Tello Review: The Best eSIM for Travel in 2025

If you’re a frequent traveler, remote worker, or digital nomad, there is a good chance that you have heard about Tello.

Known for its affordable plans and instant eSIM activation, Tello has carved out a strong reputation among cost-conscious users who don’t want to sacrifice network quality.

Whether you’re hopping between U.S. co-working spaces or heading overseas for a work-cation, Tello now offers both domestic coverage and international roaming. This makes it a very versatile contender in the eSIM space.

Boasting competitive pricing, reliable network speeds, and the ability to roam in over 250 countries and territories, Tello is shaping up to be one of the best eSIM providers on the market for both U.S.-based and global travelers.

In this review, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the company, including its pricing, domestic and international coverage, speed, ease of use, setup, and overall value.

Hopefully, it will help you decide whether they are most suited to meet your eSim needs.

Overview of Tello

Tello Mobile launched in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2016 as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). In doing so, it became part of the umbrella of KeepCalling, a global telecom company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Romania.

Tello uses the robust T-Mobile network to offer wireless service across the United States. Over the years, the company has earned a reputation for transparent pricing, responsive customer support, and excellent user flexibility.

Its 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot and positive press in publications like U.S. News & World Report and Business Insider are clear signals that the company has developed a good name for itself, particularly among budget-savvy users.

Market position

Tello competes with other low-cost providers like Mint Mobile, Visible, Ultra Mobile, and global eSIM giants like Airalo and Nomad.

Unlike Airalo and Nomad, which primarily cater to international travelers, Tello has traditionally focused on domestic U.S. service. However, the fairly recent introduction of international roaming now bridges both markets.

Key Features at a Glance:

• Coverage:S.-wide, plus roaming in 250+ countries
• Network: T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G
• Pricing: Budget-friendly and fully customisable
• eSIM Support: Instant activation for compatible devices
• App: User-friendly for managing plans and usage

Coverage & Network Reliability

Tello provides both domestic coverage within the USA and international roaming. Here is an overview of both aspects.

Domestic Coverage (U.S.)

Tello uses T-Mobile’s nationwide network, which incorporates full 4G LTE and rapidly expanding 5G access.

Generally, their urban coverage is excellent. So, you can expect fast, stable connections in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Denver and Dallas. Additionally, most suburban and many rural areas also have solid service, although speeds may dip in remote or mountainous regions.

If you do use Tello within the USA, you can rely on it for smooth video calls, web browsing, and app usage without the usual dropouts that are sometimes associated with lower-tier carriers.

International Roaming

For many years, Tello focused solely on the domestic market. But it has recently branched out into international roaming.

This means you can now make calls, send texts, and use mobile data while abroad in over 250 countries and territories. Here’s how it works:

• Setup: You’ll need to enable roaming and data settings in your Tello dashboard under “My Settings”.
• Payment: Roaming is paid for through your Pay As You Go (PAYG) balance, as opposed to a monthly plan.
• Rates: Charges can vary by country and they are deducted from your PAYG balance.
• Balance Requirement: You’ll need at least $5 in your PAYG balance to activate roaming.

Popular destinations that US citizens visit, such as Canada, the UK, France, and Australia, are all supported by Tello’s international roaming. However, the data charges are higher, and your PAYG balance won’t auto-recharge. This means you will need to keep an eye on it during longer trips to ensure you don’t run out of data.

A good tip to be aware of is that if you’re somewhere with solid Wi-Fi, you can enable Tello’s Wi-Fi Calling feature. Doing this lets you make and receive calls over the internet without dipping into your roaming balance.

Data Plans & Pricing

One of Tello’s standout features is its custom-built plans. You can mix and match your data, talk, and text needs, or just choose from pre-set plans.

Moreover, as all of them are prepaid, you won’t be subjected to contracts, credit checks, or hidden fees. You are also free to use another provider whenever you want to.

