Tello Mobile is an American no-contract mobile and wireless service provider. It is known for its flexible and user-friendly services and it offers affordable plans, reliable nationwide coverage, a small selection of mobile devices, and a BYOP (bring your own phone) program, which allows customers to subscribe to Tello’s services with the phone they already own and love.
In case you are considering becoming a Tello customer and you wish to bring your own device to their network, it is vital for you to know whether or not your device will work with their services. In the following chapters, you will find out if your phone is compatible with Tello and everything else you need to know about Tello compatible phones.
How Do I Know Is My Phone Compatible With Tello Mobile?
The simplest and most reliable way to find out if your phone is compatible with Tello Mobile is by checking the compatibility on their official website. To know if your phone is compatible with Tello Mobile, simply follow the simple steps listed below:

- Visit Tello Mobile’s official website, go to the main menu, and select ‘Bring Your Phone’ or go directly to tello.com/bring_your_own_phone. There, you will see a search box.
- Enter your phone’s IMEI or ESN number in the provided search box and press ‘Check’.
- In case you don’t know your phone’s IMEI or ESN code, you can receive it if you dial *#06#.
- Once you enter the IMEI or ESN number and press check, the system will immediately let you know if your phone is compatible with their services.
What Type of Phones Are Compatible With Tello Mobile? CDMA or GSM?
The following types of phones are compatible with Tello and can be enrolled to Tello Mobile:
- GSM phones. Any GSM mobile device that is free of contract and VoLTE compatible will work with Tello.
- Tello phones. All the phones that you can purchase directly from Tello are compatible with Tello’s services. You can choose a high-quality device from some of the most reputable brands at tello.com/phones.
- Other unlocked smartphones. Other unlocked Android and iOS smartphones may also be compatible with Tello, including iPhone models from 6 to SE and Nexus 5 to 6P.
However, to be certain, make sure to check the compatibility of your exact phone at tello.com/bring_your_own_phone.
The Best Tello Mobile Compatible Phones List
Below, you can see the list of phones that are certainly compatible with Tello Mobile as they are sold by Tello. The list of original Tello phones is currently very limited, however, as they completely transition to T-Mobile, they are expected to bring in more mobile devices.
Tello Mobile Compatible iPhones
- Apple iPhone 7
- Apple iPhone 7 Plus
- Apple iPhone SE 2
- Apple iPhone XS
Tello Mobile Compatible Android Phones
- Wiko Ride 2
- Motorola G Play
Tello Mobile Compatible Flip Phones
- Coolpad Snap
Other phones that are potentially compatible with Tello include free of contract and VoLTE compatible GSM phones and other unlocked smartphones. However, to make sure your phone is compatible, check its compatibility at tello.com/bring_your_own_phone.
In case you also need information Latest Visible Compatible Phones
What Are Tello Mobile Compatible Plans
Tello Mobile is known for offering a large variety of very flexible plans, which allows customers to choose the plan that best fits their needs. Tello customers can either choose one of Tello’s ready-made plans or build their own plan.
Ready-made plans include:
- Economy Plan. It comes with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 1 GB of data. The price is $7.5 a month for the first 6 months and afterward $10 a month.
- Value Plan. It comes with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 2 GB of data. The price is $10.5 a month for the first 6 months and afterward $14 a month.
- Smart Plan. It comes with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 4 GB of data. The price is $14.3 a month for the first 6 months and afterward $19 a month.
- Data Plan. It comes with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and unlimited data. The price is $29.3 a month for the first 6 months and afterward $39 a month.
The ‘build your own plan’ option allows customers to choose between two different categories: the amount of data and the number of minutes+texts.
- When it comes to data, you can choose either one of the following options: no data, 500 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 6 GB, 8 GB, or unlimited data.
- When it comes to minutes and texts you can choose from the following options: no minutes, 100 minutes + free text, 300 minutes + free text, 500 minutes + free text, or unlimited minutes and free texts.
The cheapest two options are either no data and 100 minutes + free text or no minutes and 500 MB of data. Both cost $3.8 a month for the first 6 months and $5 a month afterward.
The most expensive data + minutes and texts combination is unlimited data and unlimited minutes + free texts. This plan is basically the same as the ready-made Data Plan and the price is the same as well ($29.3 a month for the first 6 months and afterward $39 a month).
