Our Expat Phone Setup in Ecuador
What we tried, what we changed, and the exact phone setup that finally gave us reliable Ecuador service, U.S. numbers, two-factor access, and affordable coverage when we travel.
When we first started planning our move to Ecuador, our phones were one of those things we thought we had figured out.
We wanted to keep our U.S. phone numbers. We needed to receive two-factor authentication codes from banks and other accounts. We would still be traveling back to the United States. At the time, our kiddo was living in the U.S. and remaining on our family plan. And we wanted the security of knowing our phones would simply work when we traveled.
So before we moved, we chose T-Mobile.
It seemed like the logical answer.
And, to be fair, it worked.
What we eventually realized was that we were paying premium U.S. wireless prices for services we really didn't need anymore.
Most of our daily life happens in Ecuador. Our mobile data comes from an Ecuadorian carrier. Most of our actual conversations happen on WhatsApp. Our new U.S. contacts can reach us through Google Voice. What we really needed from our old U.S. cellular numbers was surprisingly limited: keep the numbers alive, catch the occasional person who still has the old number, and receive two-factor authentication texts.
Once we stopped asking, “Which carrier can do everything?” and started asking, “What does each number actually need to do?”, the answer became much cheaper.
After a lot of research - and a very frustrating afternoon getting all the settings right - this is the setup we landed on:
Claro + WhatsApp + Google Voice + Tello.
Four pieces, each with one job.
And for us, it makes much more sense than paying one U.S. carrier to try to do all of them.
Why We Originally Chose T-Mobile
Our original priorities made sense for someone preparing to move abroad.
We wanted to:
keep our established U.S. mobile numbers;
receive bank and account verification texts;
remain reachable by U.S. friends, family and businesses;
have cellular service when we returned to the U.S.;
keep a family member living in the United States on our plan;
have international connectivity when traveling;
and avoid constantly swapping SIM cards or changing numbers.
T-Mobile checked a lot of those boxes. But there were two problems.
The first was simply cost. Once we were living in Ecuador, we were paying for a fairly robust U.S. cellular service that we barely used.
The second is something worth knowing if you're considering keeping a major U.S. carrier permanently while living abroad: international roaming plans are generally designed for travel, not permanent expatriate use.
T-Mobile itself says its international benefits are intended for short-term travel, not extended use overseas. Its current policy warns customers whose voice or data usage is more than 50% off-network for more than two billing cycles that international service may be restricted.
That doesn't make T-Mobile a bad option. In fact, we liked it. It just stopped being the right option for how we actually live.
The Breakthrough: Our Phone Numbers Don't All Need to Do the Same Thing
We eventually realized we had four completely different communication needs.
Claro
Our real Ecuadorian cellular line and mobile data.
What we actually use for most conversations - locally and internationally.
Google Voice
Our primary U.S. contact number for new contacts, including the numbers we now put on resumes.
Tello
Our old, real U.S. cellular number, kept alive primarily for legacy contacts and two-factor authentication.
That distinction is the key to this entire setup.
We aren't paying Tello to be our everyday phone carrier in Ecuador.
We aren't expecting Google Voice to replace every function of a cellular number.
We aren't asking Claro to be our international U.S. communications service.
And we aren't paying for international cellular calls when the person we're talking to has WhatsApp.
Each piece does what it's good at.
First: Get a Real Ecuadorian Phone Number
If you're actually moving to Ecuador rather than visiting for a few weeks, we strongly recommend getting an Ecuadorian mobile number.
There are simply too many times when having a local number is useful: businesses, deliveries, doctors, appointments, registrations, service providers and people who understandably don't want to make an international call to reach you.
We chose Claro.
There are other Ecuadorian carriers, and coverage can vary by where you live, so this isn't an argument that everyone in Ecuador must choose Claro. It has worked well for us.
Claro Prepaid vs. Postpaid
You have two basic choices.
Prepago - Prepaid
This is probably where we'd tell most new expats to start.
You buy the SIM, add credit or purchase a prepaid package, and don't have a monthly contract.
Claro currently sells a promotional prepaid physical SIM for $4 including tax and a basic SIM for $2. Claro also has a process specifically for foreigners activating service with a passport.
Claro now also offers prepaid eSIM, including new-line activation, porting and replacement online for compatible phones.
