Boost Infinite vs. Tello: Which carrier is better?

Boost Infinite and Tello are popular MVNOs that offer unique plans. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Coverage & Reception

Boost Infinite is on several networks, and Tello is on the T-Mobile network. 

Boost Infinite and Tello are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Tello is an MVNO of T-Mobile, and Boost Infinite is an MVNO of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish. This means that if you choose Boost Infinite, you can choose which network you use when you sign up for your plan. Their Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans allow you to switch between services whenever you choose. 

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. 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. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers. 

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Boost Infinite offers three unlimited plans, while Tello offers customizable plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options. However, Tello offers several options for limited calling minutes to customize with the amount of data you need. Boost Infinite offers three unlimited plans with varying features. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Boost Infinite Plans

Boost Infinite offers 3 unlimited plans for its users. 

Boost Infinite is a postpaid service, meaning you pay for the previous month of service after you use it. They offer 3 unlimited plans, with one allowing for a new iPhone upgrade each year. Additional add-ons, like hotspot access and extra high speed data, cost $10 per month. Their QCI tier is 7 on T-Mobile, 8 on AT&T, and 9 on Dish. With their Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans, you can switch between which service you use whenever you want. However, the regular Infinite Unlimited plan only allows you to choose one and stick with it. 

You can have up to 5 lines on an account. If you purchase your phone from Boost Infinite, your device will be locked until you pay off your phone. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not with the advertised price. 

Infinite Unlimited

This plan offers 30GB of high speed data. 

This plan offers 30GB of high speed data before slowing to unlimited data at 512kbps, or 3G speeds. 3G speeds still allow you to browse the internet and send texts or emails, but streaming videos may be more difficult. The plan does not include hotspot access, but an add-on is available for $10 per month. You can use up to 30GB in hotspot data with the add-on. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $0.83 per GB. 

Infinite Unlimited Plus

This plan allows you to trade for a new iPhone when you sign up.  

This plan also offers 30GB of high speed data before slowing to unlimited 3G speeds. This plan doesn’t have hotspot access, but an add-on is available to add so you can use up to 30GB. You can also trade for a new iPhone when you sign up. 

The plan costs $50 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $1.66 per GB. 

Infinite Access for iPhone

This plan includes the latest iPhone each year. 

Like their other plans, this plan offers 30GB of high speed data before slowing to unlimited 3G speeds. This plan doesn’t have hotspot access, but an add-on is available to add so you can use up to 30GB. Every year, this plan allows you to get the newest iPhone available. When you sign up, there's no trade-in required to get access to the latest tech. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $2 per GB.

Tello Plans

Tello offers customizable plans with their service.

Tello offers plans that allow you to customize the amount of data and minutes you get included. No matter your plan, you do get unlimited text capabilities included. Your calling access stops on the limited plans once you hit the cap. Your QCI tier for this carrier is 7, as it’s on the T-Mobile network. 

If you purchase your phone from Tello, your device will be unlocked upon purchasing. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

No Data Plan

This plan offers talk and text. 

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.

500MB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

This plan offers 0.5GB per month, or 500MB. Data slows to 64 kilobits per second (kbps) after you hit the cap, which is practically unusable. 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

1GB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

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

2GB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

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

5GB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

This Tello plan offers 5GB of full speed data, then 64 kbps 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

10GB 

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

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

Unlimited 

This plan gives you 25GB of full speed data. 

As the biggest plan Tello offers, this plan offers 25GB of full speed data before slowing to 64 kbps. 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.  

Features

Boost Infinite offers several features included with their Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access plans, while Tello offers limited features

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Boost Infinite offers several features with their Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans. Tello doesn’t offer many features with their plans.  

Domestic Roaming Data

Boost Infinite and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Boost Infinite’s Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans include talk, text, and data to Mexico and Canada. To get talk, text, and data to Mexico and Canada on their Infinite Unlimited plan, users can purchase an additional add-on for $10 per month. Tello does not include this feature. 

International Connection

Boost Infinite’s Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans include international talk and text. To get international talk and text on their Infinite Unlimited plan, there is an additional add-on users can purchase for $10 per month. Tello plans include international calling, but not text and data.  

Video Streaming Quality

Boost Infinite’s plans stream at 480p Standard Definition. All Tello plans stream at 4k Ultra HD resolution. 

Streaming Services

Boost Infinite and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Boost Infinite and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from Boost Infinite, they allow you to pay for your device in installments over time. Tello does not offer this feature. 

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.

Spam Protection

Boost Infinite and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

Boost Infinite and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Customer Service 

Boost Infinite and Tello do not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. 

Boost Infinite and Tello are digital-only carriers, meaning they only offer customer support online. They offer support over the phone at (833) 212-6678. You can call Tello’s customer service lines at 1 (866) 377-0294, and you can research answers to your questions on their help center page.  

The Verdict

The better plan depends on what you need.

Overall, Tello and Boost Infinite offer very different plans. If you’re looking for all that a phone plan can offer, Boost Infinite is the best choice with their Infinite Unlimited Plus and Infinite Access for iPhone plans. However, if you don’t need that much data or minutes, Tello plans are the better option for you.

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 which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? 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!