| Our Score | 3.5/11 (Very Poor) |
| Best For | Almost nobody — Tello does everything better |
| Price Range | $5-$25/month + taxes |
| Network | T-Mobile |
| Contract | No contract |
| Taxes Included | No |
| Owner | DISH Network |
Hello Mobile is DISH Network's ultra-budget dumping ground on T-Mobile's network. The $5/month price tag generates headlines and clicks, but what you actually get for five dollars is barely worth the effort of signing up: 500MB of data, no security features, and the looming instability of DISH ownership. Hello Mobile shares corporate parentage with Boost Mobile and Ting — meaning the same company that fumbled Boost's data security and struggled with billions in 5G debt is also running this operation. When a carrier's primary selling point is "we are the cheapest," the question you should ask is "why?"
Bottom Line: Hello Mobile scores 3.5/11, dragged to the bottom by no 2FA, no SIM PIN, no true unlimited data, no build-a-plan options, and very poor customer service. The $5/month plan is a marketing stunt that gives you almost nothing usable. DISH Network ownership adds corporate instability risk on top of everything else. Visible gives you true unlimited at $25/month with a 10/11 score, and Tello starts at similar budget prices ($10/month) with a 9.5/11 score and actual security features. There is no reason to say hello to Hello Mobile.
- Rock-bottom starting price ($5/month)
- T-Mobile network coverage
- No contract required
- No known data breaches
- Unlimited talk and text on most plans
- 3.5/11 overall score — bottom tier
- No two-factor authentication
- No SIM PIN protection
- No true unlimited data option
- No build-a-plan customization
- Taxes and fees NOT included
- DISH Network ownership (Boost/Ting parent company)
- Very poor customer service
- $5 plan is virtually unusable (500MB)
- Corporate instability concerns
The DISH Network Problem (Again)
If you have read our Boost Mobile review, this section will sound familiar. DISH Network owns Hello Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Ting Mobile. This is the same company that:
- Accumulated massive debt trying to build a 5G network it cannot deploy on time
- Missed FCC deployment deadlines, raising regulatory flags
- Fumbled the Boost Mobile brand after acquiring it from T-Mobile
- Faces persistent questions about its long-term financial viability
- Experienced data breaches at Boost, its flagship wireless brand
When one DISH-owned carrier has a breach, every DISH-owned carrier should concern you. The same corporate infrastructure, the same security teams (or lack thereof), and the same executive decision-making apply across the portfolio. Hello Mobile is not a separate, independent company with its own security practices — it is another brand under the same umbrella.
Why DISH Ownership Matters for Hello Mobile Customers
If DISH continues its financial struggles:
- Service could be disrupted during restructuring
- T-Mobile network agreement terms could change or expire
- Hello Mobile could be shut down or sold with minimal notice
- Investment in customer experience remains at rock bottom (it already is)
Visible is owned by Verizon. Tello operates independently and profitably. Neither carries the baggage of DISH's deteriorating financial position.
Hello Mobile Plans and Pricing
Hello Mobile's plan structure leans heavily on the budget angle:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Data | Hotspot | Talk/Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5/mo + tax | 500MB | None | Unlimited |
| Basic | $10/mo + tax | 2GB | None | Unlimited |
| Standard | $15/mo + tax | 5GB | Limited | Unlimited |
| Plus | $20/mo + tax | 15GB | Included | Unlimited |
| Premium | $25/mo + tax | 25GB | Included | Unlimited |
The $5 Plan Deception
The $5/month plan is Hello Mobile's headline grabber, and it is borderline useless. 500MB of data in 2026 is nothing. Loading a few web pages, checking email, and scrolling through social media for twenty minutes will burn through your entire monthly allotment. A single video call could consume it all.
This plan exists for one reason: marketing. It gets Hello Mobile into "cheapest phone plans" articles and comparison lists. It is not a functional phone plan for anyone who uses a smartphone as a smartphone.
The Real Pricing Problem
Once you move past the gimmick $5 plan and look at the plans that are actually usable, Hello Mobile's pricing advantage evaporates:
| Hello Mobile (Real Cost) | Tello Equivalent | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| $15 + tax (~$17-19) for 5GB | $14 all-in for 5GB (custom) | Tello |
| $20 + tax (~$22-24) for 15GB | $19 all-in for 15GB (custom) | Tello |
| $25 + tax (~$27-30) for 25GB | $25 all-in for 35GB | Tello |
At every price point, Tello matches or beats Hello Mobile on data while including taxes and offering proper security features. The budget advantage that is supposed to be Hello Mobile's entire reason for existing simply does not hold up under comparison.
Speed Test Results
We tested Hello Mobile on T-Mobile's network:
| Scenario | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (off-peak) | 48 Mbps | 12 Mbps | 28ms |
| Suburban | 35 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 32ms |
| Urban (rush hour) | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 45ms |
| Rural | 18 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 58ms |
The rush hour performance tells the story. Hello Mobile sits at the bottom of T-Mobile's priority queue. During congestion, speeds can drop to single digits — and on data-capped plans, you are watching precious megabytes tick away at a crawl.
