Best Tello Phone Plans (2025)

Tello Mobile is a prepaid carrier that offers service aboard the T-Mobile network. The company has carved out a niche in the world of wireless by giving customers the ability to build their own plans via an easy-to-use online platform, choosing exactly how much talk, text, and data they want to pay for and use each month. 

While there are other carriers that have similar choose-your-own approaches, Tello’s been at it longer—and is flat-out cheaper—than the majority of its competitors.

In this article, we’ll highlight some of the best talk, text, and data combinations you can get from Tello in 2025. 

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Best Overall Tello Wireless Plan

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Best Budget Tello Wireless Plan

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Who is Tello is Suited For?

Tello is ideally suited to the type of user who is seeking a low-cost, no frills plan, and doesn’t mind paying in advance for it. 

Tello does away with the perks that come with most postpaid—and many prepaid—plans. Take for example the free HBO Max subscriptions that come with Cricket Wireless’ unlimited plans, or the free Amazon Prime memberships that come packaged in with Metro by T-Mobile’s plans. Tello keeps costs low by jettisoning such frills from its cell phone plans. 

Best Tello Family Plan

Unlike many of its prepaid competitors, Tello doesn’t offer multi-line discounts. That means signing up for a family plan is simply an exercise in choosing a customized plan for each line—without extra savings. Fortunately, Tello makes this easy, and even has some helpful suggestions for different family members. 

Here are some of Tello’s recommendations for different members of your family: 

Reasons to Sign Up With Tello

Thinking about signing up for service with Tello? These points may convince you to do just that. 

Tello Coverage

One upside of going with Tello Mobile is the access it gives you to T-Mobile’s excellent system of 4G and 5G networks. By the numbers, T-Mobile’s 4G network covers 43% of the country, while its 5G network spreads across 36% (more than any other U.S. carrier). Use the T-Mobile coverage map below to check the coverage in the places you spend time: 

Signing up with Tello mostly gives you this same coverage, though it’s important to note that major carriers like T-Mobile tend to prioritize their own customers ahead of those on sub-brands like Tello that occupy their network. That can translate to occasionally slower speeds in times of network congestion. 

Tello International Perks

Another highlight of Tello’s plan offerings are the carrier’s international perks. Specifically, all of its plans include free calling to 60+ countries, and some even include free data roaming in Mexico and Canada. These features put Tello in the league of Google Fi, which offers similarly great international calling and data usage perks. 

Change Your Tello Plan Anytime

Tello allows its customers to change up their plans anytime, which is helpful when you suddenly realize you need more data, or don’t need any talk minutes, or whatever the case. This kind of flexibility is one of the things that sets Tello apart from major carriers Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. 

Plan changes can be made easily and quickly via Tello’s website or app. 

Tello Phones

While Tello is mostly made for customers who bring their own devices to the network, the carrier does have a limited selection of new and reconditioned phones for sale. This includes newer smartphones like the iPhone 16, and older ones like the Google Pixel 7. 

Prefer to bring your own device (BYOD) to Tello? It’s easy to check your compatibility online via the carrier’s online tool, and fast to activate service if you have eSIM functionality in your phone (as most recent models do). 

The Bottom Line

Tello Mobile’s low prices and customizable plans make it the ideal solution for budget-minded consumers. While you definitely need to make some concessions with it comes to perks (there aren’t many) and features (like very small mobile hotspot allowances), Tello’s plans do come backed by excellent T-Mobile coverage. Plus, you can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time via the carrier’s streamlined, easy-to-use online app. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What network does Tello use?

Tello Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G LTE and 5G network, giving customers access to reliable coverage and fast data speeds across the U.S.

Does Total Wireless have unlimited data plans?

Yes, Tello offers one unlimited data plan, though it actually only includes 35GB of high-speed data to use each month before speeds are slowed. 

Can I use my own phone with Total Wireless?

Yes, you can bring your own device to Tello as long as it's compatible with the T-Mobile network. Most unlocked phones will work, and eSIM activation is supported on newer models.