $35 per month.
- If you’re looking for more affordable unlimited plans, we recommend checking out a senior plan from T-Mobile
FYI: Not a resident of Florida? Then check out our rundown of the best cell phone plans for seniors, where you can find plans from $15 per month.
Senior Discounts on Phone Plans
Verizon's senior plan is only available to Florida residents; however, the following three providers offer discounted cellular service in all 50 states.
Verizon Senior Plan Pros and Cons
What We Liked About Verizon
- Low-cost unlimited plans: Starting at $45 per month for one line, Verizon’s Florida 55+ plan is one of the most affordable options for unlimited talk, text, and data.
- Great network coverage: While other carriers offer unlimited plans for slightly less than Verizon, Verizon offers one of the fastest and most comprehensive networks providing cellular coverage.
- No long-term contracts: Once infamous for their binding two-year agreements, none of Verizon’s cell phone plans, senior or otherwise, require long-term contracts, and you can cancel your service anytime.
- Wide range of devices: One of Verizon's biggest perks is that the company sells more than 99 different smartphones, starting from about $178.
What We Didn't Like About Verizon
- Limited availability: Currently, Verizon’s 55+ plan is available to Florida residents only. If you’re looking for an affordable senior plan available nationwide, we’d recommend looking into T-Mobile’s senior plans.
Verizon Senior Plans and Pricing
Below, we’ve included Verizon’s 55+ senior plan in Florida, as well as their unlimited and prepaid plans. You’ll save the most by choosing a prepaid plan, but you’ll have slower speeds and may not have unlimited data.
| Plan | Monthly price (with Auto Pay) | Talk, text, and data allowance | Extra features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Prepaid 15 GB |
|
|
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| Verizon Prepaid Unlimited |
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Unlimited |
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| Verizon Florida 55+ |
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|
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| Verizon Unlimited Welcome |
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Unlimited |
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| Verizon Unlimited Plus |
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Unlimited |
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| Verizon Unlimited Ultimate |
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Unlimited |
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Verizon Wireless Plans for Seniors
Verizon offers a wireless plan designed specifically for seniors: the Verizon 55+ plan. This plan gives you unlimited talk and text, 5G data, and it starts at $45 per month per line. Two lines will cost $80 per month. Considering that this plan also includes service to Mexico and Canada and unlimited mobile hotspot usage, this is a great deal. Unfortunately, it’s currently available only to residents of Florida who are 55 or older.
Verizon’s Florida 55+ plan runs on Verizon’s Unlimited Welcome, which in and of itself is a good deal. For $25 a month (per line for four lines with offer credit), you get access to Verizon’s 5G network, a welcome phone upgrade, and a three-year price-lock guarantee.
However, if you don’t think you’ll use much data, we’d point you toward Verizon’s prepaid plans, which sometimes include limited data or no data at all. If you’re OK with just talk and text, you can save a ton of money with the $35 a month plan, but there are also options ranging from $50 to $60 a month (with autopay). But note that with the prepaid lines, you won’t have access to 5G Ultra Wideband, just 5G and 4G LTE.
Pro Tip: To learn more about ways to save with Verizon, be sure to check out our guide to senior phone discounts.
How to Purchase a Verizon Cellular Plan
If you’re comfortable using the internet, we would definitely recommend purchasing wireless plans and devices via Verizon’s easy-to-use website. Alternatively, you can visit one of Verizon’s many stores, where you can try out phones in person.
With Verizon, you can either purchase one of the company’s phones or bring your own phone to one of the plans. If you bring a phone, you’ll activate it using a SIM card, either a physical one or an eSIM. Currently, when you bring your own phone to a Verizon unlimited plan, you’ll get some potential discounts, such as up to 50 percent off two data plans for a separate tablet or smartwatch. There are also bundles available with home internet that start at $35 a month.
Verizon Wireless Prices for Seniors
If you’re lucky enough to live in Florida, you may think that Verizon’s 55+ plans would be a great, affordable option for those who want unlimited data. However, $45 a month for one line of unlimited data is higher than prices for unlimited data from Consumer Cellular ($40 per month) and Jitterbug ($20 per month).
A better option, if you’d like to stay on a major network, is T-Mobile’s senior plans, which start at $15 per month per line for unlimited talk and text plus 5GB of data.
Verizon Network Coverage
The benefit of choosing an unlimited plan with Verizon versus a prepaid plan is that you’ll have access to the 5G Ultra Wideband network, not just 5G and 4G LTE. 5G Ultra Wideband is even faster than regular 5G. While it’s not available everywhere in the country, you can find it in more urban areas, and it’s constantly expanding. To see the coverage in your area, look at Verizon’s coverage map or search your home address in the map’s look-up tool for more precise data.
