Boost Mobile vs. Total by Verizon: Which carrier is better?

Boost Mobile and Total by Verizon are popular prepaid carriers known for their good deals. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Boost Mobile is on several networks, and Total by Verizon is on the Verizon Network. 

Boost Mobile and Total by Verizon are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Boost Mobile is an MVNO of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish, while Total by Verizon is an MVNO of Verizon.

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Total by Verizon and Boost Mobile offers both unlimited and limited data plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Boost Mobile offers a wide variety of limited and unlimited plans, while Total by Verizon offers two of each. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Boost Mobile Plans

Boost Mobile offers monthly, 3 month, and annual plans. 

Boost Mobile offers several plans with varying data caps and lengths of service. Some plans will allow you to pay for several months of service up front at a cheaper price – either 3 or 12 months ahead.

All plans at Boost Mobile are deprioritized. Boost Mobile’s QCI tier is 7 on T-Mobile, 8 on AT&T, and 9 on Dish. 

Some of Boost Mobile’s plans are for new customers only, so make sure to read the fine print.

You can have up to 4 lines on one plan. If you purchase your phone from Boost Mobile, your device will be locked for up to a year after activation. The plans they offer renew their data monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

1GB Per Month Annual Plan

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is the smallest Boost Mobile offers at 1GB of data per month. You can use all plan data as mobile hotspot data. Data stops after the cap, and you lose hotspot access. 

The plan costs $8.33 per month, and $100 annually.

5GB Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan gives you 5GB of data, and stops after this cap. You get hotspot access and can use all plan data as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $15 per month. At this rate, you get 5GB at $3 per GB. 

Boost Mobile also offers this plan for $45 per month for 3 months, which is the same rate as their monthly plan. Both versions are for new customers only. 

5GB Annual 

This plan is for new customers only. 

Like its other 5GB plan, you get 5GB of data per month that can also be used as hotspot data. Once you hit the cap, data and hotspot access stop. 

The plan costs $14 per month, and $168 per year. At this rate, you get 5GB per month at $2.80 per GB. 

15GB Annual Plan

This plan gives you 15GB per month for a year of service. 

With the 15GB plan Boost Mobile offers, you can use all data as hotspot data. Data stops at 15GB, and you lose hotspot access at this data cap.

The plan costs $20 per month, and $240 per year. At this rate, you get 15GB per month at $1.33 per GB. 

Unlimited $25 Monthly

Autopay is required with this plan.

This plan gives you 30GB per month of full speed data, which slows to 3G speeds after this cap. You can use up to 30GB of the plan on hotspot data, and access stops after. 

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The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $0.83 per GB. Boost Mobile also offers 50% off for the first month of service with this plan. 

Unlimited $40 Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is similar to the 3 month Unlimited plan, as it offers 30GB of full speed data before slowing to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.95 per GB. 

Unlimited 3 Month Plan

This plan gives you 30GB before slowing down.

Your unlimited data resets at the beginning of every month, and you have up to 30GB of full speed data. Afterwards, data slows to 512 kbps, or 3G speeds. This is standard for the industry. You can still send texts and emails or scroll through social media without issue, but streaming video will be slower. This plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap. 

This plan costs $90 every 3 months, or $30 per month. You get 42GB per month for $0.71 per GB. 

Unlimited Annual

It’s important to note that this plan requires you to buy a year worth of data.

This plan offers the best price out of all of Boost Mobile’s plans. Here, you get 30GB full speed data before your speeds slow to 3G. At 3G, you can still send emails and texts or scroll social media, but streaming video or playing games on your phone may be more difficult. This plan also comes with 12GB of hotspot data, which stops at that limit. 

This plan costs $300 per year, and $25 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.60

Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 30GB of full speed data and 30GB of additional hotspot data. 

Unlimite Plus is Boost Mobile’s biggest plan. You get 30GB of data at full speeds before it slows to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 30GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 60GB at $1 per GB.

Total by Verizon Plans

All Total plans offer hotspot access. 

