Who Owns Total & What Network Do They Use?

Every company, including wireless carriers, have their positives and negatives, and trying to find one that works best for you and your phone usage can be difficult since there are so many options out there. But knowing all about their quirks, both good and bad, before you sign up is smart- so that’s why we’re here today. Total is a no contract, no surprise fee phone provider that wants to be a rising star in the wireless game. But who owns Total and what network do they use for your coverage? Let’s talk about it!

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of Total Wireless while also diving into:

• A Quick Summary on Total Wireless
• Who Owns the Carrier
• What Network Does Total Use? Is it a MVNO or MNO?
• Plans, Prices, and Features
• A Few FAQs

A Quick Summary on Total Wireless

Total Wireless, also known as Total, is the “no data limit, no surprise fee, no contract” wireless carrier that is all about making plans for users that don’t skip out on the good stuff. They want to make it so each plan is made for every type of phone user in the modern age. That means both light and heavy data users will find some common ground with Total’s plans.

Who owns Total?

Total is owned by Verizon Wireless.

Total has gone through a few changes over the years, you might be thinking: “is this “Total” the same Total that was “Total by Verizon?” and you would be correct! Total Wireless was rebranded as “Total by Verizon” in 2022. Then in 2024 it was renamed back to Total Wireless as it was reported customers were confused by the name and how it related to Verizon- at least that’s the running theory according to some online. Total by Verizon is similar to Metro by T-Mobile as they can both be described as “siblings” to their network providers, Verizon and T-Mobile respectively.

What Network does Total use?

Total uses the Verizon network.

When you’re shopping for a new cell phone plan one of the first things you do is look to see what type of network connection you’ll have. Traditionally there are two major options in the US: MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, and MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators). MVNOs purchase service access wholesale from one of the MNOs that own infrastructure across the country, which gives customers service at a much lower price. Total is, of course, a MVNO of Verizon.

MVNO - What Should You Know:

A common aspect of MVNOs you should know about is they are more likely to subject users to data deprioritization and throttled speeds. Data deprioritization is “the temporary slowing of data speeds for certain customers in order to give priority to other customers.” Which means that those who are direct customers of the “parent” company will get network priority when you’re in a high traffic area like a concert hall or sports stadium, or when there’s network congestion.

Throttling is also more likely to occur with MVNOs and “the dramatic slowing of your data speeds to the point that it becomes almost unusable.” This will happen when you go over a certain number of gigabytes of data for the month, which is referred to as a “data cap.” You’ll see this number displayed somewhere on your carrier’s website. Your normal speeds will slow down until the start of your next billing cycle.

Verizon has the most nation-wide 4G LTE coverage out of every wireless carrier in the country which is no small feat. Covering over 70% of the country, Verizon has had its footprints all over the map giving reliable coverage to even the most rural of areas when it comes to LTE. 

When it comes to 5G however, Verizon loses a few credibility points as they are lower in volume compared to T-Mobile and AT&T. Both T-Mobile and AT&T have more widespread 5G coverage than Verizon, but Verizon’s 5G speeds are definitely performing at a higher rate. They’ve gotten the highest marks in “5G Games Experience, 5G Voice App Experience, and 5G Video Experience,” which means that when you’re in 5G Verizon covered area you’ll get some pretty amazing performance power.

One feature you’ll find on most provider’s websites is a “Coverage” or “Coverage Map” tab, this shows off the network’s coverage all throughout the country and subsequent regions. This is a look at Total’s:

To get the most accurate account of what coverage is like in your area you will need to enter your location when you go onto their coverage map page.

And if you need any more data, 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.

Total’s Plans, Prices, and Features

Now that we have some background, let’s take a look at the plan(s), prices, and features of the carrier:

Total Wireless Plans

Total offers three unlimited plans and each has unlimited talk and texting options. You get QCI tier 9 with their plans, which means your data is deprioritized, which you know means you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas due to increased network activity. Their plans include a 5% Autopay discount.

You can have up to 5 lines on one plan. If you purchase your phone from Total, 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. 

Plan One: Base 5G Unlimited

This plan gets you a 5GB hotspot which is limited to one device.

Their Base 5G Unlimited plan comes with unlimited data.

Now we’ve dug into Total’s information and we have seemingly found no “data cap” in any of their plans. So it seems to be that you can use as much data as you want with this plan but are subject to data deprioritization.

