This mobile phone plan hack could save you hundreds of dollars every year

TL;DR: Tello gets you big four phone service for a quarter of the price. 

You might want to hear this, but you’re probably paying too much for your cell phone bill. It’s not your fault, though. The big name carriers offer irresistible deals on shiny new smartphones bundled with mobile plans that can seem like the only viable options. You assume you may be saving more in the long run, but really, you end up paying more out of pocket. Next thing you know, you’re stuck in an ironclad contract. 

What you may not realize is that there’s life beyond big name carriers — and it could put more money back in your wallet. 

Tello piggybacks to cut costs

M — a wallet-friendly and customizable phone plan that works in your favor. If you’ve never heard of Tello before, that’s because it’s not technically a carrier. is actually a mobile virtual network operator (MNVO), which means that it piggybacks off the network of a major provider. Since it doesn’t have its own infrastructure, it offers service for a far cheaper price. 

Tello lets you customize your plan

While there is a considerable number of MNVOs to choose from, of the only ones that gives you free rein on what to include in your plan. Depending on your needs, you can choose how much data, minutes, and texts you get each month. The service doesn’t lock you into a contract or charge you ridiculous fees should you change your mind, allowing you to reconfigure your plan whenever you need. And if you happen to have data and minutes left from the previous month when you reconfigure, it all rolls over to the next for your consumption.

Tello offers real-world perks

Another advantage: Tello has the same selling points of major networks, like fast browsing speeds, calls that don’t drop, and coast-to-coast wireless coverage. You can also use your minutes to call people located in Canada, Mexico, and China. Tello also allows you to distribute your data across your collection of devices or share it with your friends, free of charge.