Because prepaid offers change regularly, we wouldn't choose based on a Facebook post telling you how many gigabytes someone received six months ago. Claro specifically tells customers to check the current packages through *123# → option 5, or through Mi Claro.
For someone who uses Wi-Fi heavily at home and mostly needs mobile data while out, prepaid may be all you ever need.
Postpago - Postpaid
This is a conventional monthly plan.
It may make more sense if you use a lot of cellular data, prefer a predictable monthly bill, or don't want to think about recharging.
Claro's plan offerings change, so check the current plans rather than relying on the prices in an old blog post - including this one.
Our advice would be:
Start with prepaid unless you already know you need postpaid.
You can always change later.
Then There Is WhatsApp - Which Is What We Actually Use Most
If you're moving to Ecuador from the United States, one of the biggest changes may have nothing to do with your cellular carrier.
It's WhatsApp.
In our experience, WhatsApp is effectively the default communication tool for everyday life here.
Friends use it. Businesses use it. Restaurants use it. Doctors and service providers use it. Delivery drivers use it.
People send messages, voice notes, photos, documents and locations through it. They make voice calls and video calls through it.
And we quickly started doing the same thing.
We Also Use WhatsApp Internationally
Our use of WhatsApp isn't limited to Ecuador.
If a friend or family member in the United States or another country is willing to install WhatsApp, that's usually how we call them too.
WhatsApp doesn't charge for its voice or video calls; it uses your internet connection - either Wi-Fi or mobile data.
So if we're sitting at home in Cuenca talking to someone in Wisconsin, the connection might simply be:
Home Wi-Fi → WhatsApp → Wisconsin
If we're out:
Claro mobile data → WhatsApp → Wisconsin
There isn't a traditional international cellular call happening. That eliminates an enormous amount of the international-calling problem.
Our rule is basically:
If the person has WhatsApp, we use WhatsApp.
Don't Automatically Change Your WhatsApp Number When You Get an Ecuador SIM
This confuses a lot of new expats.
WhatsApp is registered to a phone number, but once it is operating, the app uses whatever internet connection your phone has.
So putting a Claro SIM in the phone does not mean you automatically need to change your WhatsApp number.
Only use WhatsApp's Change Number feature if you actually want your WhatsApp account associated with a different phone number. WhatsApp provides a separate process for changing the registered number.
Why We Added Google Voice
Once we realized we didn't need our old U.S. cellular numbers for everyday communication, Google Voice became much more attractive.
We each have a Google Voice number that we can give to new U.S. contacts. Those are now the U.S. numbers we use on things like resumes.
If someone in the United States calls that number, our Google Voice app rings here in Ecuador using the internet.
If we need to call a U.S. number, we open the Google Voice app and make the call from there.
Google says Voice calls use roughly 0.2 MB of data per minute, so they don't require much bandwidth.
That data can come from either:
Wi-Fi
or
Claro mobile data
We don't need our Tello line to provide the internet connection.
The Google Voice Settings We Use
On Android:
Google Voice → Settings → Calls → Making and receiving calls
Choose:
Prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data
Google specifically recommends that setting when you want Voice calls to travel over the internet rather than your cellular voice plan.
Then:
Google Voice → Settings → Calls → Calls started from this device's phone app
We choose:
No
That keeps everything clean.
If we open the normal Samsung Phone app, Google Voice doesn't hijack the call.
If we want to make a Google Voice call, we intentionally open the Google Voice app.
Calls initiated inside the Google Voice app use the Google Voice number as caller ID.
Our Simple Rule
WhatsApp: friends, family and most Ecuador communication
Google Voice app: U.S. numbers that don't use WhatsApp
Regular Phone app: actual cellular calls through Claro if needed
Simple.
Why We Didn't Use Google Voice for Everything
This was the sticking point.
Why not just move our old U.S. numbers to Google Voice, eliminate a U.S. cellular carrier completely and be done with it?
Two-factor authentication.
Google Voice is a VoIP service rather than a traditional cellular service.
It works with plenty of ordinary SMS messages and some verification systems. But some banks, financial institutions and other services don't accept VoIP numbers for authentication. And that's one area where we weren't willing to gamble.
