Total by Verizon is a prepaid cell phone carrier known as a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO.
An MVNO is simply any cell phone carrier that does not operate its own cellular network.
Instead of building their own networks, MVNOs make agreements with the four big carriers to use their cellular networks for coverage.
In Total by Verizon’s case, it uses the Verizon network for coverage.
If you are curious to learn more about how the agreements work between the big carriers and the small carriers, check out my article on how some cell phone plans can cost so much less than others.
Total by Verizon offers four plans to choose from.
They are all pre-paid.
The top-tier plan is the $60 unlimited plan. It includes unlimited data with access to 5G Ultra Wideband. It includes 20GB of high-speed hotspot data. It includes unlimited talk and text to 69 countries.
And it includes a free Disney+ subscription.
Here’s the full breakdown:
You can save 5% off the cost of every Total by Verizon plan with auto-refill.
That will save you approximately $1.50 to $3 per month depending on the plan you get.
There are currently no referral programs or other discounts available.
No discounts or referral programs are available at this time.
Total by Verizon allows families to mix-and-match plans on the same account and still take advantage of the family discount.
Families can still save more money with plans from US Mobile and Visible though. US Mobile’s Unlimited Basic plan is $20 per line with four or more lines. And Visible’s unlimited plan is $30 per line regardless of how many lines you have.
Here’s the full breakdown of the family plans from Total by Verizon:
Total by Verizon currently does not support smartwatch, tablet, or hotspot plans.
How good is Total by Verizon coverage?
Total by Verizon coverage is about the same as Verizon Postpaid coverage.
Both give Total by Verizon and Verizon Postpaid give you coverage on Verizon’s LTE and 5G Nationwide networks. Some plans will also include access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, too. The 5G Ultra Wideband network delivers substantially faster speeds, lower pings, and overall better performance. Verizon aims to cover 200 million people with its 5G Ultra Wideband network by the end of the year.
There may be a minor difference between prepaid and postpaid coverage, though.
And that difference may be in the availability of domestic roaming.
Domestic roaming is where your phone will switch to a partner network for coverage in an area where the native network does not have service. For example, Verizon has roaming agreements with other network operators in small parts of:
In regards to domestic roaming, Verizon Prepaid includes:
I would expect Total by Verizon to include similar roaming options.
That said, the official terms and conditions say:
Although there are no additional charges for using the Service while roaming domestically, Total by Verizon does not guarantee your ability to roam nor the availability and/or the quality of Service. Domestic roaming may be discontinued or changed at any time without notice. Due to Carrier restrictions, Total by Verizon reserves the right to terminate the Service of any customer whose roaming usage exceeds 50% of their total usage in any three (3) Plan cycles within a twelve (12) month period. International roaming is available on select plans.
Here’s a coverage map and more information:
The above data come from the FCC and from Verizon directly.
Check Verizon coverage in your area by using Verizon's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.
CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.
Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and to participate in the project.
The above information comes from the FCC and from AT&T direclty.
You can check AT&T coverage in your area by using AT&T's official coverage map.
You can also check coverage by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.
CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of the cellular networks.
Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and to contribute to the project.
The above information comes from the FCC and from T-Mobile directly.
Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using T-Mobile's official coverage map.
You can also check T-Mobile coverage by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.
CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.
You can download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and to contribute to the project.
