Tello Plans
Four tiers on T-Mobile's network, built around one idea the rest of prepaid abandoned: pay for the data you actually use, and change it whenever you like.
Tello sells the cheapest credible phone plan in the United States. $10 a month buys 2GB of data with unlimited talk and text on T-Mobile's network, and nothing else on the market goes lower without becoming a different kind of product.
What makes it more interesting than a price is the structure. Every other carrier wants you on the largest tier you will tolerate; Tello lets you move up or down at any time for free, rolls unused high-speed data forward, and matches your hotspot allowance to your plan data instead of withholding it. For anyone whose usage varies month to month, that is worth more than a few dollars.
Tello at a glance
Every Tello plan compared
Prices are what Tello advertises. The line under each plan name is what you actually pay once taxes and fees land.
Plan names link to our full review of that tier. We re-verify every price against the carrier daily.
What it really costs
Tello quotes prices before taxes and fees, so add roughly 7–10% to every figure on this page. On the $10 plan that is about a dollar; on the $25 plan it is closer to three.
The hotspot policy is the quiet advantage. Most cheap plans either withhold tethering entirely or run it at 3G. Tello gives every tier a hotspot allowance equal to its data allowance, 20GB of data means 20GB of hotspot, with the unlimited plan the exception at 10GB.
Rollover changes the maths on picking a tier. Unused high-speed data carries forward, so a light month subsidises a heavy one and there is less reason to over-buy. Combined with free tier changes at any time, the usual advice to size up for safety does not apply here.
Watch the intro pricing on the unlimited plan. It has been running at $19/mo for the first six months, then $25. The $25 is the number to budget against; the $19 is a new-line promotion with an end date.
Tello is a good fit if…
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Frequently asked questions
What network does Tello use?
Tello runs on T-Mobile's 5G and 4G LTE network as an MVNO. Coverage is T-Mobile's, but priority is not — during congestion your data slows before a T-Mobile postpaid customer's does.
How much does Tello cost?
Four tiers: $10/mo for 2GB, $15 for 10GB, $20 for 20GB and $25 for unlimited, each with unlimited talk and text. Taxes and fees are extra. The unlimited plan has been running an introductory rate of $19/mo for the first six months on new lines.
Does Tello include a mobile hotspot?
Yes, on every plan, and the allowance matches your plan's data — a 20GB plan carries 20GB of hotspot. The unlimited plan is the exception, with 10GB. That is unusually generous for plans at this price, where hotspot is normally withheld or throttled to 3G.
Can you change your Tello plan whenever you want?
Yes, and at no charge. You can move up, move down, or cancel a line at any time with no penalty, which is the main reason to choose a tiered plan over a flat unlimited one.
Does unused Tello data roll over?
Yes. Unused high-speed data carries forward, so a light month offsets a heavier one. It also means there is less reason to buy a bigger tier than you need as insurance.
Is Tello's unlimited plan really unlimited?
It has no hard cap, but it carries 50GB at full 5G speed and reduces speeds for the rest of the cycle beyond that. For most people 50GB is far more than a month's use; for a heavy tetherer it is a real ceiling.
Does Tello include international calling?
Free calls to more than 60 countries are included on any Tello plan that carries minutes, drawn from your monthly allowance. Wi-Fi calling is also included at no extra cost.