We have too many U.S. accounts that occasionally decide they absolutely must text a code to the mobile number they have on file. So we wanted to retain a real U.S. mobile number.
We just didn't want to pay major-carrier prices for it.
That's what led us to Tello.
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Why We Chose Tello
A quick disclosure: Tello has a referral program, and we do have a referral link. If you decide Tello is right for you and sign up through our link, you’ll receive $10 in Tello Dollars after your successful order. If you stay with Tello for three months, we’ll receive $10 in Tello Dollars too. We were already Tello customers before deciding to write this article, and our recommendation is based on the setup we actually use.
We researched the inexpensive U.S. carriers and MVNOs with a very specific list of requirements.
We wanted:
to port and keep our existing U.S. numbers;
a real U.S. cellular number;
eSIM;
inexpensive monthly service;
SMS;
Wi-Fi Calling;
the ability to receive verification codes overseas;
real international roaming when Wi-Fi isn't available;
service when we return to the United States;
and the freedom to change the plan depending on what we're doing.
Tello checked those boxes. It also specifically markets dual-line use abroad: a local phone line plus a U.S. Tello number on eSIM.
Tello Plan Options
One of Tello's biggest advantages is that you don't have to buy a giant data plan just to keep a U.S. cellular number.
As of this update, its build-your-own plans include these useful combinations:
$5/month — No data + 300 minutes + unlimited texts
Our pick. Best for keeping a U.S. number for 2FA, old contacts and occasional calls.
$8/month — No data + unlimited talk/text
Good if you expect to make a lot of calls using your Tello number over Wi-Fi.
$10/month — 2 GB + unlimited talk/text
Good for light U.S. use or a short visit.
$15/month — 10 GB + unlimited talk/text
Better for more regular mobile-data use during trips to the U.S.
$20/month — 20 GB + unlimited talk/text
A good fit for heavier travel use.
$25/month — Unlimited data + unlimited talk/text
Makes more sense for someone actually using Tello as a primary U.S. carrier.
Unlimited texting is included with Tello plans, and plans can be upgraded or downgraded without a long-term contract.
For our current needs, the $5 plan is the sweet spot. We don't need Tello data in Ecuador. Claro already provides that.
Bonus: One Tello Account, Different Plans and Payment Methods
One feature we really like about Tello is that the lines on a family account don't all have to be identical.
Our daughter's line is still managed under our Tello account, but she uses the $25 unlimited plan - because, well, Gen Z. 😄 - and her line is billed directly to her own payment method.
Meanwhile, our lines can stay on much cheaper plans that fit how we actually use them.
In fact, all three lines can have:
different monthly plans;
different amounts of data;
different payment methods;
while still being managed together under one family account.
That makes Tello especially practical for families whose members have very different phone needs.
Three Different Ways Tello Can Work Outside the U.S.
This is the part we wish we had understood more clearly before setting everything up.
Tello has three different international-use methods.
They're not the same thing.
1. Wi-Fi Calling and Text
This is the cheapest way to use Tello while abroad.
When your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, the Tello line can use Wi-Fi Calling to make and receive calls and send and receive ordinary SMS as though it were connecting from the United States.
Tello does not charge an extra monthly fee for Wi-Fi Calling; calls use the minutes in your plan.
Most importantly for us, Tello specifically states that once Wi-Fi Calling is active, you can receive one-time passwords and bank verification texts while outside the United States.
That is a huge reason we chose it.
There is one limitation: Wi-Fi Calling depends on the Wi-Fi network. Some hotel, office or public networks can block the necessary traffic.
That's why we also wanted the second option.
2. Actual International Roaming
Tello now offers cellular roaming in 200+ countries and territories.
This means the Tello line can register on a partner cellular network even when you are nowhere near Wi-Fi.
Outside Tello's temporary free-roaming offers, that usage comes from a Pay As You Go balance.
Tello's current standard rates are:
5¢ per minute
1¢ per SMS
1¢ per MB of data
and the charges come from the PAYG balance.
For us, the important part is the text message. If we're out somewhere without Wi-Fi and a bank suddenly sends a security code to our old U.S. number, Tello can receive it through cellular roaming.
We're not trying to stream movies over Tello roaming. We're trying to keep the number reachable.
