As much as we love using our phones, there aren’t many of us who are happy dropping hundreds – or even thousands – paying for them each year.
We are all about finding out if you can get something cheaper, without compromising on the quality.
Sticking with the same cell phone provider is something that a lot of us are guilty of doing, but it’s worth checking out if there are cheaper options out there if you are on a tight budget.
We are going to look at the popular company Tello Mobile, and see how it shapes up in terms of price and value for money.
Let’s get started with our in-depth Tello review.
Table of Contents
What is Tello Mobile?
Firstly, what is Tello Mobile? Tello Mobile is a US mobile network company that launched in 2016. They are a great option if you are looking to manage your money and cut back a bit.
Tello runs on a nationwide 4G LTE network providing coast-to-coast wireless coverage. They will soon expand their coverage by implementing a new GSM network.
What Plans Does Tello Offer?
The good thing about Tello is that they offer a bunch of different plans, and you have the ability to build your own plan based on what your needs are.
Click here to start building your custom cell phone plan here.
Another good thing about being with Tello plans is that you can change your plan at any point if you need to save money.
The different types of plans that you can choose from differ in regards to the GB you go for, how many minutes you want, and how many texts you want.
So, what are the different types of plans that you can choose from at Tello?
- No data, 100 minutes, free text – $5/month
- No data, 300 minutes, free text – $6/month
- No data, 500 minutes, free text – $7/month
- No data, unlimited minutes, free text – $8/month
- 500MB, no minutes – $5/month
- 1GB, no minutes – $6/month
- 2GB, no minutes – $10/month
- 4GB, no minutes – $15/month
- 6GB, no minutes – $20/month
- 8GB, no minutes – $25/month
- 500MB, 100 minutes, free text – $$6/month
- 1GB, 100 minutes, free text – $7/month
- 2GB, 100 minutes, free text – $11/month
- 4GB, 100 minutes, free text – $16/month
- 6GB, 100 minutes, free text – $21/month
- 8GB, 100 minutes, free text – $26/month
- 500MB, 300 minutes, free text – $7/month
- 1GB, 300 minutes, free text – $8/month
- 2GB, 300 minutes, free text – $12/month
- 4GB, 300 minutes, free text – $17/month
- 6GB, 300 minutes, free text – $22/month
- 8GB, 300 minutes, free text – $27/month
- 500 minutes, 500MB, free text – $8/month
- 500 minutes, 1GB, free text – $9/month
- 500 minutes, 2GB, free text – $13/month
- 500 minutes, 4GB, free text – $18/month
- 500 minutes, 6GB, free text – $23/month
- 500 minutes, 8GB, free text – $28/month
- Unlimited minutes, 500MB, free text – $9/month
- Unlimited minutes, 1GB, free text – $10/month
- Unlimited minutes, 2GB, free text – $14/month
- Unlimited minutes, 4GB, free text – $19/month
- Unlimited minutes, 6GB, free text – $24/month
- Unlimited minutes, 8GB, free text – $29/month
- Unlimited Everything – $39/month
All of the plans include free texts which is a nice bonus, as you can see above. Free things are great, especially if you are paying off debt!
The most expensive plan is $39/month which can give you unlimited everything.
They also have ready-made deals for you in case you don’t want to go through the DIY process.
Is Tello Worth It?
The best thing to do for your personal situation is to look at what you are currently using and compare it against the plans that Tello offers.
Pros
- They have a lot of low-cost plans which can potentially save you a lot of money.
- You can use their DIY plans and put together something that works for you specifically, so you can get what you want without spending more than you need.
- You can switch your plan whenever you need to, simply by logging into your account and changing it over.
- You can use your existing phone number with Tello.
- There are no contracts with Tello – you can cancel for free whenever you like.
- Tello hotspot – they do not charge extra for hotspot use.
Cons
- If you have the Unlimited Plan, the 4G data will go down to 2G speed when you have used 25GB data.
- They do not offer roaming services or national roaming.
How Do I Get Started With Tello?
