Tello: Which plan is the best one for you?

compare phone plans and save up to 80%

compare phone plans and save up to 80%

Tello is one of the most unique carriers on the market, as they allow you to mix and match between how many minutes and GB you get in your plan. They provide their network services through T-Mobile, which offers the widest 5G coverage in the country. Tello offers several different plans, but which plan is best for you?

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • What each Tello plan offers 
  • What deals Tello offers for its users
  • Which Tello plan is the best deal

Unsure of what you need out of a phone plan? Read our guide on how to choose the best one to suit your needs. 

What to expect from Tello

Tello allows you to customize your plan with the amount of data and minutes you need.

What makes Tello unique from their competitors is that they offer customizable plans with their services. You can mix and match the amount of data with the number of minutes you get, but you get hotspot access and unlimited texting no matter what amounts you choose. Each version of the plan offers a different price. Tello is also deprioritized, which means your data will slow down in times of high traffic congestion. This could be in a sports stadium or a busy store. 

Their plans offer up to 4k Ultra HD resolution when streaming. Tello plans offer international talking services if you purchase minutes. 

Coverage

Tello uses T-Mobile’s network to give users the fastest speeds. 

As Tello is an MVNO, they buy coverage from one of the main network providers with their own infrastructure – specifically T-Mobile, while others buy from AT&T and Verizon. 

T-Mobile is widely considered some of the best 5G coverage nationally, but the best coverage for you comes down to your location. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. Comparing tower locations can help you determine which of the big 3 network providers meet your needs. 

The Plans 

Tello offers several different data and minute options with their plans.

With each data option Tello offers, you can choose a different amount of minutes at a unique price. All plans come with hotspot access and unlimited texts, no matter what you choose. The average phone user uses about 20GB of data per month, so their unlimited plans are the best option for most people.

No Data, 100 Minutes

$5
data
None
Hotspot access
N/A
Best for:
Lightest phone users
More Details

No Data, 300 Minutes

$6
data
None
Hotspot access
N/A
Best for:
Lightest phone users
More Details

No Data, 500 Minutes

$7
data
None
Hotspot access
N/A
Best for:
Lightest phone users
More Details

500MB, No Minutes

$5
data
500MB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 500MB)
Best for:
Lightest phone users
More Details

500MB, 100 Minutes

$6
data
500MB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 500MB)
Best for:
Lightest phone users
More Details

500MB, 300 Minutes

$7
data
500MB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 500MB)
Best for:
Lightest phone users
More Details

500MB, 500 Minutes

$8
data
500MB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 500MB)
Best for:
Lightest phone users
More Details

500MB

$9
data
500MB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 500MB)
Best for:
Those with consistent WiFi access
More Details

1GB, No Minutes

$6
data
1GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 1GB)
Best for:
Lightest data users
More Details

1GB, 100 Minutes

$7
data
1GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 1GB)
Best for:
Lightest data users
More Details

1GB, 300 Minutes

$8
data
1GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 1GB)
Best for:
Lightest data users
More Details

1GB, 500 Minutes

$9
data
1GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 1GB)
Best for:
Lightest data users
More Details

1GB

$10
data
1GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 1GB)
Best for:
Lightest data users
More Details

2GB, No Minutes

$10
data
2GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 2GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

2GB, 100 Minutes

$11
data
2GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 2GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

2GB, 300 Minutes

$12
data
2GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 2GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

2GB, 500 Minutes

$13
data
2GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 2GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

2GB

$14
data
2GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 2GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

5GB, No Minutes

$15
data
5GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 5GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

5GB, 100 Minutes

$16
data
5GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 5GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

5GB, 300 Minutes

$17
data
5GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 5GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

5GB, 500 Minutes

$18
data
5GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 5GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

5GB

$19
data
5GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 5GB)
Best for:
Lighter data users
More Details

10GB, No Minutes

$20
data
10GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 10GB)
Best for:
Light data users
More Details

10GB, 100 Minutes

$21
data
10GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 10GB)
Best for:
Light data users
More Details

10GB, 300 Minutes

$22
data
10GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 10GB)
Best for:
Light data users
More Details

10GB, 500 Minutes

$23
data
10GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 10GB)
Best for:
Light data users
More Details

10GB

$24
data
10GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 10GB)
Best for:
Light data users
More Details

Unlimited

$29
data
25GB
Hotspot access
All plan data (stops at 25GB)
Best for:
Average data users
More Details

Unlimited Talk + Text

$8
data
None
Hotspot access
N/A
Best for:
Those with consistent WiFi access
More Details

Let’s talk about each Tello plan individually, and what they offer for their customers. 

