PureTalk is a proudly American-based, veteran-owned company that has a lot to offer, especially for seniors. Along with several straightforward and affordable cell phone plans, PureTalk offers flexibility with no contracts. Plans are prepaid, and you can change up your plan anytime.
Our senior tech experts logged over 50 hours researching and testing PureTalk phones and plans. We tested phone service at home and on the go to gauge connectivity and reliability. We also compared our experience to online customer reviews to provide a well-rounded picture of PureTalk. We researched PureTalk’s monthly rates, data, and speeds, then compared them to other prepaid phone providers to gauge value.
PureTalk runs on AT&T’s GSM network to provide the same reliable nationwide 5G+, 5G, and 4G service (depending on your area) as the bigger carriers. PureTalk offers 5G access with all plans, if it’s available in your area and is compatible with your device.
PureTalk is a great option for seniors who just want a straightforward phone plan with unlimited talk and text. It’s also a good choice for older adults who are more comfortable with prepaid plans that you pay for month-to-month with no contracts (unless you’re financing or buying a discounted phone). And we’ve found PureTalk’s customer service team to be super responsive and helpful when I had questions and needed help.
Many PureTalk customer testimonials mention appreciation for PureTalk’s support of military veterans and their US-based customer service.
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APN Settings for PureTalk: Full Setup Guide (iPhone & Android)
Checking Compatibility and Coverage
To ensure your current phone is compatible and that PureTalk offers sufficient coverage in your area, follow these steps:
- On the bottom of the main webpage, scroll down to the two important boxes with buttons to check your current phone’s compatibility and network coverage.
- Start with the compatibility check. This ensures your current device can work with PureTalk’s network.
- Next, enter your ZIP code in the other box on the home screen to see if there is network coverage in your area.
I tested a few different options for setting up service with PureTalk and found that they were pretty seamless. Note that there are no brick-and-mortar PureTalk stores or authorized PureTalk retailers. You can call a PureTalk sales representative and make your purchase over the phone.
To buy online, you first choose a phone plan, then click “add to cart.” It’s slightly confusing that clicking “add to cart” takes you to a “pick out a phone” page rather than a typical shopping cart page. But to set up service, you first need to specify whether you’re going to bring your own phone or pick out a new or refurbished phone.
SIM Cards: eSIM vs. Physical SIM
At the top left of the phone page, there are options to select an eSIM or physical SIM card if you want to keep your own phone. ESIMs are free, but physical SIM costs $3, plus $4 for two-day shipping.
Note that one of the customer service specialists I spoke to recommended a physical SIM card rather than an eSIM. She said the eSIMs can be “hit or miss,” and suggested it’s easier to help you on their end if you have a physical SIM card.
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Device Protection and Trade-Ins
If you don’t want to bring your own phone and you choose to finance a new one, PureTalk requires you to sign up for device protection. This fee can be a few dollars a month for a cheaper phone or up to $10 a month for a more expensive one.
A sales rep told me device protection covers accidents and function breakdowns but not phones that are lost or stolen. She also said customers can remove the device protection option after 36 months of service.
You can also trade in your old phone and put that trade-in value toward your account. After you check out, PureTalk will send you a kit with detailed instructions for trading in a phone. Once your phone is inspected, they’ll credit the trade-in value to your account.
When I called and spoke to Kimberly, a helpful PureTalk sales representative, she told me that adding a family member to my account would get me a 10 percent discount on my bill. Keep in mind that discounts can’t be combined, but you can get the multiline discount after that first discounted month. Adding a third line gets a 15 percent discount, and four or more lines gets you 20 percent off. I requested a physical SIM card be sent to me, as Kimberly suggested.
You won’t receive a bill from PureTalk, and the company will charge a $5 fee if you opt to not start autopay. Despite some negative online customer reviews about long wait times, I was able to connect with a PureTalk customer service representative in a little over eight minutes. And when I did, I could hear her clearly, and she answered most of my questions promptly and quite capably. I received a response to all my questions in a matter of hours. The customer support rep told me that PureTalk was established in 2004, is headquartered in Georgia, and is veteran-owned.
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PureTalk Plans Overview
PureTalk offers seven straightforward, prepaid cell phone plans that can be great options for seniors, depending on their individual needs. Unlimited talk and text are pretty standard in cell phone plans these days, and PureTalk provides most of the same features and functionality in all of their plans.
Popular Plans for Seniors
A PureTalk sales rep told me that the 3 GB plan is the carrier’s most popular plan, particularly for seniors. PureTalk points out that typically, older adults use less than 2 GB of data, so the 3G data cap should be plenty. And if you go over your data limit, you won’t be charged overage fees, which I appreciate. I like that this plan offers a good amount of data while still being very affordable, even for seniors on fixed incomes. Other companies might offer cheaper low-data plans, but 1 GB of data, for example, can be skimpy.
You’ll also get quality video streaming at 1080p (HD quality) on all PureTalk phone plans, and all PureTalk plans come with $20 of international call credits to more than 50 countries. You can use your phone overseas, too. If service is slow, you can go online and select an international add-on to your account. The 3 GB plan costs $20 per month, making it an affordable option.
PureTalk plans are prepaid, with prices that are similar to or cheaper than other cell phone companies, such as Consumer Cellular and Straight Talk. PureTalk will not send you a monthly paper bill. This fee helps cover PureTalk’s costs incurred for compliance with federal and state programs, taxes, and fees. To figure out what your recovery fee is, just plug your ZIP code into the box on the purchase page.