These are the same T-Mobile towers that Tello uses, but Tello's slightly better MVNO agreement and dramatically better overall package make it the obvious choice on the same network.
Security: A Complete Failure
Hello Mobile's security posture is not just below average — it is functionally nonexistent.
What Hello Mobile Offers
- SIM PIN protection: Not available
- Two-factor authentication: Not available
- Data breach history: None known for Hello Mobile specifically
Why This Is Disqualifying
In 2026, offering a wireless service without basic account security features is negligent. Your wireless account is a gateway to your entire digital life:
- SIM swap attacks can hijack your phone number to intercept 2FA codes for your bank, email, and other accounts
- Account takeovers using compromised passwords give attackers access to your personal information
- Without SIM PIN or 2FA, Hello Mobile provides zero layers of defense beyond a password
The fact that Hello Mobile has not had a known breach is cold comfort when they have not implemented the basic tools to prevent one. And the fact that sibling brand Boost Mobile has had breaches demonstrates that DISH as an organization has security problems at the corporate level.
Security Comparison
| Security Feature | Hello Mobile | Visible | Tello |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Factor Auth | No | Yes | Yes |
| SIM PIN | No | No | Yes |
| Data Breaches | None known | None | None |
| Account Security | Password only | Multi-layer | Multi-layer |
| Parent Company Breaches | Yes (Boost) | None | None |
| Overall Score | 3.5/11 | 10/11 | 9.5/11 |
When Tello offers the same T-Mobile network with both 2FA and SIM PIN protection at competitive prices, choosing Hello Mobile is choosing to be less secure for no benefit.
Customer Service: Below the Basement
Hello Mobile's customer service is consistently rated as very poor across review platforms. The pattern of complaints includes:
- Extremely long hold times — hours, not minutes
- Billing issues that take weeks to resolve
- Difficulty canceling service or getting refunds
- Unhelpful or undertrained support agents
- No retail locations for in-person help
- Limited online support resources
For a carrier that positions itself as ultra-budget, poor customer service might seem expected. But "budget" does not have to mean "abandoned." Tello offers excellent customer service at similar or lower prices. The customer service failure is a choice DISH has made, not an inevitable consequence of low pricing.
When Customer Service Becomes a Security Issue
Poor customer service is an inconvenience when you need to change your plan. It becomes a crisis when:
- Someone is attempting to SIM swap your number
- Unauthorized changes appear on your account
- You need emergency account lockdown
With no 2FA, no SIM PIN, and customer service that takes hours to reach, Hello Mobile creates a perfect storm of vulnerability. By the time you reach a support agent, the damage may already be done.
Our 11-Point Scoring Breakdown
| Criteria | Hello Mobile | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Price under $25/month | Yes ($5 starting) | 1/1 |
| 35GB+ premium data | No (25GB max) | 0/1 |
| Premium data quality | Hard caps on all plans | 0/1 |
| Unlimited talk/text | Yes | 1/1 |
| Build-a-plan options | No | 0/1 |
| SIM PIN protection | No | 0/1 |
| Two-factor authentication | No | 0/1 |
| Network coverage | T-Mobile (good, not great) | 0.5/1 |
| No data breaches | No known breaches | 1/1 |
| True unlimited option | No — all plans capped | 0/1 |
| Good customer service | Very poor | 0/1 |
| Total | 3.5/11 |
The only points Hello Mobile earns come from having a low starting price, including unlimited talk and text, and not having a confirmed breach. Everything else — security, data quality, customization, service — is either absent or inadequate.
Hello Mobile vs. The Competition
vs. Visible
| Feature | Hello Mobile | Visible | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 3.5/11 | 10/11 | Visible |
| True unlimited | No (25GB max) | Yes | Visible |
| Taxes included | No | Yes | Visible |
| 2FA | No | Yes | Visible |
| Customer service | Very poor | Good | Visible |
| Network | T-Mobile | Verizon | Depends |
| $25/mo comparison | 25GB + tax | True unlimited, all-in | Visible |
| Owner stability | DISH (uncertain) | Verizon (stable) | Visible |
Verdict: Visible wins in every category except network choice. If you can use Verizon towers, there is absolutely no argument for Hello Mobile. Even if you specifically need T-Mobile, Tello is the answer, not Hello Mobile.
vs. Tello
| Feature | Hello Mobile | Tello | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 3.5/11 | 9.5/11 | Tello |
| Network | T-Mobile | T-Mobile | Tie |
| Cheapest plan | $5 + tax (500MB) | ~$10 all-in (1GB) | Depends |
| 25GB price | $25 + tax (~$28) | ~$22 all-in (custom) | Tello |
| Build-a-plan | No | Yes | Tello |
| 2FA | No | Yes | Tello |
| SIM PIN | No | Yes | Tello |
| Taxes included | No | Yes | Tello |
| Customer service | Very poor | Good | Tello |
| Owner | DISH Network | Independent | Tello |
Verdict: This is the comparison that matters most because both carriers use the same T-Mobile network. Tello wins in every meaningful category. The only thing Hello Mobile has is a $5 plan that gives you 500MB — and if you genuinely need the absolute minimum, Tello's build-a-plan lets you customize down to similar ultra-budget levels with actual security features.
