Pre-paid carriers are becoming increasingly popular as more and more consumers are getting savvy to the fact that they don’t have to rely on the Big 3 (T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon), pay exorbitant monthly bills, or be locked into two-year contracts to enjoy excellent mobile service.

Tello Mobile is not only a fantastic alternative to the major network carriers but manages to undercut the competition in the pre-paid space as well with its customizable plans that start at as low as $5 per month. Here’s a look at everything Tello Mobile has to offer!

Tello Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that piggybacks on T-Mobile’s 5G network to provide reliable service at less than half the price of the major players.

Tello’s most significant selling point is its highly customizable plans that ensure you pay for exactly what you need instead of using catch-all “value” plans you might find from many of its competitors. If you’re someone who perennially underuses their mobile data limits, you can enjoy significant savings on your mobile bill if you know exactly what your usage is like.

And since it’s a pre-paid service, you don’t have to worry about long-term contracts, hidden fees, or overpaying for mobile services. At Tello, you don’t need to pay for months in bulk to get a good deal, and you’re free to change your plan whenever you need more or less data. Tello also makes it very easy to jump on board, with the option to bring your own smartphone — as long as it’s an unlocked GSM device — or buy one from Tello directly.

Tello lets you customize the perfect plan for your usage, with plans starting for as low as $5. For that price, you have the choice between either 100 minutes of talk time (with no data) or a 500MB data plan (with no minutes).

Talk time minutes range from 100 minutes to unlimited, with 300 and 500-minute increments, while data options include 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 5GB, 10GB, and unlimited. A middle-of-the-ground plan with, say, 5GB of data and 300 minutes will set you back just $17 per month. And any talk time plan includes unlimited texting.

Of course, if you don’t want to spend time figuring out a custom plan or are still unsure of what your usage might be, Tello has a set of popular plan options you can choose from with just a click.

The differentiator between these plans is the data limit, with all of them including unlimited talk and text. The Economy plan with 1GB of data is priced at $10 per month, while doubling the data with the 2GB Value plan is just $14/month.

People on the go who need more data will be more at home with the 5GB Smart plan, which is still incredibly affordable at $19 a month. Of course, you can always use Tello’s customization tool to double that data to 10GB for only an additional $5 monthly.

For a completely worry-free experience, Tello’s Unlimited Data plan is your best bet. Unlike some competing “unlimited” plans that can set you back hundreds of dollars, Tello’s unlimited data, talk, and text plan is priced at just $29 per month.

Until December 15, new customers (or if you add a new line) can take advantage of a significant discount for the first month, with Tello dropping the price of the 1GB Economy plan to just $6 and the 2GB Value plan to just $8.

While Tello’s selling point is its “no strings attached” nature, that doesn’t mean it’s not without valuable features. These include setting up a Wi-Fi Hotspot for free and without the additional charges you often find with other carriers. You also get Wi-Fi calling with compatible devices, unlimited texts, and international calling to more than 60 countries.

There’s also eSIM support, taking away the hassle of handling and installing physical SIM cards. With a quick and convenient eSIM setup process, you’ll enjoy instant activation and will be ready to start using your Tello Mobile service as soon as you sign up for a plan without having to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive in the mail.

Finally, Tello also offers a Family plan. There are no extra fees to add a line, and you don’t have to worry about shared data and talk time limits. The account holder can set up each line with its own plan, device, and phone number, with up to 10 lines per account.

Tello’s simplicity in choosing a plan and its services carries over to the setup process as well. All you need to do is select your plan online, place your order, and wait for the physical SIM card to arrive. And with the port-in feature, you can keep your existing phone number without issue. It’s even faster with an eSIM, with instant activation, as long as you have a supported phone.

Of course, one of the biggest concerns when switching to a new mobile carrier is coverage. Tello’s handy network coverage check page lets you see the availability and strength of 4G LTE and 5G coverage in your area, so you can rest easy that there won’t be any network connectivity problems.

You can use a phone you already have with Tello as long as it’s unlocked and uses GSM. If you aren’t sure about compatibility, Tello has a helpful compatibility tool to check whether your phone will work on its network. You can also purchase a phone directly from Tello, with plenty of options to choose from, with new and refurbished options ranging from the ultra-affordable Samsung Galaxy A12 to the high-end Google Pixel 7 Pro.

And remember, for a limited time, if you’re a new Tello customer or are adding a new line, you can enjoy a steep discount on the 1GB and 2GB plans, with the price dropping to just $6 and $8, respectively, for the first month. The promo is available till December 15, so now’s a great time to sign up for Tello!