Tello has almost a dozen plans to choose from, and they are all very cheap. The catch is that you won’t get very much high-speed data, even on its unlimited data plan (which has a paltry 25 GB data cap). T-Mobile has pricier plans in general. But these plans give you tons of high-speed, unthrottled data (with 50 GB, 100 GB, and truly unlimited data), plus some cool extra perks, like free Netflix. And, if you bundle up in a family plan, T-Mobile’s prices start to look a lot more like Tello’s. We’ll go over everything you need to know about both carriers in this article, from prices and plans to coverage and customer service.
Essentials: This plan is the simplest and cheapest of the bunch. It gets you unlimited talk, text, and data on both 4G LTE and 5G networks, but there’s a caveat. Your data can always be slowed down during times of congestion (it’s called data deprioritization), and it will be even further slowed down after you use 50 GB. Magenta: With the Magenta plan you’ll get a full 100 GB of high-speed data before you see any data deprioritization. It also gives you 5GB of mobile hotspot data and other perks, like free in-flight texting. Magenta MAX: This plan gives you truly unlimited data, with no deprioritization or data caps. That means you’ll get full-speed 4G/5G speeds all the time, no matter how much time you spend gaming, streaming, and browsing on your phone. Plus, T-Mobile will throw in a free Netflix subscription because, why not when you’re paying $85 a month?
In short, T-Mobile’s plans come with a lot more high-speed data and some neat little perks, but they can cost more than twice as much as Tello. There’s an unlimited talk and text plan with 5 GB of data, perfect for your teenage kid who needs some data for socializing and communicating, but should probably have some limits so they can do their homework and touch grass every once in a while. There’s a stripped down, unlimited talk and text plan with no data, which could be ideal for your nana, who just needs to make a few calls to keep in touch with family. There’s really something here for everyone who doesn’t need all the data. There’s an unlimited talk and text plan that comes with 1 GB of data. It’s just $10, which is a pretty solid deal. There’s also a 12 GB plan for $35, which is a little less impressive. And then there’s a talk and text only plan for $20 is basically highway robbery. So, we’re sad to announce that Tello doesn’t really have any family plans. You can add additional lines to your account, but you won’t see any cost savings for doing so. Meanwhile, T-Mobile has some of the best family plan deals on the market. You can also score some other cool perks for bundling up in a T-Mobile family plan, like a free Netflix subscription. So, if you’re thinking of signing up the whole family, there’s a clear winner in this Tello vs. T-Mobile competition. It’s T-Mobile. Luckily, T-Mobile has pretty good coverage. Despite a few gaps in rural areas, T-Mobile tends to have a strong signal in urban and suburban areas. It also boasts more 5G infrastructure than any other network, meaning you can expect lightning fast data speeds. You can see how T-Mobile’s coverage stacks up in your neighborhood using the interactive coverage map here. T-Mobile has more resources to devote to taking customer calls and complaints, meaning it’s easier in many cases to get a real human on the phone. But it also has a lot more customers to deal with, so wait times can add up. One promising sign is that T-Mobile is the top ranked mobile network operator, according to Customer Satisfaction Index’s most recent Wireless Phone Service and Cell Phone Study1. Tello, on the other hand, is a small MVNO carrier. That means its customer service department is smaller and probably more reliant on automated services. That said, the company scores a 4.5/5-star rating from Trust Pilot2 and there are many positive online reviews from customers.
Unlimited plans: T-Mobile wins. T-Mobile offers a variety of powerful unlimited plans that give you tons of unthrottled data and nice perks. The biggest drawback is the relatively high price tags on these plans. Tello’s unlimited plan has a small data cap of just 25 GB, but is much cheaper. Limited data plans: Tello wins. While T-Mobile focuses on offering high-performance, high-data plans, Tello has taken the other route. It has tons of great, affordable, low-data (or no-data) plans for all kinds of customers. Family plans: T-Mobile wins. Tello doesn’t offer anything in terms of family plan discounts. But with T-Mobile you can cut the cost of your plan in half by adding additional lines for family members! Coverage: Tie. T-Mobile and Tello literally use the same network, so their coverage is identical! Customer service: T-Mobile wins. Tello does a decent job dealing with customer complaints, it seems. But T-Mobile simply has more resources to devote to customer service (and has a great rating from the ACSI).