3. The My Tello App
Tello also has an app that can place calls over Wi-Fi. But this is not a substitute for normal Wi-Fi Calling if you need incoming calls or two-factor texts.
Tello says the My Tello app can make outgoing calls, but it cannot receive calls or send/receive texts.
For an expat keeping a number primarily for authentication, built-in Wi-Fi Calling and International Roaming are much more important.
IMPORTANT: Set Up Tello Before You Leave the United States
If you're reading this while you're still in the U.S., do this before you move.
Tello specifically says International Roaming only works if the line has been used in the United States before roaming is enabled.
We would do it in this order:
Make sure the phone is carrier unlocked.
Sign up for Tello.
Port your existing U.S. number if you're keeping it.
Install and activate the Tello SIM or eSIM.
Actually use the Tello line in the United States.
Set up Wi-Fi Calling.
Register a valid U.S. E911 address.
Add Pay As You Go credit.
Turn on International Roaming.
Test calls and SMS.
Then leave the U.S.
Tello says you need at least $5 of PAYG credit to activate roaming, although its current online purchase options begin at $20. If you maintain an active monthly plan, Tello says the PAYG balance remains valid while that plan remains active.
That $20 can last a very long time when you're mostly receiving the occasional 1¢ SMS.
How to Set Up Tello for an Expat
This is the configuration we wanted:
Tello voice/SMS available when necessary.
Tello roaming data NOT used.
That's an important distinction.
In Your Tello Account
Go to My Settings.
Wi-Fi Calling
Enter your U.S. Emergency E911 Address.
Tello requires a U.S. emergency address before Wi-Fi Calling will activate.
Then enable Wi-Fi Calling on the phone.
On Android, Tello's instructions are:
Phone app → ⋮ → Settings → Wi-Fi Calling → ON
International Roaming
Set:
International Roaming → ON
Pay As You Go Data
For our setup:
PAYG Data → OFF
This is deliberate.
Tello states that International Roaming must be on for roaming calls and texts, while PAYG Data only needs to be switched on if you want roaming data.
We don't. Claro is our data provider.
Our Exact Dual-SIM Phone Setup
We use Samsung Galaxy phones, so these are the menu names we see. Other Android phones and iPhones will be slightly different, but the underlying choices are the same.
Our configuration is:
Physical SIM: Claro Ecuador
eSIM: Tello U.S.
We like that arrangement because Claro is our everyday local service and Tello can quietly exist as the secondary eSIM.
Go to:
Settings → Connections → SIM Manager
Set:
SIMs
Claro → ON
Tello → ON
Preferred SIMs
Calls → Claro
Messages → Claro
Mobile data → Claro
Data Switching
OFF
That setting is particularly important.
We don't want the phone deciding to switch mobile data over to our U.S. Tello line because Claro momentarily has weak service.
Tello can remain on and receive calls and texts without being the default mobile-data line.
Mobile Network Settings
Go to:
Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks
Keep network selection on:
Automatic
Tello recommends automatic network selection when roaming.
The phone also has to permit roaming for Tello to connect to a foreign partner network.
Menu wording varies by phone. On some Samsung devices, the roaming control appears as Data roaming.
Because we have:
Claro selected as the mobile-data SIM;
Data Switching turned off;
and PAYG Data turned off inside the Tello account;
our intention is to permit the Tello line to register for roaming calls and SMS without using it as our everyday data connection.
Wi-Fi Calling: ON for Tello
We keep Tello Wi-Fi Calling ON.
When we're at home with good Wi-Fi, that gives Tello an inexpensive connection for calls and ordinary SMS.
When we're away from Wi-Fi, International Roaming provides the backup.
There is one troubleshooting wrinkle worth knowing.
Tello itself warns that on some phones, having Wi-Fi Calling and roaming active simultaneously can occasionally confuse the phone about which connection to prioritize. If roaming refuses to register, Tello suggests temporarily turning Wi-Fi Calling off, allowing the roaming network to connect, and then testing again.
We learned that one the hard way.
The “Emergency Calls Only” Problem
And now we come to the part that inspired us to write this post.
After switching our U.S. lines from T-Mobile to Tello and returning to Ecuador, we turned on our Claro SIMs and our new Tello eSIMs.
Our phones started displaying:
Emergency calls only.
Claro wouldn't behave properly.
Turn Tello off?
