The Best Value Tello Plan Right Now: My Picks For 2026

Tello’s best-value plan right now is its $25 Unlimited plan.

It includes 50GB of high-speed data, 10GB of hotspot use, unlimited calls and texts, 5G access, Wi-Fi calling and calls to more than 60 countries.

That is an awful lot of phone service for $25.

But Unlimited is not automatically the right choice for everybody. If you rarely use mobile data, Tello’s $15 10GB plan could save you around $10 every billing period without making your phone feel restricted.

Use less? You could save more: Tello has plans right down to 2GB of data per month (and these ones are dirt cheap to run).

Here are my current picks:

• Best overall: Tello Unlimited, $25
• Best for most light-to-moderate users: Tello 10GB, $15
• Best balance of data and price: Tello 20GB, $20
• Best for very light users: Tello 2GB, $10
• Best basic phone plan: 2GB and 300 minutes, around $8
• Best for hotspot-heavy users: Tello 20GB, not Unlimited

That last recommendation may sound odd, but it makes sense once you look at how Tello’s hotspot limits work.

Prices and plan terms checked August 26, 2026. Taxes and regulatory charges vary by location.

The Best Tello Plans Detailed

Why Tello Unlimited Is Such Good Value

Tello’s plan costs the same as several competing entry-level unlimited plans but includes more high-speed data than some of them.

For example, Boost Mobile’s $25 plan currently includes 30GB of high-speed data and does not include hotspot use as standard.

Tello gives you:

• 20GB more high-speed data
• 10GB of hotspot
• International calls
• Online cancellation
• No AutoPay discount requirement

Boost has stronger rural coverage through its AT&T-led network setup, physical stores and better phone deals. But if T-Mobile works well locally and you already own an unlocked phone, Tello gives you more actual service for the money.

Visible is the other major $25 alternative and is a better choice if you want or need high-speed data.

It includes unlimited phone data and unlimited hotspot use at up to 5Mbps, with taxes and fees included.

Tello is better if you want:

• Faster hotspot use for the first 10GB
• T-Mobile coverage
• International calling
• 50GB of high-speed data before a fixed reduction
• The option to downgrade to a cheaper plan

Visible is better if you want:

• Unlimited hotspot use
• Verizon coverage
• Taxes included
• No fixed high-speed-data allowance
• A cellular smartwatch plan

Compare our current Visible recommendation.

Best for Most Light-to-Moderate Users: Tello 10GB For $15

The $15 10GB plan is probably Tello’s most sensible plan for people who spend most of the day on Wi-Fi.

It includes:

• 10GB of high-speed data
• Unlimited calls
• Unlimited texts
• Hotspot access
• Free calls to 60+ countries
• T-Mobile 5G and LTE
• Wi-Fi calling

Get Tello’s 10GB plan for $15

Ten gigabytes is enough for somebody who mainly uses mobile data for:

• Google Maps or Apple Maps
• Messaging
• Music in the car
• Email
• Social media
• Occasional YouTube
• Web browsing
• Banking and shopping apps

It is less suitable if you regularly stream video away from Wi-Fi, download large games or upload plenty of photos and video.

The saving over Unlimited is $10 per 30-day cycle.

Across 365 days, that works out at roughly $122 less, before taxes.

That is why I would not blindly recommend Unlimited to everybody. If your current carrier records show that you use 6GB or 7GB in a normal month, the 10GB plan is the smarter buy.

You can always move up later.

Best Balance of Data and Price: Tello 20GB For $20

The 20GB Power plan sits between Tello’s low-cost plan and its Unlimited option.

For $20, you get:

• 20GB of high-speed data
• Unlimited calls
• Unlimited texts
• Up to 20GB of hotspot use
• Calls to 60+ countries
• 5G and LTE
• Wi-Fi calling

Get Tello’s 20GB plan for $20

The 20GB plan makes sense if you know your normal usage stays below 20GB and you want to save $5.

It is also the better Tello plan for some hotspot users.

Tello’s fixed-data plans let hotspot traffic draw from the normal data balance. That means the 20GB plan can provide up to 20GB of hotspot data.

Tello Unlimited includes only 10GB of hotspot.

So if your typical month looks like this:

• 5GB used directly on your phone
• 12GB used through hotspot
• 17GB total

The $20 plan can actually suit you better than the $25 Unlimited plan.

Unlimited gives you far more phone data, but its hotspot allowance stops at 10GB.

It is a slightly strange quirk, but worth knowing.

