Google Fi: What Are the Pros and Cons?
- Free domestic roaming on US Cellular
- International roaming data billed at same rate as domestic data, no extra charges
- Free text messaging while traveling internationally
- High end phones typically sold with large discounts
- Family plan discounts are aailable
- Single lines more expensive than other providers
- Customer support is questionable
- Plans with limited amount of data are expensive
Since 2013, I’ve been researching, reviewing, and writing about the wireless industry through BestMVNO with a focus on MVNOs.
In this guide, I will explain everything you need to know about Google Fi before you subscribe. I’ll review each of their phone plans with you, and go over any gotchas that they might have. I want you to learn the ins and outs of Google Fi so that you can make an informed decision on if this is the best place for you to spend your money.
Prepaid Phone Plans – No Credit Check
Data Only Plans
How Google Fi Plans Work
Google’s Project Fi launched in 2015. In 2018 the service got renamed to Google Fi.
Google Fi’s Technology Explained
What’s particularly unique about the network is that service is simultaneously provided through T-Mobile, and US Cellular, and even WiFi. Google Fi automatically switches to whichever network provides the strongest signal to the customer at any given location and time.
Given that Google Fi uses several different technologies, phone calls and text messages can both be placed over WiFi or even a data network.
Bill Protection And Group Plans
Google charges its Fi Flexible plan customers $20/month for unlimited talk and text, and $10 per GB but only up to 6GB of high-speed data. Consumers who go over that 6GB data limit will not be charged further. Google considers this “bill protection.” Consumers with a single line that go over 6GB will still be allowed to use a maximum of 15GB of high-speed data before data speeds are throttled to 256 Kbps.
Group Plans
Google Fi allows for up to 6 people to share a phone plan. On the Flexible plan, the first line pays $20/month for unlimited talk and each additional line is charged $15/month. So if you have two lines you’ll pay $35/month before you are billed for any data. Data is also shared between all lines and priced as follows:
- 2 lines – billed for the first 10GB of data used and a price cap of $135
- 3 lines – billed for the first 12GB of data used and a price cap of $170
- 4 lines – billed for the first 14GB of data used and a price cap of $205
- 5 lines – billed for the first 16GB of data used and a price cap of $240
- 6 lines – billed for the first 18GB of data used and a price cap of $275
If you purchase a group plan with a price cap, each individual line can use up to 15GB of high-speed data before that line has its data speeds reduced to 256 Kbps. Hotspot is included with the Flexible plans, counts toward the high-speed data cap and is priced at $10/GB. Customers on a Flexible plan can also order data-only SIMs that are billed at the same rate. A maximum of 4 data-only SIMs can be added to a plan.
Unlimited Data Group Plans
Google Fi does offer two “unlimited” phone plans although they aren’t truly unlimited. Data speeds still slow to 256Kbps after you consume a specified amount of data during a billing cycle. There are group discounts available. Below are price and feature comparison tables of Google’s two unlimited plans.
| Feature | Simply Unlimited | Simply Unlimited Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price 1-line | $50 | $65 |
| High-speed Data | 35GB* | 50GB* |
| Mobile hotspot | 5GB | 50GB*h |
| Data Only SIM Add-On | No | Yes |
| 100GB Google One Cloud Storage | No | Yes |
| Free International Calling To 50+Countries | No | Yes |
| Texts & calls while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico | No | Free texts, 20¢/min for calls |
| High-speed data use while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico | No | Free in over 200 locations |
*Throttles to 256Kbps for the remainder of billing cycle after allotment reached.
h – mobile hotspot draws from the plan’s high-speed data allotment and slows to 256Kbs after 50GB has been consumed
Both Google Fi unlimited plans include talk, text, and data usage while traveling in Canada and Mexico at no extra cost. The Simply Unlimited Plus plan allows you to add up to 4 data-only SIMs to the plan at no additional cost. Data-only SIMs will draw from the main line’s high-speed data allotment.
| Price | Simply Unlimited | Simply Unlimited Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 2-lines | $80 | $110 |
| 3-lines | $75 | $135 |
| 4-lines | $80 | $160 |
| 5-lines | $100 | $200 |
Taxes and fees cost extra with all Google Fi phone plans.
International Use
Another unique Google Fi feature is that a customers data can be used in over 200 countries. Customers on the Flexible plan will pay the same $10 per GB of data they do to use it domestically, while there is no charge to use it on the Unlimited Plus plan. International data speeds are only limited by the network that the subscriber is on while traveling. 5G/LTE data is available in many countries.
Google Fi plans include international text messaging to and from over 200 countries. International voice calls cost extra and in general, are priced at 20¢/minute. If you call internationally over WiFi, costs vary based on which country you are calling. Only outbound calls are billed.
Supported Phones And BYOD Devices
Google Fi supports a wide variety of devices, customers can bring their own device to the network or purchase one directly from Google Fi.
Phone Unlock Policy
Google Fi phones are sold unlocked and can be taken off the network for use elsewhere at any time.
Google Fi News
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Does the quoted monthly charge(s) include Fees & Taxes, or are they added to the stated amounts to determine final charges?