Total by Verizon offers 4 plans: 2 unlimited and 2 limited. You get QCI tier 9 with their plans, which means your data is deprioritized. With deprioritization, your data will slow down in high traffic locations due to increased network activity. High traffic would be places like sports stadiums and busy stores. Their plans include a 5% Autopay discount. 

You can have up to 5 lines on one plan. If you purchase your phone from Total by Verizon, your device will be locked for 60 days after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

5GB

This plan slows to 2G after the cap.  

As the smallest Total by Verizon plan, this plan offers 5GB before slowing to 2G speeds. At 2G speeds, users can scroll social media and send texts or emails, but streaming shows or playing games without WiFi will be difficult. The plan also includes hotspot access 

The plan costs $30 per month at full price, and $28.50 with Autopay. At this full price, you get 5GB each month at $6 per GB. 

15GB

Speeds slow down after the cap. 

The 15GB plan, as its name says, includes 15GB of full speed data. After the cap, speeds slow down to 2G. You can also use the 15GB as hotspot data, but access ends after you reach your monthly data cap. 

The plan costs $40 per month, and $38 with the Autopay discount. At this rate, you get 15GB at $2.67 per GB. 

Unlimited

This plan offers additional hotspot data

The regular unlimited plan offers unlimited data with 30GB of full speed data. Again, data slows down to 2G speeds at the cap. This plan also comes with 10GB of mobile hotspot data, and access stops at that cap. 

The plan costs $50 per month, and $47.50 with Autopay. At full price, you get 40GB at $1.25 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus 

This plan is not only their biggest plan, but the best plan Total by Verizon has to offer.

Unlimited Plus offers unlimited data, and data speeds are at full speed capacity until the 30GB cap. After the 30GB cap, speeds slow to 2G. You also get 20GB of mobile hotspot data each month, and access stops once after the cap.

The plan costs $60 per month, and $57 with the Autopay discount. At this rate, you get 50GB per month at $1.20 per GB. 

Features

Total by Verizon offers more features included, while Boost Mobile offers add-on features. 

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Boost Mobile offers add-ons for their plans to include more features for an additional fee. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Total by Verizon offers domestic roaming data on their plans. Boost Mobile does not include this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Total by Verizon offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada on all plans, but offers data on their 15GB, Unlimited, and Unlimited Plus plans only if you purchase multiple lines. Boost Mobile offers an add-on, where you get unlimited talk and text to both Mexico and Canada as well as 1.5GB of data in Mexico for $5 per month. This add-on is included with the Unlimited Plus plan. 

International Connection

Boost Mobile does not offer international data, but texts are $0.10 per message. There is also an add on available for unlimited plans to include international talk. Total by Verizon offers international talk and text on their unlimited plans. 

Video Streaming Quality

All plans from Boost Mobile stream at 480p Standard Definition, except for Unlimited Plus. That plan streams at 1080p High Definition. Total by Verizon plans stream up to 4k Ultra High Definition resolution. 

Streaming Services

Total by Verizon offers a Disney+ Basic plan included for 6 months on their Unlimited plan, or for the duration you have the Unlimited Plus plan. Boost Mobile does not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Boost Mobile and Total by Verizon do not offer this feature.  

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from either carrier, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.

Spam Protection

Boost Mobile and Total by Verizon do not offer this feature.  

Free Trial

Boost Mobile and Total by Verizon do not offer this feature.  

Customer Service 

Boost Mobile and Total by Verizon offer several stores across the country. 

Boost Mobile offers several physical locations, and you can find the closest store to you with their store locator. They also offer support over the phone at (833)-502-6678 at 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Mon. through Fri. PST and 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST on Sat. and Sun. Total by Verizon offers stores across the country that you can visit, and you can find them with the store locator. Otherwise, you can contact their customer support over the phone at (800) 837-4966. 

The Verdict

Boost Mobile offers a better deal.

Because of the price per GB, Boost Mobile offers a better deal. However, Total by Verion offers more features included, so they’re still a good option if that’s what you’re looking for.

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!