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Tello: 11 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

By
Stetson Doggett
|
Updated:
July 14, 2025
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Tello plan features and starting price
Mint Mobile 15GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
20
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then 128Kbps

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
4K video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Visible Base
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
25
/mo.
+tax
tax included
Unlimited
high-speed

Deprioritized
5Mbps hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Mint Mobile Unlimited
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
30
/mo.
+tax
tax included
$20/mo for first year
Unlimited
high-speed

Deprioritized
10GB hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Visible+
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
35
/mo.
+tax
tax included
Unlimited
high-speed

Unlimited priority
10Mbps hotspot
1080p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Mint Mobile 15GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
35
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then 128Kbps

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
4K video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!

1. What is Tello?

Tello is a prepaid cell phone carrier known as a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO.

An MVNO is simply any cell phone carrier that does not operate its own cellular network.

Instead of building their own networks, MVNOs make agreements with the four big carriers to use their cellular networks for coverage.

In Tello’s case, it uses the T-Mobile network for coverage.

If you are curious to learn more about how the agreements work between the big carriers and the small carriers, check out my article on how some cell phone plans can cost so much less than others.

For a limited time, get Visible for $20/mo, guaranteed for 1 year, powered with unlimited data. Code: SAVE5
See Deal →

2. What cell phone plans does Tello offer?

Tello offers the following cell phone plans to choose from:

Lines
Plan Duration
Discounts
Reset
Tello 100 Mins
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
5
/mo.
+tax
tax included
No Data
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
No hotspot
No video streaming
100 minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 1GB 100 Mins
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
6
/mo.
+tax
tax included
1GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
100 minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 2GB 100 Mins
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
7
/mo.
+tax
tax included
2GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
100 minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello Talk & Text
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
8
/mo.
+tax
tax included
No Data
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
No hotspot
No video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 1GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
9
/mo.
+tax
tax included
1GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 2GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
10
/mo.
+tax
tax included
2GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 5GB 100 Mins
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
11
/mo.
+tax
tax included
5GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
100 minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 5GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
14
/mo.
+tax
tax included
5GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 10GB 300 Mins
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
17
/mo.
+tax
tax included
10GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
300 minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 10GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
19
/mo.
+tax
tax included
10GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello 15GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
24
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Tello Unlimited
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
25
/mo.
+tax
tax included
35GB
high-speed, then data stops

Deprioritized
5GB hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Int'l calls to 60+ countries
Pay-per-use in CAN & MEX
Pay-per-use int'l data
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!

3. What deals, discounts, or referral programs does Tello have?

Tello does not offer any deals or discounts at this time.

4. Does Tello offer family plans?

Tello offers the following family plans to choose from:

No, Tello does not offer family plans. Each line needs its own separate account.

Yes, Tello supports family plans. You can easily manage multiple lines from a single account.

5. Does Tello have plans for tablets, smartwatches, or hotspot devices?

Tello says their plans will work in all compatible tablets. I am not sure if the same plans will work in compatible hotspot devices as well. Tello does not support smartwatches.

Tello 1GB
T-Mobile
$
5
/mo.
+tax
tax included
1GB
high-speed, then data stops
Deprioritized
Full speed download
Full speed upload
No overage charge
Hotspots
Hotspots
Tablets
Tablets
Laptops
Laptops
Cellular Routers
Cellular Routers
Tello 2GB
T-Mobile
$
6
/mo.
+tax
tax included
2GB
high-speed, then data stops
Deprioritized
Full speed download
Full speed upload
No overage charge
Hotspots
Hotspots
Tablets
Tablets
Laptops
Laptops
Cellular Routers
Cellular Routers
Tello 5GB
T-Mobile
$
10
/mo.
+tax
tax included
5GB
high-speed, then data stops
Deprioritized
Full speed download
Full speed upload
No overage charge
Hotspots
Hotspots
Tablets
Tablets
Laptops
Laptops
Cellular Routers
Cellular Routers
Tello 10GB
T-Mobile
$
15
/mo.
+tax
tax included
10GB
high-speed, then data stops
Deprioritized
Full speed download
Full speed upload
No overage charge
Hotspots
Hotspots
Tablets
Tablets
Laptops
Laptops
Cellular Routers
Cellular Routers
Tello 15GB
T-Mobile
$
20
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then data stops
Deprioritized
Full speed download
Full speed upload
No overage charge
Hotspots
Hotspots
Tablets
Tablets
Laptops
Laptops
Cellular Routers
Cellular Routers
Tello 35GB
T-Mobile
$
25
/mo.
+tax
tax included
25GB
high-speed, then data stops
Deprioritized
Full speed download
Full speed upload
No overage charge
Hotspots
Hotspots
Tablets
Tablets
Laptops
Laptops
Cellular Routers
Cellular Routers

6. How good is Tello's coverage?

Tello rides on the T-Mobile network for coverage, so reception in most places is pretty good.

