With monthly plans as low as $9.99, it’s hard to ignore. Even though you can bring your own unlocked phone, Tracfone offers a selection of smartphones to pick from if you’d rather buy directly.

Total Wireless is a prepaid phone carrier that began as a TracFone sub-brand until Verizon purchased it a few years ago. Big Red rebranded it to Total by Verizon in 2022, but just two years later ...