Best for Very Light Users: Tello 2GB For $10

Tello’s $10 Starter plan provides:

• 2GB of data
• Unlimited calls
• Unlimited texts
• Hotspot access from the 2GB allowance
• Wi-Fi calling
• Calls to more than 60 countries
• 5G and LTE

Get Tello’s 2GB plan for $10

This is a good fit for:

• An older relative
• A child’s first phone
• A backup phone
• A second work number
• Somebody who uses Wi-Fi almost everywhere
• A basic phone
• An emergency line kept in the car

Two gigabytes will disappear quickly if you stream video or spend hours scrolling through social media away from Wi-Fi.

But for messaging, email, navigation and occasional browsing, it can be enough.

Paying $10 instead of $25 saves approximately $15 every 30 days, or around $182 across 365 days.

If your phone is mostly used for calls and texts, there is little reason to pay for 50GB.

Best Basic Phone Plan: 2GB and 300 Minutes For Around $8

Tello lets you combine smaller data and call allowances through its custom-plan builder.

A useful low-cost combination is:

• 2GB of data
• 300 minutes
• Unlimited texts
• Around $8 per 30-day cycle

This is ideal for a basic phone or a line that rarely makes long calls.

It also works well for a child who mainly communicates through messages or an older user who wants a simple emergency phone.

The trade-off is obvious: 300 minutes is only five hours of calling across the full cycle.

If the phone will be used for frequent or lengthy calls, spend the extra $2 for unlimited minutes.

Build a custom Tello plan

Which Tello Plan Should You Choose?

How Much Does Each Tello Plan Really Cost Per Year?

Tello uses 30-day billing cycles, not calendar months.

This means the renewal date gradually moves earlier, and you pay slightly more than 12 times across a full 365-day year.

Here is the approximate annualized base cost:

Taxes and charges are added according to the billing address.

This is not some outrageous hidden trick. Tello states that its plans last 30 days. It is still something buyers should account for when comparing it with a carrier billing once per calendar month.

For example, Visible’s $25 plan produces a $300 base annual total because its service is billed monthly. Visible also includes taxes.

Tello Unlimited comes to around $304.17 before taxes because of the 30-day cycle.

Tello still gives you a strong plan for the price. Just do not treat “$25 per 30 days” as exactly the same as “$25 per calendar month.”

Tello Taxes and Fees Explained

Tello’s advertised price is not necessarily the final amount charged.

Its Broadband Facts labels state:

• Provider monthly fees are included
• No one-time purchase fee
• No early termination fee
• Cost recovery charge up to $0.30
• Government taxes vary by location

You can calculate the exact taxes during checkout before placing the order.

The final amount depends on your billing address, so one customer may pay a different total from another.

This is one area where Visible is simpler. Its advertised prices include taxes and fees.

Tello’s Data Rollover Has Two Different Sets of Rules

Tello supports data rollover, but the process depends on your plan.

Rollover on 2GB, 10GB and 20GB plans

Unused data does not roll over automatically on Tello’s fixed-data plans.

To keep the balance, you must manually renew or change the plan at least 24 hours before the normal AutoPay renewal.

If AutoPay processes the renewal on day 30, the unused balance expires.

For example, if you have 4GB remaining on the 10GB plan and manually renew early, that 4GB can move into the next 30-day cycle.

There is a catch.

Renewing early starts a new billing period immediately. You are effectively paying earlier to retain data you already paid for.

That can still be useful if you have accumulated a large balance, but it is not free automatic rollover.

Rollover on Tello Unlimited

Unlimited rollover works automatically, but it is currently a loyalty reward rather than a day-one perk.

Tello says you must:

• Have an active Tello line for at least 12 months
• Complete the previous six billing cycles on Unlimited without interruption
• Keep the account active and in good standing
• Remain on Unlimited

Eligible customers can roll over up to 50GB of unused high-speed data. The total high-speed balance can reach 100GB.

If you downgrade, pause or cancel the plan, you lose the accumulated balance. Returning to Unlimited means completing another six consecutive Unlimited cycles before qualifying again.

This can make Unlimited even better for an established customer, but a new switcher should not buy the plan expecting 100GB immediately.

What Happens After You Use 50GB?

Tello Unlimited includes 50GB of high-speed data during each 30-day billing cycle.

Once the high-speed allowance is used, Tello reduces the connection speed for the rest of the cycle.

The reduced connection may still handle:

• Messages
• Basic email
• Light web browsing
• Slow navigation updates

It is unlikely to be pleasant for:

• HD video
• Video calls
• Large downloads
• Cloud backups
• Uploading video
• Tethering a laptop

Your high-speed allowance resets when the next plan cycle begins.

Tello does not charge an automatic data-overage fee on Unlimited.

How Does Tello Hotspot Data Work?

Every Tello data plan supports mobile hotspot use.

The rules differ:

Hotspot service stops when the relevant allowance is exhausted.

Tello also says hotspot traffic receives lower priority than normal smartphone data and cannot be used as a continuous unattended connection.

