Tello vs. Twigby Mobile: Which Cell Service Is Right for You?

Tello is the victor in the battle between these two, and here’s why.

Best for Unlimited Data
Tello
Tello
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • Icon Blank
    Plan price range: $5.00–$25.00/mo.
  • Icon Blank
    Unlimited plan starting price: $25.00/mo.
  • pro
    Customizable plans
Best Price
Twigby
Twigby
3 out of 5 stars
3
  • Icon Blank
    Plan price range: $5.00–$25.00/mo.
  • Icon Blank
    Unlimited plan starting price: $25.00/mo.
  • pro
    Extensive coverage through Verizon
Brianne Sandorf
Mar 26, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read

Tello edges ahead of Twigby Mobile for its features and fully customizable plans, though it costs a little more initially. Twigby Mobile has amazing promotional prices, but with some plans, the price cut is also a feature cut. And after three months, the promo prices expire, and costs increase significantly.

Tello vs. Twigby Mobile unlimited plans

Winner: Tello

Tello's unlimited phone plan offers 35GB of fast data, which is more than Twigby Mobile provides. And while Twigby Mobile’s comparable plan starts at a lower price point, it goes up after a few months.

Tello unlimited plan

Hello, Tello! Tello’s unlimited plan comes with endless texting, talking, and data. You can surf and stream as much as you like without extra charges on your phone bill—to a point. After you’ve used 35GB of 5G data, things will slow down to 2G, which can be quite slow.

Tello unlimited plan

Tello’s $25 price point is the same price as Twigby Mobile’s plan but ends up being cheaper in the long rung. While Twigby Mobile’s price eventually goes up by $10, the Tello unlimited phone plan stays the same.

Twigby Mobile unlimited plan

Twigby Mobile has multiple plans with unlimited talking and texting plus one plan with unlimited data, and it’s … somewhat of a doozy.

Twigby Mobile unlimited plan

Yes, Twigby Mobile’s unlimited data plan is just as affordable as Tello's, so it looks like a great deal at first. Unlimited talk, text, and data for $25? Sign you up, right? Oh, but read the fine print. After the first 20GB, your unlimited data comes in at 2G speeds.

Also, unfortunately, $25 a month is just the introductory offer. After the first three months, you’ll pay $35 a month for unlimited data with Twigby Mobile.

It's really a no-brainer to go with Tello's unlimited plan. You'll get more data, won't worry about price hikes, and it's the same price as Twigby Mobile's plan.

Tello vs. Twigby Mobile family plans

Winner: Tello

When it comes to family plans, Tello is the clear winner. It offers tons of different options, while Twigby Mobile provides only one.

Tello family plans

Tello has a wide range of family plans that cover various price points, minutes, and data caps. (All come with unlimited text, so you never have to worry about that.) You won't get any family-plan discounts or perks, but you can bundle multiple lines into one tidy monthly bill.

Our favorite thing about Tello family plans is that they’re highly customizable! Every member of the family can have different limits. So, for instance, if you want your 12-year-old to have just 5 GB and 500 calling minutes each month but your 19-year-old to have unlimited everything, you can do that.

You also don’t have to pay an extra fee for having multiple people on your cell phone plan, so there are no tricky hidden prices. But you also don’t get a discount.

Twigby Mobile family plan

Twigby Mobile lets you add up to 10 users to one account, but you won't get any discounts. Here's a look at four lines for $80 with unlimited talk and text and zero data.

Twigby Mobile family plans

Tello vs. Twigby Mobile prepaid plans

Winner: Tello

If you’re looking for an affordable prepaid plan, go to Tello. Twigby Mobile, sadly, doesn’t deal in prepaid.

Tello prepaid plans

Tello has various prepaid plans for folks who want to do a lot of calling.

Tello prepaid plans
Price (one-time)
Minutes
Details
$202,000
$303,000
$404,000
$505,000

Each prepaid Tello plan works out to $10 for each 1,000 minutes of phone call. There are no plans with unlimited calls.

Twigby Mobile prepaid plans

All of Twigby Mobile’s plans are prepaid. Since we already prefer Tello plans, that puts Tello ahead in this arena, too.

Tello vs. Twigby Mobile data

Winner: Tello

We already discussed this a bit in the unlimited plans section, but when it comes to data, Tello is king, and Twigby Mobile is … queen? Hmm, maybe more like a duke living in a distant corner of the kingdom.

Tello data plans and prices

As you can see, Tello data ranges from $8 for 1 GB to $25 for unlimited. With me so far?

