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Consumer Cellular Review
Last updated: January 19, 2022 by the Prepaid Reviews Staff
Our Editorial Rating
Overview
Founded in 1995, Consumer Cellular prides itself on simple and low-cost service. They offer a refund within the first 30 days of service or 30 minutes of usage for unsatisfied customers.
Pros: Rates are relatively low, even on their lower-tier plans.
Cons: Minutes on their Casual plans and overage minutes are very expensive.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: Consumer Cellular offers seven different monthly plans. The first is 10 dollars per month and provides all minutes at 25 cents each. For 15 dollars customers get 150 minutes. For 20 dollars customers get 350 minutes. For 30 dollars customers get 750 minutes. For 40 dollars it's 1,500 minutes. For 50 dollars customers get 2,000 minutes, and for 60 dollars customers get 4,000 minutes. Overage minutes are 25 cents each except on the 60 dollar plan. Overages are 10 cents per minute for that plan. Customers can add 10 dollars per month to add a shared line to any plan, up to two additional lines.
Customer Service: Support is available via a website form, email, or by calling a toll-free number.
Free Nights: No
Credit Check: None
Free Weekends: No
Contract: None
Daily Access Fee: No
Payment Options: Payment can be made by credit card or check on the website.
Text and Picture Messaging: Yes.
Data Plans: Consumer Cellular offers three levels of wireless data. 2MB is 5 dollars per month, 15MB is 10 dollars, and 30MB is 20 dollars.
Downloads: Ringtones, wallpapers, and games are available for varying fees.
International Calling: Direct-dial international calling is available. See website for rates to specific countries
Text Messaging Available: Text and picture messaging costs 10 cents for both incoming and outgoing messages. Customers can also buy bundles of message. A bundle of 100 messages costs $2.50, 500 costs 5 dollars, 1,000 costs 10 dollars, and 2,000 costs 20 dollars.
Roaming Charges: There are no roaming charges with Consumer Cellular.
Shop Phones and Plans: Shop for Consumer Cellular
Text Messaging Charge For Incoming: $0.10
Calling Features: Voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, 3-way calling, and call forwarding is available.
Unlimited Text Messaging Plan Available: No
Activation Fee: There a 35 dollar fee to activate your Consumer Cellular phone.
Nationwide Long Distance: All calls from the US and to the US are charged as normal airtime.
Unlimited Plan Available: No
411 Calls: Directory assistance costs $1.50 per call plus normal airtime.
Earliest Minute Expiration: All plans are monthly with Consumer Cellular, and minutes do not roll over.
911 Calls: Yes.
Phones: Consumer Cellular offers a number of simple, clamshell phones that go well with their stripped-down service. These come from both Motorola and Nokia, and are all 50 dollars or under.
Standard Calling Features: Voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, 3-way calling, and call forwarding
Some Available Cell Models: Samsung A177 (shown) Nokia 2720 Motorola W259 Nokia 2680
Coverage Map: View the Consumer Cellular coverage map
Cheapest Phone Model: Varies.
Latest News: See the latest news about Consumer Cellular
Average Rating By Users
Most Recent Reviews
Consumer Review
Plans are pretty good and inexpensive, however, I have found that the AT&T coverage areas are lacking in the Mississippi area. Lot of dead zones. Verizon just the opposite. No dead zones. I'm sticking with Straight Talk even though their basic plan is more than I really need.
Consumer Review
Have used CC for over a year. Excellent service, Att&t; network has great coverage. I had Verizon and it cost over $80 a month with 2 phones. Now have 2 smart phones, and it costs $53 and month.If it looks like you are going over the allowed times, just increase it for a little bit of $ and there is no service charge, and you can change back anytime. I recomment CC to anyone who is not using their phone 24/7
Consumer Review
Excelent Phone. Excelent Price. Lowest monthly cost. Great Service. Great Support. I'm paying $23 a month, including taxes, data, text and voice, for a Smartphone! Unbeatable!
Consumer Review
If you compare their prices to other carriers, you will find that cc is expensive. Just shop around and you will see. It seems that cc targets the elderly who might not know any better and choose cc because AARP supports cc.
Consumer Review
Sounds good BUT, in the end it can be really expensive. Dropped calls are a MAJOR problem, especially since they use the AT&T network, for whom dropped calls has been a real problem. Customer service is poor, and I've had to wait up to 30 minutes for a CSR. They're big on having you go up on plans, but mum if you really could stand to decrease your plan. This might be okay if you only rarely ever use a cellular phone, but for most people, you will find this a frustrating and unsatisfactory company.
Consumer Review
Have had CC for 4 years now. Good coverage, good price. Had to replace my phone only one time, dropped it in the lake.