Tello is the easier fit if you want a small bill every 30 days without prepaying several months. Mint Mobile can cost less during its current new-customer promotion, and its Unlimited plan includes a larger hotspot allowance. Choose using the renewal payment and your actual data use, not just the monthly equivalent in an ad.
This U.S. comparison uses official prices and terms checked on November 4, 2026 (UTC+8), in USD. Prices below exclude taxes and fees. We compared published terms, not measured coverage, speed or customer-service performance. The examples are for one line with a phone you already own.
Tello vs Mint Mobile: regular prices
| Tello data with unlimited talk and text | Tello payment per 30 days | Mint data with unlimited talk and text | Mint 12-month payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2GB | $10 | 6GB per monthly cycle | $180 upfront, equivalent to $15/month |
| 10GB | $15 | 17GB per monthly cycle | $240 upfront, equivalent to $20/month |
| 20GB | $20 | 23GB per monthly cycle | $300 upfront, equivalent to $25/month |
| Unlimited: 50GB high-speed base, plus eligible rollover | $25 | Unlimited, with congestion-related restrictions after 50GB | $360 upfront, equivalent to $30/month |
These are different data buckets, not identical plans. The figures come from Tello’s current plan builder and Mint’s current plan list. Tello also lets you choose fewer calling minutes or no voice allowance; the table keeps unlimited talk and text consistent.
If you use 8GB in a typical cycle, Tello’s 10GB plan is worth comparing with Mint’s 17GB option. If you use only 1GB, buying a large allowance because the promotional rate looks good may leave you with a more expensive renewal than you need.
Introductory offers and renewal payments
Mint’s current new-customer offer is $15/month equivalent for the initial term, including Unlimited. Pay $45 for three months, $90 for six, or $180 for twelve upfront. Full-price options apply afterward; it is not permanent $15 Unlimited service.
| Mint Unlimited term | New-customer initial payment | Regular renewal payment |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $45 upfront | $120 upfront |
| 6 months | $90 upfront | $210 upfront |
| 12 months | $180 upfront | $360 upfront |
The renewal amounts come from Mint’s term-specific Broadband Facts on its plan page. Record the whole payment, not only the monthly equivalent. The same displayed monthly rate can require a much larger amount today when you choose a longer term.
Tello’s current builder and Broadband Facts also advertise 10GB with unlimited talk and text for $10 per cycle for the first three cycles, then $15. The introductory label says new lines only. This is a 10GB offer, not $10 Unlimited. Verify eligibility and the amount due before ordering; Tello Unlimited remains listed at $25.
Compare days of service, not just months
Tello renews every 30 days. Its billing and plan terms do not describe a calendar-month bill. Twelve $25 payments buy 360 days, so continued renewal produces another payment around day 360.
Mint’s plan terms, section 9.2 also use 30-day monthly cycles, except that 12-month plans may use 30- or 31-day cycles for up to 365 days. Check the actual expiry date in your account rather than assuming every carrier’s year ends on the same date.
At the checked rates, Mint’s $90 six-month introduction plus a $210 six-month Unlimited renewal totals $300 for 360 days. Twelve Tello Unlimited cycles at $25 also total $300 for 360 days. Mint’s initial twelve-month offer is a different choice: $180 upfront for up to 365 days. These are our calculations before fees, not guaranteed future prices. A 360-day total leaves several days uncovered in a full calendar year, so do not compare it with a twelve-month plan without checking the dates.
Unlimited data and hotspot are different limits
Tello Unlimited starts with 50GB of high-speed phone data, plus eligible rollover, and has 10GB of hotspot. Its limited-data plans let hotspot use the same data balance as the phone. Mint Unlimited includes up to 20GB for hotspot, while its limited-data plans share their monthly data allowance with hotspot.
Mint’s current Unlimited wording says users above 50GB may see slower service when the network is busy. That is different from promising a fixed slow speed after 50GB. Neither carrier’s Unlimited name means unlimited high-speed laptop data. Mint’s hotspot instructions and limits explain the shared allowance and add-on option.
Tello’s current terms also describe Unlimited high-speed data rollover, with a total ceiling of 100GB while you remain on that plan. That does not raise the 10GB hotspot allowance. Mint advertises SD video on Unlimited, while Tello’s terms describe video optimization, typically at 480p. Neither is a promise of unrestricted video quality.
For example, someone who uses 12GB of hotspot in a cycle exceeds Tello Unlimited’s included 10GB but stays within Mint Unlimited’s 20GB allowance. Tello’s 20GB limited plan is another option if total phone plus hotspot use fits within 20GB. That comparison is more useful than treating Unlimited as automatically the right tier.
Watch top-ups on small plans. Tello’s balance and refill guide says optional Data Auto-Refill adds 2GB for $5 when the balance drops below 500MB. Unused add-on data expires with the current cycle. Repeated refills can erase the saving from choosing too little data.
Check fees, phone compatibility and travel separately
Both prices need a checkout check. Tello lists government taxes that vary by location and a cost-recovery charge of up to 30 cents in its Broadband Facts label. Mint adds taxes and fees, including a recovery fee. Neither comparison price buys you a new handset. Check the SIM option, delivery and any add-ons in the final total before paying.
Use Tello’s phone compatibility guidance or Mint’s bring-your-own-phone checker for your exact device. A compatible phone must also be unlocked. Tello warns that its checker does not verify every supported frequency, so an imported model needs extra attention. A low price will not fix a phone that cannot use the service properly.
Do not confuse included international calls with using the phone abroad. Tello’s Europe roaming promotion through January 31, 2027 uses your plan balance in listed countries. Its high-speed roaming limit is 50GB, not the domestic 100GB rollover ceiling. Extra use can draw from Pay As You Go credit; after the offer ends, European roaming returns to that separate balance. Check the destination and travel dates before counting this as included service.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Tello if you prefer smaller, frequent payments, need a modest allowance or expect to change your data needs. Check the effect of a plan change first: Tello says an immediate change starts a new cycle and charges the full new plan price. “No change fee” does not mean you can add a larger plan for no extra payment.
Choose Mint if its coverage suits you, you can comfortably prepay the term, and its current promotion or larger Unlimited hotspot allowance fits your use. Put the renewal date and the full renewal payment in your budget before signing up.
Before switching, compare the last few cycles of phone data and hotspot use. Check coverage where you spend time, not just a nationwide map headline. If Mint remains on your shortlist, our Mint Mobile vs Visible comparison covers a different alternative; our Google Fi vs Mint Mobile guide examines travel and group-plan trade-offs. Keep your existing number active until its transfer is complete.