About Tello Mobile

The allure of opting for the largest cell phone plan available to enjoy unlimited streaming without constraints is understandable. However, this approach isn’t always feasible or affordable for everyone. Moreover, there are situations where you might be willing to forego certain services that you don’t necessarily require in order to save some money on your monthly plan.

Tello Mobile stands out as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) operating on the T-Mobile network, providing ultra-affordable plans inclusive of unlimited features and devoid of contracts, all for a mere $25 per month.

If this piques your interest, we conducted an in-depth examination of the service to uncover precisely what Tello Mobile offers upon subscription—and whether it’s a worthwhile choice.

Mobile Plans

Tello offers two options for selecting a cell phone plan: you can either choose from a selection of pre-designed deals or create your own plan by customizing the amount of data and talk time you require. Regardless of the plan you assemble, texting is always free.

When it comes to data, you have the flexibility to select anywhere from 1GB to unlimited data each month, with the option of choosing no data at all. Regarding talk options, you can opt for 100, 300, 500, or unlimited minutes, or choose zero talk minutes if preferred. Additionally, the unlimited calling feature extends beyond the U.S., allowing you to make calls to over 60 countries, including China, India, and Mexico, with every plan. Opting for lower data and talk limits helps reduce the monthly rate charged by Tello.

Economy

While you have the option to customize your own plan, you can also opt for a pre-designed package. The most affordable among these is the $9 Economy package, which includes 1GB of data along with unlimited minutes and texts. However, the 1GB data limit may be quite restrictive for many users despite its low cost.

Value

The Value plan lives up to its name, offering Tello’s best overall value for $10/month. With this plan, you’ll receive 2GB of data along with unlimited minutes and texts. Although slightly pricier than the Economy option, the increased data allocation will be essential for many users.

Smart

Tello’s Smart plan doubles the data offered by the Value plan, providing a more substantial 5GB of data. Priced at $14 per month, which is $5 more than the Value plan, this option offers extra room for light streaming, social media usage, and more. Similar to the previous options, the Smart plan includes unlimited minutes and texts.

Data

Tello’s priciest cell phone plan at $25 could be the optimal choice for many users. While the monthly bill increases significantly, you’ll enjoy the benefits of unlimited data, calls, and texts. However, it’s important to note that you’ll be allotted 35GB of high-speed data, with speeds throttled for the remainder of your billing cycle once you surpass that threshold.

Custom plan

This option is likely to be the top choice when deciding on a Tello plan. You have the flexibility to select the precise amount of data, calls, and texts you need, tailoring it to suit your budget. Customizations begin at 1GB/100 minutes and extend all the way up to unlimited everything, ensuring you find the ideal combination for your needs.

Coverage Area

While all Tello customers have access to a 4G LTE network, 5G connectivity is exclusively available for Global System for Mobile (GSM)-compatible Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) in non-standalone mode. A SIM card is utilized to identify a specific subscriber on a network. Non-standalone architecture (NSA) implies that 5G relies on the existing 4G LTE network in your area. Customers can verify if their area has 5G access by referring to Tello’s coverage map.

Previously, Tello operated on Sprint’s wireless network until T-Mobile acquired Sprint. Tello now operates on T-Mobile’s nationwide network. This transition is advantageous for Tello customers, as T-Mobile is renowned for its extensive coverage, particularly in the realm of 5G. According to RootMetrics, a testing firm, T-Mobile concluded last year with the fastest 5G speeds and the most favorable overall 5G experience. Additionally, other third-party testing firms consistently rate T-Mobile highly for data speeds.

Speed and Reliability

If you’re subscribed to the plan with unlimited data, only the initial 35GB will be at 4G LTE/5G speeds (note that the latter requires a compatible phone). Once this limit is surpassed, the speed will be throttled, or downgraded, to 2G, which operates at a significantly slower pace. This same reduction in speed will occur if you surpass your allotted data minutes in other plans as well.

The positive side is that you can still access data without incurring overage fees. At 2G speeds, tasks such as browsing websites, sending and receiving emails, and using instant messaging are feasible. However, streaming content may become more challenging. With unlimited data, exceeding 35GB in a month is unlikely for most users, unless they engage heavily in streaming, access bandwidth-intensive websites, gaming, and similar activities.

Customer Support

Tello provides a 100% money-back guarantee, ensuring customer satisfaction. If you’re dissatisfied with a product or service, Tello will refund the amount for any unused product, provided the claim is made within a specified number of days from the purchase date.

If you find yourself unsatisfied with Tello or need to transition to another provider, canceling your plan is a simple process. Just log in to your account online or through the Tello app and proceed to cancel your plan. Any remaining balance will remain valid for the remainder of the billing cycle. Additionally, you have the flexibility to downgrade your plan to a less expensive version at any time.

Conclusion

It’s challenging to come across a budget-friendly cell phone service that matches the value Tello offers. However, it’s essential to remain mindful of data speed throttling, particularly for those heavily reliant on phone streaming. Nevertheless, for the majority of users who only occasionally access the internet outside Wi-Fi networks and are budget-conscious, Tello Mobile provides excellent value for money.

Tello Mobile stands out for its customizable plans, allowing you to adjust them according to your evolving requirements. This flexibility, enabling easy upgrades and downgrades to match your changing needs, makes Tello Mobile one of the most versatile and personalized cellular service providers available.