Boost Mobile vs. Tello: Which carrier is better?

Boost Mobile and Tello are popular prepaid carriers that offer great deals on limited data. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Boost Mobile is on several networks, while Tello is on the T-Mobile network. 

Boost Mobile and Tello are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Boost Mobile is an MVNO of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish, while Tello is an MVNO of T-Mobile. 

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Tello offers customizable plans, and Boost Mobile offers both unlimited and limited data plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options. However, Tello offers several options for limited calling minutes to customize with the amount of data you need. Boost Mobile offers both limited and unlimited plans to choose from as well. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Boost Mobile Plans

Boost Mobile offers monthly, 3 month, and annual plans. 

Boost Mobile offers several plans with varying data caps and lengths of service. Some plans will allow you to pay for several months of service up front at a cheaper price – either 3 or 12 months ahead.

All plans at Boost Mobile are deprioritized. Boost Mobile’s QCI tier is 7 on T-Mobile, 8 on AT&T, and 9 on Dish. 

Some of Boost Mobile’s plans are for new customers only, so make sure to read the fine print.

You can have up to 4 lines on one plan. If you purchase your phone from Boost Mobile, your device will be locked for up to a year after activation. The plans they offer renew their data monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

1GB Per Month Annual Plan

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is the smallest Boost Mobile offers at 1GB of data per month. You can use all plan data as mobile hotspot data. Data stops after the cap, and you lose hotspot access. 

The plan costs $8.33 per month, and $100 annually.

5GB Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan gives you 5GB of data, and stops after this cap. You get hotspot access and can use all plan data as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $15 per month. At this rate, you get 5GB at $3 per GB. 

Boost Mobile also offers this plan for $45 per month for 3 months, which is the same rate as their monthly plan. Both versions are for new customers only. 

5GB Annual 

This plan is for new customers only. 

Like its other 5GB plan, you get 5GB of data per month that can also be used as hotspot data. Once you hit the cap, data and hotspot access stop. 

The plan costs $14 per month, and $168 per year. At this rate, you get 5GB per month at $2.80 per GB. 

15GB Annual Plan

This plan gives you 15GB per month for a year of service. 

With the 15GB plan Boost Mobile offers, you can use all data as hotspot data. Data stops at 15GB, and you lose hotspot access at this data cap.

The plan costs $20 per month, and $240 per year. At this rate, you get 15GB per month at $1.33 per GB. 

Unlimited $25 Monthly

Autopay is required with this plan.

This plan gives you 30GB per month of full speed data, which slows to 3G speeds after this cap. You can use up to 30GB of the plan on hotspot data, and access stops after. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $0.83 per GB. Boost Mobile also offers 50% off for the first month of service with this plan. 

Unlimited $40 Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is similar to the 3 month Unlimited plan, as it offers 30GB of full speed data before slowing to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.95 per GB. 

Unlimited 3 Month Plan

This plan gives you 30GB before slowing down.

Your unlimited data resets at the beginning of every month, and you have up to 30GB of full speed data. Afterwards, data slows to 512 kbps, or 3G speeds. This is standard for the industry. You can still send texts and emails or scroll through social media without issue, but streaming video will be slower. This plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap. 

This plan costs $90 every 3 months, or $30 per month. You get 42GB per month for $0.71 per GB. 

Unlimited Annual

It’s important to note that this plan requires you to buy a year worth of data.

This plan offers the best price out of all of Boost Mobile’s plans. Here, you get 30GB full speed data before your speeds slow to 3G. At 3G, you can still send emails and texts or scroll social media, but streaming video or playing games on your phone may be more difficult. This plan also comes with 12GB of hotspot data, which stops at that limit. 

This plan costs $300 per year, and $25 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.60

Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 30GB of full speed data and 30GB of additional hotspot data. 

Unlimite Plus is Boost Mobile’s biggest plan. You get 30GB of data at full speeds before it slows to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 30GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 60GB at $1 per GB.

Tello Plans

Tello offers customizable plans with their service.

Tello offers plans that allow you to customize the amount of data and minutes you get included. No matter your plan, you do get unlimited text capabilities included. Your calling access stops on the limited plans once you hit the cap. Your QCI tier for this carrier is 7, as it’s on the T-Mobile network. 

If you purchase your phone from Tello, your device will be unlocked upon purchasing. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

No Data Plan

This plan offers talk and text. 

