I know that I am paying too much for my phone plan. Like about two-thirds of America, I use a postpaid unlimited phone plan from one of the big three cell phone carriers. In my case, it's T-Mobile, known for its 5G coverage and speeds.

But as my budget tightens, I decided to test a no-frills, low-cost alternative: Tello Mobile. For $10 a month, this MVNO offers limited data but unlimited texts and calls on T-Mobile's network.

To my surprise, the service has been reliable with comparable speeds—despite my fears of reduced quality. It seems that T-Mobile’s vast 5G investment leaves plenty of bandwidth to spare.

However, no-frills comes at a cost: there are no perks like free AAA membership or protection plans. And during peak congestion, I might face data deprioritization. Still, for those looking to cut costs without compromising on basics, Tello is worth considering.