Google Fi buyer's guide: Pricing, plans, and more

Google boasts a successful line of Pixel phones and a more extensive smart home product portfolio than you can shake a stick at. Why not let it manage your mobile coverage? Google Fi is unique among MVNOs, and it supports a jaw-dropping list of phones. If you want an alternative to the Big Three that’s all about flexibility, it just might be the way to go.

Google Fi’s plans fall into two basic categories, so we’ll cover them both in our breakdown. We’ll also touch on the long list of devices you can bring to the network from OEMs worldwide. Although Google Fi is an MVNO already, we’ll touch on a few of its top competitors to give you a bigger picture. Ready to try the carrier made by Google? Let’s get to it.

Google Fi at a glance

Google launched its MVNO, then known as Project Fi, in April 2015 by invitation only alongside the Nexus 6. Project Fi expanded to the rest of the public in 2016, though it’s tricky to track down an accurate number of subscribers. Project Fi rebranded to Google Fi in 2018 and has grown to support more devices, including iPhones, in the years since.

The carrier does not have its own Better Business Bureau page — instead, it falls under the Google umbrella. As a whole, Google carries a B-plus rating and a one-star customer average. It’s closed 6,900 complaints in the last three years and is not a BBB-accredited organization.

We’ve mentioned that Google Fi is unique among MVNOs, but here’s why — it combines T-Mobile’s and UScellular’s networks for coverage. Sprint used to contribute to Google Fi, but now it’s fully controlled by T-Mobile. The combination of networks means that Fi switches automatically to provide the best service wherever you go.

Thanks to its relationship with T-Mobile, Google Fi devices can tap into nationwide 5G. Of course, you’ll have to make sure that your phone is 5G-capable, but there are no extra hoops to jump through.

You can check out the coverage map for yourself right here.

The best Google Fi plans

There are now three simple Google Fi plans — two with unlimited data and another where you pay as you go. Each has its perks, but it’s up to you to decide which fits your needs. Both plans work for up to six lines, so it’s a great option for larger families. Check out the table below for more specifics:

Try Google Fi for free

Though not technically an official Google Fi plan, you can now test out Google’s MVNO free for seven days. The process is easy as can be and uses an eSIM to get you connected to the network. During your trial, you’ll get unlimited talk and text, as well as 10GB of high-speed data — though Google will throttle your speeds if you go over. The Google Fi trial also gives you access to services like VPN by Google One and call screening.

If you enjoy your time with the network, you will automatically be enrolled in Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited plan at the end of your trial.

Flexible

The best way to save some money with Google Fi is to opt for the Flexible plan. You’ll pay a monthly rate for service — no more than $20 per month — and then pay per gig of data you use. Data access becomes free after reaching a certain threshold each month, just 6GB for a single line. After that, you can still use high-speed data up to 15GB without further fees. It works as a cap for your bill, so you never pay more than a specific price. What you do with that data is up to you; full-speed hotspot access is included.

If you plan to go abroad, Fi is the carrier to beat. You get free texts, international calls from just one cent per minute, and data at the standard rate.

Highlights:

• Low price for monthly service
• Pay $10 per GB used
• Go abroad with cheap text, data, and free texting

Best for:

• Users who need talk and text but have flexible data usage

Simply Unlimited

Google recently split its unlimited tier in half, making it a slightly more affordable option for those planning to stay in the US. The Simply Unlimited plan, as it’s called, offers all of the talk, text, and data you need as well as free calls to Canada and Mexico. The big kicker is that Simply Unlimited starts at $60 per month for one user, saving you some money over the all-in unlimited plan.

You’ll still get 35GB of high-speed data, but there’s no hotspot tethering this time around. Simply Unlimited doesn’t come with a baked-in Google One membership either, so you may have to drop a few extra dollars each month.

Highlights:

• Lower price for unlimited talk, text, and data
• Free calls to Canada and Mexico
• No international data or texts

Best for:

• Users who need talk, text, and data but plan to stay in the US

Unlimited Plus

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing — at least, that’s the idea behind the Google Fi Unlimited Plus plan. Built for users who know they need it all, the top-tier plan adds plenty of extra goodies on top of unlimited talk, text, and data. Starting at $70 per person, you can take full advantage of a mobile hotspot connection and video streams at DVD quality (480p). The Unlimited plan includes a Google One membership with 100GB of cloud storage for free to make things even better.