Obviously, this is the smallest plan Tello offers. You don’t get any data, but still get unlimited texting. You can choose how many minutes you get each month, and you don’t get hotspot access. 

The plan costs $8 per month with unlimited minutes, $7 with 500 minutes, $6 with 300 minutes, and $5 with 100 minutes.

500MB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

This plan offers 0.5GB per month, or 500MB. Data slows to 64 kilobits per second (kbps) after you hit the cap, which is practically unusable. You can use your data as hotspot access, and access stops at the cap. 

The plan costs $9 per month with unlimited minutes. At this rate, you get 500MB at $18 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $5, $10 per GB

100 minutes: $6, $12 per GB

300 minutes: $7, $14 per GB

500 minutes: $8, $16 per GB

1GB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

You get 1GB with this plan, which slows to 64 kbps once you hit the cap. You also get hotspot access with this data until you run out. 

The plan costs $10 per month with unlimited minutes.

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $6

100 minutes: $7

300 minutes: $8

500 minutes: $9

2GB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

Tello offers 2GB with this plan, and speeds slows to 64 kbps once you run out of that amount. You also get hotspot access until you hit the cap.

The plan costs $14 per month with unlimited minutes. At this rate, you get 2GB at $7 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $10, $5 per GB. 

100 minutes: $11, $5.50 per GB

300 minutes: $12, $6 per GB

500 minutes: $13, $6.50

5GB

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

This Tello plan offers 5GB of full speed data, then 64 kbps speeds. You also get hotspot access until you run out of data for the month. 

The plan costs $19 per month with unlimited minutes. At this rate, you get 5GB at $3.80 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $15, $3 per GB

100 minutes: $16, $3.20 per GB

300 minutes: $17, $3.40 per GB

500 minutes: $18, $3.60 per GB

10GB 

This plan gives you varying prices depending on what you buy. 

The 10GB plan is the biggest limited data allotment that Tello offers. Like the other plans, you get hotspot access until the cap and data speeds slow to 64 kbps when you run out of full speed data. 

The plan costs $24 per month with unlimited minutes. At the unlimited minutes rate, you get 10GB at $2.40 per GB. 

Here is the price breakdown for the varying minute allotments:

No minutes: $20, $2 per GB

100 minutes: $21, $2.10 per GB

300 minutes: $22, $2.20 per GB

500 minutes: $23, $2.30 per GB

Unlimited 

This plan gives you 25GB of full speed data. 

As the biggest plan Tello offers, this plan offers 25GB of full speed data before slowing to 64 kbps. You also get hotspot access that stops once you hit the full speed cap. 

The plan costs $29 per month, no matter if you choose unlimited minutes or a specific amount. At this rate, you get 25GB at $1.16 per GB.  

Features

Boost Mobile offers add-ons, while Tello offers limited features. 

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Boost Mobile offers add-ons for their plans to include more features for an additional fee. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Boost Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Boost Mobile offers an add-on, where you get unlimited talk and text to both Mexico and Canada as well as 1.5GB of data in Mexico for $5 per month. This add-on is included with the Unlimited Plus plan. Tello does not include this feature. 

International Connection

Boost Mobile does not offer international data, but texts are $0.10 per message. There is also an add on available for unlimited plans to include international talk. Tello plans include international calling, but not text and data. 

Video Streaming Quality

All plans from Boost Mobile stream at 480p Standard Definition, except for Unlimited Plus. That plan streams at 1080p High Definition. All Tello plans stream at 4k Ultra HD resolution.

Streaming Services

Boost Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Boost Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from Boost Mobile, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time. Tello does not offer this feature.

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

Boost Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

Boost Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Customer Service 

Boost Mobile offers several stores across the country, while Tello offers onlime support.

Boost Mobile offers several physical locations, and you can find the closest store to you with their store locator. They also offer support over the phone at (833)-502-6678 at 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Mon. through Fri. PST and 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST on Sat. and Sun. You can call Tello’s customer service lines at 1 (866) 377-0294, and you can research answers to your questions on their help center page. 

The Verdict

Boost Mobile offers a better deal, but Tello offers more flexibility.

Because of the price per GB, Boost Mobile offers a better deal on their plans. However, if you need more flexibility, Tello is still a great option for you. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

Really.com helps users compare between features, coverage, price, reviews, and more!

Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!