See the full coverage details below:

UScellular coverage information

  • Total coverage: 9.9%
  • Total square miles covered: 329,985
  • 5G coverage: 7.5%
  • 5G square miles covered: 250,946
  • Median download speed: 51.0 Mbps
  • Median upload speed: 15.2 Mbps

The above information comes from the FCC, Uscellular, and crowdsourced coverage data from CoverageMap.com.

Check UScellular coverage in your are by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

UScellular coverage map

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of the cellular networks.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and see what network is best in your area.

AT&T coverage information

  • Total coverage: 78.1%
  • Total square miles covered: 2,602,364
  • Total population covered: 330 million people (99.0%)
  • 5G coverage: 43.3%
  • 5G square miles covered: 1,444,381
  • Population covered by 5G: 300 million people (90.0%)

The above information comes from the FCC and from AT&T.

You can check AT&T coverage by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

AT&T Coverage Map
AT&T Coverage Map displayed on CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of the cellular networks.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and see what network is best in your area.

Verizon coverage information

  • Total coverage: 67.4%
  • Total square miles covered: 2,246,127
  • Total population covered: 327 million people (98.0)%
  • 5G coverage: 14.5%
  • 5G square miles covered: 484,321
  • Population covered by 5G: 230 million people (69.0%)

The above data come from the FCC and from Verizon.

Check Verizon coverage in your area using maps such as CoverageMap.com.

Verizon coverage map
Verizon's coverage as shown on CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and see what carrier has the best coverage in your area.

T-Mobile coverage information

  • Network: T-Mobile
  • Total coverage: 46.6%
  • Total square miles covered: 1,551,924
  • Total population covered: 330 million people (99.0%)
  • 5G coverage: 36.0%
  • 5G square miles covered: 1,200,851
  • Population covered by 5G: 326 million people (97.8%)

The above information comes from the FCC and from T-Mobile.

Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

T-Mobile coverage map
T-Mobile coverage map as shown on CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage and see what carrier is best in your area.

Dish Wireless coverage information

  • Network: Dish Wireless 5G Network (Boost Mobile native network)
  • Total coverage: 8.9%
  • Total square miles covered: 299,260
  • Total population covered: 210 million people (70%)

The above information comes from the FCC and from EchoStar.

Check Dish Wireless coverage in your area by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

Dish Wireless coverage map (Boost Mobile native network coverage)
Dish Wireless coverage map from CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage and see what carrier is best in your area.

7. What features does Tello support?

Tello supports:
  • VoLTE
  • WiFi calling
  • Visual voicemail
  • MMS (multimedia messaging service)
  • Hotspot
  • Managing multiple lines from a single account
  • International calling

8. What phones work on Tello?

Most phones that are unlocked will work on Tello.

An unlocked phone is a phone that it is not tied to any carrier, contract, or financing agreement. You are free to use the phone on any plan or carrier you choose.

Consider contacting your current carrier to see if your phone is unlocked or what the steps are to get it unlocked.

9. Does Tello support international calling or data roaming?

Tello supports both international calling and international data roaming. All of Tello's plans include free calls to over 60 countries. Other countries are available at pay-per-minute rates.

International data roaming on Tello is also available at pay-per-use rates for talk, text, and data.

10. What plan add-ons does Tello offer?

Tello does not offer any plan add-ons.

11. How do you contact Tello customer service?

You can reach Tello Mobile customer service by calling (866) 377-0294 or by dialing 611 from your Tello Mobile phone. You can also fill out the contact form on Tello's website to have Tello email you a response to your question.

Tello

News

The latest news, deals, and updates about
Tello
.
Three phones standing vertically on a desk displaying Tello's 5GB plan, US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan, and Visible's Base plan each of their screens going from left to right
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