Claro worked.
Turn Tello back on?
Emergency calls only.
We restarted.
We changed network selection.
We reset the mobile network settings.
We checked the Claro SIM.
We checked signal strength.
We had a strong Claro LTE signal and the phone actually reported Claro as “In service”, yet calls could still fail with a message that the phone wasn't registered on a network.
It made very little sense.
The missing piece was Tello International Roaming.
Our Tello eSIMs were active, but they weren't properly registered on a cellular network in Ecuador.
Once we treated Tello as an actual international-roaming line - instead of assuming Wi-Fi Calling alone was the entire solution - the configuration finally made sense.
So if you have a Samsung dual-SIM phone and everything goes sideways when you turn your U.S. eSIM on, check the second line before assuming your Ecuador SIM is broken.
For Tello, confirm:
the Tello line was used in the U.S. before you left;
you have an active Tello plan;
PAYG credit is available;
International Roaming is ON in your Tello account;
roaming is permitted on the phone;
network selection is Automatic;
your E911 address is registered;
and Wi-Fi Calling is configured correctly.
And if roaming won't connect, temporarily turn Wi-Fi Calling off while testing.
Our Google Voice Setup
Google Voice is now the number we actually want new U.S. contacts to use.
Our new resumes have our Google Voice numbers. If someone calls, the app rings over Wi-Fi or Claro mobile data. If we call the U.S., we open the Google Voice app.
Our settings are:
Google Voice → Settings → Calls → Making and receiving calls → Prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data
and:
Calls started from this device's phone app → No
Google confirms that calls made inside the Voice app use the Google Voice number, while calls started in the phone's normal dialer can use the cellular carrier instead.
This also stops an annoying prompt we were getting when trying to make Ecuador calls from our normal contacts.
Our phones now have clearly separated jobs.
So What App Do We Use for What?
This is probably the easiest way to understand the entire system.
WhatsApp - Most calls and messages in Ecuador
This is what we use for friends, family, businesses, appointments, restaurants, delivery drivers and most day-to-day communication in Ecuador.
WhatsApp - Friends and family abroad who use it
If someone in the U.S., Canada or elsewhere has WhatsApp, this is usually our first choice for voice or video calls because it simply uses Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Google Voice - Our primary U.S. number
These are the U.S. numbers we now give to new contacts and use on things like resumes.
Google Voice app - Calling U.S. numbers
If we need to call a U.S. business or someone who doesn't use WhatsApp, we open the Google Voice app and make the call there using Wi-Fi or Claro mobile data.
Tello - Our old U.S. mobile numbers
We keep these active for people and accounts that still have our original U.S. numbers.
Tello - Two-factor authentication
This is one of the biggest reasons we kept a real U.S. cellular number. Tello can receive SMS verification codes through Wi-Fi Calling or international roaming.
Claro - Mobile data in Ecuador
Claro is the data connection underneath Google Voice, WhatsApp and everything else when we're away from Wi-Fi.
Claro - Traditional Ecuador cellular calls and texts
We don't use these very often because WhatsApp is so common here, but Claro is still our actual Ecuador cellular number when we need one.
Tello International Roaming - Backup when we're away from Wi-Fi
If we're out and a call or verification text comes to our old U.S. number, Tello can receive it through a roaming partner network.
Once you think about it this way, having three phone numbers and several apps really isn't complicated.
WhatsApp is for people.
Google Voice is our public U.S. number.
Tello protects our old U.S. number and 2FA access.
Claro provides our Ecuador number and mobile data.
What Does This Cost?
This is where the setup really shines.
For someone who already has internet at home and needs a U.S. number mainly for authentication and legacy contacts:
U.S. cellular number
Tello: $5/month for 300 minutes, unlimited texts and no data.
Ecuador cellular number and data
Claro: choose the prepaid package that matches your actual usage, or a postpaid plan if that makes more sense for you.
U.S. everyday number
Google Voice uses Wi-Fi or your existing mobile-data connection.
Most calls and messages
WhatsApp uses Wi-Fi or Claro data.
So the fixed cost of maintaining the real U.S. cellular number can be as little as $5 per person per month, plus whatever Ecuador cellular service you would already be buying anyway.
That is a very different proposition from maintaining a premium U.S. family plan indefinitely.
