Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
Tello vs US Mobile
Tello
Higher score in this comparison
US Mobile
Where Tello and US Mobile differ
| Compare | TelloReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | US MobileReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price per GB from | $5Lower | $15 |
| 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 | Canada, Mexico, UK: Unlimited Premium 20 GB + 200 mins + 250 texts; annual Unlimited Starter 1 GB; roaming add-on from $15; roaming top-ups $15 for 1 GB, $30 for 5 GB |
| Fair use policy | Unlimited plan: 50 GB high-speed data per 30-day cycle, then throttled; 10 GB of that usable as hotspot | Unlimited Premium never slowed; Unlimited Starter on Warp and Light Speed may slow after 70 GB monthly; Unlimited Flex may slow after 10 GB monthly |
| Networks | Sprint | Warp, Dark Star, Light Speed |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | from 130 |
Same on both: Price from ($5), Unlimited data (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes), 5G (Yes), Top-ups (Yes), Seller type (Mvno).
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
- Tello scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Price per GB from is lower at Tello: $5 vs $15.
- Networks: only Tello offers Sprint.
- Networks: only US Mobile offers Warp, Dark Star, Light Speed.
- Support channels: only Tello offers Community.
- Region: only Tello offers Local, Regional.
- Region: only US Mobile offers Global.
- Features: only Tello offers Carrier plan.
- Audience: only Tello offers Long trip.
- Audience: only US Mobile offers Short trip.
Our verdict on each
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.
US Mobile
US Mobile suits travellers heading for a short trip who want one budget line for a home plan and roaming rather than a travel-only eSIM. Coverage of from 130 countries and a budget model sit against a fair use policy that slows lower tiers, so heavy streamers should read it first.
Score breakdown
| Area | Tello | US Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherCustom plans from $5 and a price per GB from $5 put Tello in the middle of the field, not at either end. | 8.6Price from $5 and price per GB from $15 sit well back from the field on 125 of 313 and 110 of 115. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.3Higher |
Availability and regulation
Available in 1 country for both.
Price per GB and validity
| Fact | Tello | US Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price per GB from | $5 | $15 |
| Price from | $5 | $5 |
Sources behind this comparison
Tello
- tello.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blog.tello.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
US Mobile
- usmobile.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Tello | US Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 277 of 926 | 337 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 284 of 918 | 344 of 918 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Tello | US Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Local, Regional | Global |
| Features | Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot, Instant activation, Carrier planCovers more | Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot, Instant activation |
| Pricing model | Budget | Budget |
| Audience | Long trip | Short trip |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Tello | US Mobile | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5above the median | $5above the median | $3.97 |
| Price per GB from | $5above the median | $15highest quarter | $2 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | from 130above the median | 120 |
Median across 492 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
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.
US Mobile
Pros
- Roaming add-ons start at $15 with top-ups available, so a short trip stays predictable
- Coverage of from 130 countries with a global footprint
- Hotspot sharing and 5G are both included on the plans listed
Cons
- Fair use policy slows the lower unlimited tiers, with the lightest one slowing after a small monthly allowance
- The budget model carries the price per GB, ranked 110 of 115
Who each suits
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.
US Mobile
Who it suits
- Travellers on a short trip who want a roaming add-on on a plan they already hold
- People who value hotspot sharing and 5G without paying for a travel-only esim
- US customers who prefer a budget line run over Warp, Dark Star and Light Speed
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who want a large, fixed data allowance for a long trip
- Readers who want a travel esim bought and used only abroad, where Zwitchy covers more countries
- Heavy data users who need unthrottled speed, since the fair use policy slows the lighter tiers
Current offers
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
US Mobile
Current offer
Free trial
30 days free when you bring your number: 30 days free, 30 GB data plus unlimited talk and text during the trial
New US Mobile customers who transfer an existing number to Dark Star or Warp networks; line then renews on the monthly Unlimited Premium plan
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
$10 prepaid Mastercard with new annual Unlimited line: $10 prepaid Mastercard
New lines only, annual billing, 1 prepaid card per account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
$100 service credit with eligible iPhone 18 Pro activation: $100 service credit
With eligible activation
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Tello | US Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
US Mobile
How much does US Mobile cost?+
Plans start at $5 as a budget line, and roaming costs $15 per GB from. Roaming is added as a top-up to an existing plan rather than bought as a separate travel esim, so the same line covers a home period and the trip.
How many countries does it cover?+
Coverage reaches from 130 countries on a global footprint. It runs over Warp, Dark Star and Light Speed networks, so service in a given country follows whichever of those carries the line there. No separate activation per country is needed.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Related by the facts
Tello
US Mobile