How to get a Tello US prepaid eSIM through the official Tello site

Official Tello eSIM path: IMEI eligibility, your payment, QR activate, then point data and SMS at that US line.

When you need a US prepaid number plus data, start on the official path. Tello is a US prepaid MVNO. A plastic SIM goes through shipping; an eSIM issues a QR in your account, but you still join that same US service — not a travel-data shop.

This note is only how to get a Tello US prepaid eSIM through the official Tello site: check the IMEI, pay with a method you may use, install on this unlocked phone, then point data and SMS at that line. No fake addresses, no SMS farms, no one else’s card.

Check eligibility before you pay

Official path: eligibility → pay → activate → use

1. 01
   Confirm this phone can join Tello

   Use the phone that will carry the eSIM. In Settings look for Add eSIM; dial *#06# for IMEI / EID. Run the IMEI through the official checker. An Awesome result still needs an unlock from the previous carrier. Non-US models may miss bands. Install the latest OS update.

2. 02
   Create the account on tello.com, pick a plan, choose eSIM

   After login, open Plans, pick a prepaid plan, and at checkout set Tello SIM to eSIM. If the account already has numbers, choose New Tello Line under My Number. Enter the IMEI; stop if it fails. Existing line to eSIM: My SIM → Switch to eSIM / Get eSIM, Security PIN plus IMEI, then Activate to generate the QR.

3. 03
   Pay with a method you may use

   Help lists most credit/debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Checkout shows the full price with tax. If a charge is declined, switch to a listed method or ask official support. Do not buy a “guaranteed approval” workaround or use someone else’s card.

4. 04
   Install from the QR on a stable connection

   After the order, the QR appears under My SIM. Scan it on this phone (or type the SM-DP+ / activation details on that page). Official copy wants a solid link and suggests Wi‑Fi. Restart, then confirm the Tello eSIM is on: iPhone Settings → Cellular; Android Connections / Network & Internet → SIM Manager.

5. 05
   Point data and SMS at this line

   On dual-SIM set Tello as default for calls, texts and cellular data. The number shows in the account and in phone settings. Port-in is available only after this Tello line is active. International roaming follows official rates from Pay As You Go; activating roaming usually needs at least $5 PAYG. Send a test SMS and open a page before you bind a bank or two-factor login.

How data and SMS work — do not pick the wrong line

Tello help: you open the account and order on the site. The eSIM QR is under My SIM. The phone must be unlocked; the checker only tests compatibility.

Address and unlock — read this before checkout

Is a US address required?

Official posts have said you can join from abroad and do not need a US credit card. Checkout still asks for billing details — use real ones. Plastic SIMs depend on shipping; do not assume overseas delivery. Wi‑Fi Calling needs a valid US E911 address. If you do not have a real US address you may use, leave that feature off and do not invent one.

IMEI unlock is a hard gate

A carrier-locked phone will fail or show a SIM error. Only the previous carrier or seller can unlock it. Invalid SIM, Network Unlock PIN, or iPhone Carrier Lock = SIM Locked means unlock first, then come back.

Abroad is not the US plan itself

Plans are written for US use. Outside the US, read the official international-calling and roaming pages. Roaming usually spends PAYG credit; it is not a global included bucket.

# Official path (check tello.com/buy/esim and tello.com/activate)
IMEI: *#06# → tello.com/bring_your_own_phone
New: tello.com → plan → checkout → Tello SIM = eSIM → pay
QR: account → My SIM → scan on this unlocked phone
Existing: My SIM → Switch to eSIM / Get eSIM → PIN + IMEI → Activate
SMS/data: set default line; test before binding a bank

Questions worth checking