Google Fi Unlimited is the better international option, too, as data usage is free along with texting. It’ll still slow down once you reach 50GB, but that’s more than most people use in a month. You’ll still pay for calling, but more than 50 countries come with your monthly rate. Unlimited Plus now also includes one year of YouTube Premium at no extra cost.

Highlights:

• Use as much data as you want, up to 50GB
• Google One membership included
• Go abroad with free texts and data as well as low calling rates

Best for:

• Users who want it all and plan to spend ample time abroad

Which plan is right for you?

It’s pretty easy to determine which plan is right for you — ask yourself how much data you plan to use. If it’s more than around four or five gigs per line, opt for one of the Unlimited plans’ freedom. However, if you spend almost all day on Wi-Fi and you only use a little bit of mobile data per month, grab the Flexible plan.

You can also use international access as your deciding factor. Google Fi is only available to US-based users, but if you plan to spend a lot of time abroad, you may want to pick the Unlimited Plus plan. You could try Simply Unlimited if you plan to call our North American neighbors, too. The Flexible plan should offer enough access if you only travel here and there.

Google Fi vs the competition

The best way to choose your next carrier is to stack all of your options in a head-to-head showdown. Of course, it’s only fair to compare Google Fi to some of the other top MVNOs on the market. We’ve grabbed our favorite options from the Big Three — one each on Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. You can learn more about our top picks over on the Best prepaid and no-contract plans in the US.

Mint Mobile

First is Mint Mobile, the only option on today’s list not owned by a larger carrier. Instead, it’s owned by Deadpool himself — Ryan Reynolds. Mint now offers a new unlimited plan, or you can get 15GB of 4G LTE or 5G access from just $30 per month, and your phone will automatically jump to whichever service is more reliable. International calling to Mexico and Canada is baked in, and you can use as much of your cap for hotspot as you wish.

See also: The best Mint Mobile plans

Instead of snagging an extra fee for your SIM card, Mint will send you a versatile option that you can punch into any of three sizes. The lack of bonus perks and streaming options is a bummer, but Mint makes a great affordable option on the T-Mobile network.

Highlights:

• Up to unlimited 4G LTE or 5G data per month
• Calling included to Mexico and Canada

Visible

Visible is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon, which means you get a massive nationwide network without the costs often associated with Big Red. It keeps your plan options even easier than Google Fi does because there’s only one. You’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data for $40 per month, which you can drop to $25 per month thanks to Party Pay.

See also: The best Visible deals

Party Pay involves teaming up with as many other friends on the Visible network as you please. You’ll save $5 for each user you add, but all of you will pay separately. That means one late payer won’t drag down the others. Every time you refer a friend to the network, Visible will reward you with a month of service for just $5. Also, Visible will let you tap into hotspot access, and it’s finally added genuine international coverage for both Canada and Mexico.

Highlights:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Pay as little as $25 per month with Party Pay

Cricket Wireless

The last competitor, Cricket Wireless, relies on AT&T as an owned MVNO. Although it’s part of the AT&T umbrella, Cricket acts like its own network, offering various plans and add-ons to make the most of your service. The best — and most expensive — plan you can get is Cricket More, and it serves as the high-end unlimited option. For your money, you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data, and 15GB of hotspot included.

See also: The best Cricket Wireless plans

Sticking to the More idea, you can use your plan in Canada and Mexico, but only if it’s less than half of your service. Cricket also allows you to add on even more hotspot access or add calling to individual international countries for a fee.

Highlights:

• Usage in Canada and Mexico up to 50%
• 15GB mobile hotspot included; add more for a fee

What phones can you use on Google Fi?

Google Fi recently stepped things up in terms of its available phones. You can now get most new Samsung Galaxy phones on the network, including the S23 family, Galaxy Z Flip 4, and the affordable Galaxy A14. Of course, the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7 series are available, too, since it’s Google’s carrier, after all. 

Better yet, your options are almost limitless if you’re planning to bring your phone. Google Fi offers support for so many options that we’ve had to put them in their own list, which you can read here. Keep in mind many of these phones won’t support switching to UScellular, but this probably isn’t a big deal unless you happen to live in a significant UScellular region. 

See also: The best Android phones | The best cheap Android phones

The list is reasonably all-inclusive, and it’s essential to realize that just about any phone from T-Mobile or UScellular should work without issue on Google Fi. As always, band support is a crucial part of bringing your device. Check out the bands that Google Fi relies on using the table below: