Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
1&1 (1und1) vs Tello
1&1 (1und1)
Higher score in this comparison
Tello
Where 1&1 (1und1) and Tello differ
| Compare | 1&1 (1und1)ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | TelloReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €9.99 | $5 |
| Fair use policy | Roaming fair use: use must show ordinary residence in Germany, otherwise roaming surcharges apply; after the plan's high-speed volume is used up data continues unlimited at 64 kbit/s; Unlimited XL includes 61.2 GB/month in the EU, then 1.31 EUR/GB | Unlimited plan: 50 GB high-speed data per 30-day cycle, then throttled; 10 GB of that usable as hotspot |
| Networks | 1&1 Mobilfunknetz (Open RAN), Telefonica Germany (national roaming) | Sprint |
| Seller type | Carrier | Mvno |
| Price per GB from | Not confirmed | $5 |
| Countries covered | 33 | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Reference plan prices | Not confirmed | US: 2 GB $10/mo, 10 GB $15/mo, 20 GB $20/mo, Unlimited $25/mo, custom plans from $5/mo; Europe: roaming included at no extra cost until Sep 30 2026, drawn from the monthly plan balance (covers most of Europe plus UK, Turkey); Mexico: free international calls when minutes are added; Japan, Thailand, global: no travel data plan found |
| 10 GB in Europe | €9.99 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Unlimited data (Yes), 5G (Yes), Top-ups (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- 1&1 (1und1) scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Networks: only 1&1 (1und1) offers 1&1 Mobilfunknetz (Open RAN), Telefonica Germany (national roaming).
- Networks: only Tello offers Sprint.
- Support channels: only Tello offers Community.
- Region: only Tello offers Local.
- Features: only Tello offers Hotspot.
- Audience: only 1&1 (1und1) offers Short trip.
- Audience: only Tello offers Long trip.
Our verdict on each
1&1 (1und1)
1und1 is a German mobile carrier, not a travel eSIM, so it suits readers who live in Germany and want a home plan that still works abroad. Its flat rate adds unlimited data, subject to a fair use policy, plus 5G and instant activation, and roaming spans 33 countries from €9.99.
Tello
Tello is a US budget MVNO on Sprint that suits long trips across Europe rather than single-market eSIM buyers. Entry pricing of $5 and a price per GB from $5 keep it mid-table, with unlimited data shaped by a fair use cap.
Score breakdown
| Area | 1&1 (1und1) | Tello |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Higher | 8.8Custom plans from $5 and a price per GB from $5 put Tello in the middle of the field, not at either end. |
| Offer | 9.1Flat rate bundles unlimited data, 5G and instant activation from €9.99, and top-ups are available. | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 9.8 | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | 1&1 (1und1) | Tello |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 156 of 926 | 277 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 164 of 918 | 284 of 918 |
What we checked
1&1 (1und1)
- 1und1.de: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- mobile.1und1.de: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- unternehmen.1und1.de: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Tello
- tello.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blog.tello.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | 1&1 (1und1) | Tello |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Regional | Local, RegionalCovers more |
| Features | Unlimited data, 5G, Instant activation, Carrier plan | Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot, Instant activation, Carrier planCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Audience | Short trip | Long trip |
| Legal entity | 1&1 Telecommunication SE | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Germany | United States |
| Founded | 1988 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 1&1 (1und1) | Tello | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per GB from | Not confirmed | $5above the median | $2 |
| Countries covered | 33lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 120 |
| 10 GB in Europe | €9.99below the median | Not confirmed | €12 |
Median across 492 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
1&1 (1und1)
Pros
- Unlimited data, 5G and instant activation sit in one flat rate from €9.99, and the fair use policy says what happens after the high-speed volume is used up.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so help comes from the carrier itself.
- Top-ups are available, and regional reach suits a short trip away from Germany.
Cons
- Roaming spans 33 countries, well short of Zwitchy at 200.