Okay, now let's look at Twigby Mobile. At first glance, Twigby Mobile rules at this cheap cell phone plan thing. After all, 2 GB for $5 is better than 1 GB for $5.

But surprise! Your Twigby Mobile plans will jump by $10 after three months. Suddenly, these data deals aren't very good anymore—especially the unlimited data plan, which, as we discussed earlier, gets really slow after the first 20 GB of usage.

So, in short, you’ll get a sweet discount with Twigby Mobile for the first three months, but in the long run, Tello is a much better data deal.

Twigby Mobile data plans and prices

Tello vs. Twigby Mobile coverage

Winner: Twigby Mobile

As MVNOs, Tello and Twigby Mobile each rely on another carrier to provide their network coverage.

Both have great coverage, but Twigby Mobile squeaks ahead because it uses the Verizon network, which covers the U.S. more thoroughly than the T-Mobile network that Tello uses.

As you can see, Tello’s coverage is still great—but it has some awkward gaps, like most of Nebraska. Meanwhile, Twigby Mobile is available in many places where Tello might drop out.

Tello coverage
Twigby Mobile coverage

And what about outside of the U.S.? Twigby Mobile takes the cake there, too.

Tello offers free international calling to 60+ countries, including China, India, and Mexico.

Twigby Mobile, on the other hand, includes international calling to 80+ countries, such as Australia, Canada, China, India, and Mexico. That’s roughly a 33% increase in call destinations.

When you head abroad, though, neither service has roaming or full coverage in either Canada or Mexico, the two countries closest to the U.S., which is something other providers do offer.

However, with both Tello and Twigby, you should at least have access to Wi-Fi calling and mobile hotspot services abroad.

Tello vs. Twigby Mobile customer service

Winner: Tie

Based on what we’ve told you so far, you might be ready to go all in on a Tello or Twigby Mobile plan. But there’s one more thing to consider: Customer service.

In this case, the two services are pretty evenly matched. Both have high customer support ratings on sites like TrustPilot, but they also have some fair criticism floating around the internet.

So, no matter which cell phone provider you use, you'll likely run into both pros and cons in the customer service department.

Recap: Which is the best cell phone provider?

Got your SIM card ready to switch? Let's run through each item again to show why we recommend Tello over Twigby Mobile.

  • Unlimited plans: Tello. Tello’s fast unlimited plan has more speedy data and, in the long run, a lower cost than Twigby Mobile’s.
  • Family plans: Tello. Tello features a variety of highly customizable family plans, while Twigby Mobile only offers its regular packages.
  • Prepaid plans: Tello. Tello offers prepaid plans, something Twigby Mobile doesn’t have for customers.
  • Data: Tello. Compared to Twigby Mobile, Tello offers more and faster data without price increases over time.
  • Coverage: Twigby Mobile. Twigby Mobile’s Verizon network connection covers more ground than Tello’s T-Mobile network.
  • Customer service: Tie. Both services have ups and downs in the customer service realm.

If neither of these is cutting it for you, don’t panic. You can look at other MVNOs like Mint Mobile, Visible Wireless, and Boost Mobile. And be sure to check our Best Cell Phone Plans piece for extra help.

Or, if you're leaning towards Tello but need to do more research, you can read our comparison reviews of Boost Infinite and Tello, Spectrum Mobile and Tello, or Verizon and Tello.

Tello cell phone plans

What makes this review legit?

How do we compare phone plans? It’s a bit complicated, but to give a fast and dirty version, we look at these things:

  1. Plans (price, data, lines)
  2. Coverage
  3. Customer service

The telecommunications industry is rife with hidden fees and promo bait-and-switches. We looked at both Tello and Twigby Mobile phone plans and dug deep to determine if what they’re offering is really what they’re offering. In some cases, unfortunately, it isn’t—as we note throughout this article.

We also examine coverage to see how likely it is to get the service you pay for. Tello and Twigby both have good coverage, so you should get phone service in most areas of the U.S.

Finally, we look at customer service. Even the best cell phone providers tend to be less customer friendly than we like, so we keep that in mind. Even with a grain of salt, though, Tello and Twigby both have good reputations.

Brianne Sandorf
Written by
Brianne has a degree in English and creative writing from Westminster College. She's spent the last 10+ years writing professional, research-based content about technology, luxury retail brands, chicken sandwiches, and everything in between. Before joining Reviews.org, Brianne wrote safety and security content for ASecureLife.com. Her pieces and quotes are published across the web, including on MSN.com, Social Catfish, and Parents.com. Brianne loves to read, write, travel, cook, and spend time with her family. Contact her at brianne@reviews.org.

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