The unlimited data plan comes with 25 GB of 4G LTE/5G. All plans come with unlimited 2G data after you have used your 4G LTE/5G balance. All calling plans also include free calls to over 60 countries, including Mexico, China, and India, according to your minute balance. All plans allow you to turn your smartphone into a hotspot while tethering and share your data plan balance with others. All plans renew automatically every 30 days and allow monthly billing with the possibility to cancel the plan anytime without charges. Upgrading or downgrading your plan is allowed at all times for no additional fees. The plan changes instantly and the remaining balance will rollover. Tello plans start from $5, include free unlimited text messages, and come with no contracts or fees.
Read one of our past articles Latest Spectrum Mobile Compatible Phones
What Other Carriers Are Compatible With Tello Mobile?
As Tello now uses T-Mobile’s GSM network, it is most likely compatible with T-Mobile, its MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), and other GSM carriers, such as AT&T.
Below, you can see the list of potentially compatible carriers:
- T-Mobile
- T-Mobile MVNOs
- Consumer Cellular (AT&T, T-Mobile)
- Metro by T-Mobile (T-Mobile)
- Mint Mobile (T-Mobile)
- Net10 (T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, U.S. Cellular)
- Google Fi (Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Three)
- Red Pocket (Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T)
- Republic Wireless (Sprint, T-Mobile)
- Simple Mobile (T-Mobile)
- Straight Talk (Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T)
- Ting (T-Mobile, Sprint)
- TracFone (Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T)
- Ultra Mobile (T-Mobile)
- US Mobile (T-Mobile, Verizon)
- Gen Mobile (T-Mobile, Spint)
- TextNow (T-Mobile, Sprint)
- Wing (T-Mobile, AT&T)
- AT&T
- AT&T MVNOs
- Consumer Cellular (AT&T, T-Mobile)
- Cricket (AT&T)
- FreedomPop (AT&T, Sprint)
- FreeUP Mobile (AT&T)
- Good2Go Mobile (AT&T)
- H2O Wireless (AT&T)
- Net10 (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon)
- Red Pocket (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon)
- Straight Talk (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon)
- TracFone (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon)
How to Bring Your Own Tello Mobile Phone
Bringing your own phone to Tello is as simple as it can get. To do so, you must simply follow the easy steps below.
- Step 1: Check your phone’s compatibility at tello.com/bring_your_own_phone by entering your phone’s IMEI or ESN number.
- Step 2: Once you have entered your IMEI or ESN number, follow the prompts.
- Step 3: Purchase a Tello SIM kit.
- Step 4: Once you receive your Tello SIM kit, turn off your phone and carefully insert the SIM card.
- Step 5: Activate your Tello service.
How to Activate Tello Mobile Phone
The exact Tello activation steps depend on whether you decided to bring your own phone and only purchase a Tello GSM SIM kit or if you purchase a new Tello phone.
If you purchase a Tello GSM SIM kit, follow these steps:
- Order the Tello GSM SIM kit on Tello’s website or Amazon.
- When the package arrives, visit Tello’s website, log into your account, and go to ‘Activate SIM’ (tello.com/activate).
- Enter the required data and follow the prompts.
- Once the activation process is finished (it can take up to 20 minutes), wait for 5 more minutes and then insert your Tello GSM SIM card into your turned-off phone. Once you do so, turn on the phone.
- Follow any provided on-screen prompts and the phone should automatically connect to Tello. In case the phone does not activate automatically, wait 30 minutes, restart your phone and try again. You can also try activating the phone manually by following the steps provided in the FAQ section at tello.com/account/my_phone.
- After activating your Tello service, you can port in your old phone number by submitting a port-in at tello.com/account/port_in.
If you have purchased a new Tello phone, follow these steps:
- When your phone package arrives, unpack the phone and charge it fully. Don’t turn it on.
- Log into your online Tello account and go to tello.com/activate.
- Enter the required data and follow the prompts. The 14 or 15-digit activation code required is printed on the box of the phone.
- Once the activation process is finished (it can take up to 20 minutes), wait for 5 more minutes and then turn your fully charged phone on.
- Follow any provided on-screen prompts and the phone should automatically connect to Tello. In case the phone does not activate automatically, wait 30 minutes, restart your phone and try again. You can also try activating the phone manually by following the steps provided in the FAQ section at tello.com/account/my_phone.
- After activating your Tello service, you can port in your old phone number by submitting a port-in at tello.com/account/port_in.
Where to Buy a Tello Mobile Phone
As mentioned before, you can either bring your own phone or purchase one from Tello.
You can buy a Tello Mobile phone on Tello’s official website (tello.com/phones). All the provided phones are Tello GSM compatible, unlocked, and ready to be activated. Simply select the device you like best, put it in the shopping cart, and go to check out. At the checkout page, make sure to press ‘Buy SIM’, as this will add a 100% discounted SIM card to your cart.
