Tello vs. Google Fi: Which flexible prepaid carrier is the best?

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Affordable data

Tello makes phone service simple by ditching traditional plans and sticking with a completely custom plan structure, so users don’t need to waste money on data they won’t use. Hotspot comes with any plan with data, and also international calls to more than 60 countries. It also uses the T-Mobile network for great LTE and 5G coverage.

Table of Contents

For

Great coverage with the T-Mobile network
Flexible plans can save you money
Great phone support
Very cheap for light users

Against

Unlimited plan limited to 25GB

The international edge

Google Fi has earned an excellent reputation among tech enthusiasts thanks to its flexibility and international roaming capabilities. Fi lets you roam in more than 200 countries for no extra cost. Google Fi can use both the T-Mobile and UScellular networks with support for LTE and 5G. You can also save with up to six lines per account.

For

Great international roaming options
Family plan savings
Good phone support
Multiple networks with approved devices

Tello has focused on creating one affordable plan structure, with the flexibility to deliver a good plan for just about anyone. This also allows Tello to be one of the cheapest carriers around for light users to create a plan with no data at all. Google Fi also has a flexible plan though it only comes with unlimited talk and text.

Google Fi also has a couple of solid unlimited plans to choose from. Tello is cheaper, no matter how much data you use, though it lacks some great Google Fi international features.

Tello vs. Google Fi: Pay only for what you use

Tello and Google Fi look quite similar in the Flexible plan, but how you save money can be quite different. Google Fi’s base plan is much more expensive, but the costs get a lot closer if you have multiple lines. Google Fi also takes the lead with international features, though Tello’s international support is still much more significant than many other prepaid carriers.

	Tello	Google Fi
Network	T-Mobile	T-Mobile UScellular
Unlimited plan data	25GB	35GB or 50GB
5G	Included	Included
Multi-line discounts	No	Yes
Mobile hotspot	Included	Flexible plan Unlimited Plus plan
International calling	>60 destinations	>200 destinations

Many people won’t touch the 25GB or 35GB limit for unlimited plans, but if you’re a heavy user, it’s worth keeping in mind. Some of the other best cell phone plans offer truly unlimited data but Google Fi users can upgrade to the Unlimited
Plus plan with 50GB if they really need the data. Visible for example offers unlimited high-speed data though it’s a priority over most other carriers.

If you run out of this unlimited data, it’s no big deal as you’ll still have a slow connection for messaging and email, but if you’re hitting that limit frequently, another carrier will make more sense.

Tello vs. Google Fi: Make sure you’re covered

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Divinemercy)

Tello uses the T-Mobile network for its coverage with support for LTE and 5G speeds. Some older accounts may have used the Sprint network, but all new phones and lines will be using the T-Mobile network as T-Mobile moves to take Sprint LTE offline in 2022. Tello has moved to the new T-Mobile network, and with its improved LTE coverage and expanding 5G coverage, most customers will likely get the same or better coverage compared to Sprint.

Google Fi also uses T-Mobile for the majority of its coverage. Fi can also use UScellular in the parts of the country where UScellular has a strong connection, mostly in the Midwest. Both LTE and 5G are included. The only catch is that you need a Designed for Fi phone that supports Google Fi’s network switching. If your phone isn’t on the list, you can still use Fi, but you’ll only connect to the T-Mobile network.

Still, with all Pixels supported as well as many Galaxies and some Moto phones, there are plenty of choices if you want to make sure you’re on the entire network. Some of our best Android phones like the Google Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S22 series work with the entire Google Fi network.

Tello vs. Google Fi: Tello’s custom plans

Tello really only has a single plan with multiple configurations. Tello’s approach lets you pick exactly what you need so you don’t waste money on features you don’t need, like unlimited calling. You can choose how much data you want or how many talk minutes you think you’ll need. Free texts come with any plan that has minutes.

Tello’s data choices start with no data, 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, 8GB, and unlimited. Minutes start with none, 100, 300, 500, and unlimited. Tello’s Unlimited data is slowed down at 25GB of usage though, at under $30 per month, it’s still a solid option for many.

(Image credit: Tello)

If you’re unsure, you can start with one of Tello’s pre-configured plans for a month and make adjustments based on what you end up using.

(Image credit: Tello)

Tello includes some basic international features that are more than adequate for most customers. Tello includes free calling to more than 60 countries, including the most popular like Mexico, India, and China. If you need to make many calls abroad, Tello can save you some money over many other prepaid carriers.

Tello vs. Google Fi: Google Fi’s plans

Google Fi has three plans, but it started with the base Flexible plan. This plan costs $20 per month with unlimited talk and text with data available at $10 per gigabyte. You only pay for what you use with Google Fi, so if you only use 500MB of data, you only pay around $5 for data. While this plan can get expensive quickly, Bill Protection kicked in at 6GB of usage, and data is free. However, your data slows at 15GB of usage with this plan.

The unlimited plus has all of the base features for the Flexible with up to 50GB of high-speed data. This plan starts at $65 per month for a single line. Both of these plans also come with hotspot usage and data-only SIM support. A data-only SIM can be used with another device that only needs data service. This can be especially useful if you travel abroad and need a reliable internet connection for multiple devices.

Still, most people don’t need these international features. The Simply Unlimited plan gives you the same 35GB of data as the larger plan but for $50 per month. You give up most international features, including roaming, but you get more than 200 international calling locations for free. International roaming is not included. You also give up hotspot and the data-only SIM feature. If you don’t need those, this plan is a great way to save some money.

While Google Fi is pretty expensive for a single line, things change when you bring the family along. You can add up to six lines to your Fi account, and you get a discount the more you add. For example, the Simply Unlimited plan comes down to $25 per line with three lines with Unlimited Plus down to $45 per line.

Tello vs. Google Fi: Will your phone work?

Both carriers will work with nearly any unlocked phone. So if you have an unlocked device with support for T-Mobile’s LTE or 5G network, you can get connected. Tello sells a modest selection of cheap Androids and iPhones, mostly refurbished, but there are some new options like the OnePlus Nord N200 5G.

Google Fi is a bit more complicated with two tiers of phone support. The first is Compatible with Fi; this level uses the T-Mobile network and works with most unlocked phones. Next is Designed for Fi: These phones use both Google Fi’s coverage partners and a few extra features like a Google VPN automatic Wi-Fi connection. Google’s Pixel phone and Samsung’s Galaxy S20 and newer phones are Designed for Fi compatible.

You can check your phone before signing up at Google Fi’s website. It’s also worth noting that iPhones don’t yet have access to 5G on Google Fi, even though they’re technically compatible.

Tello vs. Google Fi: Which should you get?

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Divinemercy)

Google Fi is a good choice for many people even if they never leave the country. The simple billing and family saving on the unlimited plans make it a solid option. It’s also nice that you don’t have to pay for data you don’t use. If you need the international features, no other carrier offers the same roaming level, and even postpaid carriers struggle to match its execution.

Tello sticks to the basics and makes more sense for most people. Tello’s simple plan and cheap data make it a great option for someone with just one or two lines. Tello also has more than enough international features for most people, with calling to more than 60 countries included for free. Tello’s plan is so well balanced that no matter how you choose to configure it, it’s hard to find a much better deal anywhere.

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Build your perfect plan

Tello lets you choose exactly how much you want to spend, with custom plans allowing up to unlimited data, or even none at all.

Great coverage in the U.S. and worldwide

Google Fi is a great choice if you’re looking for great international features, with plenty of data and solid phone support.

For

Against

For

Tello vs. Google Fi: Pay only for what you use

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