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Looking for a cheap phone plan that doesn't scrimp on quality? With Tello, you can save big without sacrificing the network coverage.
Tello prepaid plans are powered by the T-Mobile network, so you can expect the same 4G LTE coverage and fast 5G speeds (where it's available). Plus, with Tello's selection of plans, you'll find a budget-friendly option to suit your needs.
We've broken down what you need to know, including the pros and cons of Tello, to help you decide if Tello's the right provider for you.
1. Is Tello good?
Choosing a cell phone plan can be personal. It'll depend on your needs and how much you want to spend on your bill.
Tello service offers reliable plans at a budget-friendly price, but before you jump on board, it's important to know all the details.
Sure, they offer reasonably priced plans and operate on dependable network coverage. But it's worth keeping the pros and cons in mind.
Tello advantages
- Free international calls to 60+ countries
- Build your own plan option
- Affordable plans starting at around $10 a month
- Mobile hotspot data use with all plans
- 4G LTE and 5G coverage
- Customizable family plans
Tello disadvantages
- No multi-line discounts
- Data deprioritization during busy times
- No International roaming
- Throttles data when allowance reached
- A small range of new cell phones
2. Tello cell phone plans
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello unlimited talk & text plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 0GB | $8/mo |
| Tello 1GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 1GB | $9/mo |
| Tello 2GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 2GB | $10/mo |
| Tello 5GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $14/mo |
| Tello 10GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 10GB | $19/mo |
One of the great things about Tello is that you can build your own plan. You can choose from the number of calls, texts, and data you want. And when it comes to Tello family plans, each family member can customize a plan to suit their individual needs.
You can also bring your own device and phone number to save even more money.
3. Tello 5G & 4G LTE coverage
If you're after some serious coverage that can be relied on even in the remotest nooks and crannies, Tello is an affordable option.
Tello operates on T-Mobile's network, whose data speeds are impressive, along with an expansive 5G infrastructure, according to the latest RootMetrics report.
To find out if T-Mobile's got good coverage where you live, you can check the Tello coverage map using your ZIP code.
But here's the thing, your speeds might take a hit during busy periods due to deprioritization.
4. Tello unlimited data
Unlimited never really means unlimited. And with Tello, their unlimited plan gets you 25GB of high-speed data before being slowed until your next billing cycle.
As an MVNO, Tello unlimited plans are a fraction of the cost of an unlimited plan with T-Mobile directly. But do you really need unlimited data?
Although the average monthly data usage has gone up, with the availability of WiFi, keeping connected as much as possible can reduce your data usage.
5. Tello family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello Unlimited Talk & Text | $8 | $16 $8/line | $24 $8/line | $32 $8/line |
| Tello 1GB | $9 | $18 $9/line | $27 $9/line | $36 $9/line |
| Tello 2GB | $10 | $20 $10/line | $30 $10/line | $40 $10/line |
| Tello 5GB | $14 | $28 $14/line | $42 $14/line | $56 $14/line |
| Tello 10GB | $19 | $38 $19/line | $57 $19/line | $76 $19/line |
If you're looking for plans for the whole family, Tello has some flexible options with their family plans.
One downside is that there are no discounts for additional lines. However, you can have all lines together in one easy account.
With Tello's buildable plans, this means you can create a customizable plan for each family member. No more shared data!
6. Tello features
7. Tello customer service
- Tello Trustpilot rating: 4.5 stars - Excellent
- T-Mobile Trustpilot rating: 1.4 stars - Bad
- AT&T Trustpilot rating: 1.3 stars - Bad
- Verizon Trustpilot rating: 1.2 stars - Bad
8. Bring your own phone to Tello
Why waste money on a new phone if you're happy with your current handset? With Tello, as long as your phone is compatible and unlocked, you can bring your own phone to Tello.
9. Tello phones
If you're craving an upgrade, you can explore a selection of budget-friendly Tello phones.
10. Tello activation
Tello is a low-cost carrier that's based online, so it's super easy to sign up for one of their plans.
You can choose a Tello SIM card kit which will be sent straight to your door. If your phone supports eSIM, you'll have your plan set up within minutes.
If you're looking to transfer your number to Tello, you'll need to contact your current provider (make sure to have your account number to hand), and they'll provide you with the information you need to give Tello when you activate your plan.
To delve deeper, you can read more with our Tello review.
Tello FAQs
Absolutely! You'll need to get a port code from your current provider, and when you activate your SIM card, you can request to transfer your current number over.
Yes, Tello is powered by the T-Mobile network.
Tello is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). Instead of owning its own network, it leases a network from one of the big three. In Tello's case, this is T-Mobile. It's also online based, so there are no physical stores or sales staff. This helps keep costs low so they can pass these savings on to their customers.
There are no contracts with Tello, so if you want to amend your plan or switch carriers, you're free to do so at any time.
Tell does offer 5G with all of their plans as long as you've got a 5G-compatible phone.
Recap: Should you switch to Tello?
Saving you up to $600 a year per line on your cell phone bill, Tello offers a range of cheap plans. But if you want to switch to Tello, it's worth making sure it's the right fit for you.
Before you take the leap, make sure to check the coverage in your area. And work out how much data you (and your family if you're going for a family plan) need. To make sure you're not paying for features you don't really need.
Tello FAQs
- Tello Customer Service FAQs
- Does Tello have a Free Trial?
- Does Tello have a Promo Code?
- Does Tello have Unlimited Data?
- How to Activate Tello eSIM
- How to Activate Tello SIM Card
- How to Get a Free Tello SIM Card
- How to Sign Up for Tello
- How to Switch to Tello
- What is Tello? Is it Worth it?
- What Network does Tello use?
- Where to Buy a Tello SIM Card
Tello info
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | 4780 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Suite A 236 Atlanta, GA, 30338 United States |
| Employees | 51-200 |
| Customer service | (866) 377-0294 |
| Support | Tello customer service |
| Website | Tello's Website |
| Wikipedia | Tello's Wikipedia |
| Tello's Facebook | |
| Tello's Twitter |
