Total Wireless: 50% More Data for ported in number $33.2

I went to my local WalMart and bought the $10 TotalWireless SIM card package off the shelf, along with a $35 refill card for Total Wireless to try this out. The refill card I bought for $35+tax said it was a 6GB card, available only at WalMart. It had a red box on it (see image) that says "6GB Data Plan. Only At Walmart. 5GB + 1GB Bonus." You can't get a 6GB plan direct from TotalWireless on their website. I wondered how TotalWireless would combine the promotions... an extra 1GB for buying at Walmart and an extra 50% LTE data for porting in a number.

After getting my number ported in to TotalWireless, I checked my account online - the 50% extra data promotion applied to the full 6GB of data from the WalMart card, so my phone has 9GB of LTE data per month for $35.

I ported from Verizon Prepaid (from the actual VZW giant company itself) and was paying over $20 more a month for 10GB of data after taxes, fees, etc.

TotalWireless uses Verizon's network and previously throttled all LTE data. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore, at least where I live and based on other forum info I've found. I'm getting identical speed tests on cellular with the Oookla speed test app after making the switch (20-30 Mbps download, which is pretty good considering my semi-rural location). Visual voicemail also works on my iPhone. The only thing I've lost is tethering, which I used once or twice a year.

Thanks for the Slickdeal!

I was also looking at the Total Wireless deal the other day, seems like a very solid deal for those who need the best network, such as rural areas. Interesting tip on the Walmart buy! For now I have decided to stick with Mint Mobile as it serves my current needs just fine.

i have tried total wireless before, even though it is on verizon network, it has the lowest priority on network usage. when u at the area that network is congested, events, popular toursit site, the internet is not usable at all, while my other phone using tmo was working fine. i ditched them after a month.

I have to agree with the person above. I went from Total Wireless to Verizon and I was getting bigger and faster speeds. Connection would get choppy sometimes on TW, even with full bars.

T-Mobile and Sprint networks are both unreliable and have poor coverage where I live, so it's AT&T or Verizon for me (no Mint, no VirginMobile, etc.) TW runs on verizon, and coverage & speed for me have been identical to when I had Verizon branded pre-paid service.

I hope concerns of data priority / deprioritization are overblown. It's my understanding that it takes a LOT of traffic to overwhelm a modern digital technology cell tower, and cell companies prepare for major events / venues with additional capacity, if possible. I also wonder if Verizon Prepaid (which also says customers are de-prioritized behind contract/plan customers) is higher priority than TotalWireless Prepaid on the network, or the same? Still, I doubt it will be an issue with where I spend most of my time. And as long as I can send an SMS text or simple iMessage, I'll be fine. I'm not going to be live-streaming from a Taylor Swift concert or watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy over my cellular connection while standing in Times Square or Yankee Stadium anytime soon.

It's not worth the extra $20+ a month for the brand name Verizon prepaid service for an occasional inconvenience a couple of times a year when I can get to a major sporting event. The rural coverage and large amount of data for cheap $ are more important to me.

To each their own.

Quote from FatalException : T-Mobile and Sprint networks are both unreliable and have poor coverage where I live, so it's AT&T or Verizon for me. I've only had TotalWireless for a few days, and I'm semi-rural, so I can't speak to traffic congestion concerns. It runs on verizon, and coverage has been identical to when I had Verizon branded pre-paid service. I hope concerns of data priority / deprioritization are overblown. It's my understanding that it takes a LOT of traffic to overwhelm a modern digital technology cell tower, and cell companies prepare for major events / venues with additional capacity, if possible. I also wonder if Verizon Prepaid (which also says customers are de-prioritized behind contract/plan customers) is higher priority than TotalWireless Prepaid on the network, or the same? It's not worth the extra $20+ a month for the brand name Verizon prepaid service for an occasional inconvenience once every 2-3 years when I can get to a major sporting event. The rural coverage and large amount of data for cheap $ are more important to me.

You might also want to look into Red Pocket, they are an AT&T MVNO with some really great rates if TW ends up not working out for you.

Quote from NoMoFW : You might also want to look into Red Pocket, they are an AT&T MVNO with some really great rates if TW ends up not working out for you.

Thanks! I'll check out RedPocket if this doesn't go well with TW.

Great deal for those considering switching to total wireless. Ive made the switch to total wireless from Tmobile over a year ago after getting a couple of the xfinity phones and realizing how much better verizon's mvno coverage was. I've never had issues with data other than if im in a very spotty area inside a building or something of the sort and eventually it will load. As a side note, data and talk does work on my phones, nexus 6 and LG V20 and I do regularly get 15-25+ Mbps speed tests when checking. By the way, when I and my family was at a major concert in Tampa, we seemed to have no issue using our phones and my cousin on total even did a facebook live without issue.

*Prices do NOT include taxes and fees.

I can't seem to find any info on TW's website regarding whether the extra 50% is given monthly, or just as a one time bonus... Does anyone know for sure?

If I do a 4 line plan, and 3 of the lines are already on Total Wireless while the 4th one is ported in, will I qualify for the promotion (37.5gb data)?

Quote from Lisbon2000 : I can't seem to find any info on TW's website regarding whether the extra 50% is given monthly, or just as a one time bonus... Does anyone know for sure?

The website says: "you got this
50% more data for FREE when you move."

So I would assume extra data is given only the first month, though I could not find the exact info as well.

I have a 5 line plan on att.... i would need some new phones to do this also. (This would be 1/2 the price)

Maybe black friday there will be a phone deal to stack on this?

What is the cheapest respectable VZ phone folks are using to switch?

Quote from bulletban : i have tried total wireless before, even though it is on verizon network, it has the lowest priority on network usage. when u at the area that network is congested, events, popular toursit site, the internet is not usable at all, while my other phone using tmo was working fine. i ditched them after a month.

Weird, I get really high speeds even in the middle of downtown Chicago. Lollapalooza and other events in Millennium park have been fine. Maybe it depends on the city?