Tello

Plans

Prices checked on October 5, 2026, with the conditions behind them.

International calling and travel

• Free international calls to 60+ countries come with every Tello plan that includes minutes.
• Calls to these destinations use the plan's minutes.
• Calls to both Mexican landlines and Mexican mobiles are listed as free.
• Calls to Canada are included free.
• For some free destinations, only calls to landlines are free.
• Destinations not on the free list are billed at Pay As You Go rates.
• International texts are free to the countries included in the plan.
• Unlimited plans cap international calls at 1,000 minutes per 30-day billing cycle.
• International roaming charges come out of Pay As You Go credit, and you need at least $5 of credit to turn it on.
• The first Pay As You Go purchase must be at least $20.
• Roaming only works if the line has been used in the US first.
• Abroad, Wi-Fi Calling uses your regular plan minutes, with no extra charges.
• Free roaming in Europe is a limited-time promotion valid until January 31, 2027.
• Destinations outside Europe use Pay As You Go international rates.

eSIM

• Existing customers can switch from a physical SIM to an eSIM in the My SIM section of their account.
• To install a Tello eSIM, the device must be carrier unlocked and eSIM compatible.
• The eSIM installs with a QR code shown in the My SIM section, which works only once.
• If a phone supports eSIM, activation is done digitally with no physical card to wait for.

Bringing your own phone and number

• Unlocked phones with VoLTE can be brought to Tello.
• A phone must support at least LTE bands 2, 4 and 12.
• Tello's compatibility checker does not check whether the phone is unlocked.
• Tello says it does not lock customers' devices.
• An iPhone under Apple's US Reseller Flex Policy locks to Tello's underlying network if a Tello SIM is inserted first.

Network management: speeds, hotspot and video

• The Unlimited plan's FCC broadband label lists 50 GB of high-speed data, then throttled speeds.
• On Unlimited, speeds slow down after 50 GB in a billing period.
• On plans with data, streaming video is delivered at a lower resolution, typically 480p.
• Smartphone and tablet traffic gets priority over hotspot traffic.
• Tello may limit Unlimited hotspot use above 10 GB.
• Apart from congestion management, Tello says its network management does not discriminate and does not depend on the application.

FAQ

Are calls to Mexico included with Tello?

Yes, if your plan includes minutes. Free international calls to 60+ countries come with every Tello plan that includes minutes. Calls to these destinations use the plan's minutes. Calls to both Mexican landlines and Mexican mobiles are listed as free. Calls to Mexican landlines and mobiles use your plan's minutes.

Are calls to Canada included?

Calls to Canada are included free. Free international calls to 60+ countries come with every Tello plan that includes minutes.

Is Tello's Unlimited plan really unlimited?

Talk, text and data have no hard limit, but after 50 GB, data is slower. The Unlimited plan's FCC broadband label lists 50 GB of high-speed data, then throttled speeds. On Unlimited, speeds slow down after 50 GB in a billing period. On plans with data, streaming video is delivered at a lower resolution, typically 480p. Unlimited plans cap international calls at 1,000 minutes per 30-day billing cycle.

Does Tello work in Mexico or Canada?

Through international roaming paid from Pay As You Go credit (Mexico and Canada are not on the free Europe roaming list), or over Wi-Fi Calling. International roaming charges come out of Pay As You Go credit, and you need at least $5 of credit to turn it on. Roaming only works if the line has been used in the US first. Abroad, Wi-Fi Calling uses your regular plan minutes, with no extra charges. Free roaming in Europe is a limited-time promotion valid until January 31, 2027.

What network does Tello use?

Tello does not name its host network; it says its partner agreement does not allow it to use the partner's name in marketing. Tello describes its host as America's largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network.

Is the price on the plan page the full monthly cost?

No. Taxes and a cost recovery charge are added at checkout. Tello's broadband labels list a cost recovery charge of up to 30 cents and government taxes that vary by location, on top of the plan price. Taxes and surcharges depend on the billing address and are shown at checkout.