Best Fi Wireless plans for 2024: Pricing, phone options, and more

Google boasts a successful line of Pixel phones and plenty of other great mobile and smart hardware. Why not let it manage your mobile coverage? Google Fi is unique among prepared carriers, supports an impressive list of phones, and feels more like a traditional carrier in many ways. 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.

The best Google Fi Wireless plans at a glance

There are now three 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. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you out:

• Flexible is perfect for those that don’t use much data. You pay just $20 monthly for unlimited talk and text, then $10 per every GB used. To keep your bill from getting too crazy, Google gives you free unlimited data after you’ve paid for 6GB — a bill total of $80 for one line. This plan is a bit of a hybrid between prepaid and postpaid, as you pay a monthly fee ahead, but the actual data is charged after the billing month ends. Have multiple lines? You can get discounted rates as low as $17 per line for four lines, though you pay the same $10 per GB for data.
• Simply Unlimited is perfect for families that use more than a few gigs of data. At $50 a month for one line, Simply Unlimited isn’t the cheapest plan when you consider it’s not truly unlimited. You get just 35GB of high-speed data; afterward, things slow down to just 256kbps until the next billing period. If you’re just one person, we don’t really recommend this plan. That said, families will see the rate drop down to just $30 for four lines, and most users don’t really use more than 35GB of data anyhow.
• Simply Unlimited Plus is best for frequent travelers who use a lot data. If you’re a frequent traveler, we recommend Plus over Simply Unlimited. It’s just $10 more for one line, yet you get 50GB of data, a Google One membership, and free texting and data in many countries across the globe. If you travel a lot, this is the way to go. There are also discounts that can bring it down to as little as $45 per line for four lines.

Which Fi Wireless plan do we recommend?

As we mentioned above, the best plan will depend on your use case. For those who use less than 3GB of data a month on a regular basis, Flexible will save you at least $10 over the Simply Unlimited plan. Unlike Simply Unlimited, you can use the data for hotspot access as well.

If you use more than 3GB regularly, Flexible isn’t worth it and can actually get more expensive than the other two at $80 a month for just 6GB of data. 

On the other hand, Simply Unlimited Plus is a better fit if you use more than 3GB of data a month and need hotspot access or if you travel frequently. For single-line users, it’s only $10 more than the basic unlimited plan, though that gap goes up to $15 with more lines, interestingly.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at all three plans and dive into what else sets them apart.

Flexible

The most cost-effective option with Google Fi is the Flexible plan. This plan charges a base monthly service fee of up to $20. Additionally, you pay for the data you use per gigabyte. Once you reach a usage of 6GB in a month, data access is free for the remainder of that month, up to 15GB. This system effectively caps your monthly bill, ensuring you never pay more than a predetermined amount. The plan also includes full-speed hotspot access, giving you flexibility in how you use your data.

For international travelers, Fi is an excellent choice. The plan offers free texts, international calls starting at just one cent per minute, and data at the standard rate. In fact, if your travel is occasional, opting for the Flexible plan during your trips could be more economical than choosing an Unlimited Plan. Even after reaching the 6GB data cap, you can continue to use data without exceeding a monthly maximum of $80.

Simply Unlimited

Google split its unlimited tier back in 2021, creating a more budget-friendly option for those staying in the US. The additional tier, named Simply Unlimited, provides unlimited talk, text, and data, along with free calls to Canada and Mexico. A significant advantage is that Simply Unlimited starts at $60 per month for a single user, offering savings compared to the fully unlimited plan.

With this plan, you’ll receive 35GB of high-speed data. However, it’s important to note that hotspot tethering is not included. Additionally, Simply Unlimited does not include a Google One membership, which might require an additional monthly expenditure.

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

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 prepaid plans on the market. We’ve grabbed our favorite options from the Big Three — one each on Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. We’ve also included one popular third-party MVNO. 

Mint Mobile

First up is Mint Mobile. Originally owned by Ryan Reynolds — yes, that one — it’s now a subsidiary of T-Mobile. Mint 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.

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 an 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 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.

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 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.

Sticking to the More idea, you can use your plan in Canada and Mexico 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

How good is Google Fi wireless network coverage?

As you might expect from the tech giant, coverage on Google Fi is impressive. it primarily runs on T-Mobile’s network, with extensive 5G coverage across the US and 4G LTE almost everywhere. It also has a roaming agreement with US Cellular, so if you travel into a rural area where that service where only US Cellular is available, it will automatically switch at no cost to the user.

In addition to offering full use of any plan in Canada and Mexico, the network reaches over 200 countries and territories. With the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans, you receive automatic data coverage abroad without additional fees or setup. Specific Pixel and Samsung devices also benefit from 5G coverage in select international locations.

Another nice touch is that, unlike many plans for the big three carriers, Google Fi Wireless is not subject to data traffic deprioritization. That means you won’t experience slowed data speeds during periods of high network usage.

High network usage in specific areas is also addressed. Pixel users on Android 12 or newer can access the W+ network when available through the Fi VPN. The W+ network leverages specific secure, high-quality Wi-Fi networks to enhance mobile data connectivity in congested areas, such as airports, malls, and stadiums.

Best Google Fi phones

Traditionally, only post-paid carriers offered special incentives like free phones or device financing, but there are a few prepaid options that do the same. Fi Wireless is one of those carriers. You’ll need to pass a soft credit check first, but monthly payment plans range from as little as $8 a month to as high as $50. The actual list of phones will change over time. You can find the full list directly at Google Fi Wireless’ website, but here are a few highlighted selections worth looking at:

• Samsung Galaxy S24 series – starting at $14.58 a month
• Google Pixel 8 – Starting at $12.46 a month
• Pixel 8a – $0 a month with 24 bill credits
• Samsung Galaxy A15 5G – $0 a month with 24 bill credits

Does Fi Wireless offer any special discounts?

If you’re looking for senior citizens, first responders, or military discounts, you’re unfortunately not going to find them with Fi Wireless. While some prepaid carriers offer this kind of discount, this is typically more common among postpaid plans. 

Frequently asked questions