The plan costs $40 per month for one line. There is no Auto Pay discount that comes with this plan. 

Plan Two: Total 5G Unlimited

This plan offers 12x faster unlimited data.

The Total 5G Unlimited plan offers their “12x faster unlimited data that never slows you down” however there are some stipulations according to their website it requires: “5G Ultra Wideband access and a capable device inside the 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area, and is available on select plans.”

This plan also seemingly has no data cap and comes with a 15GB hotspot limited to one device.

The plan costs $55 per month at full price, and $55 with Auto Pay.

Plan Three: Total 5G+ Unlimited

This is their biggest plan and it gets you an Unlimited Hotspot limited to one device.

Just like their Total 5G Unlimited plan, you get access to their “12x faster unlimited data that never slows you down” and there is seemingly no hard data cap. This plan also comes with Unlimited Hotspot usage limited to one device which has speeds up to 5 Mbps.

The plan costs $65 per month at full price, and $60 with Auto Pay.

The Features:

While Total offers features you won’t normally find from other MVNOs, it’s good to take a look at their features. If you’re someone who considers themselves to be a traveler, talk to your international friends and family a lot, or are looking for a bit more “perk” with your plan then this section will break down all of that juicy info so you can know what you’re potentially gonna get:

• Domestic Roaming Data

• Total does offer domestic roaming on their plans.

• Mexico & Canada Connection

• There is calling, texting, and roaming to Mexico and Canada with all Total Unlimited plans.

• International Connection

• The Total Base 5G Unlimited, Total 5G, and Total 5G+ plans come with calling to 85+ destinations and texting to 200+ destinations. The Total 5G and Total 5G+ plans come roaming in 15+ countries. Total 5G+ also comes with a $10 long distance credit to 120+ destinations. There is also an $10 Global Calling Card add-on you can purchase with any Total plan.

• Video Streaming Quality

• Video streams at up to 480p on Base 5G and Total 5G and 720p on the Total 5G+ plan.

• Streaming Services and Cloud Storage

• With the Total 5G Unlimited Plan you get “Disney+ No Ads for 6 months” and with the Total 5G+ you get a full Disney+ No Ads subscription. Total does not have any cloud storage benefits. 

• Device Financing

• If you buy a phone from Total, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. 

• WiFi Calling

• Total offers WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.

• Spam Protection and Free Trial

• Total does not offer these features.

A Few FAQs - What You Need to Know about Total

You’ve read a lot about the carrier, but you still might have a few questions regarding specific things and this section is all about answering them.

• Does the carrier support dual SIM, allowing you to use more than one plan on the device?

Yes! According to the Total Wireless Support Page, you are able to “store multiple eSIMs on the same device and use two phone numbers at the same time.”

• Is the network GSM or CDMA?

“GSM” and “CDMA” are two slightly outdated terms and technologies describing wireless networks. Nowadays it’s VoLTE or 5G and everyone, including Visible is moving to LTE+5G(NR) which means as long as you have a voLTE capable phone your phone will work with Total’s network. 

Now if you have an older phone and it is a GSM device, which are usually registered devices under the T-Mobile and AT&T networks, then you may run into some trouble. As CDMA devices have been under Verizon and Total is a part of Verizon. We recommend taking a look at your device compatibility before signing up in case you want to keep your phone. 

• What are some MVNOs that leverage the same towers?

Since Total uses Verizon to provide network coverage to its customers you will be on the same network as these other popular MVNOs:

-Visible Wireless

-US Mobile

-Straight Talk Wireless

-XFinity Mobile

-Red Pocket Mobile

• What if I have a question and need help? What is the best way to reach them?

Total Wireless has many retail stores all over the country where you can get in-person help, to find a store near you, use their store locator. Otherwise, you can contact their customer support over the phone at 1-866-663-3633 from 8 AM to 11:45 PM (EST) 7 days a week or via their online chat bot on the Total website.

Wrapping Up

Total Wireless is a great alternative to signing up for big postpaid options like Verizon itself, T-Mobile, or AT&T. For a MVNO it offers a lot more than its competitors, you get international benefits, unlimited data with all of their plans, a Disney+ subscription, and the ability to get money off of your next phone purchase through all of their plans. Their prices are a bit higher than other MVNOs so if you are looking for a more budget-friendly option we recommend looking elsewhere. 

Check your data usage before committing to a plan or carrier.

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And if you want to compare and contrast Total Wireless to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.