Tello Is the Ideal Mobile Service for Expats Who Just Need Texts and 2FA While Abroad

When you’re living abroad, staying connected doesn’t have to mean shelling out for an overpriced international phone plan or dealing with complex roaming fees. For many expats, digital nomads, and part-time travelers, all you really need is a simple, low-cost mobile solution that supports basic SMS, voice calls, and the occasional use of data, especially for those critical two-factor authentication (2FA) messages your bank keeps insisting on. That’s where Tello comes in.

Tello isn’t trying to be flashy. It’s not loaded with international perks or bundled Netflix deals. Instead, it’s refreshingly straightforward, and surprisingly perfect for people who just need a U.S.-based number that works reliably overseas for texts, 2FA, and minimal data usage. Here’s why.

Tello: The Basics

Tello is a U.S.-based mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that runs on T-Mobile’s network. That means it uses T-Mobile’s infrastructure but offers much more flexible and affordable plans. It’s prepaid, contract-free, and fully customizable, which makes it especially appealing for people with specific or limited mobile needs.

You can build your own plan or choose from a few pre-set ones. Plans start as low as $5/month, and every plan includes free calls and texts to Canada, Mexico, China, and Romania, though that’s just a bonus for most expats.

What makes Tello ideal for minimal users abroad?

1. Cheap, No-Nonsense Plans

If you don’t need much data (or any at all), you can set up a Tello plan for a few dollars a month. A common setup for expats who live outside the U.S. but still need a U.S. number is something like:

100 minutes
Unlimited texts
500 MB of data
All for around $6/month.

If you don’t plan to use voice calling or data at all, a texting-only plan can drop even lower. This gives you a reliable U.S. number for essential communication and 2FA, without burning a hole in your wallet.

2. Supports Wi-Fi Calling and Texting

Here’s the real game-changer for expats: Tello supports Wi-Fi calling and texting. Once you enable Wi-Fi calling on your phone (Android or iPhone), you can make and receive calls and texts over any Wi-Fi network, even outside the U.S.

That means you don’t need to be connected to a local mobile tower, you can live in Spain, Thailand, or South Africa and still receive 2FA codes from your U.S. bank as long as you’re on Wi-Fi. For most banks and services, this is enough to keep your account accessible and secure.

3. US Number Retention for Banking and Services

Banks, credit cards, government services, and even some apps like Venmo or PayPal often require a valid U.S. phone number for identity verification. If you switch to a local SIM abroad or drop your U.S. line altogether, you risk being locked out of important accounts.

Tello offers a convenient and affordable way to retain a real U.S. number without paying Verizon or AT&T rates. And since you can port your old number into Tello, there’s no need to notify every service you’ve ever signed up for.

How It Performs Abroad

Let’s be clear: Tello does not support international roaming. If you try to use your Tello SIM card over a local mobile network abroad, it won’t work.

But that’s fine, because you don’t need international roaming if you’re mostly relying on Wi-Fi. Most users who adopt Tello while living overseas set their phones to airplane mode, re-enable Wi-Fi, and use Tello’s service exclusively through Wi-Fi calling and SMS over Wi-Fi.

This method works seamlessly with:

Banking 2FA codes via SMS
iMessage or WhatsApp for daily texting (when paired with a data connection)
Occasional U.S. calls to institutions or friends

And when you visit the U.S., your Tello SIM becomes fully operational again, no plan switching needed.

Who Tello Isn’t For

Despite its appeal, Tello isn’t a universal solution.

If you need roaming: Tello won’t work without Wi-Fi when you’re abroad.
If you want a foreign number: Tello only gives you a U.S.-based phone number.
If you rely heavily on mobile data: There are better options with international plans or local SIMs if you’re constantly streaming or using data on the go.

Tello is best for people who:

Already have a local SIM abroad for their day-to-day mobile needs
Want to keep a low-cost U.S. number alive for verification and minimal communication
Are okay with using Wi-Fi for all Tello-based activity

Setup and Porting

Getting started with Tello is pretty painless. You can:

Order a SIM card (or use an eSIM if your phone supports it)
Port your existing number over
Set up your account entirely online
Customize your plan and change it anytime without penalties

Once your SIM is activated, enable Wi-Fi calling, and you’re ready to go.

A quick note about eSIM

Tello now supports eSIM on most newer iPhones and many Android models. This means you don’t even need a physical SIM card, making it easier to keep your U.S. number on standby while using a local SIM for data and local calls.

Reliability for 2FA

One of the biggest pain points for expats is receiving those frustrating 2FA codes when logging into financial accounts. Many banks refuse to send codes to VoIP numbers like Google Voice. Tello, by contrast, is recognized as a mobile carrier number, not VoIP.

That small detail makes a big difference. Most U.S. financial institutions accept Tello numbers for verification texts and voice call verifications. As long as you have Wi-Fi access, you’ll receive those messages like clockwork.

Final Verdict

Tello isn’t trying to be your everything carrier, and that’s exactly why it’s perfect for expats with simple needs. It gives you a cheap, U.S.-based phone number that works reliably over Wi-Fi, supports 2FA, and doesn’t require a contract or heavy commitment.

If you’ve ever been locked out of your bank account overseas or struggled to maintain a working U.S. number without breaking the bank, Tello might just be the perfect low-maintenance solution. It won’t do everything, but it does exactly what it promises, simply, affordably, and reliably.