- The fair use policy requires an ordinary residence in Germany, so the roaming offer does not suit visitors without a German home.
- The €9.99 price sits above the site median of €5, and it is a carrier home plan rather than a travel eSIM.
Tello
Pros
- Roaming across most of Europe, the UK and Turkey is drawn from the monthly plan balance at no extra cost.
- Its feature list covers unlimited data, 5G, hotspot sharing and instant activation: unlimited data, 5g and hotspot.
- Custom plans start at $5, with a price per GB from $5 on a budget model (budget).
Cons
- Unlimited data comes with a fair use policy: a set amount of high-speed data per cycle, then throttled, with part of that amount usable as hotspot.
- Its regions are local and regional (local and regional), so a global destination such as Japan or Thailand falls outside the roaming offer.
- It runs on Sprint alone, so roaming reach rests on one network partner.
Who each suits
1&1 (1und1)
Who it suits
- German residents taking short trips who want one plan at home and abroad.
- Travellers who want unlimited data with 5G and instant activation under a single contract.
- Readers who already buy from a German carrier and would rather add roaming than buy a travel pass.
Who should look elsewhere
- Visitors with no German residence, because the fair use policy ties roaming to an ordinary residence in Germany.
- Readers who need broad coverage, who will find more countries at Zwitchy with 200.
- Price-first shoppers, since eSIMGo.is starts at $0.99.
Tello
Who it suits
- US residents on a longer European trip who want roaming inside the plan they already hold.
- Budget buyers who want unlimited data and hotspot sharing without buying a separate travel eSIM.
- Travellers happy with one home network, Sprint, and fair use rules that throttle after the cap.
Who should look elsewhere
- Price-first buyers, since eSIMGo.is starts at $0.99 below Tello.
- Travellers buying in a market priced in another currency: MTN starts at NGN 5,000 in naira.
Current offers
1&1 (1und1)
Current offer
Free trial
Test everything for 30 days - satisfied or money back: 30 days
Cancel within the first 30 days without giving reasons; 1&1 refunds the one-time provisioning fee and the base fee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
1&1 All-Net-Flat S 10 GB introductory price: 9.99 EUR/month for 3 months
Entry price for the 10 GB tariff; from the 4th month 14.99 EUR/month
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Alt gegen Neu trade-in premium when ordering a new device with a 1&1 tariff: up to 800 EUR, at least 50 EUR
Depending on model and condition of the old device
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Tello
Current offer
Bonus
Free Roaming in Europe: Roaming in Europe at no extra cost, deducted from the regular plan balance (no activation fee, no daily travel pass)
Limited-time offer; usage draws on the monthly plan balance and no Pay As You Go credit is required while it lasts. From October 1, 2026 European roaming is charged to Pay As You Go credit only. Covers the listed European destinations including the UK, Turkey, Iceland, Switzerland and the microstates.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | 1&1 (1und1) | Tello |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
1&1 (1und1)
How much does a 1und1 roaming plan cost?+
Plans start at €9.99, and that price buys the home contract rather than a travel pass. The site median price across the brands listed is €5, so a reader comparing on price alone will find eSIMGo.is cheaper at $0.99.
How many countries does 1und1 roaming cover?+
Roaming spans 33 countries, which is far fewer than Zwitchy at 200. The plan is regional in scope, so a trip to a handful of nearby countries is the realistic use rather than a world tour.
Tello
How much does Tello cost?+
Custom plans start at $5, and the price per GB comes from $5. On entry price Tello ranks 125 of 313, and on price per GB it sits at 94 of 115.
Is Tello's unlimited data really unlimited?+
Unlimited data is on its feature list (unlimited data, 5g and hotspot), but a fair use policy applies. High-speed data stops at a set cap each cycle and the connection is throttled after that, so heavy months feel the limit even on an unlimited plan.
Other options to compare
1&1 (1und1)
Tello