The pay as you go cellphone market has modified significantly over the previous few years right here within the United States. Not solely are more MNVOs than ever earlier than, however many main carriers have additionally invested of their pay as you go sub-brands. One such model is Total by Verizon, which clearly is owned by Verizon Wireless. In this information, we be taught more about Total by Verizon plans, pricing, cellphone choice, and more.
What is Total by Verizon
Total by Verizon is a pay as you go cellphone service that started as a TracFone sub-brand till Verizon bought it nearly two years in the past. Initially, Total Wireless continued to function largely the identical as at all times, although it was lastly rebranded to Total by Verizon in late 2022.
Why did Total Wireless change its title to Total by Verizon
Verizon didn’t give any formal purpose for making the title change, although the obvious profit is model recognition. Total Wireless wasn’t precisely a family title, however stick “by Verizon” onto the package deal, and individuals instantly have some thought of what to anticipate.
We’ve seen this sort of transfer earlier than with MetroPCS, which was purchased by T-Mobile and ultimately rebranded to Metro by T-Mobile.
Total by Verizon protection
As you’ve seemingly sorted out, Total runs on Verizon’s community solely. At one level, it additionally had GSM entry via T-Mobile and AT&T, however this ended not too lengthy after TracFone’s buy.
So is Total by Verizon protection an identical to Verizon’s protection? For essentially the most half, sure. Both run on Verizon’s community, however postpaid Verizon prospects will benefit from precedence speeds for information use. They can even have roaming agreements that assist fill in any holes in Verizon’s protection when touring domestically, one thing Total received’t supply.
Check out Total by Verizon’s protection map for a greater take a look at what you’re signing up for.
The greatest Total by Verizon plans
5GB Plan | 15GB Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited Plus | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cost |
5GB Plan | 15GB Plan
$40 per line |
Unlimited
$50 per line |
Unlimited Plus
$60 per line |
Talk & Text |
5GB Plan
Unlimited |
15GB Plan
Unlimited |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
Unlimited Plus
Unlimited |
Data |
5GB Plan
5GB high-speed, 2G speeds after |
15GB Plan
15GB high-speed, 2G speeds after |
Unlimited
Unlimited, throttling throughout congestion |
Unlimited Plus
Unlimited, prioritized over Unlimited throughout congestion |
Hotspot |
5GB Plan
Yes, as much as plan restrict |
15GB Plan
Yes, as much as plan restrict |
Unlimited
10GB |
Unlimited Plus
20GB |
International |
5GB Plan
Unlimited speak & textual content to Canada/Mexico |
15GB Plan
Unlimited speak & textual content to Canada/Mexico |
Unlimited
Unlimited speak & textual content to 5 nations of your alternative |
Unlimited Plus
Unlimited speak & textual content to 70 nations |
Extras |
5GB Plan
N/A |
15GB Plan
N/A |
Unlimited
Disney Premium (No advertisements) trial for six months |
Unlimited Plus
Disney Premium (No Ads) |
Total by Verizon has 4 completely different plans to select from, two of that are limitless choices. Here’s a breakdown of what to anticipate:
- The 5GB Plan is for single customers, although there are higher choices. For $30 a month you’ll get limitless speak and textual content, however simply 5GB information. You’ll additionally get limitless speak and textual content to Canada and Mexico and hotspot entry as much as the restrict. That stated, there are not any multi-line reductions with this plan. It’s additionally price noting many low-cost cellphone plans supply simply as a lot information for a fraction of the value, together with a Verizon MVNO known as US Mobile, which has a 6GB plan for simply $18 a month.
- The 15GB Plan is good for these with modest wants. The 15GB plan begins at $40 per line, however will get as low-cost as $36 a line for 5 strains. It’s not a nasty alternative you probably have restricted information wants. That stated, 5 strains on Total’s primary Unlimited possibility would solely set you again $1 more per line. So if you’re planning a bunch of strains, you could be higher of with a vast plan.
- The Unlimited plan is a reasonably respectable alternative for households. The Unlimited plan offers you a single line for $50, however will get as low-cost as $37 per line for these with 5 strains. Honestly, this isn’t a nasty plan, nevertheless it isn’t nearly as good because it sounds both. Total by Verizon Unlimited can have moderately substantial throttling, much like the bottom Visible plan. And but Visible begins at simply $25. You do get a number of additional perks although, reminiscent of limitless speak and textual content to 5 nations of your alternative, 10GB hotspot entry, and a 6-month trial to Disney Plus Premium (No Ads).
