GreatCall Jitterbug Flip Review
The Jitterbug Flip is an easy-to-use flip phone from GreatCall, a company specializing in aging and independent living technology solutions. If you don’t want a smartphone like the Jitterbug Smart2, the Flip is a great choice, and you can add safety options so the phone can also function as a medical alert system.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Large buttons
- Quick access to emergency services
- 30-day no risk guarantee
Cons
- Camera is inadequate for large, crisp photos
- No microSD card support
Jitterbug Flip Phone Features and Specs
GreatCall’s Jitterbug Flip phone comes in a shiny red or graphite-gray clamshell design with a front cover display showing the date, time, and incoming calls and text messages. The display also indicates if the 5Star safety service, discussed below, is enabled. You can charge the Jitterbug Flip in your car (charging adapter not included) or in your home on the included dock.
The Jitterbug Flip specifications include:
- Measures 4.3 X 2.2 inches and is 0.7 inches thick when closed
- Weighs 4.7 ounces
- Camera: 2 MP with flash
- Connectivity: GPS, Bluetooth, speakerphone
- 3.2” 480-by-320 color display
- Large, backlit keypad
- 5Star button
- Flashlight button on the side
- Voice dial
- Reading magnifier in the cover
GreatCall provides extensive national cellphone coverage via Verizon’s nationwide network. You can check coverage across the U.S. by entering the ZIP code on GreatCall’s website.
GreatCall’s Health and Safety Features for Seniors with Jitterbug Flip

The Jitterbug Flip offers several optional safety features from GreatCall. While you don’t have to add these features to your cell plan, each one adds significant value for keeping retirees independent. You can add the 5Star Urgent Response service alone, or bundled with the other services, explained below in the price section.
-
5Star Urgent Response: You will find the 5Star Urgent Response button located below the Flip’s keypad. Press the button to immediately connect to a 5Star operator, 24 hours a day, seven days a week as part of your emergency preparedness plan.
-
Operator: The Jitterbug Flip can connect you with a live operator if you are having trouble using your phone, or need help finding phone numbers or looking up addresses. The operator can connect you to any number in the U.S. and Canada.
-
Urgent Care: This service connects you with a registered nurse or board-certified doctor if you need medical advice.
-
GreatCall Link: This smartphone app uses GPS to track the location of the Jitterbug Flip phone, so a designated family member or caretaker can find where you are when you have the phone with you.
-
Product Replacement: This is phone insurance. If you lose or break your phone, or it’s stolen, GreatCall will replace it.
Jitterbug Flip Costs and Monthly Plans
The Jitterbug Flip retails for $99, but you can often find discounts by purchasing directly through GreatCall’s website which sometimes features 25 percent off or other deals (currently $74.99). You pay a one-time $35 activation fee, a separate fee for a monthly service package with call minutes, and, if you choose, a texting plan and health and safety service bundle. GreatCall offers a 30-day money-back return policy and month-to-month service contracts, making the Jitterbug Flip a low-commitment cellphone.
GreatCall’s monthly plans allow you to have voice-only service, voice and text, or both plus a health and safety plan. GreatCall’s five voice-call plans range from $14.99 to $49.99 a month, and four text plans from $3 to $15 a month. The Jitterbug Flip has no internet access, so there is no data plan. If you buy a health and safety plan, the cost for a talk plan ranges from $5 to $40 a month.
See the chart below to get an idea of how much you would pay for a GreatCall monthly service plan with a Jitterbug Flip as a light, moderate or power user. The Basic, Preferred and Ultimate are Health and Safety Packages.
Service | Basic $19.99 |
Preferred $24.99 |
Ultimate $34.99 |
---|---|---|---|
5Star | X | X | X |
Urgent Care & GreatCall Link |
X | X | |
Personal Operator & Handset Replacement |
X | ||
Light Use 600 minutes/300 texts |
$13 | N/A | N/A |
Moderate Use 1,000 minutes/700 texts |
N/A | $21 | N/A |
Power User Unlimited talk/2,500 texts |
N/A | N/A | $55 |
Monthly Total Minus taxes |
$32.99 | $45.99 | $89.99 |
How to Buy the Jitterbug Flip
You can purchase the Jitterbug Flip and a voice-call plan through GreatCall’s website. You can also choose to add texting and the safety services mentioned above.
Jitterbug Flip Complaints
The Jitterbug Flip and phone plans are highly rated overall. GreatCall, the company behind the Jitterbug Flip, has an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. The Jitterbug Flip has many 4- to 5-star reviews from highly-rated consumer publications, namely for its senior-friendly design.
ConsumerAffairs readers either love or hate the Jitterbug Flip, with reviews averaging to 2.75 out of 5 stars. Chief complaints about the phone have to do with difficulty connecting to GreatCall services in some geographic areas. However, GreatCall resolved or is working on settling each issue we found with tech support, an explanation or a refund. ConsumerAdvocate gives the Jitterbug Flip a 9.8 out of 10 stars, and 575 consumers gave the phone a 4.5 out of 5 on My3Cents.
GreatCall Jitterbug Flip Q&A
-
Is the Jitterbug Flip hearing-aid compatible?
Yes, the Jitterbug Flip has the best FCC hearing aid compatibility rating of M4/T4. You can also pair the Jitterbug Flip with Bluetooth headsets or speakers for ease of use. -
How much storage does the Jitterbug Flip have?
The phone has 1 GB of internal storage, which is enough to hold about a thousand photos, fifty text messages, and two hundred contacts. With no slot for a microSD card to increase space, you can stretch the storage by not keeping all the pictures on the phone. -
How long is the Jitterbug Flip’s battery life?
The Jitterbug Flip battery lasted in tests over ten hours on a voice call. However, we would venture to say no one talks on the phone that long. The battery remains charged to some degree over several days if unused, and GreatCall recommends charging every day or night, so a low battery is never an issue. Jitterbug Flip’s battery is easy to replace, and you can buy a new one if the battery stops holding a charge. The lithium-ion battery lasts from 18 to 24 months. -
How does the 5Star service work?
If you fall, feel threatened by an intruder, or have any other emergency, press the 5Star button to connect with an emergency response operator. The operation knows your GPS-guided location and can send help even if you can’t speak. If you tell the operator what your emergency is, they will dispatch police, fire or ambulance services. You can also deactivate the button in your phone’s settings.
Conclusion
The Jitterbug Flip phone is a good choice for seniors and people with some health conditions. The Flip is simple to use, and GreatCall’s optional services provide peace of mind for seniors and the people they love.