Other Data Plans
You can find higher data plans that are cheaper per month, such as with Mint Mobile, but they require you to pay for three or more months of service up front. Like the 3 GB plan, you get the best data speeds available in your area without having to worry about data prioritization or overage fees. This plan is best for those who use data pretty heavily. Plus, you get 5 GB of hotspot data if you, say, like to use your phone at a coffee shop or the park where there’s no Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi is slow. The 10 GB plan costs just $30 per month. This is pretty affordable for a 10 GB plan.
Unlimited Data Plan
The Unlimited Data Plan might be the best option for seniors with a bigger budget, those who work or travel frequently, and heavy data users. Like most carriers, high-speed data on unlimited plans isn’t actually “unlimited.” Once the data threshold is reached, service can noticeably slow. After using 60 GB of data, speeds will slow to 256 kbps, which is less than 3G speeds. That might not be fast enough to stream video on your phone. But, note that PureTalk has a higher threshold of data usage before they slow speeds, compared with other cell phone carriers.
The Unlimited plan costs $55 per month, which is pretty solid for unlimited data and 20 GB of hotspot data. It may be the plan for you if you’re in the market for a new phone, because you can get $200 off a new device with this plan. Another plus: PureTalk doesn’t charge an activation fee, whereas Verizon’s fee for new customers is $35. For comparison, Straight Talk is a little more expensive than PureTalk and is prepaid rather than postpaid.
Here's a summary of PureTalk's popular plans:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Data | Hotspot Data | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 GB Plan | $20 | 3 GB | N/A | Affordable, no overage fees |
| 10 GB Plan | $30 | 10 GB | 5 GB | Best data speeds |
| Unlimited Data Plan | $55 | Unlimited (speeds slow after 60 GB) | 20 GB | $200 off a new device |
Compatible Phones Available at PureTalk
PureTalk offers a range of compatible phones. That’s a little fewer than Consumer Cellular, Mint Mobile, and AT&T, for example. But I found plenty of great options from top cell phone manufacturers.
TCL Flip 2
For a simple, compact flip phone with internet capabilities, the TCL Flip 2 is a great value at just $79.99. It has a small screen (2.8 inches) and low-end camera (2MP), but the TCL Flip 2 has 8 GB of RAM and a battery life of almost 14 hours. (For comparison, Consumer Cellular’s IRIS Easy Flip also comes with 8 GB of RAM.) We like the bright screen, large OK button in the middle of the keypad, and easy-to-use buttons to make. The large number keys are raised, labeled clearly, and light up when pressed, which should make using the phone easier for older adults with vision or dexterity difficulties.
Motorola Edge 2024
If you’re more interested in a 5G smartphone, Motorola's Motorola Edge 2024 is an excellent phone for a great price. It’s noticeably faster than Motorola’s previous 4G version and has more than 30 hours of talk time. This phone weighing just under 5 ounces has a lot of features that make it easy to use for older adults with dexterity and vision difficulties. It swipes open quickly and easily, the fingerprint sensor works well, and the bright, 6.6-inch screen is a nice size for video chatting and reading articles. Plus, The Motorola Edge 2024 is hearing-aid compatible and has solid speakers on the top and bottom of the phone to improve sound and clarity on calls. The one drawback of this phone is that like the TCL Flip 2, photo quality with the phone’s camera can be a bit fuzzy. But it is capable of taking great photos outdoors in daylight.
Did You Know? The percentage of survey respondents 65 and older who said they owned a cell phone jumped from 13 percent in 2012 to 61 percent in 2021, according to the latest data from Pew Research Center.
Important Considerations
Something to consider if you want to bring a phone to PureTalk is that generally, if you have a phone made for T-Mobile and Verizon, which run on CDMA networks, it may not be compatible with PureTalk service.
Like Lively and T-Mobile, PureTalk doesn’t have long-term contracts. However, keep in mind that if you finance a phone, you will be subject to a 36-month service agreement and will have to pay for device protection during that term.
PureTalk does not manufacture their own devices, but phones purchased from PureTalk come with a standard one-year manufacturer’s warranty. To qualify for a refund, you need to cancel anytime before your next bill date, or before you use 500 minutes of talk or 500 MB of data, whichever comes first. Within two weeks, your refund will be issued to whatever card you used to pay for service.
PureTalk vs. Competitors
PureTalk vs. Verizon has an unlimited 55+ plan starting at $62 per month, but it’s only available to Florida residents). AT&T offers a senior discount for AARP members, but their phone plan prices are higher than PureTalk’s. AT&T’s Unlimited Starter plan is $35.99 only if you get four phone lines; one line on this plan is $65.99 per month.
Seniors who would prefer shopping for a phone and plan in person might prefer a carrier such as Consumer Cellular, T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, Cricket, or Verizon. Also keep in mind that PureTalk doesn’t offer extras that might appeal to some older adults, such as free streaming services from T-Mobile and medical alert options from Lively.
Older adults who want a cell phone with accessibility features designed with seniors in mind might want to check out Consumer Cellular as well, which offers a simple, super-affordable flip phone, the IRIS Easy Flip, for $59. You can also bundle a medical alert device for $89 and monthly monitoring for $25 with your Consumer Cellular phone service.
Overall, older adults willing to purchase a cell phone plan online are likely to be happy with PureTalk. as well as to 70 other countries. military vet and is headquartered in Covington, Georgia.
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