Tech Talk

Tello and Visible each have one of the best cell phone plans available today. While both carriers have many similarities, the most striking difference between them is the network. Tello uses T-Mobile while Verizon uses Verizon to offer 4G LTE and 5G across the country. Depending on the coverage you get, you can decide which one of these prepaid carriers is right for you. Another factor to consider is whether you need an unlimited plan and could benefit from multi-line discounts on Visible. If you prefer to customize your plan and avoid spending money on data, you don't need Tello.

Tello vs. Visible: How do these carriers compare?

Tello and Visible both offer unlimited plans at an affordable price and are great options if you're able to sign up for a prepaid plan. Tello offers service on T-Mobile's network while Visible uses Verizon, and both carriers offer plans at a much lower price than you would get if you signed up directly with T-Mobile or Verizon. For about $40 per month with either Tello or Visible, you can get a plan with unlimited talk, text, data, free mobile hotspot, and international calling to a few select countries. While Visible offers one unlimited plan only, Tello gives you the option to either build your plan or purchase a premade data plan that fits your needs.

With both Tello and Visible, no contract is required, and you can cancel anytime. Likewise, if you need more or fewer data with Tello, you can also make those changes at any time. But keep in mind that Visible includes all taxes and fees in the $40 per month fee, unlike Tello. It also offers a multi-line discount which can be a great way to save money if you know a few people interested in Visible.

Tello vs. Visible: Tello's plans

Tello has some of the cheapest cell phone plans out there today, starting as low as $5 per month. This prepaid carrier has a plan for everyone and lets you either build your plan or pick from ready-made options, including a 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and unlimited option. If you don't need many minutes but use an average amount of data, a 4GB plan with 100 minutes will only cost $16 per month. Unfortunately, this doesn't include taxes and fees, but it's still an excellent deal.

Each Tello plan comes with free mobile hotspot, and its unlimited plan for $39 per month includes unlimited talk and text. As long as you purchase minutes, text is free. Thankfully you don't need a contract and can cancel or make changes to your plan at any point. If you want the unlimited plan, keep in mind that once you've consumed 25GB of data, you'll see slower 2G speeds. But for the most part, most people won't reach this amount.

Tello also has a promotion that gives you the first six months of service for 25% off for new customers and new lines.

Unlike core T-Mobile plans, Tello doesn't offer any international roaming. This means that you'll need to purchase a new SIM card if you plan to travel abroad. However, you can call a few countries abroad, including Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania. If you need to call another destination, you're able to do so via Pay As You Go as long as you purchase credits. Most calls start at less than a cent per minute, but rates can vary.

Though Tello may not have all the perks or international features of another cell phone plan, it can offer inexpensive service on a fantastic network. With several plan options, Tello makes it easy to pick a plan that is a good fit and won't lure you into paying for more data than you need. Building your plan can also be a great way to save money down the line.

Tello vs. Visible: Visible's plans

Visible is a prepaid carrier on Verizon's network and offers one unlimited plan at $40 per month. So though your data might slow down during times of congestion, it's still a much lower price than what you would pay with Verizon. With unlimited data, talk, and text, you'll get unlimited mobile hotspot at 5Mbps and free calls to Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

Even though $40 per month is already a pretty good deal, Visible offers a way to reduce your monthly bill even further via Party Pay. If you can find up to four people to join one party, each bill is discounted to $25 per month. It's not ideal for a family plan since each account pays separately, but it is something to consider.

One caveat with Visible is that it offers no roaming, whether that be domestically or internationally. While the Verizon LTE network is massive and will have coverage in most places, there will be a few more dead zones with Visible. Visible doesn't have access to Verizon's 3G towers, nor does it let you roam while traveling abroad. All that aside, it's still an excellent plan for a heavy data user who wants great Verizon coverage without being overcharged.

Tello vs. Visible: Which phones will work?

Before signing up with either carrier, you should decide whether you plan to bring your device or purchase a new one. If you want to use your current device, you should make sure it's unlocked, supports VoLTE, and is compatible with the respective network.

For Visible, you can head to a compatibility checker on its website to verify whether your unlocked phone will work on its network by typing in your IMEI number. You can also see this list of all the iPhone and Android phones compatible with Visible. If you're hoping to purchase a new phone through Visible, you can easily do so on its website as well. Many of the best Android phones are included, such as the Galaxy S21 series and cheaper 5G phones like the Galaxy A42 5G.

If you want to bring your device to Tello, you can also do so as long as it's a GSM device that supports VoLTE and is compatible with the T-Mobile network. You can check online for compatibility by typing in your IMEI number. If you're looking to buy a device from Tello, the selection isn't quite as large as Visible's, but you'll still be able to get your hands on some popular Apple and Android models.

Tello vs. Visible: Which should you get?

If you're looking to save money and find that you don't use that much data, then Tello is the better choice for you. A plan with 4GB of data and unlimited talk and text will cost you only $19 per month. You can also build your plan with the amount of data or minutes that works for you starting as low as $5 per month. If you're looking to try out Tello, you can also get a 25 percent discount for the first six months you're with Tello.

If you're someone that consumes lots of data and gets great Verizon coverage, Visible offers better value. There's no data cap on the unlimited plan, unlike Tello, meaning that you won't have to ever worry about streaming too much. Also, if you're able to sign up for Party Pay, you'll be able to save even more on your monthly bill. With a simple and cheap unlimited plan on a network with fantastic coverage, Visible is an easy choice for many.

Tello

Less is more

From $5 at Tello

Build your own plan to save

Tello offers some of the cheapest plans, and you can even build your own to meet your data needs. It's a great way to save without sacrificing T-Mobile coverage.

Visible

Endless data

No data limits

$40 at Visible

Visible's plan comes with unlimited talk, text, data, and hotspot data on Verizon's network, without any data caps. You can save further by signing up for Party Pay.