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October 2, 2025
Coverage
Total Wireless (formerly Total by Verizon) is a TracFone-owned cell phone carrier that operates on the Verizon network.
Total’s reliance on Verizon’s network translates to great coverage for its customers—Verizon has one for the most wide-reaching 4G and 5G footprints in the U.S.
Read on as we explore the ins and outs of Total Wireless’s coverage map, so you can decide whether it’s worth signing up with the carrier for your next cell phone plan.
Total Wireless relies entirely on Verizon’s network infrastructure, giving it one of the most comprehensive coverage footprints in the U.S. This includes access to Verizon’s high-speed Ultra Wideband (UW) 5G. You can use the map below to check availability in your specific area.
One caveat: Verizon tends to prioritize its own customers during times of network congestion; if it’s especially busy, Total Wireless customers may experience slightly slower speeds than Verizon customers.
Total Wireless’s 4G LTE coverage is identical to Verizon’s, spreading across 56% of the country. This means customers can expect reliable service in most urban, suburban, and rural areas, with the exception of some extremely remote or mountainous regions throughout the Northwest where service may be weaker.
Total Wireless customers get access to Verizon’s 5G network at no extra cost. By the numbers, Verizon’s 5G network spreads to 9% of the U.S. That may sound like much, but rest assured that many of the country’s cities and suburbs are well covered by Verizon 5G. Also, Verizon is aggressively expanding its 5G footprint, so this percentage will steadily increase in the coming months.
Total Wireless is just one of the many prepaid carriers vying for your business, a crowded field that also includes fellow little big players like Cricket Wireless and Mint Mobile. So how does Total Wireless’s coverage stack up against these brands?
The handy chart below can help give you a sense of how Total Wireless’s national network compares to a couple of its foremost competitors. Note that Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s system of networks, while Cricket uses AT&T’s.
While Total Wireless loses the 4G and 5G battle against its competitors, rest assured that you won’t be making many coverage concessions by going with the small carrier—Total Wireless’ Verizon-backed network is still one of the best in the country.
In order to take advantage of the best coverage, you need a newer model phone that's compatible with all of the latest network bands. Fortunately, Total sells a nice variety of smartphones, including the iPhone 17 series handsets, not to mention devices from Samsung, Motorola, Google, TCL, and Nokia.
It's also easy to bring your own device (and phone number) to the Total Wireless network. If your phone is eSIM compatible, activation will be exceedingly easy and won't require swapping out any physical SIM cards.
Total Wireless offers three core unlimited plans, all of which include dedicated hotspot data, international calling and texting, roaming in Mexico and Canada, and the speed and reliability of Verizon coverage. Plus, Total offers a 5-year guarantee, which ensures your monthly plan charges will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
A frustrating reality of today’s wireless market are the constantly fluctuating prices. There’s nothing worse than opening your wireless bill only to see the plan you signed up for has suddenly gone up.
Such concerns are irrelevant with Total Wireless, since the carrier offers a 5-year guarantee that locks in your plan price for that span of time. That kind of price assurance sets Total Wireless apart in the world of prepaid cell phone carriers.
Total Wireless bakes taxes and fees into its plan prices, so the plan price you see advertised is what you’ll actually pay. That’s reassuring when you’re shopping for a plan.
Total Wireless offers impressive nationwide coverage thanks to its partnership with Verizon, one of the most reliable networks in the U.S. Whether you're relying on its expansive 4G LTE network or tapping into its growing 5G footprint, you can expect solid performance in most areas—especially in cities and suburbs. While Total Wireless customers may occasionally face slower speeds during network congestion due to Verizon’s prioritization of its own users, the trade-off is often minimal for the cost savings of a prepaid plan. For those seeking affordable wireless service without sacrificing too much in terms of coverage, Total Wireless is a compelling option.
You can check coverage by visiting Total Wireless’s official coverage page and entering your ZIP code or address. There are also independent interactive tools showing 4G and 5G estimates for Total Wireless.
Total Wireless operates as an MVNO using the Verizon wireless network. Its coverage footprint largely mirrors Verizon’s network, including its 4G LTE and 5G deployments.
No — the coverage map is an estimate of outdoor network reach and does not guarantee full signal or speed indoors or in all locations. The map may show where towers are or where service could reach, but signal strength and performance vary with terrain, building materials, device, and whether you’re indoors or outdoors. As an MVNO, Total Wireless customers may also experience deprioritized data speeds in congested areas compared to Verizon’s postpaid customers.