Last Updated on February 14, 2026 by Ewen Finser
Total Wireless and Cricket Wireless are two of the biggest prepaid cell providers out there, but how do they compare on pricing, plans, coverage, and customer service? We did the research for you, analyzing each company’s features so that you can see which one fits your needs and budget.
At a Glance: Plans, Coverage, and Pricing
Disclaimer: Pricing can change over time, but network quality, coverage, and roaming options are unlikely to fluctuate. Always check each company’s website to confirm the most current details before making a decision.
Total Wireless | Cricket Wireless | |
Established | 2015, joined Verizon in 2021 | 1999 |
Number of Stores | 2,000 | 4,991 |
Network Coverage | Verizon 5G – Widely voted best wireless network in the US | AT&T |
Lowest-priced Plan | $20/month if you bring your own unlocked phone | $30/month for 1 person, $25/month/person for a family of four |
Roaming | Canada & Mexico – All plansMore countries in higher plans | Canada & Mexico – select plansMore countries for an added fee |
International Calls | All plans – more countries available in higher-tier plans | Available for added fee |
Available Add-Ons | Disney+ streaming, included in certain plans | International calling, extra data, international roaming, hotspot data, device protection |
Customer Service | Chat & Phone: 8:00 AM – 11:45 PM dailyText & In-Person: During store hours | Chat: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Mon–Sat; 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Sun (ET)Phone: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Mon–Sat (ET)In-Person: During store hours |
Total Wireless: Reliable Coverage Meets Predictable Pricing
Since its acquisition a few years ago by Verizon, Total Wireless has only grown and improved as a brand. It’s gone from a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) who essentially borrowed Verizon’s network from time to time, to an official way to access one of the most widespread and reliable wireless networks in the world.
Total offers this without losing its affordability, offering a base plan as low as $20/month when new customers bring their own unlocked phone. You can also choose pretty comprehensive packages for yourself or your family, in some cases paying as little as $27.50/line per month (or even less) for unlimited data, roaming, and Disney Plus.
Price transparency is also huge with Total, as they make sure to list their discounts and deals right on the front page of their website. All prices on the website include taxes and fees. The coolest part is, whatever price you sign on with is guaranteed for five years.
All phone plans include 5G coverage, unlimited data, a hotspot, international calling, and roaming in Canada and Mexico. Higher plans allow roaming in over 30 countries and calls and texts to over 200. You can also work with Total to cover your internet, separate mobile hotspots, or your tablet on additional plans. Best of all, there are no contracts, so you’re not tied into anything that you don’t want to be.
Total Wireless provides coverage through Verizon’s network, which means stronger and more reliable signal in rural areas and on highways.
Customer service is easily reached practically all day, all the time by chat, phone, and in-person. While they’re not 24/7, hours are 8:00 AM to 11:45 PM if you chat or call, so it’s not difficult to reach someone when you need them. There’s also a text helpline for simpler emergencies.
Total Wireless clearly aims to make wireless communication more accessible without sacrificing quality, and that’s something we can get behind enthusiastically.
Who Total Wireless is Best For
- Frequent travelers
- People who are often on the highway or in rural areas
- Anyone looking for predictable pricing
- BYOD users
- People who don’t want to manage add-ons
Cricket: Affordable Flexibility and Physical Stores Everywhere
Having dominated the prepaid wireless market since 1999, Cricket has become synonymous with affordable service and easy-to-start plans.
There are almost 5,000 physical Cricket locations throughout the United States (Total Wireless is still catching up with about 2,000). Anyone who values social proof and an established retail footprint might choose Cricket as their provider.
Like Total, Cricket proudly values transparency in their pricing, promising no hidden fees or surprises when you sign up for service. It’s possible for a family of four to join the network for $25/month per line, which is much less than you’ll see in most places.
There are a number of smartphone data plans available for just about any use case, from $30/month for 10GB of data up to $55/month for unlimited data and benefits like HBO Max Basic and a 50GB hotspot.
Plans with Cricket aren’t all-inclusive, though, and there is more of an a la carte approach to the coverages you receive. For example, should you need international calling, you’ll need to tack that on for an extra $10-$15/month. Data for smartwatches would be an extra $10/month. This approach allows you to only pay for what you need in most cases, but it can also get pretty pricey rather quickly.
That said, if you’re someone who doesn’t need many (or any) add-ons besides what already comes with your coverage, the freedom of being able to choose what’s on your bill each month could be just what you need. For example, if you’re going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe, perhaps you only need to use your phone overseas for that trip. In that case, it would be more helpful to be able to add the ability to do that, use it while you’re traveling, and then remove it from your bill again once you’re back stateside.
Cricket offers fast 5G coverage using AT&T’s network, which is still widespread and reliable, especially in urban areas. That said, if you are on a lower-priced plan, Cricket will often slow down data speeds when the network is particularly busy, meaning that calls may not go through and streaming may suffer if the lines are especially full.
Customer service is available through chat, by phone, and in-person, though hours vary depending on weekday.
Who Cricket Wireless is Best For
- People who prefer handling things in-person
- Families who simply need data
- People who want to manage, add, and remove add-ons
- Urbanites who don’t leave the city often
Which Prepaid Carrier Should You Pick?
In the end, the best wireless provider is the one that meets your needs most fully. If you’ve read this and still aren’t sure which company to choose, ask yourself the following questions:
- “How well does this company’s network cover my area?”
- “Do I want my plan to be all-inclusive or do I want to pick and choose what’s included?”
- “How often will I use my phone outside of the US?”
Usually, just sitting with these questions will lead you toward the right decision.
Why We Recommend Total Wireless
Not only is the Verizon network objectively stronger and wider-spread, but it also allows for higher-quality calls and streaming; there won’t be any data-choking when countrywide usage is high.
We also really like the fact that Total makes plans easy to pick and sign up for by automatically including upgrades. This way, prices don’t shoot up because you’re having to add extra features that your plan doesn’t already have. It makes it a much simpler process to decide what you need, pay for it, and go.
The customer service hours are also huge, as we love when we’re able to ask for help quickly and easily. There’s nothing wrong with having to wait sometimes, but it’s also nice to be able to get issues resolved in a timely manner, especially when these issues concern the phone you’re most likely using for multiple things every day.
No matter who you choose, we hope this was a helpful guide in your journey to freedom from contracts, dropped calls, and high-priced plans that don’t serve you.