How To Find The Cellphone Plan That’s Right For You

Picking a cellphone plan is like picking the toppings to a pizza­–everyone has different preferences. Some people only need a basic plan to make a few phone calls now and then. Others find their cellphones indispensable, and need access to a steady and fast stream of data all the time. One size simply never fits all!

In order to find a cellphone plan that is right for you and your individual needs, it is important to assess your usage. This will help to ensure you don’t end up paying more than you need to for a package that is designed for heavier users. It will also ensure that, if you are a heavy data user, you don’t have to worry about running out. The easiest way to accurately assess your needs is to take a look at a previous invoice. You’ll see the amount of data, minutes and messages you’re using.

You can also look at data usage on your smartphone. For iPhone, go to Settings, then Cellular, and scroll down to see how much has been used in the current period. For Android users, go to Settings, then Data Usage, and scroll down to see what you’ve used. Keep in mind that if you’re accessing Wi-Fi at home or at the office, you are not using data from your cellular plan, so factor this into how much data you really need.

Once you have this information, compare it to what’s included with the plan you’re currently on. If it offers too little—or way more than you’re actually using—see if different cellphone plans are available that fit your needs better, and more affordably.  With Consumer Cellular, we offer plans designed to fit every type of user. Best of all, they’re completely flexible—if your needs change, you can switch plans right up to the last day of a billing cycle with no extra fees for doing so. We also automatically upgrade your plan if you go over your data usage, so you get the best rate for what you actually use, rather than paying a penalty.

And don’t forget about the advantages of a family plan. For just $15 a month per line, you can add family members or friends to your Consumer Cellular account, so everyone can share the minutes, texts, and data on your plans. Plus, calls between lines on the same account are free, so your minutes, and the savings, go even further.

There are plans available to suit all requirements, preferences, and budgets these days. Don’t settle for pepperoni when you really want peppers and mushrooms! All you have to do is determine your needs and then look for the most suitable cellphone plan to get what’s right for you.

53 Thoughts on "How To Find The Cellphone Plan That’s Right For You"

  1. JAMES N BYRNE says

    Why don’t you recognize my password on my phone but you do on my PC?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, James. It sounds as though you’re having difficulty logging in to your account. You may try our My CC app and see if the login feature works properly. If not, please give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we will be happy to look into this further. We appreciate you sharing your experience, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  2. Berneice Jones says

    Good day, please forward me additional information regarding the Consumer Cellular $15.00 per month plan.

    Thank you.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for taking the time to learn more about us, Berneice. We’re happy to tell you more about our plans at 888-345-5509. Our $15 plan includes 250 minutes each month, and we also offer many affordable options that include text messaging and data. We appreciate you posting, and we hope to speak with you soon!

  3. Linda K. Roberson says

    I use 403mb!! What plan do I need? How much?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Great question, Linda! It looks like your usage falls between our 250MB and 1GB plans. You can sign up for our 250MB plan, and if you exceed that amount, you’ll automatically switch to the 1GB plan. That way, if you use less data than expected, you won’t pay for more data than you need. If you find that you need 1GB for one month, but not the next, you can change to a smaller plan up until the last day of your billing cycle. We’re happy to talk to you about our plans or answer any other questions you may have at 888-345-5509. Thanks for posting today!

    • Zkinny says

      $25 you will have unlimited talk & text and 2GB of Data.

  4. Kathy Reynolds says

    Regarding picking a cell phone plan on CC. I have four phones on my plan one is an iPhone which uses the most Data. We are doing all the right things using Wi-Fi…have the right settings on all phones. No one can explain how some some months we exceed 10 GB then I’m charged $5 for any extra GB used and CC slows us all down. Does anyone else run into this issue?
    Kathy

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for posting, Kathy. I was able to take a look at your account, and I see that Hollie, our account advisor, has been able to reach out to you with some tips and tricks to try. We hope you find them useful, and if we can be of any further assistance, please call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate your comments, and we hope you have a great day!

  5. christine moreau says

    I’m new and I want to sign up for a phone

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s great to hear, Christine! If you’re ready, just give us a call at 888-345-5509 and we can help you get started. You can also visit your local Target store and their staff will help you choose a phone and a plan. We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about us, and we’re excited to welcome you to Consumer Cellular!

  6. Diana Loyd says

    Can I use my own phone?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Diana! Many of our customers use a phone they already own when they switch to our service. Our SIM card can be used with most unlocked GSM phones, and you can learn more about how it works here. Our SIM cards can be found on our website, at your local Target store or we can send you one if you call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about us, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  7. Mary says

    I have been using alot of data while I was traveling last month but now Im home and want to change back to smaller amount. please advise how I can save money.
    Thanks
    Mary

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Mary! If you were automatically upgraded to a larger plan while you were traveling, we recommend using Wi-Fi as much as possible for the rest of the billing cycle. Then, once the billing cycle is finished, be sure to switch back to a smaller plan. Thanks to our automatic upgrade program, we’ll make sure you’re on the right plan for your amount of usage. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to post today!

