Tello Mobile review: A wireless provider that actually saves you money

The source is Samuel Contreras.

Tello Mobile has some of the best wireless prices with a ton of flexibility, but it probably isn't the first carrier that comes to mind when shopping for unlimited data. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which piggyback off larger networks and deliver the same coverage for less money each month, are a dime-a-dozen these days.

One of the best cell phone plans for light users is Tello, because of its simple plan structure and fast network. It is interesting to see how it stacks up against large plans, especially those from brands like Mint Mobile. Tello is an easy way to save money on phone service.

Tello logo

Tello is worth considering if you live in an area with good T-Mobile coverage. tethering is free, the plans are affordable, and there is a great referral program to boot.

  • Nationwide LTE and 5G coverage
  • Flexible, affordable plans
  • Free hotspot use
  • No contracts
  • Bring your own phone
  • Taxes not included with monthly rates
  • Data speeds can fluctuate a lot

Tello gave me a data plan and compatible phone for review. The opinions in the review are mine.

Tello Mobile Review: Plans

Samuel Contreras is the source.

Tello gives you a lot of flexibility over your plan, unlike carriers that think unlimited plans are the way of the future.

You can choose how much data and minutes you want when you pick a Tello plan. If you have a plan with some minutes, you can get free unlimited texting.

Plans start at $5 per month for 500 MB of data and no minutes. The most expensive plan caps out at just $39 per month for unlimited data and minutes, or you can find any combination in the middle that works better for you. Tello has a few pre-made plans that you can choose from.

Tello is the source.

Signing up for the service and finding a plan that worked for me was easy. I just selected the data and minutes I wanted, and I was on my way. Tello allows you to transfer an existing number, but I chose to get a new number with my plan.

You can use your minutes to make calls to other countries. Tello allows you to call more than 60 countries for free. Some countries might have costs for calls to mobile numbers. With so many countries included, there is a good chance that you could save some serious cash.

  • India: Free
  • United Kingdom: Free
  • France: Free
  • Japan: 4.5¢/minute (mobile)
  • Cuba: 65¢/minute
  • Puerto Rico: Free

When you consider that some otherMVNOs charge as much as $10/month extra to use tethering, it is a pretty great freebie. If your usage habits change, you can change your plan at any time.

Tello Mobile is very affordable. I would prefer that taxes be included with the monthly rate, similar to how Metro by T-Mobile handles things, but that is a minor complaint compared to everything else Tello brings to the table.

Tello Mobile Review: Coverage

Samuel Contreras is the source.

If you don't have access to reliable coverage, your monthly plan isn't worth anything.

Tello used to rely on the network of another company, but as of 2021, it has switched to T-Mobile. You can expect to see even broader wireless coverage. Tello can now support 5G on T-Mobile's nationwide network for no additional cost.

The people I talked to and me were pleased with the calls I made on Tello. I never had a problem with texts not being sent, and everything just worked the way you want it to. All Tello plans include free wi-fi calling if you run into issues with phone calls.

Tello is the source.

If Tello will work in your area, check out the coverage map. You can see which bands are available in your area by clicking on the map. You may have issues if you are on the edge of the coverage.

If you have had T-Mobile before, make sure to check your coverage. Tello will not be able to access the roaming agreements that T-Mobile and some of its other carriers fill in. If you are covered, you should have reliable service with decent speeds.

Tello Mobile Review: Data speed

Joe Maring is from the Android Central.

Tello handles data in a way that is one of the biggest issues I have found.

Tello advertises that it has a fast and capable 4G network for data. I only got real speeds during certain times of the day.

The top download speed was 71.8Mbps at 8:23 a.m., but it dipped as low as 2.59Mbps on another day at 8:52 p.m.

After running 18 different tests over the course of a week, my mean download speed was just under 16Mbps. The mean download speed for US Mobile was only 68Mbps, but that is still not slow. If you live in an area with little congestion, your average rate may be better.

In day-to-day use, visiting websites, scrolling through websites, and hopping on social media all worked well. When I was trying to move a lot of data at the same time, the slower data speeds were the most annoying.

Tello Mobile Review: Phone selection

Tello is the source.

Tello Mobile allows you to bring your own phone. Since Tello uses T-Mobile's network, you need to make sure it is unlocked. Most of the best phones will work on the network. You could get one of the best budget phones.

Tello sells a device directly.

Tello sells cheap refurbished and new phones. The highest-end phones you can buy from Tello are the Apple phones. These are solid phones, but they are not new and fast. You can get a cheaper refurbished phone.

It is a good start, but I would love to see more current devices later on.

Tello Mobile Review: Competition

The source is Samuel Contreras.

Mint Mobile can be very cheap if you pay for six or 12 months upfront. If you pay for the whole year, Mint Mobile will cost you $15 per month. Mint also has plans with up to 15 gigabytes of data and an unlimited plan with 35 gigabytes of high-speed data. Most unlocked phones will work on T-Mobile's network like a charm.

With a single plan, unlimited data, and coverage from Verizon, things are as simple as possible. If you join a Visible party from the website, the plan can be as low as $25 per month. It is not possible to get Visible to support nearly as many phones as Mint Mobile or Tello.

US Mobile and Tello allow you to create your own plan on the T-Mobile network. US Mobile also has a phone number. US Mobile has an unlimited plan that can be made into a family plan with maximum savings if you bring more than three lines. If you sign up for a family plan, you will get US Mobile perks, including streaming services like Disney+.

Tello Mobile Review: Should you join?

Cricket, Metro, Mint Mobile, and other carriers are competing for your dollars.

Is Tello worth joining over everything else? It comes down to your personal needs.

You should join if ...

A basic phone plan is what you are looking for.

$5 per month for 100 minutes or 500MB of data is about as basic as you can get. Some people don't need a lot of extra features on their phone lines. Tello is a great fit if you need the most basic service on your lines.

You have good T-Mobile coverage.

T-Mobile has expanded its network a lot over the years, and here in 2021, it has coverage for the vast majority of people in the U.S.

You should not join if ...

You need a lot of data.

Tello has an unlimited plan, but the data slows after 25 gigabytes of usage. If you need a lot of data, other carriers will be a better fit. Mint Mobile offers unlimited 4G and 5G for $30 per month, while also using the T-Mobile network.

Samuel Contreras is the source.

If you refer friends or family to join Tello, you can save $10 on your monthly bill. You can get 25% off your monthly rate for the first six months. Tello is worth a look because of that great stuff.

Data speeds are not the best I have ever encountered, but they are still plenty usable and should only be an issue for the most hardcore users. If you decide to give Tello a try, I think you will be happy.

Tello logo

A great wireless service.

Tello is worth considering if you live in an area with good T-Mobile coverage. tethering is free, the plans are affordable, and there is a great referral program to boot.

The following changes were made in January 2022.

  • New images added to represent the current Tello website and offers.
  • Updated phone availability

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