Popular Tello Plans

*After 35GB, speeds are slowed to ~256–512 Kbps

PAYG for Roaming:

• Use for international data, calls, and texts
• Balance does not expire
• Must manually top up; auto-recharge won’t kick in

Value Compared to Other Providers

• Cheaper than Airalo, especially for U.S. travel
• More flexible than Mint Mobile (no 3-month lock-in)
• Better hotspot policy than Visible Mobile

For those who will be traveling mainly in the U.S., Tello wins out on price and usability.

However, for heavy international users, pairing Tello with an Airalo global eSIM could give you the best of both worlds.

Internet Speed & Network Performance

Thanks to T-Mobile’s growing 5G infrastructure, Tello users in supported areas enjoy high-speed connections.

Indeed, in urban regions, users report download speeds of between 100–300 Mbps on 5G, and 20–70 Mbps on 4G LTE. Additionally, its upload speeds and latency are suitable for video conferencing and remote work tools like Zoom, Slack, and Google Meet.

Real-world feedback:

According to user reviews on Google and TrustPilot, you can expect the following:

• Urban Areas: Fast and reliable connections
• Suburban Areas: Generally good service
• Rural Areas: Slower, but usable internet access
• Peak Times: Some throttling may occur, which might impact your connectivity

For the Unlimited plan, speeds are throttled after 35GB, but they should still be fine for basic browsing and emails. The included 5GB of mobile hotspot data is a major bonus for remote workers who need to tether laptops.

Ease of Use & Setup Process

Tello makes the process of getting started super simple, especially for eSIM users, because there’s no need to visit a store, wait for shipping, or fiddle with a physical SIM.

Here is how to set up your Tello eSIM:

1. Create an account at tello.com
2. Choose a plan or build your own
3. Select the eSIM option during checkout
4. Scan the QR code on your phone or enter it manually
5. You should now be able to start using data

When using the app, you should be able to use it on both iOS and Android. It will also enable you to view your usage and billing history, top up your PAYG balance, switch plans on the fly and set auto-pay or manual renewals.

Should you need customer support, you can reach out for it via Live Chat 24/7 or call them at +1-866-377-0294.

Email support is also available, and the company is known for its fast and friendly response times.

Pros & Cons

Like all eSim providers, Tello does some things very well. But there are also some aspects of their service that might not best suit your needs.

Here is an overview of some pros and cons about the company and its eSim offering that you should be aware of.

Pros:

• Domestic Plans start at just $5/month
• They have an unlimited plan with a hotspot for $25
• You’ll get instant eSIM activation
• They cover 250+ countries and territories with their international roaming
• You can use Wi-Fi Calling to avoid roaming charges
• They have a highly-rated mobile app and good customer support

Cons:

• Roaming costs extra via PAYG
• You get Slower speeds after 35GB
• There are no family/multi-line discounts
• Coverage depends entirely on the T-Mobile network

How Does Tello Compare to Other eSIM Providers?

Tello has long been seen as an excellent domestic U.S. carrier. But in recent times, it has also developed a robust international reach. This enables it to compete with several other eSim providers in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Overall, Tello is more affordable than Airalo or Nomad for travelers who are based within the United States, and they also offer more customizability than either Mint Mobile or Boost.

However, unlike those global-first providers, Tello requires a PAYG balance for international roaming, which can be less convenient for those who travel abroad frequently.

That said, if your travels are mostly U.S.-based with occasional overseas trips, Tello remains an excellent option as it now ticks both boxes. This is especially true if you combine it with Wi-Fi Calling when you are abroad.

Final Verdict: Is Tello Worth It?

Tello is absolutely worth using as your eSim provider, especially for U.S.-based digital nomads, freelancers, and business travelers.

With its low prices, fast activation, and now international roaming, Tello has evolved from being a budget carrier to the point where it is now a serious option for anyone who needs access to reliable, flexible, and affordable data.

Moreover, if you pair it with a second eSIM for travel if you’re going abroad often, you’ll have a powerful, cost-effective setup that works wherever life takes you.