- The Unlimited Plus plan is a superb plan for households. Total by Verizon Unlimited Plus works so much like Visible Plus. You get really limitless information entry and moderately respectable prioritization, even throughout occasions of congestion. For single-line customers, it’s less expensive to go together with Visible Plus at $45 versus Total Unlimited Plus for $60. However, Visible not gives multi-line reductions, and that’s the place Total has the benefit. After 3 strains, the value per line goes down to simply $43.33, and at 5 strains, you’ll see the speed drop to simply $40 per line.
Found a plan that seems like an excellent match for you? Be positive to hit the button under to enroll.
Total by Verizon telephones
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority
Left to proper: S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra
It was unimaginable to discover a respectable choice of telephones when searching for pay as you go service, however occasions have modified. There are many pay as you go carriers with cellphone catalogs which are nearly as in depth as the large carriers. Unfortunately, Total by Verizon falls someplace within the center.
You received’t discover newer Apple flagships, however you will see that the iPhone 13 and 12 households and the most recent iPhone SE. On the Android aspect, you’ll discover fairly a number of low-cost and even completely free telephones, together with the Samsung Galaxy A03s, Moto G 5G, Moto G Power, Pixel 6a, and a number of others. Unlike Apple, although, you’ll additionally discover newer flagships.
Total by Verizon’s cellphone choice consists of lots of the newest Samsung gadgets, together with the Galaxy S23. The Flip 4 and Fold 5 are additionally out there, although their successors aren’t on sale from Total at the least but.
Total by Verizon vs the competitors
Total isn’t with out competitors. You can check out our best-prepaid cellphone plan information for a deeper look, however under we’ll check out just some rivals that could be price contemplating in its place.
- Visible: Probably the most effective Total by Verizon different, Visible gives limitless information beginning at simply $25 a month and runs on Verizon’s community. There’s additionally a more premium tier known as Visible Plus for $45, which ought to supply an expertise much like the Unlimited Plus plan on Total.
- US Mobile: Another Verizon-based service, US Mobile has quite a lot of restricted information plans that aren’t a nasty different to Total by Verizon’s restricted plans. But actually, it’s the limitless plans that shine right here. The $35 base plan isn’t almost as thrilling, however the Unlimited Premium possibility is $45 per line and works equally to Visible Plus. Those with a number of strains may select one streaming perk if they’ve at the least three strains, and 4 strains get you the selection of two. The perks supplied are: Disney Plus, Netflix, Spotify Family, or PlayStation Plus.
- Mint: Mint runs on T-Mobile’s community however gives fairly aggressive pricing on its limitless plans. You can get 12 months of service for $360 (paid directly), or what works out to the equal of $30 a month. That’s about $20 much less a month than Total’s base limitless package deal, although Total by Verizon turns into a greater deal for these with a number of strains.
- Google Fi Wireless: Google’s MNVO is among the finest round, particularly for vacationers. There are plans that begin at $20 a month for limitless speak and textual content, with $10 per gig for all information used, with costs falling to simply $15.80 a line for these with six strains. Unlimited plans begin at $50 per thirty days for one line and drop as little as $20 per line. There’s even a Plus possibility with among the world’s greatest worldwide touring charges.
Should you turn to Total by Verizon?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
The reply to it will rely upon what you’re in search of. For most customers, we’d say that there are higher plans on the market. That’s even true for those who completely want a service that runs on Verizon’s community.
Still, the Unlimited Plus plan is really fairly strong and is simply the plan we suggest essentially the most out of their line-up. You get principally the identical expertise as the superb Visible Plus, however you pay much less for it you probably have pals or household to share an account with.
FAQ
Yes and no. While each carriers are owned by Verizon and function equally, they’re ran independently of one another and have their very own plans, cellphone choice and more.
The reply to this isn’t so easy. While some customers have reported success with utilizing a locked Verizon cellphone by merely placing in a Total SIM card, others say they’ve needed to name Verizon to get it unlocked. So sure, you need to use a Verizon cellphone, however you may need to undergo some hoops or get it unlocked without cost by Verizon (so long as you don’t owe funds on it).
If they’re older GSM-based telephones, no. If it’s a more recent Total cellphone that works with Verizon’s community it ought to play good on Verizon however remember it might be locked. To unlock the cellphone you’ll have to both pay $50 or stick with Total by Verizon for 12-months earlier than they’ll unlock it without cost.