Tello review
Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
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.
Key facts
- Best for
- A long trip through Europe, the UK or Turkey on a US plan with roaming in the balance.
- Price from
- $5↗
- Price per GB from
- $5↗
- Unlimited data
- Yes↗
- Hotspot sharing
- Yes↗
- Reference plan prices
- 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↗
- 5G
- Yes↗
- Fair use policy
- Unlimited plan: 50 GB high-speed data per 30-day cycle, then throttled; 10 GB of that usable as hotspot↗
- Networks
- Sprint↗
- Top-ups
- Yes↗
- Seller type
- Mvno↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre, Community↗
- Region
- Local, Regional
- Features
- Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot, Instant activation, Carrier plan
- Pricing model
- Budget
- Audience
- Long trips
- Official website
- tello.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
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 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.
How Tello compares
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 8.0
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 9.2- 9.0 vs 9.6
- 9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2- 9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.1- 9.0 vs 9.1
- 9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 8.8- 9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 8.6
9.0 vs 8.6
Where Tello is available
- Available
- United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
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.
Which countries can I roam in?+
Roaming across most of Europe, plus the UK and Turkey, is included at no extra cost and drawn from your monthly plan balance. Its coverage sits in the local and regional range (local and regional), and there is no travel data plan for Japan or Thailand.
Which network does Tello run on?+
Tello is a US MVNO (mvno) based in the United States and runs on Sprint. Its features include the 5G network generation and instant activation, so a new line can be set up and online quickly.
How do I get help from Tello?+
Support runs across email, chat and phone, so email, live chat and phone are all available alongside the help centre and community. The budget positioning means most queries are about picking the right tier rather than a complex setup.
Who is Tello aimed at?+
Tello is built for long trip and priced as a budget option (budget). It suits US residents who already hold a plan and want European roaming taken from their own balance, rather than a separate travel eSIM bought for one trip.
Can I top up or change my plan during a trip?+
Top-ups are available, and the reference plans range from small monthly allowances up to an unlimited option. Custom plans start at $5, so a lighter month costs less than committing to the unlimited tier while abroad.
Sources
- blog.tello.com/affiliates checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Networks, Seller type
“Tello, the most flexible wireless carrier in US, invites you to join our affiliate program”
- tello.com/buy/custom_plans checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Fair use policy, Features, Hotspot sharing, Price from, Support channels, Top-ups, Unlimited data
“50 GB high-speed, then throttled”
- tello.com/free-roaming-europe checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Region
“Travel without limits in Europe Meet the Unlimited Plan”
- tello.com/help_center checked September 26, 2026
Backs: 5G
“Tello uses a LTE/5G network”
- tello.com/presskit checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Pricing model, Price per GB from, Reference plan prices
“Flexible prepaid plans, affordable pricing, and excellent value make Tello a smart choice for budget-conscious customers.”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Countries covered.
Related by the facts
Tello
A long trip through Europe, the UK or Turkey on a US plan with roaming in the balance.