  8. G. William Paulson says

    How much would a plan cost with unlimited text and talk, and at least 12 GB of data?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for taking the time to learn more about us! At this point in time, our largest data plan offers 10GB of data. You can learn more about our plan options here. We’re happy to tell you more about our service at 888-345-5509, and answer any questions you may have. Thank you again for taking the time to post, and we hope to speak with you soon!

  9. John glasgow says

    Are calls to / from Canada included in our plan ??
    If not, what options do we have ?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, John! Your plan includes calls within the United States. We also offer very affordable international rates, with calls to Canada available for $0.04 per minute. You can learn more about our international rates here if you like. We can also answer any additional questions you may have at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a lovely day!

  10. Nancy Zellner says

    I have an alcatel one touch can I get just talk and texting

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for posting, Nancy! I reviewed your account, and I see that you’re using the Alcatel Pop 3. If you just need talk and text, we recommend using our Unlimited Minutes plan with our 250MB Connect plan which includes unlimited texting. That way, you can talk and text as much as you want for just $25 each month. We’re happy to take a look at your plan and make sure you’re using the best option for your needs at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to comment, and we hope you have a wonderful day!

  11. Brenda Posey says

    I have a smartphone. My husband has a flip phone (which he prefers).
    I need unlimited text and calling. I rarely use 1 Gbt, but have occassionally used 1.2….My husband rarely texts and never uses data.
    Which plan to you suggest? Also , I need a new phone. Are their any specials or deals that you are currently offering?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re happy to recommend a plan for you, Brenda. It sounds as if our Unlimited Minutes plan and 1GB Connect plan would be the right fit. These would allow you and your husband to have unlimited minutes and text messages, along with 1GB of data. You can view this plan in more detail here. With our automatic upgrade feature, you’ll be moved to a larger Connect plan if you exceed 1GB, helping you avoid any overage charges. Then you can always switch back to your original plan the following month. As for devices, we offer a variety of options and price points, which you can take a look at here. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509 if we can answer any questions or help you get started. Thank you for posting, and we hope you have a great day!

  12. Pat says

    do you have a person on line for a chat to answer questions?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Pat! We offer a one-on-one chat option during business hours, which you can find here. That way, our account advisors can assist you with questions or troubleshooting in real time. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

  13. Karen Vaught-Alexander says

    On my bill my phone and data charges become higher amounts by up to $2 than what my separate charging shows.
    10G data $38= $40
    250 min calls $14.25=$15
    Why the overcharge?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for asking, Karen! Your AARP discount is taken off at the end of your invoice, so that difference represents the 5% monthly member discount. We’re happy to answer any other billing questions you may have at 888-345-5509, so please don’t hesitate to call. We appreciate you reaching out to us, and we hope you have a lovely day!

  14. Tracy Constantine says

    I would like to open up a phone account, currently I have no home phone!

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We can help you with that, Tracy! You can get started on our website here, or even drop by your local Target store. And of course, we’re happy to help you choose a plan and phone at 888-345-5509. Thank you for posting today, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

  15. Hosea May says

    i NEED MY NEW PHONE PLEASE. THANK YOU CONSUMER CELLULAR. MR.Hosea May

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Hosea. I was able to review your account, and I see that your order has shipped! You’ll be receiving an email with more tracking details shortly. If we can provide any other details, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you reaching out to us, and we hope you have a great day!

  16. Janet says

    I am looking for a senior citizen (87 yr) cel service. Only unlimited calls, no messages no camera no data and a phone that is super simple to use, dial and answer

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thanks for reaching out to us, Janet. It sounds like our popular Doro would be the right fit for you. This handy flip phone offers everything you need, and even comes with a unique emergency alert feature. You can learn more about it here. As for a plan, we offer unlimited calling for just $20 each month. If you’re ready to get started, please give us a call at 888-345-5509. We’ll be happy to set you up with a new phone and plan. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to speaking with you!

  17. Star O says

    I have a cellphone that’s over 10 years old and works fine – I can call people, they can call me. I have a pay-as-you-go “plan” through my current provider – I add minutes as I need them, no monthly fees, no bills, nada. And since I’m not tied to my phone (it’s ONLY a phone, no internet stuff), it can literally take months for me to use up $100 worth of minutes.