To get started with Tello you simply need to head on over to the website and build your own plan (or select a ready-made one).
If you need to get a new phone through Tello then it’s worth checking what they have on there as there is a small selection available.
Tello – what phones work? To find out if your phone will work with Tello, click on the ‘Shop/Bring Your Own Phone’ bit and check there.
Create your custom plan with Tello Mobile now and start saving BIG!
Tello Mobile FAQ
In case you have any more questions about using Tello, we will run through a quick Q&A.
Which network does Tello use?
The network that Tello uses is a nationwide 4G LTE network. It’s important to check your Tello coverage map so you can make sure that you have good coverage in your area.
Is Tello reliable?
Tello doesn’t have contracts, which means that you can leave any time if you are unhappy.
With that being said, you still want to have a good service! Check your Tello coverage here.
Can I keep my number with Tello?
Yes, you can keep your phone number if you join Tello. It’s worth noting that you can use the My Tello app to make outgoing calls internationally and keep your US number when you are abroad for a small fee.
Is Tello owned by Sprint?
No Tello is not owned by Sprint. They operate as an independent mobile phone business Tello is a great frugal option for saving you money without losing quality of service.
Does Tello pricing include taxes?
There are additional fees to bear in mind when you are looking at the prices that are advertised on the site. When you go to checkout, the taxes and any other additional fees will be shown here.
Tello says that they are an honest and transparent company and only charge what they are legally required to do.
They are generally determined by the State, which is why it’s worth looking at the checkout to see what you are being charged.
What phones work with Tello?
Not all phones work with Tello, so please check before you sign up with them. As Tello will soon launch a new GSM network, they have some recommendations in regards to phones’ compatibility:
- Tello phones. Check out their shop here.
- Devices that support voice over 4G (VoLTE)
- Minimum requirements LTE frequency bands 2, 4, 12 + VoLTE and when talking about an ideal connection: bands 2, 4, 12, 66, 71 + VoLTE
- Other compatible smartphones. You can check compatibility here.
iPhones purchased through Apple stores, big box stores, or carrier retail channels:
- AT&T & T-Mobile: 6, 6+, 6S, 6S+, SE, XS, XS Max, XR and newer
- Verizon: 5c and newer (5c and 5s models do not support CDMA 800Mhz band)
Nexus devices purchased through Google Play, big box stores, or carrier retail channels:
- AT&T & Verizon: Nexus 5, 5X, 6, 6P, Pixel, Pixel XL
- T-Mobile: Nexus 5X, 6, 6P, Pixel, Pixel XL
Other:
- Alcatel – Idol 5
- Blu – S1
- Essential – PH-1
- Motorola – X Pure Edition, G4, G4 Play, G4 Plus, G5 Plus, E4, E4 Plus, Z2 Play
- Samsung – Special Edition of Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8 Plus & Note 8
Does Tello have WiFi calling?
Yes, Tello WiFi calling is available. To use it you will need to download their app. You will be using your regular phone number to use this.
How fast is Tello data?
How fast you find the Tello data will depend on your location and what time of day you are using it.
You can get faster from other companies such as Verizon, but it really does depend on where you are located.
Are there any hidden fees with Tello?
Tello claims that they are as transparent as they can possibly be with their fees and pricing.
There are some additional fees that aren’t shown when you look at the plans. These are the taxes that they are legally required to add on – you will see these when you check out.
Tello promises that you won’t get any of the following hidden fees: maintenance fees, line, upgrade/downgrade, activation fees, late fees, and so on. You won’t find many Tello complaints about late fees!
Final Thoughts On Tello Mobile
We think that Tello is a great mobile network option if you are interested in getting a cheap mobile service that suits your needs.
Sometimes it’s better to go for a DIY option so that you can choose what will work for you personally and the usage that you require.
When you are trying to cut down on your expenses it can be hard to cut things out, but with a cheaper service like Tello, you can still get great service, but with lower expenses.
This is a great option if you are living paycheck to paycheck and need to cut down on your monthly expenses.
See how much you can save by switching to Tello Mobile here.
