Mint Mobile vs. Tello: Which carrier is better?

Mint Mobile and Tello are popular prepaid carriers that offer unique plan options for their customers. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s compare them and see which is better.

In this article, we plan to discuss the details 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

Mint Mobile and Tello are on the T-Mobile network. 

Mint Mobile and Tello are both 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. Mint Mobile and Tello are MVNOs 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

Mint Mobile offers multi-month plans, while Tello offers customizable plans. 

Both carriers give you unlimited talk and texting options. However, Tello offers several options for limited calling minutes to customize with the amount of data you need. Both carriers offer unlimited text with every plan. Mint Mobile also offers multi-month plans, where you pay a bulk price for several months of service. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and shopping centers.

Mint Mobile Plans

Mint Mobile offers 4 plans, each with multiple options for lengths of service.

Mint Mobile offers plans ranging from 5GB to Unlimited (40GB) data, giving customers more options to meet their needs. Mint Mobile only offers 3, 6, or 12 month plans to sign up for. However, your data is reset every month. Their current New Customer Offer allows you to purchase a 3 month plan at the best deal. Mint Mobile also offers a deal where you can get 6 months of free service if you purchase a phone and a 6 month plan. Mint Mobile allows up to 5 lines on one account, each with their own customizable plan data to draw from.

As a T-Mobile MVNO, Mint Mobile is on tier 7 of 9 Quality of Service Class Identifiers (QCIs).

This indicates the priority level of the carrier on T-Mobile’s network compared to T-Mobile specific plans. This means they’re at a higher priority compared to MVNOs on Verizon or AT&T’s networks. As such, you may experience higher speeds while being deprioritized than other MVNOs.

Mint Mobile keeps your phone locked for the first year after purchase. After, you must request to have your phone unlocked. Taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

5GB

5GB of full speed data is included before you get unlimited data at slow speeds. 

This plan gives you 5GB of data and mobile hotspot access. The plan is again deprioritized, then slows down to 2G speeds after the 5GB allotment. With 2G speeds, users can expect to send text messages and emails or scroll the internet, but streaming video or playing games will be difficult. Hotspot data comes from the 5GB and stops after hitting that amount. The plan costs $15 per month and $45 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 5GB for $3 per GB.

15GB 

You get 15GB of full speed data, then unlimited slow data. 

This plan gets you 15GB of full speed data and mobile hotspot data. This plan is also deprioritized and slowed down to 2G speeds after 15GB. Your hotspot data comes from the 15GB allotment and stops after 15GB. The plan costs $20 per month and $80 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 15GB at $1.33 per GB. 

20GB

This plan also gives you unlimited slow data after 20GB. 

As it says in the name, you get 20GB of full speed data. This plan is deprioritized, however, and it slows down to 2G speeds after you reach the 20GB cap. The plan also includes mobile hotspot capabilities. Data comes from the 20GB allotment and stops after hitting that amount. The plan costs $25 per month and $75 for the first 3 months. To get the same deal afterwards, you need to purchase 12 months of service. At this rate, you get 20GB at $1.25 per GB. 

Unlimited

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan gives you 40GB before slowing down speeds. 

With Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan, you get 40GB of data. Your data is deprioritized, and it slows down to 3G speeds (512 kbps) after 40GB. At 3G, you can still send texts, send emails, and scroll through social media without too many issues. Streaming video might be a bit slower. While this may be a negative for those who use large amounts of data, most users use about 20GB of data per month or less, according to Ericsson Mobility. This plan also gives you 10GB of mobile hotspot data, allowing your phone to become a WiFi connection for other devices. Data stops after 10GB. 

The plan costs $30 per month, or $90 for the first 3 months. After that, the price is $40 per month. To get the same $30 per month deal, you need to buy 12 months worth of service. At this rate, you get 50GB at $0.60 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 64kbps 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 64kbps 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 64kbps 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 64kbps 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 64kbps 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

Mint Mobile offers more features included with their plans.

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. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Mint Mobile and Tello do not include this feature. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Mint Mobile offers talk and text in Mexico and Canada included and roaming data at $0.06 per MB. Tello does not include this feature. 

International Connection

Mint Mobile gives you international text included, while international talk and data are pay-per-use. International talk is $0.25 per minute, while international data is $0.20 per MB. All Tello plans include international calling, but not text and data. 

Video Streaming Quality

Mint Mobile’s Unlimited plan streams at 480p Standard Definition, while their limited data plans stream at 4k Ultra High Definition. All Tello plans stream at 4k Ultra HD resolution. 

Streaming Services

Mint Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Mint Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

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

Mint Mobile and Tello do not offer this feature.  

Free Trial

Mint Mobile offers a 7 day free trial. Tello does not include this feature.

Customer Service 

Mint Mobile and Tello do not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. 

Mint Mobile and Tello are digital-only carriers, meaning they only offer customer support online and over the phone. Mint Mobile offers chat support 24/7 and support over the phone at (800)-683-7392 from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST every day of the week. 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

Mint Mobile offers better prices.  

Due to the included features and the price per GB, Mint Mobile offers a better deal than Tello plans. If you need limited minutes or very small amounts of data, then Tello is still a solid option. 

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!