Verizon Value launches 5G prepaid international roaming on Simple Mobile and Total Wireless

Verizon Value is rolling out enhanced prepaid international services across its Simple Mobile and Total Wireless brands, sharpening its competitive edge in global roaming and cross-border communications starting August 28, 2025.

What’s new in Verizon Value’s prepaid international plans

Two flagship prepaid brands under Verizon ValueSimple Mobile and Total Wirelessare launching upgraded plan lineups designed to make international calling, texting, and roaming more accessible at prepaid price points. The offers blend unlimited international calling to large country sets, global texting, and expanded roaming with 5G access on Verizons network, including 5G Ultra Wideband on select tiers.

Plan highlights and international benefits

Simple Mobile adds unlimited global texting across all plans and scales international calling and data inclusions from entry to premium tiers. Plans start with 1530 GB options featuring unlimited calling to 100125+ countries, and extend to Unlimited World and Unlimited World+ tiers with unlimited data, talk and text, unlimited calling to 200+ countries, and international roaming in 140+ countries on the top plan. Total Wireless retools its unlimited structure with a five-year price guarantee (taxes and fees included), adds 95 more calling destinations (up to 180 countries on higher tiers), and doubles roaming coverage to 30+ countries. The $40 plan includes roaming in Canada and Mexico, while the $55 and $65 plans include roaming in 30+ countries, larger hotspot allotments up to unlimited, Disney+ perks, and a $10 international calling credit on the top tier.

Why it matters for travelers and global callers

International travel is rebounding and shifting toward Asia Pacific, intensifying demand for affordable roaming and cross-border communication options in prepaid.

Rising APAC travel shifts prepaid roaming demand

U.S. travel to APAC has surged relative to prior years, while traditional routes to Mexico, Canada, and the UK remain strong. Prepaid usersoften value-seeking travelers, immigrants, international students, and cross-border workersare disproportionately sensitive to roaming costs, country coverage, and inclusion of unlimited international calling/texting. By pushing roaming to 30+ countries on Total Wireless and to 140+ on Simple Mobiles top tier, Verizon Value targets the evolving map of traveler demand without forcing a shift to postpaid.

Prepaid with postpaid-grade 5G and roaming features

The offers align prepaid with premium network features historically reserved for postpaidnamely broad roaming footprints, 5G Ultra Wideband access, and bundled content. This reduces the feature gap with competitors across carrier-owned prepaid and MVNOs and aims to curb churn by locking in predictable pricing, richer hotspots, and broad international entitlements.

SMB and field team use cases for prepaid international

While positioned as consumer prepaid, these plans map well to microbusinesses, seasonal staff, and project-based teams that need temporary lines, hotspot data abroad, and simple cost control. Unlimited international texting across the board and large international calling sets simplify cross-border supplier and customer engagement without bespoke enterprise roaming contracts.

Plan tiers and positioning

The two brands segment cleanly: Simple Mobile optimizes for international-first value, while Total Wireless focuses on unlimited-centric plans with perks and long-term price certainty.

Simple Mobile: international-first 5G value

All plans now include unlimited global texting. The $25, $30, and $40 tiers deliver 1530 GB of high-speed data with unlimited calling to 100125+ countries, addressing budget-conscious users who prioritize outbound calling and messaging over roaming. The Unlimited World ($50) adds unlimited data, talk and text with unlimited calling to 200+ countries. The Unlimited World+ ($60) layer enables access to Verizons 5G Ultra Wideband where available and includes international roaming in 140+ countriesuseful for longer trips or multi-country itineraries.

Total Wireless: unlimited data, roaming, and perks

All Total Wireless plans include unlimited data on Verizons 5G nationwide network, international benefits, and a five-year price guarantee with taxes and fees included. The Base 5G Unlimited ($40) offers 5 GB of hotspot, roaming in Canada and Mexico, unlimited international calling to 85+ countries, and unlimited international texting to 200+ countries. The Total 5G Unlimited ($55) steps up to 15 GB hotspot, roaming in 30+ countries, unlimited calling to 180 countries, and six months of Disney+. The Total 5G+ Unlimited ($65) delivers unlimited hotspot, roaming in 30+ countries, calling to 180 countries, Disney+ included, and a $10 international calling credit for destinations that require per-minute charges.

Network tech: 5G UWB, VoLTE/VoWiFi, eSIM

The expanded footprints are enabled by Verizons global roaming agreements and 5G coverage, with the top Simple Mobile tier specifying 5G Ultra Wideband access. For calling and messaging continuity, customers should expect VoLTE/VoWiFi support and eSIM activation where available, with roaming delivered via standard inter-operator frameworks and policy controls that prioritize cost management and experience consistency across visited networks.

Market context and competitive landscape

The move responds to intensifying competition among carrier-owned prepaid brands and full-MVNOs in international features, country counts, and price guarantees.

Competitive dynamics vs Metro, Cricket, and Google Fi

Metro by T-Mobile, AT&T Prepaid/Cricket, and Google Fi continue to jockey on international roaming add-ons, hotspot policies, and country coverage. Verizon Values approach differentiates by pairing broad calling and texting destinations with tiered roaming footprints, premium network access on select plans, and a long-term pricing guarantee on Total Wireless that reduces bill shock and improves retention.

Retail rollout and activation momentum

Simple Mobile has consistently performed well in third-party activation rankings, and Total Wireless now operates 1,000+ exclusive stores. Launching across national retail, authorized dealers, and online the same day should drive immediate visibility. The dual-brand structure lets Verizon Value tailor merchandising: Simple Mobile for straightforward international connectivity; Total Wireless for unlimited-plus-perks buyers.

ARPU lift, churn reduction, and upsell levers

International calling and roaming entitlements are effective upsell levers that can lift ARPU without heavy device subsidies, while five-year price guarantees can suppress churn. Disney+ trials and credits nudge plan transitions toward higher tiers, aided by hotspot escalation from 5 GB to unlimited.

What to watch and next steps

Executives, partners, and enterprise buyers should monitor adoption patterns, roaming usage, and experience consistency across destinations.

Guidance for telecom strategists and OEMs

Track 5G SA roaming expansion and VoLTE/VoWiFi interoperability across the 30+/140+ country footprints. Ensure eSIM flows and device compatibility matrices are current before peak travel seasons. Evaluate opportunities to bundle travel eSIMs or day passes for destinations not covered by unlimited calling or included roaming.

Guidance for retailers and channel partners

Merchandise by traveler profile: Simple Mobile Unlimited World+ for multi-country trips; Total 5G Unlimited for North America travel with broader calling; Total 5G+ Unlimited for heavy hotspot users. Emphasize the five-year price guarantee and taxes-included simplicity as decision drivers.

KPIs to track for adoption and roaming

Monitor international attach rates by plan, hotspot consumption while roaming, top destination usage, inbound port-ins from competitor prepaid brands, and churn deltas tied to price guarantees.

Bottom line: prepaid international without postpaid complexity

By fusing broader roaming, expansive international calling/texting, and 5G access into prepaid, Verizon Value positions Simple Mobile and Total Wireless as credible global connectivity options without postpaid complexitya timely move as cross-border travel patterns diversify and value-conscious users demand more for less.