What About Trips Back to the United States?
This was another reason Tello appealed to us. When we go back to the U.S., Tello becomes a normal U.S. mobile line again.
If the $5 no-data plan isn't enough for a trip, Tello lets customers change plans without a long-term contract.
So for a U.S. trip, you could temporarily change to:
2 GB + unlimited talk/text - $10
or
10 GB + unlimited talk/text - $15
or whatever plan makes sense for that trip. Then change it back after you're home.
We'd rather pay for U.S. data during the weeks we're actually in the United States than pay for it all year while living in Ecuador.
What About Canada?
Tello roaming can handle light usage in Canada as well.
For us, the same philosophy applies:
WhatsApp whenever possible;
Wi-Fi Calling when on Wi-Fi;
Tello cellular roaming when we actually need our U.S. mobile number;
another data solution if we're going to be consuming significant amounts of mobile data.
We don't need every trip to justify an expensive year-round global phone plan.
What About Travel Elsewhere in the World?
Tello currently supports International Roaming in more than 200 countries and territories. That's valuable as a safety net.
It means our U.S. number doesn't suddenly disappear just because we're on vacation somewhere else.
But we would not automatically use Tello PAYG data as our primary travel data source.
For a trip where we'll use significant mobile data, we'd compare:
a local SIM;
a travel eSIM - We use Saily eSIM by NordVPN;
the destination's roaming options;
our Ecuador carrier's roaming;
and Tello's current rates.
Then we'd use whichever makes sense.
The beauty of a dual-SIM phone is that the SIM providing your data doesn't have to be the same SIM providing your U.S. phone number.
A Temporary Tello Europe Note
As of August 2026, Tello is running a limited promotion providing free roaming in participating European destinations through September 30, 2026, with qualifying active plans using their normal plan allowances.
That is a promotion, not a permanent feature, so don't make a future travel decision based on this paragraph without checking Tello's current terms.
Which brings us to an important point:
Phone plans change constantly.
The architecture of this setup is more important than today's exact number of gigabytes or promotional price.
One More Two-Factor Authentication Recommendation
Even though keeping Tello solves an important problem for us, we try not to rely on SMS authentication more than necessary.
When an account allows us to use an authenticator app, passkey or another secure authentication method instead of SMS, we prefer that.
That means fewer critical accounts depend on a cellular carrier being reachable at exactly the right moment. But some U.S. banks and services still insist on sending a text. For those, we're very happy to have retained a real U.S. mobile number.
If We Were Moving to Ecuador Today, This Is Exactly What We Would Do
If we could go back and give ourselves a phone checklist before the move, it would look like this:
Before Leaving the United States
Buy or bring an unlocked dual-SIM/eSIM-compatible phone.
Set up a Google Voice number for new U.S. contacts.
Move the existing U.S. cellular number to Tello.
Activate Tello while still physically in the U.S.
Make sure the Tello line actually works in the U.S.
Register the U.S. E911 address.
Activate Wi-Fi Calling.
Put PAYG credit on the Tello account.
Activate International Roaming.
Test incoming calls and SMS.
Install and configure WhatsApp.
Back everything up before traveling.
After Arriving in Ecuador
Get a Claro prepaid SIM/eSIM or postpaid line.
Put Claro and Tello on the same dual-SIM phone.
Leave both lines ON.
Set Calls → Claro.
Set Messages → Claro.
Set Mobile Data → Claro.
Turn Data Switching OFF.
Keep PAYG Data OFF in Tello unless you deliberately want Tello roaming data.
Enable Tello Wi-Fi Calling.
Keep Tello International Roaming available for calls and SMS away from Wi-Fi.
Set Google Voice to Prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Set Google Voice's Calls started from this device's phone app → No.
Use WhatsApp for most actual conversations.
Test Everything Before You Depend on It
Don't assume it's working just because all the switches look right.
Test it.
With Wi-Fi OFF
Have someone call your Tello number.
Send an ordinary SMS to your Tello number.
Make sure Claro mobile data works.
Make sure your Claro line remains registered.
With Wi-Fi ON
Call the Tello number again and confirm Wi-Fi Calling works.
Send another SMS.
Have someone call your Google Voice number.
Place a U.S. call from inside the Google Voice app.
