Consumer Cellular vs Total Wireless
By Rob Webber • Founder & Editor
Head-to-head comparison of plans, features, and pricing
Consumer Cellular
T-Mobile network
$—/mo
0 plans available
Total Wireless
Verizon network
$40/mo
3 plans available
Feature Comparison
Feature Consumer Cellular Total Wireless
Networks — Verizon
Data Speed — 5G & 4G LTE
3G Network — CDMA
Mobile Hotspot — ✅
5G — ✅
VoLTE — ✅
WiFi Calling — ✅
Visual Voicemail — ✅
Bring Your Phone — ✅
Keep Your Number — ✅
Contract — No Contract
Credit Check — ❌
Taxes Included — ❌
Multi-line Discounts — ✅
Multi-month Discounts — ❌
Money Back Guarantee — ❌
Customer Service — Mon-Sun 8am-11:45pm ET
International Calls — Yes - As add-on
International Roaming — ❌
Plans Side by Side
Consumer Cellular Plans
Total Wireless Plans
Unlimited Base
Unlimited · 5G
$40
Unlimited
Unlimited · 5G
$50
Unlimited+
Unlimited · 5G
$60
Our Verdict
Consumer Cellular is better for budget-conscious users who want plans starting at $0/mo on the T-Mobile network. Total Wireless is better if you want plans on the Verizon network starting at $40/mo. Both carriers offer the same tower coverage as Big Wireless at a fraction of the price.
Who Should Choose Consumer Cellular
- ✓ You want the T-Mobile network
- ✓ Plans starting at $0/mo
- ✓ 0 plan options to choose from
Who Should Choose Total Wireless
- ✓ You want the Verizon network
- ✓ Plans starting at $40/mo
- ✓ 3 plan options to choose from
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Consumer Cellular or Total Wireless cheaper?
Consumer Cellular is cheaper, with plans starting at $0/mo. Total Wireless starts at $40/mo.
Which network does Consumer Cellular use?
Consumer Cellular uses the T-Mobile network. You get the same coverage as T-Mobile customers at a lower price.
Which network does Total Wireless use?
Total Wireless uses the Verizon network. You get the same coverage as Verizon customers at a lower price.
Can I keep my phone number if I switch to Consumer Cellular or Total Wireless?
Yes. Both carriers support number porting. You can transfer your existing phone number in about 10-30 minutes during the sign-up process.
Do Consumer Cellular and Total Wireless offer 5G?
Most modern plans from both Consumer Cellular and Total Wireless include 5G access at no extra cost where the network supports it.