A new Unlimited Essentials plan is available for $35 a month for a single line, providing unlimited calls, texts, and data, along with 30GB of high-speed data for use within the US.
This month marks ten years since Google Fi was launched, and to commemorate the occasion, the company has rolled out its most affordable unlimited plan to date, along with enhancements to its existing unlimited offerings.
The new Unlimited Essentials plan is priced at $35 monthly for one line, offering unlimited calls, texts, and data along with 30GB of high-speed data available for use in the US. Google Fi has also upgraded its other plans to differentiate them from the newly introduced Essentials plan.
The Simply Unlimited plan has been renamed to Unlimited Standard, now featuring 50GB of high-speed data, an increase from the previous 35GB, while the tethering data has surged from 5GB to 25GB. This plan costs $50 monthly for one line.
Unlimited Plus has been rebranded to Unlimited Premium and now offers 100GB of high-speed data, doubling the previous 50GB limit. However, tethering is no longer unlimited on this plan, with customers restricted to 50GB each month, and it is priced at $65 per line.
Customers with the Standard and Premium plans receive additional perks, including coverage in Canada and Mexico at no extra charge, as well as connectivity options for select smartwatches. Users on the Unlimited Premium plan also benefit from 100GB of Google One Cloud storage and a complimentary six-month trial of YouTube Premium, alongside other advantages.
The carrier’s prices decrease per line when you add more lines to the same plan. For instance, adding a second line to Unlimited Essentials reduces the cost to $30 per line.
A new feature allows users to add an extra device to their plan using an eSIM. Previously, the company permitted a secondary device with a physical SIM card, but this marks the first time an eSIM can be used for a tablet or laptop.
If you’re using an iPhone with Google Fi, you will now have access to international 5G for the first time. Customers on Flexible or Premium plans with Google Fi will now also enjoy 5G data in 92 countries, although the company has not yet disclosed the new countries added.
Google Fi was recently recognized as the best mobile carrier in PCMag’s Readers’ Choice Awards, surpassing competitors like Mint Mobile, Consumer Cellular, and the major three carriers, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Mint Mobile posed some competition but fell short of matching Fi’s overall satisfaction rating. Google Fi also excelled in terms of phone options and data network reliability. The two carriers were tied for minimizing dropped calls and data network speed.
To mark its 10th anniversary as a wireless service provider, Google Fi Wireless has introduced a series of promotions and perks, including a plan designed to outshine its rivals.
1. Unlimited Essentials plan
Now available, the new Unlimited Essentials plan offers US customers unlimited calls and data, plus 30GB of high-speed data, all for just $35 a month for one line. If you need additional lines, Google will lower the overall cost as you add more. For example, two lines would cost $60, three lines $80, four lines $90, five lines $113, and six lines $135.
This plan features 5G service when accessible, spam call blocking, a VPN, and connectivity for specific smartwatches. Should you run out of the 30GB of data before the month concludes, Google will simply reduce your speed to 256 Kbps until the next billing cycle begins.
As a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Google Fi Wireless primarily operates on T-Mobile’s network. You can verify coverage in your area using the Google Fi coverage page. Keep in mind that the calls, texts, and data included in this plan are only available within the US.
2. Increased data
Along with launching the new plan, Google has raised the data allowances on its more expensive plans.
At $50 per month per line, the Unlimited Standard plan, formerly known as Simply Unlimited, now provides 50GB of high-speed data, an increase from 35GB. The monthly data limit for high-speed hotspot usage has also been raised to 25GB, up from the previous limit of 5GB. Calls, texts, and data are also included in Canada and Mexico.
For $65 each month per line, the Unlimited Premium plan, formerly known as Unlimited Plus, now offers 100GB of high-speed data instead of 50GB. This plan also includes 50GB of hotspot data, coverage in over 200 countries, six months of complimentary YouTube Premium, 100GB of Google One cloud storage, and wireless connectivity for tablets and laptops.
Google Fi additionally has a Flexible plan that charges you for the data you use on a per-gigabyte basis. The cost is $20 monthly per line, along with $10 for every gigabyte of data consumed.
3. International 5G access
As an added benefit, Google is improving its international 5G coverage for both Unlimited Premium and Flexible plans. With the inclusion of 54 additional countries, these plans will now be accessible in more than 92 locations worldwide.
Moreover, international 5G support has been introduced for iPhones in addition to Android devices.
4. Deals on Pixel devices
But there’s more to this offer. New customers can effectively get a complimentary Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel Watch 3. You will receive an immediate $300 discount on the Pixel 9 Pro, and the remaining $699 will be credited to your bill over 24 months. Once Google sends your phone, you’ll get a code for a Pixel Watch 3, which offers a $100 discount on the initial purchase and $349 back over 24 months through bill credits.
How does Google Fi perform in practice?
Since Google Fi mainly operates on T-Mobile’s network, you can anticipate good performance in areas with strong T-Mobile coverage. However, the best way to evaluate it is to experience it yourself.
Google Fi allows for a complimentary seven-day trial that includes high-speed data in the U.S., unlimited calls and texts, hotspot tethering, VPN access, and spam call filtering. You can use this trial alongside your current wireless plan and decide when to utilize each service. Just be sure to cancel before the seven days conclude, or Google will start charging you $50 monthly.
Google is also raising the high-speed data limit on its Unlimited Premium plan (previously known as Unlimited Plus) from 50GB to 100GB. The plan will continue to cost $65 per month for a single line, though it no longer provides unlimited high-speed hotspot tethering and now has a 50GB cap.
Furthermore, Google Fi will enable you to connect an additional tablet or laptop to your plan via a data-only eSIM, which is compatible with devices like the latest Apple iPad Air and iPad Pro. Google Fi has always allowed users to add a secondary device to their plan, but this previously necessitated a physical data-only SIM card.
To include a device with an eSIM in your plan, go to fi.google.com/account from your phone, select Manage plan, and then tap Connect your tablet. Google will then prompt you to scan a QR code with your tablet or laptop, enabling you to get online without any additional costs.
There are a few other updates in store for Google Fi as well. It will allow both iPhones and Android devices to access international 5G and is extending its international 5G coverage to over 92 countries for users on its Unlimited Premium and Flexible plans. Google is additionally adding the function to listen to voicemails directly from your Phone app instead of the Fi app “in the coming weeks.”