Formerly Total Wireless, Total by Verizon is a low-cost cell phone service that may be able to cut your current bill in half!
The TracFone-owned carrier is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that relies on Verizon’s towers to provide customers with the same great coverage at a fraction of the price.
Is Total by Verizon really worth it? We checked out the fine print and compared it to other affordable MVNOs to bring you this comprehensive customer review.
Total by Verizon Review: Verizon’s Network at Half the Price
In September 2022, Total Wireless rebranded to become Total by Verizon. We reached out to Verizon to check the options for existing customers and received this statement: “Current Total Wireless customers will have the option to become part of the Total by Verizon brand and will have access to all of the brand’s benefits. Existing customers also can keep their current plans if they choose.”
The prepaid Verizon MVNO provides access to the major carrier’s LTE and 5G networks including 5G Ultra Wideband coverage. Additionally, it’s one of the only prepaid carriers to include a streaming perk with select plans: Disney+.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the new plans available from Total by Verizon, what perks and features you can expect with each plan and help you decide whether or not you should make the switch.
Table of Contents:
- Plans and Pricing
- Activation Process
- Phone Selection
- Call and Text Performance
- Data Speeds
- Customer Service
- Pros and Cons
Plans and Pricing
Total by Verizon offers four different plans that offer a range of high-speed data, hotspot allotments and international calling perks.
In addition to these monthly plans, Total by Verizon offers two optional service add-ons: a global calling card for $10 and a 5GB data add-on for $10.
For those who use Wi-Fi at home and work, the 5GB data plan is probably the best choice at only $30 per month per line. Customers can also buy 5GB of add-on data for $10 which rolls over from month to month.
If you’re looking for a family plan, Total by Verizon is a great option because you can mix and match the different plan options to create a custom multi-line phone plan that works for you.
All Total by Verizon plans include unlimited talk and text.
Total by Verizon 30-Day Service Plans
| Plan | $30 Plan | $40 Plan | $50 Plan | $60 Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autopay discount | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Data | 5 GB high-speed data Unlimited 2G | 15 GB high-speed data Unlimited 2G | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Hotspot | 5GB | 15GB | 10GB | 20GB |
| Multiline discount | None | $37.50 per line for 2 lines $36.67 per line for 3 lines $36.25 per line for 4 lines $36 per line for 5 lines | $42.50 per line for 2 lines $40 per line for 3 lines $37.50 per line for 4 lines $36 per line for 5 lines | $47.50 per line for 2 lines $43.33 per line for 3 lines $41.25 per line for 4 lines $40 per line for 5 lines |
| International | Unlimited talk & text to Canada & Mexico | Unlimited talk & text to Canada & Mexico | Unlimited talk & text to 5 countries of choice | Unlimited talk & text to 69 countries |
| Disney+ | Not included | Not included | Included | Included |
You can learn more about Total by Verizon’s plans, service add-ons and multi-line options on Total by Verizon’s website.
Activation Process
Setting up service with Total by Verizon should be quick and easy to do. You can buy a SIM kit ($1) and a device plan (starting at $30 for 5GB) online at Total by Verizon’s website as well as at popular electronics stores including Best Buy and Walmart.
Once you receive your SIM card, you should be able to insert it into a compatible device, get a new phone number and activate service in about 10 minutes.
You’ll also have the option to port your existing phone number to Total by Verizon. If you do want to keep your same number, be sure to check out our full guide on how to avoid common mistakes when porting your number.
Phone Selection
If you want to bring your phone to Total by Verizon, it must be CDMA compatible, not GSM. It also needs to be unlocked. You can visit Total by Verizon’s website to check your phone’s compatibility.
Total by Verizon also sells phones. I checked the company’s website and found a good selection of iPhone and Android devices. I also saw several phones under $100 and even under $50. Visit Total by Verizon’s website for the latest phone deals.
Call and Text Performance
Total by Verizon offers access to Verizon’s towers, which means you can expect decent coverage in most areas.
To see if you’ll have service with Total by Verizon, check out the service provider’s coverage map online. Once you visit the website, you can enter your ZIP code to see if you’ll be covered.
In addition to having service for calling and texting, you’ll also see what type of data service you’ll have access to in your area with Total by Verizon including 5G Nationwide, 5G Ultra Wideband and/or 4G LTE.
Data Speeds
One of your biggest concerns with Total by Verizon (or any MVNO) may be that your data speeds will be slower due to deprioritization.
It is true that the major service providers tend to prioritize their direct customers over their MVNOs. However, you likely won’t have any issues with data speeds as long as you have decent coverage from Verizon in your area.
Total by Verizon provides access to the same high-speed towers that Verizon utilizes themselves. Customers have access to the same 4G/LTE network, 5G Nationwide network and 5G Ultra Wideband network where available.
The $30 and $40 plans come with a set amount of high-speed data (5GB and 15GB respectively). After you’ve hit your high-speed data allotment on either of these plans, you may notice reduced speeds until the end of your billing cycle.
Other than data throttling, the only time you may notice reduced speeds is during times of network congestion or if you’re in an area with poor coverage.
In addition to checking the Total by Verizon coverage map before you make the switch, check Verizon’s coverage map as well. Since Total by Verizon runs on the same towers, this is a good way to get a more complete picture of your local coverage.
Customer Service
Total by Verizon offers two different methods to contact a customer service representative: online chat and a call center.
You can visit Total by Verizon’s website and click “Chat Now” to open an online chat. This feature is available from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. (EST) seven days a week.
Additionally, you can call Total by Verizon at 1-866-663-3633 to speak with a customer service representative. According to the website, centers operate from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. (EST) seven days a week.
If you need help with simple requests such as checking your balance and getting refills, you can text 611611 from your Total by Verizon phone number. This self-service tool is available 24/7.
You can learn more about the 611611 text feature on Total by Verizon’s website.
Pros and Cons
If you’re someone like me who doesn’t want to pay the high prices that the major wireless providers charge, Total by Verizon is a money-saving option to consider.
Plans range from $30 per line for 5GB of high-speed data (followed by unlimited 2G speeds) to $50-$60 for truly unlimited plans. Plus, you can mix and match any of the four offered plans to create a custom family plan with multi-line discounts.
Who should switch to Total by Verizon? If you’re a Verizon customer who likes the network and wants to keep your phone, this may be a cheaper option for both single-line and family plans.
Total by Verizon: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable single-line and family plans that you can mix and match based on data needs | Customer service may not be the best, but this is a common issue among cell service providers. |
| Access to Verizon’s dependable nationwide network | |
| Good phone selection |
Total by Verizon isn’t the only Verizon alternative! We have a list of the best cell phone plans and deals from low-cost cell phone providers that run on all the big networks — Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile and Sprint. If you’re looking exclusively for a Verizon-based phone plan, check out our list of the best Verizon MVNOs.
Share your Total by Verizon review in the Clark.com Community and check out even more phone plan options in Team Clark’s cell phone guide!
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