Tello Mobile is a wireless MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that uses T-Mobile’s network. It was founded in 2016 and originally used Sprint’s mobile communications network. The service was listed as one of the best SIM cards for local calls in our previous article. We will get into many more details shortly but know that Tello excels at offering affordable prepaid plans with flexible terms. They also offer free 2G speeds when your data runs out, support free calling to over 60+ countries, sell inexpensive phones, don’t tie users to a long contract, and offer 24/7 Customer Service. Now, here’s our Tello SIM card review.
Tello SIM voice calls
Tello uses GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology to provide 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks across the United States in the same places as T-Mobile. T-Mobile is widely touted as the best 5G network provider in the country in terms of coverage. Regardless of the plan you pick, you’ll get 5G speeds at a maximum, provided your device supports the technology. To clarify, your 5G-compatible device should support the n71 band to utilize 5G coverage, and support for the n41 band only brings enhanced speed.
Voice quality
Voice quality on a Tello network is identical to the quality of voice calls on a T-Mobile one. In short, you have nothing to worry about. The coverage across the United States is excellent, and you can almost always find 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G networks for sufficient to outstanding voice quality. T-Mobile also has hundreds of roaming deals across the world after decades as one of the leading US-based mobile providers. Outside unexpected events such as natural disasters, brief technical difficulties, and physical damage to the network equipment, you can rely on the Tello network for calling.
Voice plan packs
Tello does not have voice-only plans by default but lets you build your payment plan to make it so. The catch is that you cannot avoid getting free SMS in the plan, but the price is low enough for that not to be an upsell. After you choose “No data” on the Build Your Own Plan page, you will have to pay between $5 and $8 monthly. You get 100 minutes at the lower end and unlimited minutes at the top end. We have a detailed breakdown below. Each calling plan is bundled with free calls to over 60 countries worldwide, but you must have an available call balance.
Tello Mobile SIM Internet
At this point in our review of a Tello SIM card, we must say it excels at offering Internet data at affordable pricing. Although it’s still decently more expensive than some European carriers, making it a poorer choice for international traveling, data is inexpensive for American customers. We have a rundown of all possible combinations, whether you opt for ready-made plans or build yours. You should expect to pay between $5 and $29 per month for between 500 MB and unlimited with a caveat of only the first 25 GB being at 4G LTE or 5G LTE speeds. The speed goes down to 2G until you top up with more data.
Texting (SMS) with Tello
Tello does not let users only pay for SMS. You get free unlimited SMS with any custom plan combination you choose, however. Furthermore, all ready-made plans for individuals and family members come with unlimited texting. Therefore, you do not have to worry about running out of SMS allowance.
Tello SIM card plans
We gave you an overview of the pricing and the number of minutes, texts, and mobile data amount plans give you. Now’s the time to analyze all Tello SIM card prepaid no-contract plans:
Build Your Own Plan with Tello
We believe the versatility of building a custom plan is why most people choose Tello. Tello’s Build Your Own Plan has these terms and pricing per month:
| Data | No minutes/No texts | 100 minutes/Free texts | 300 minutes/Free SMS | 500 minutes/Free texts | Unlimited minutes/Free SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No data | n/a | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 |
| 500 MB | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 |
| 1 GB | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $10 |
| 2 GB | $10 | $11 | $12 | $13 | $14 |
| 5 GB | $15 | $16 | $17 | $18 | $19 |
| 10 GB | $20 | $21 | $22 | $23 | $24 |
| Unlimited data | $29 | $29 | $29 | $29 | $29 |
As you can see, plans usually vary by $1, and the amount of minutes and texts is irrelevant on the Unlimited data plan, so you may as well pick the maximum one. We remind you again of the fact that “unlimited” only refers to 2G data after you spend the first 25 GB in 5G or 4G LTE.
Ready-made Tello deals
Users who are uncomfortable making a choice can opt for premade plans. However, these may be a tad more expensive than the equivalent self-created plans. You’ll notice that right away, so we recommend the option above. With that said, Tello’s ready-made prepaid deals are as follows:
| Plan name | Data | Minutes | Texts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $10 |
| Value | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $14 |
| Smart | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $19 |
| Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $29 |
Family plans
Tello also has a line of family plans with prices identical to those for the Build Your Own Plan starting at $5 per line and going up to 4 at a time. They also have ready-made plans such as:
| Plan name | Data | Minutes | Texts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Grandparents | 1 GB | 500 | Unlimited | $9 |
| For Teens | 5 GB | 300 | Unlimited | $17 |
| For Students | 10 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | $24 |
| For Parents | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $29 |
Customer Care
Tello provides 24/7 Customer Support using the contact form on their website or social media. You can also send a letter to their physical address or call several phone numbers in the United States. The call will be free if coming from a Tello phone, too.
Is Tello trusted?
Based on our research and customer reviews, Tello is a trustworthy SIM card provider. They operate on the T-Mobile network which is also a trusted name in the mobile network industry. So, there is no reason to suspect the safety of Tello.
Pros
- Free or $2 3-in-1 SIM card kit
- Excellent network coverage in the United States (T-Mobile network)
- All plans come with free calls to 60+ international countries
- Plans come with a free hotspot
- Free SMS included in nearly all plans
Cons
- No discount on family plans
- Unlimited data is limited to 25 GB of 4G/5G traffic, then goes down to 2G speed
Verdict
We end our Tello SIM review by stating it’s a superb prepaid US-based mobile network provider for flexibility. They don’t require you to sign a contract and offer ready-made or custom user plans based on what you desire. We only wished family plans came at a big discount for 3 or 4 lines. Similarly, they use the well-known trick of “limitless” data that comes with a catch. Nonetheless, they deserve praise for many things we mentioned.
Tello SIM Review
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Usability
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Voice
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Internet
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Coverage
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Price
Summary
Tello is an excellent prepaid-only SIM carrier from the United States. It uses the T-Mobile network with superb coverage and network ranging from 2G to 5G for great Internet speed, calling, and texting.