Phone, text and online data access while overseas is an important logistic to figure out for nomads, expats and travelers alike. There are a lot of great options nowadays for eSIMs like Airalo, Eskimo or RedteaGo to get easy data access overseas. However, if you’re an American and need access to a US mobile phone number to receive text message verifications, you may need to maintain a US mobile phone carrier. A number of online banks and credit card companies have tightened their restrictions on accepting VoIP numbers so our Google Voice number no longer suffices. After extensive research on US mobile phone carrier options, we discovered Tello, a service that provides a real US phone number that banks accept, all for a very affordable $5 per month (or $60 per year) plus taxes.
In this blog post, we’ll share why we think Tello is a fantastic low-cost carrier option, walk you through setting up an account, and show you how to use it effectively while traveling internationally.
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Tello Mobile Review
What is Tello?
Tello Mobile is a US mobile virtual network operator that uses the T-Mobile US mobile network. Tello Mobile provides flexible prepaid cell phone services and customers are able to cancel their plans within a month.
Why is Tello a great option overseas for nomads, expats and travelers?
If you are overseas, you don’t need to use your US mobile plan regularly so the most important feature is reliability and pricing. Tello offers highly competitive pricing, with plans starting as low as $5 per month. This entry-level option includes unlimited texts, 100 minutes of voice calling, and no data—perfect for those who need just the basics at a budget-friendly rate. The $5/month is well the worth the cost for us to maintain access to our online banking and accounts without issues.
If you’re still living in the US, Tello could be also a great alternative to your current carrier. It’s worth comparing your current plan to what Tello offers. For just $25 a month, you get unlimited data, unlimited minutes, and free texts—a solid deal for budget-conscious users!
Tello provides key features such as:
- Nationwide 4G LTE/5G Coverage
- No hidden fees
- Budget-Friendly Family Plans
- eSim
- Worldwide Wifi Roaming
Tello Mobile Setup Process
To get started, signing up for Tello by using this referral link so you get $10 Tello credit (we also get $10 off, so thank you for supporting our blog that way).
Note that the credit will be added to your account once you complete your first order. This is also not a promo code and promo codes are not compatible with using our referal link.
To signup for Tello, you first must choose a plan with a specific amount of data, voice and text. The lowest plan has no data, unlimited text and 100 minutes for $5 (+ taxes).
Then you will need to create your online account.
Once your online account is created, you will need to provide details about your order:
- Your phone number
- Your residential address
- The type of SIM you want (regular SIM card or eSIM)
- Credit Card details
- Security PIN
Tello Line activation
If you choose an eSIM, activation is completed within minutes, and you’ll receive instructions to set up the line on your phone right away. The website will let you know if your phone is compatible for the eSIM option.
If you opt for a physical SIM card, you’ll need to wait a few days for delivery. Once it arrives, you can activate it and start using your line.
Note that you need to be in the US to activate your account for the first time.
Enable Wifi Roaming
If you’re planning to travel overseas and want to receive text messages internationally, make sure to add an emergency contact to your Tello account. This will allow you to enable Tello’s “Wi-Fi roaming” feature, so you can stay connected while abroad.
Our Current Phone Plan Setup as Full-time Nomads
Over the 6 years that we have been nomadic, the offerings and our needs have definitely evolved. Fortunately, the options are generally getting more convenient, accessible and affordable. Staying connected has never been easier! Here is our latest phone plan setup with the addition of Tello as our US mobile phone plan carrier:
- Google Voice VoIP US number: to receive/make Wifi calls from a US number and receive texts for companies that accept VoIP numbers
- Tello US Mobile Phone plan: to receive text messages from US banks and companies that no longer accept VoIP numbers
- Airalo, Eskimo or RedteaGo eSIMs for data plans in the country we are visiting
- Less necessary: a local physical SIM card from the country we are visiting. This can be more affordable if you are staying for a month or more. A local number is also sometimes more convenient for others to contact you and to sign up for local online accounts.
Note that GoogleFI is an option that no longer works for us. GoogleFI no longer allows international roaming for more than 90 days so it no longer meets our needs. If you return to the US at least every 90 days, then GoogleFI may be the only plan that you need if it covers the countries that you are visiting.
Final Thoughts on the Tello Mobile Review
We recently added a Tello line to our phone plan setup to continue accessing our online banking and other accounts overseas and it has been working really well so far. It’s great that there is no contract, you can cancel anytime and the website is really easy to use. We will continue to use Tello Mobile in the foreseeable future and provide any updates if we run into any issues. The affordability at $5/mo is really ideal for the minimal usage that we require. If you’re interested in signing up for Tello Mobile with a $10 credit, please use our referral link.
Have you tried Tello, or are you using another service while traveling? We’d love to hear your experiences and any alternative recommendations—feel free to share in the comments below!
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