Who Should Get Hello Mobile?
Possibly acceptable for:
- Users who need a phone number for verification purposes only
- People who literally never use data on their phone
- Those who need a temporary line for a few weeks
Do not get Hello Mobile if you:
- Use your phone for anything beyond basic calls
- Value account security at all (no 2FA, no SIM PIN)
- Want customer service that responds
- Need more than 25GB of data
- Want taxes included in your bill
- Care about the stability of your carrier's parent company
- Could get Tello on the same T-Mobile network instead
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hello Mobile any good?
No. Hello Mobile scores 3.5/11 — one of the lowest scores in our carrier database. No security features, data caps on every plan, poor customer service, and DISH Network ownership make it a poor choice.
Who owns Hello Mobile?
DISH Network owns Hello Mobile, along with Boost Mobile and Ting Mobile. DISH's financial struggles and Boost's data breach history raise concerns about all brands under the DISH umbrella.
What network does Hello Mobile use?
Hello Mobile operates on T-Mobile's network. However, as a low-priority MVNO, Hello Mobile customers receive lower data speeds during network congestion compared to T-Mobile's own customers and higher-priority MVNOs.
Is the Hello Mobile $5 plan worth it?
No. The $5 plan gives you only 500MB of data, which is virtually unusable for a smartphone in 2026. It exists as a marketing tool to generate headlines. For a real budget plan, Tello offers customizable options starting around $10/month with taxes included.
Does Hello Mobile have unlimited data?
No. All Hello Mobile plans have data caps, with the maximum being 25GB on the $25 plan. For true unlimited data, Visible offers it at $25/month with taxes included.
Does Hello Mobile include taxes?
No. All Hello Mobile prices are before taxes and fees. Add $2-5 depending on your state. Visible and Tello both include all taxes in their advertised prices.
Does Hello Mobile have 2FA?
No. Hello Mobile does not offer two-factor authentication, leaving your account secured by nothing more than a password.
Does Hello Mobile have SIM PIN protection?
No. Hello Mobile does not offer SIM PIN protection, which means there is no additional layer of defense against SIM swap attacks.
Is Hello Mobile better than Tello?
No. Both use T-Mobile's network, but Tello scores 9.5/11 versus Hello Mobile's 3.5/11. Tello offers build-a-plan options, 2FA, SIM PIN, included taxes, and good customer service — none of which Hello Mobile provides.
Is Hello Mobile better than Boost Mobile?
They score the same (3.5/11 vs 6/11 — actually Boost scores higher). Hello Mobile lacks the security features Boost at least partially offers (SIM PIN), but Hello Mobile has not had a confirmed breach while Boost has. Neither is recommended.
Does Hello Mobile have 5G?
Hello Mobile offers some 5G access on T-Mobile's network, but plan details and 5G coverage specifics are not well documented — another symptom of the carrier's sparse customer communication.
Can I keep my number if I switch from Hello Mobile?
Yes. Port your number to your new carrier during signup. Do not cancel Hello Mobile first — the porting process will automatically close your Hello Mobile account.
Is Hello Mobile safe?
Hello Mobile has no known data breaches, but the complete absence of 2FA and SIM PIN protection makes it one of the least secure carriers in our database. Additionally, parent company DISH Network has experienced breaches at its Boost Mobile brand.
Does Hello Mobile have good customer service?
No. Hello Mobile consistently receives poor customer service ratings. Long hold times, unresolved billing issues, and unhelpful agents are commonly reported across review platforms.
Does Hello Mobile have hotspot?
Hotspot is available on higher-tier plans ($20 and above) but not on the budget $5 or $10 plans. Even when included, hotspot data comes from your capped data allotment.
Final Verdict
Hello Mobile earns 3.5/11 — placing it at the very bottom of our carrier rankings alongside other carriers that offer minimum viable service at best. The $5/month marketing stunt grabs attention but delivers almost nothing usable. Once you look at plans that actually function as phone plans, Hello Mobile's pricing advantage over Tello evaporates entirely.
The complete absence of security features — no 2FA, no SIM PIN — is the most damaging issue. In 2026, your wireless carrier is a custodian of sensitive personal data. Hello Mobile has implemented none of the standard tools to protect it. DISH Network ownership adds corporate instability to the mix, and the very poor customer service means you are on your own if something goes wrong.
The alternatives are clear and compelling:
- For unlimited data: Visible at $25/month, taxes included, full security, 10/11 score
- For budget T-Mobile service: Tello from $10/month, build-your-own plans, 2FA + SIM PIN, 9.5/11 score
- For ultra-budget needs: Tello's build-a-plan lets you customize to minimal usage with real security
Say goodbye to Hello Mobile. Say hello to carriers that actually protect your account.
This review is based on our independent 11-point scoring methodology. Tom Spark and Prepaid Report may earn commissions from affiliate links, but this never influences our ratings or recommendations. Hello Mobile earned its 3.5/11 score through the same objective criteria we apply to every carrier. Learn more about our methodology.