After placing the order, your phone and SIM card will arrive in a few days (depending on availability and your address) and it will come with the battery and the charger. The manual or guide will not be included, as you can find the phone manual in your online account.
A Tello GSM SIM kit, on the other hand, can be purchased both on Tello’s website (while following the prompts after confirming your phone’s compatibility) or from Amazon (when in stock).
What’s Tello’s Return Policy And Early Termination Fee?
Tello offers a 30-day warranty on all Tello phones. If you wish to return the product, you can do so within 30 days by simply sending a message at tello.com/contact with the order number and the reason for return. The provider will send you a shipping label to return the device and accessories. Make sure the return package includes everything that was originally included (except the SIM card, which you can use with another compatible phone), the device is unlocked and factory reset, and that the package arrives safely undamaged. Devices with any kind of user damage will not be refunded or replaced. If you wish to receive another device, you can tell Tello about it and they will make sure the new device arrives before you return the current one. Tello will issue a refund as soon as they receive the device. Receiving a replacement device instead of a refund is only possible if the same phone brand and model is available on their website.
In regards to the termination of service, Tello reserves the right to issue a warning or suspend or even terminate your service if they determine you have violated any of their terms and conditions (tello.com/terms), any rules or policies regarding the use of their site and services, or for any other reason.
If you wish to terminate the service, there are no termination fees.
How Good Is Tello Performance?
Tello uses the new T-Mobile’s nationwide network. T-Mobile offers both the largest 5G network in America, which covers 41.35% of the territory (while AT&T’s second-best 5G network covers only 18.11% of the territory) as well as excellent 4G LTE network, which covers 62% of the territory and connects 99% of the entire U.S. population. As such, Tello’s performance is great. However, you can check the exact GSM coverage by visiting tello.com/coverage and entering your address. The system will tell you if Tello’s network is available in your area.
In addition, Tello offers many affordable and incredibly flexible plans, high-quality phones, and overall reliable services.
What Networks Does Tello Mobile Actually Use?
In the past, Tello Mobile used to run on Sprint’s 4G LTE network and use Sprint’s CDMA technology and CDMA phones. However, since the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, Tello started transitioning to T-Mobile’s new reliable nationwide network. As of mid-2021, Tello isn’t offering Sprint’s network but is now offering T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and America’s largest 5G network.
The switch from Sprint to T-Mobile also broadened the list of potentially compatible phones. Phones with support for LTE bands 2, 4, 12, 66, and 71, and VoLTE support are likely to work well with Tello’s T-Mobile network.
Tello Mobile Pros and Cons
As any other carrier or MVNO, Tello Mobile also comes with its list of pros and cons.
- Affordable prices
- Flexible plan options
- Free mobile hotspot
- Free calls to over 60 countries
- Upgrading or downgrading your plan is allowed at all times for no additional fees
- Free balance rollover
- All plans include free unlimited text messages
- No contracts or fees
- Access to T-Mobile’s nationwide network with 4G LTE and 5G options
- Keeping your number is allowed
- Bringing your own phone is allowed
- Responsive and reliable customer support service available 24/7 by phone at +1-866-377-0294 or 611 from Tello phone and by email/chat at tello.com/contact
- Very limited phone selection
- No retail stores
- Phones are not subsidized
- Patchy coverage in rural areas
Tello Compatible Phone Related Others Thing You Should Know
Is There Tello Mobile 5G?
Yes, Tello offers both 4G LTE and 5G networks. Whether you get a 4G or 5G network depends on the location (currently 4G LTE network is way more widespread than 5G network). Not only does Tello offer a 5G network, but it also runs on T-Mobile, which currently offers the largest and most reliable 5G network in America. T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is also excellent – it connects 99% of the entire U.S. population.
Does Tello Have Overage Charges or Hidden Fees?
No, Tello has no hidden fees whatsoever. You will simply pay for your phone (if you purchase one), service, and local taxes.
Does Tello Charge an Activation Fee?
No, Tello does not charge any activation fees.
Can I Keep My Phone Number?
Yes, you can keep your phone number. You can submit a port-in request right after you activate your Tello service.
Are Tello Mobile Phones Unlocked?
Yes, all Tello phones come unlocked, therefore you can take them to another compatible carrier.
Can I Put My Tello Mobile SIM Card on Another Phone?
Yes, however, the service will only work if the phone is compatible with Tello’s services. You can check compatibility at tello.com/bring_your_own_phone.