Make a WhatsApp call.
And if you rely on a particular bank for SMS authentication, verify that service before you're standing in another country desperately trying to sign into your account.
Our Setup at a Glance
Claro - Ecuador cellular number and mobile data
This is our local phone service. It gives us an Ecuadorian number and provides the mobile data our other apps use when we're away from Wi-Fi.
WhatsApp - Most of our actual conversations
This is what we use for most calls and messages in Ecuador, plus calls with friends and family abroad who also use WhatsApp.
Google Voice - Our primary U.S. number
These are the numbers we now give to new U.S. contacts, including employers and businesses. Calls and texts come through the Google Voice app using Wi-Fi or Claro data.
Tello - Our real U.S. cellular number
We keep our original U.S. numbers active for old contacts, legacy accounts and two-factor authentication. Tello can work through Wi-Fi Calling or international roaming when needed.
If you really wanted to reduce it to one sentence:
Claro provides the local connection, WhatsApp handles most conversations, Google Voice is our public U.S. number, and Tello quietly keeps our real old U.S. mobile number alive.
Is This the Right Setup for Everyone?
No.
If you spend six months of every year in the United States, you may want a bigger Tello plan.
If you never need SMS authentication from a U.S. institution, you may decide Google Voice is enough.
If everyone you know uses WhatsApp, you may barely use Google Voice.
If you use huge amounts of data in Ecuador, postpaid Claro might make more sense than prepaid.
If another Ecuadorian carrier has significantly better coverage where you live, use it instead.
The point isn't that everyone needs our exact four-part combination.
The point is that you probably don't need one expensive U.S. carrier to solve every communications problem you have as an expat.
Figure out the jobs first. Then buy only the services needed to do them.
What We Wish We'd Known From the Beginning
We don't regret starting with T-Mobile.
When we were preparing to move, keeping everything together felt safer and simpler. There were already enough moving pieces involved in relocating to another country. But once we had lived here for a while, our needs changed.
We learned that WhatsApp would become our everyday communication system.
We learned that a local Ecuadorian number and local mobile data made far more sense than treating Ecuador as one giant international roaming destination.
We learned that Google Voice could give us an easy U.S. number for people who didn't need access to our original cellular number.
And we learned that we could preserve that old U.S. cellular number - including the ability to receive two-factor authentication texts - for a fraction of what we'd been paying.
It took us longer than it should have to put all the pieces together.
And getting Tello, Claro, Wi-Fi Calling, International Roaming, Google Voice and Samsung's dual-SIM settings to cooperate was considerably more frustrating than any of the companies' websites make it sound.
But now that it's done?
It's actually simple.
Claro for Ecuador.
WhatsApp for people.
Google Voice for our public U.S. number.
Tello for the old U.S. number we aren't quite ready - and sometimes aren't able - to give up.
That's the phone setup we wish we'd had from day one.
Prices, promotions, roaming arrangements and phone menu names change. The prices and carrier information in this article were checked on August 26, 2026. Before changing carriers or traveling, verify current rates and compatibility with your specific phone and destination.
If you're planning a move to Cuenca
Two things that might help.
Our Cuenca Living Starter Kit is the full 14-guide library of what we've learned since moving in January 2025 - the practical stuff that can be surprisingly hard to figure out from abroad, and much easier once someone has already worked through it.
Our pillar post on Moving to Cuenca, Ecuador in 2026 is the comprehensive walkthrough of what the move actually involves, from cost to healthcare to housing to community to bureaucracy. Free to read.
And the blog footer at the bottom of this post has more, including our free Should I Move Abroad Midlife? self-assessment if you're still working out whether the move makes sense for you.
"The best expat phone setup isn't the one that does everything. It's the one that keeps you connected without paying for everything."
We also publish on YouTube: videos on Cuenca, the move abroad, and the version of expat life that doesn't get filmed enough. youtube.com/@gen-xpat
Want more?
We are guests learning in public. If you're still working out whether moving abroad makes sense for you, our free Should I Move Abroad Midlife self-assessment is the easiest place to start. It's the question, sat with honestly, without rushing the answer.
More from GenXpat:
From Where We Stand: essays on race, gender, and the move abroad
Resources: guides, worksheets, and checklists for the move
Contact: questions, feedback, or a hello
