Google Fi vs. Tello: Which carrier is better?

Google Fi and Tello are popular prepaid carriers that offer great deals on their 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 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Google Fi and Tello are on the T-Mobile network. 

Google Fi 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. Google Fi and Tello are MVNOs of T-Mobile. 

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

Google Fi offers premium data, and Tello offers customizable plans. 

Both carriers give you unlimited talk and texting options. However, Tello offers several options for limited calling minutes to customize with the amount of data you need. Google Fi offers premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both carriers deprioritizes data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Google Fi Plans

Several plans offer unlimited data with premium data at a cap. 

Google Fi offers 2 unlimited plans and one plan with pay-per-use data. Each of its unlimited plans offer a limited amount of premium data. Each plan allows up to 6 lines and renews monthly. Google Fi is on QCI tier 6 of 9.

Image courtesy of Google Fi’s website. 

Flexible 

This plan allows you to pay for the exact amount of data you use each month. 

Google Fi’s Flexible plan is unlike a lot of other plans on the market, as it allows you to pay a set amount per month for talk and text features. Users then pay for only the amount of data they use. After 15GB of data, your speed is slowed to 256 kbps, or 3G speeds. You can still send texts, emails, and use social media with little issues. Streaming video will be much more difficult. 

The plan also includes the ability to buy mobile hotspot data, and all plan data can be used as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $20 per month, plus $10 for each GB you use. For example, you’d pay about $70 per month if you used 5GB.

Simply Unlimited 

This plan gives you 35GB of premium data before slowing down. 

The Simply Unlimited plan gives you 35GB of premium data. Premium data means your data will not be deprioritized in times of high traffic and congestion. After 35GB, data slows down to 3G speeds. 5GB of hotspot data is also included in the plan, then stops after that allotment. 

The plan costs $50 per month. At this rate, you get 35GB at $1.42 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus

This plan is 50GB of premium data. 

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan has 50GB of premium data. Connection is then slowed down to 3G speeds. You can use all 50GB of plan data as mobile hotspot data, but hotspot data stops after the 50GB. 

The plan costs $65 per month. At this rate, you get 50GB at $1.30 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 64kbps 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 64kbps 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 64kbps 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 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

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 64kbps 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

Google Fi offers more features included with their plans.  

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. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Google Fi offers domestic roaming data on their plans. Tello does not include this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Google Fi offers talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada included with both its unlimited plans. However, only text is included in their Flexible plan. Talk and data are pay-per-use. Tello does not include this feature.  

International Connection

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan includes international text and data. Calling internationally is pay-per-use outside the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Simply Unlimited plan does not include international connection, and the Flexible plan includes international texting, but talk and data are pay-per-use. Calling costs $0.20 per minute. Tello plans include international calling, but not text and data.  

Video Streaming Quality

Google Fi offers 4k Ultra High Definition streaming for their Flexible plan and 480p Standard Definition streaming for their unlimited data plans. All Tello plans stream at 4k Ultra HD resolution. 

Streaming Services

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan offers a free subscription to Youtube Premium. Tello does not include this feature.  

Cloud Storage

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan offers 100GB of Google One. Tello does not include this feature.  

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from Google Fi, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. Tello does not include 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

All Google Fi plans offer spam protection included. Tello does not include this feature.  

Free Trial

Google Fi offers a 7 day free trial. Tello does not include this feature.  

Customer Service 

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

Google Fi is a  digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Google Fi offers 24/7 customer support over chat and over the phone at 1-844-TALK-2-FI. 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

Google Fi offers better unlimited plans, and Tello offers better limited plans.  

Even though Google Fi’s plans are more expensive than Tello, the features included make the difference well worth it. However, Tello’s limited plans offer a much better deal than the Google Fi Flexible plan.  

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!