Google Fi, formerly known as Project Fi, is a unique cellular service that uses Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular (a regional carrier) cellular networks paired with Wi-Fi hotspots - automatically picking the best partner wherever you happen to be.
Plan Information
Top Pick Notes: Google Fi isn't the most attractive plan for heavy data users, but it presents a very flexible option to carry 3 cellular provides in one plan, and easy International use. It's ideal as a back-up option if you carry AT&T and Verizon as your primary carriers, or if you do some international adventuring.
There are several Android phones that were designed specifically to work on Fi, but most currently popular phones are also compatible with Fi. You can get more information on phone compatibility here. While the list of compatible phones is now greatly expanded, not all phones can take advantage of Google Fi's multi-carrier switching, use over Wi-Fi, and international features.
Currently Available Plans:
- Unlimited (22GB at high speed) - $70/month
- Flexible - $20/month + $10/GB pay as you go up to $60, then no additional charge up to 15GB of usage.
- Data-only SIM option (no charge - available to current customers only, shares data pool with phone plan)
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular
- Carrier Relationship: MVNO
- Plan Types Available: Phone, Tablets, Hotspots, Routers
- Device Types Permitted: Any, but there is a limited set of fully-compatible phones that can take advantage of all of Fi's features. Compatible iPhones have limitations - one of which is that only T-Mobile service is used in U.S.
- Unlimited:
- Unlimited Plan - Yes, but high speed capped at 22GB
- Flexible - After you purchase 6GB of data in a month, you get "unlimited" free high-speed data up to 15GB, then speeds are reduced to 256k.
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Yes
- Throttling:
- Unlimited Plan - throttled to 256kpbs after 22GB
- Flexible Plan - throttled to 256kbps after 15GB
- Network Management: Yes
- Video Streaming Resolution: 480p
- 5G Access: Yes, on phones that work with FI and are compatible with T-Mobile’s 5G network.
- Device Purchase Required: No
- Plan Period: Month
- International Roaming: Yes, high-speed data in over 200 countries is included at no extra charge
- The majority of your data should be used within the U.S., or you risk the possibility of termination
- International mobile hotspot and sending texts over Wi-Fi is unsupported when using an iPhone
- Google Fi does not specify what the threshold is for how long you can use the service without termination, but we have seen reports of threats of termination after 5 months of international travel
- Domestic Roaming: Yes
- Data Roll Over: On Unlimited Plan, no. On Flexible Plan, you pay for data as you use it.
- Overage Charges: Speeds are reduced after caps are met, but additional high-speed data can be added for $10/GB
- Lines Permitted Per Account: 6
- Extras: 'Family Features' - a set of features designed to help those with multiple lines on an account manage those lines. This permits you to block calls & texts from those not on your contact list, create data budgets which alerts you when a certain amount of data is used and allows you to set data caps for high-speed use, and limit screentime via the service.
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Shopping for Cellular Data Plans
Finding the right plans for your needs is no easy task - quite simply mobile travelers using cellular data as their primary way online is not how most carriers have designed their plans. Many of us want plans that provide copious amounts of data.
Understanding the different plan terms (like network management, throttling, hotspot data, video resolution) is key to determining if a plan will meet your needs or not. You also need plans that are suitable for use in the device you want to use them in - such as smartphone, mobile hotspot device or cellular embedded router.
To learn more about shopping for dataplans, check out these key guides:
As heavily as the carriers push their "Unlimited' data plans - you'll quickly discover that most have limits. Here's a video going over what you need to know about unlimited plans, including 3rd party resellers plans that you might find on the internet:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online - it's only one part of the equation. You also need the right gear and signal enhancing strategy.
For more education on assembling a cellular centric mobile internet setup, head on over to our collection of guides:
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