Best Overall: Unlimited Plans

As the biggest plan Tello offers, this plan offers 25GB of full speed data before slowing to 64 kilobits per second (kbps). At 64 kbps, the data is practically unusable and WiFi is necessary. You also get hotspot access that stops once you hit the full speed cap. 

The plan costs $29 per month, no matter if you choose unlimited minutes or a specific amount. At this rate, you get 25GB at $1.16 per GB. 

Pros: price

Cons: data slows down after cap

Conclusion: best for average data usersRunner Up: 10GB Plans

The 10GB plan is the biggest limited data allotment that Tello offers. Like the other plans, you get hotspot access until the cap and data speeds slow to 64 kbps when you run out of full speed data. 

The plan costs $24 per month with unlimited minutes. At the unlimited minutes rate, you get 10GB at $2.40 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $20, $2 per GB

100 minutes: $21, $2.10 per GB

300 minutes: $22, $2.20 per GB

500 minutes: $23, $2.30 per GB

Pros: hotspot access, several minutes options

Cons: limited hotspot access

Conclusion: best for light data users

5GB Plans

This Tello plan offers 5GB of full speed data, then 64kbps speeds. You also get hotspot access until you run out of data for the month. 

The plan costs $19 per month with unlimited minutes. At this rate, you get 5GB at $3.80 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $15, $3 per GB

100 minutes: $16, $3.20 per GB

300 minutes: $17, $3.40 per GB

500 minutes: $18, $3.60 per GB

Pros: hotspot access, several minutes options

Cons: price

Conclusion: best for lighter data users

2GB Plans

Tello offers 2GB with this plan, and speeds slows to 64 kbps once you run out of that amount. You also get hotspot access until you hit the cap.

The plan costs $14 per month with unlimited minutes. At this rate, you get 2GB at $7 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $10, $5 per GB. 

100 minutes: $11, $5.50 per GB

300 minutes: $12, $6 per GB

500 minutes: $13, $6.50

Pros: hotspot access, several minutes options

Cons: more expensive than other plans

Conclusion: best for lighter data users 

1GB Plans

You get 1GB with this plan, which slows to 64 kbps once you hit the cap. You also get hotspot access with this data until you run out. 

The plan costs $10 per month with unlimited minutes.

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $6

100 minutes: $7

300 minutes: $8

500 minutes: $9

Pros: hotspot access, several minutes options

Cons: more expensive than other plans

Conclusion: best for lightest data users 

500MB Plans

This plan offers 0.5GB per month, or 500MB. Data slows to 64 kbps, like their other plans. You can use your data as hotspot access, and access stops at the cap. 

The plan costs $9 per month with unlimited minutes. At this rate, you get 500MB at $18 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $5, $10 per GB

100 minutes: $6, $12 per GB

300 minutes: $7, $14 per GB

500 minutes: $8, $16 per GB

Pros: hotspot access, several minutes options

Cons: more expensive than other plans

Conclusion: best for lightest data users  

No Data Plans

Obviously, this is the smallest plan Tello offers. You don’t get any data, but still get unlimited texting. You can choose how many minutes you get each month, and you don’t get hotspot access. 

The plan costs $8 per month with unlimited minutes, $7 with 500 minutes, $6 with 300 minutes, and $5 with 100 minutes.

Pros: price

Cons: no hotspot access

Conclusion: best for light phone users and those with consistent WiFi 

Family Plan Offerings

Tello offers the ability to make a custom plan for each line.

Tello allows an unlimited number of lines on one account, and users can mix and match the amount of minutes and GB they get with each line. All plans come with unlimited text. 

Features

Tello’s offered features come with your plan if you purchase minutes. 

Tello offers several features their users can take advantage of, which include: 

feature

Domestic Roaming
Mexico and Canada Talk
Mexico and Canada Text
Mexico and Canada Data 
International Talk
International Text 
International Data 
Streaming quality 
Device Financing
WiFi Calling

details

Not included
Included if you purchase minutes
Not included
Not included
Included if you purchase minutes
Not included
Not included
4k Ultra HD resolution
Not included
Included

Customer Service

Tello’s customer service takes place entirely online. 

There are several ways to contact their customer support lines: 

chat support

hours:
24/7

phone support

Conclusion

Tello’s unlimited minute versions of their plans offer the best deal. 

If you’re looking for a limited data plan with Tello, the unlimited minutes versions of their plans offer the best deal. The limited minutes don’t offer a huge difference in terms of price. Their Unlimited plan with unlimited minutes is the best option over all, as they offer all included features as well as the best price per GB. 

To have a comprehensive picture of how much data you use month to month and what plan you need, we’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure if you want to go with a Tello plan? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!

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compare phone plans and save up to 80%

compare phone plans and save up to 80%