    What can CC do for me?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Star! It sounds like you’re a light user. We are postpaid service, so you won’t prepay for any minutes. You can get 250 minutes for just $15 each month. We also offer a variety of affordable devices, from flip phones to smartphones. You can see our full lineup here. We’re happy to tell you more about our service and help you get started at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to comment, and we hope to speak with you soon!

  18. Margaret Aurand says

    I just got a warning that I’m close to my plan’s limit. The e-mail informs me that:

    “Remember that with Consumer Cellular, if you do go over the minutes or data provided on your current plan, there are no overage fees. Instead, we automatically upgrade you to a plan that covers your actual usage.”

    Doggone it!! Sometimes I go through a brief period of time when I do a lot with my phone. Then my usage goes back down to my usual usage. Why should I be penalized with a more expensive plan when my usage situation is temporary? Just charge me a little extra for that month instead of making a temporary increase in usage permanent!!

    NOT A GOOD POLICY, FOLKS! If I get updated to a permanent bigger plan again, I will cancel my service.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We appreciate your feedback, Margaret. Our flexible plans do allow you to make changes as needed, as we understand that at times, you may need more or less based on how you’re using your phone. We recommend changing back to a smaller plan at the beginning of your billing cycle. If you need more, you’ll be automatically switched to a plan that meets your needs. We’re happy to speak with you about this or make any plan changes as needed at 888-345-5509. Thanks for posting, and we hope you have a great day!

  19. Jacque says

    I have a Windows Lumia 640 XL LTE
    Will your service work on it?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We appreciate you posting, Jacque! For best results, your device should be fully unlocked and the GSM network. A good example would be a device used previously with AT&T or T-Mobile. To see how our SIM card works, check out our video here. Please note that while we’ll do everything we can do assist you, we aren’t able to guarantee that a device sold elsewhere will work with our service. You can find our SIM cards at your local Target store, on our website, or you can order one over the phone at 888-345-5509. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this great option, and we hope you have a great day!

  20. Donna says

    How can you double the data from 1GB to 2GB for no more money but leave the 250MB plan the same?! I think leaving out the lowest plan is nothing short of discrimination against low-income customers. I am angry with CC about this. It should be changed. The 250MB plan, which older customers may need for emergency situations or situations where they need info, phone numbers, addresses, directions is too restrictive. Doubling it to 500MB is warranted and FAIR! AARP will hear about this.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We really appreciate you taking the time to post and share your feedback, Donna. Many of our customers find that the smallest plan works well for their needs, and if they need more, than can have 2GB for just $5 more a month. We’re happy to review this with you at 888-345-5509, so please give us a call. Our goal is to provide plans that work well for our customers, and we can’t do that without your feedback. Thanks for commenting, and we hope you have a lovely day!

  21. Craig Turner says

    I lost my Galaxy S8 so I need to get another phone…again! This time I’m going to go for the Samsung Galaxy S9.

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      We’re sorry to hear that, Craig! Please give us a call at 888-345-5509, and we can pause your service to ensure that there isn’t any fraudulent usage. We can also help you order the S9 if you like. Thank you for taking the time to post, and we hope to speak with you soon!

  22. Renae Jordan says

    I have two sons besides myself that have phone service and it runs me close to 400.00 and it’s to expensive. Can we use our phones we have now? Please send me some information.

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Renae, we’re glad to hear that you’re interested in our service. In order to be compatible with our service, your existing phones would need to be unlocked by your provider and able to use a SIM card. Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee compatibility for all phone models, but our agents will do all they can to get them working on our service.

  23. Louise Douglas says

    Can I do conference calls with Cellular phone service?

    • Ashley at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Louise! You can make conference calls with our service. For most devices, you’ll place the first call, then tap an option to add a second call. Then you’ll all be connected! We do want you to keep in mind that the call will use minutes for both calls that are occurring at the same time. If we can answer any questions, or walk you through the process, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you posting!

  24. Brenda Bryant says

    If I switch my phone service to Consumer Cellular can
    I keep my currant phone number?

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for asking, Brenda! You do have the option of keeping your same number. In order to do so, it will need to remain active with your provider until the transfer has completed. Additionally, you will need your current account information, as it will be required when you are signing up for service, so we recommend having a recent invoice on-hand.

  25. Rochelle says

    I need a 3 line service and phone

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Thank you for posting, Rochelle. You can sign up for three lines of service by calling us at 888-345-5509.

  26. Dick jones says

    I need 5 gigs a mo. You have only 10 g. too much. Can I go over 3 g plan near mo end and only be charged the 10 g rate for the few remaining days? I was told you would If I went back to 3g plan then. Please confirm you will prorate & charge the higher rate for just the days I used it. Thank you

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s a great question, Dick. If you start on the 3GB plan and exceed 3GB of data usage, then your plan will be automatically upgraded to the 10GB plan, and you would be charged for that plan for that billing period.