Data Speeds
Your speed will depend upon which network you’re on, but not all plans include access to all networks. For 5G, you’ll need either a prepaid or an unlimited plan, while 5G Ultra Wideband is only available with the unlimited plans. Still, given that video chatting only requires around 25 Mbps, 5G should be sufficient for most people.
| Network | Typical download speed, Mbps | Typical upload speed, Mbps | Typical latency, ms | Compatible plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G Ultra Wideband | 195-634 | 10-53 | 37-57 | Unlimited |
| 5G | 35-143 | 5-31 | 42-64 | Prepaid, Unlimited, and 55+ |
| 4G LTE | 11-75 | 1-13 | 49-75 | Unlimited and Prepaid |
Extra Fees
Unfortunately, one drawback of Verizon is the carrier’s fees, which include:
- Activation fee: $35
- Late fee: $7 or 5 percent of the balance due, whichever is more, but there are no late fees with prepaid plans
- International fees: While the majority of Verizon’s plans include international texting plus talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada, there are other add-ons available for when you’re traveling abroad. Services vary by country and by the length of your trip. For example, being able to use your phone for data, talk, and text in India will cost $12 a day or $100 a month. You can also pay as you go, paying $1.79 for each minute of talk, and $2.05 for each MB of data usage.
Since there are no long-term contracts, however, there will be no early termination fees. There are also no data overage fees with any of the plans, even ones without unlimited data. However, if you go over your allowance, speeds will slow to 2G for the rest of the month, which could make high-bandwidth activities like streaming video or audio difficult if not impossible.
Verizon Cell Phones for Seniors
Verizon sells a variety of smartphones from brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, Kyocera, and more.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (Certified Pre-Owned)
One way to save money on a smartphone is to get a certified pre-owned device. Looking at prices for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, for instance, we had the option to choose by device conditions:
- Good: Visible damage including scuffs, scratches on the screen, and dents
- Very good: Some noticeable scuffs and scratches
- Great: Only a few small scuffs and scratches
You can also save money by choosing to have less local storage, either 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB. Prices range from around $560-$715. As far as the iPhone 15 Pro Max goes itself, we consider it one of the best iPhones for seniors, with a battery life of up to 29 hours, a 6.7-inch display, and compatibility with M3/T4 hearing aids.
Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3
A lot of older adults prefer the ease of using phones with physical buttons; here is one that fits the bill. This phone’s large fonts and clear display give it superior readability, while its exterior buttons are easy to use.
What we also love is that this hardy smartphone was built to be rugged in case you drop it, which is not the case with some fancier smartphones. Priced at $899.99, the Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3 is suited for older adults who would benefit from a long battery life, shatter-resistant screen, and 128 GB of storage.
Samsung Galaxy S24+
If you’re willing to spend more money, Verizon has a ton of smartphones to choose from, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24+ that retails for about $1,000. Its screen is even bigger than the iPhone SE’s at 6.7 inches, it has a 50 MP rear camera, and it includes Google Assistant, which can answer your questions and automate tasks like turning lights on and off. You’ll also be able to compose texts using just your voice, which is great for someone with visual impairments.
Be sure to check out our guides to the best flip phones for seniors, best iPhones for seniors, and best smartphones for seniors.
Verizon Returns and Exchanges
You can return a wireless device or accessory within 30 days of purchase, but you may be subject to a $50 restocking fee. If Verizon has to remove an installed device, there will be a separate charge for that. Therefore, it's best to thoroughly read the return policy before buying a device.
Bottom Line
Although we’re happy that Verizon offers a discount for customers in Florida, $45 a month for unlimited talk, text, and data in 5G isn’t that great of a deal. To save money, you can buy a prepaid plan, which starts at $35 a month, or opt for Verizon’s Unlimited Welcome plan, which starts at $25 a month.
To learn more about our favorite senior cell phones and plans, check out our helpful guides:
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Frequently Asked Questions about Verizon
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Does Verizon have a senior discount?
Verizon offers a senior discount only for residents of Florida who are 55 or older. With this plan, they can get unlimited talk, text, and 5G data for $45 per month for one line, or $80 per month for two lines.
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Do Verizon’s senior plans include 5G speeds?
Yes. Verizon’s Florida 55+ plan runs on the 5G network.
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Is there a warranty on the mobile devices sold by Verizon?
Every phone bought on the Verizon website comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. You may choose to buy an extended warranty for $19 per month per device, or $60 per month for three devices. This warranty will cover unlimited cracked screen repairs, battery replacements, and device optimizations, as well as coverage for other damages, thefts, and losses.
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Do I need to return my device to Verizon if I cancel my wireless plan?
If you’re within 30 days of the purchase of your device, you can return it to Verizon for a refund. However, you’ll have to pay a $50 restocking fee in every state except Hawaii. You will not be able to return the device past this 30-day window, even if you’ve canceled your wireless plan.
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Does Verizon sell any medical alert systems?
No, Verizon does not sell any medical alert systems. The only senior-centric device it sells is the Verizon Care Smart watch, which offers an SOS button to call emergency contacts quickly. However, it lacks fall detection, which many medical alert systems have.
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Does Verizon offer special discounts for AARP members?
No, Verizon doesn’t offer any special discounts for AARP members, unlike AT&T and Consumer Cellular.
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Do I need to sign a contract with Verizon?
No, you do not need to sign a contract with Verizon. All plans are month-to-month, and there are no early termination fees.