Do not buy Tello Unlimited with the intention of running an entire home through it. That is not what the plan is designed for.

What Network Does Tello Use?

Tello uses T-Mobile’s 5G and LTE network.

This gives Tello access to one of the fastest national 5G networks, particularly in cities and suburbs covered by T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G.

Tello’s current Broadband Facts labels state typical performance of:

• 79Mbps to 357Mbps downloads on 5G
• 6Mbps to 30Mbps uploads on 5G
• 17ms to 32ms 5G latency
• 13Mbps to 61Mbps downloads on 4G

Actual speed depends on:

• Local T-Mobile coverage
• Tower congestion
• Your phone
• Supported frequency bands
• Distance from the tower
• Indoor building materials
• The selected plan
• Network management

Tello does not promise that its service will perform exactly like a premium T-Mobile postpaid plan during congestion.

Its terms state that network resources may be managed when the supporting network becomes busy.

That is normal for a low-cost MVNO, but it means you should test Tello before porting an important number if cellular data is needed for work.

Who Should Avoid Tello?

Tello will not suit everybody.

Look elsewhere if:

• T-Mobile coverage is poor where you live
• You need broad rural coverage
• You want unlimited high-speed data
• You need more than 20GB of hotspot use
• You want cellular Apple Watch service
• You need physical stores
• You rely on large phone trade-in credits
• You want taxes included in the advertised price
• You regularly use more than 50GB
• You need a large family-plan discount
• You want premium data priority clearly guaranteed

Visible is our preferred alternative for unlimited Verizon-based data. Mint Mobile is another T-Mobile option, but its lowest prices usually require paying several months upfront.

Check Mint Mobile’s latest plans.

Our MVNO versus major carrier guide explains the wider trade-offs involved in leaving AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile for a lower-cost provider.

Is Tello Unlimited Really Unlimited?

Technically, yes, because data does not end at 50GB.

Practically, the plan provides 50GB of high-speed data followed by reduced speeds.

That distinction matters.

Someone using 25GB each month can treat it as an unlimited plan without thinking about the threshold.

Someone using 80GB should view it as a 50GB plan with an emergency connection afterward.

The same applies to hotspot use. The phone plan may be called Unlimited, but hotspot data is limited to 10GB.

Tello is fairly clear about this in its Broadband Facts label and terms. You just need to read beyond the plan name.

Can You Change Tello Plans Later?

Yes.

You can move between Tello plans through the online dashboard or app.

A plan change takes effect immediately:

• You are charged for the new plan
• The old plan is replaced
• A new 30-day cycle begins
• Your renewal date changes

Tello cannot schedule a plan change for the end of the current cycle. If you want to avoid losing prepaid days, wait until shortly before the next renewal.

This flexibility makes it safe to start with a smaller plan.

If 10GB turns out not to be enough, move to 20GB or Unlimited. If Unlimited is overkill, downgrade.

Can You Bring Your Existing Phone and Number?

Yes.

Tello supports compatible unlocked phones, physical SIMs and eSIM.

Before switching:

1. Confirm your current phone is unlocked.
2. Run its IMEI through Tello’s compatibility checker.
3. Activate the new Tello SIM or eSIM.
4. Collect the account number and transfer PIN from your old carrier.
5. Submit the transfer through Tello.
6. Keep the old service active until the port completes.

Recent US-market iPhones, Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy phones should generally work.

Imported Android phones can be more difficult because they may lack T-Mobile bands or the correct VoLTE support.

If you need a replacement, the KnowYourMobile Phone Finder can help you compare refurbished iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy prices.

Verdict: Which Tello Plan Is Best?

Tello Unlimited is the best-value plan in the lineup.

For $25 per 30 days, it gives you 50GB of high-speed data, 10GB of hotspot use, unlimited calls and texts, international calling and no annual prepayment.

It is the plan I would choose if I wanted to move to Tello and stop thinking about data usage.

But the 10GB plan is the better money-saving pick for anyone who spends most of the day on Wi-Fi. It costs $10 less and still covers the everyday tasks most people use their phones for.

The 20GB plan occupies a smaller middle ground, but it has one hidden advantage: all 20GB can be used for hotspot, while Unlimited caps hotspot use at 10GB.

So the final ranking is:

1. Tello Unlimited: Best overall and best data value
2. Tello 10GB: Best for most Wi-Fi users
3. Tello 20GB: Best for moderate use and heavier hotspot access
4. Tello 2GB: Best for basic and backup phones
5. Custom 2GB and 300 minutes: Cheapest practical option

The only non-negotiable part is coverage.

Tello is a superb deal if T-Mobile works well where you live. If it does not, 50GB for $25 is 50GB you will struggle to use.

Compare all Tello plans and choose your allowance