Google Fi Wireless: My Experience as a Five-Year Customer (Pros and Cons)

Written by |
Advertisement

I switched from Sprint to Google Fi Wireless in 2019 and I’ve been a customer since. Here are my top four reasons why I have been with Google Fi Wireless for five years:

  • International travel benefits: I’ve traveled to more than 10 countries and the service has been seamless with no surprise charges.
  • Customer service: I’ve contacted customer service twice and the representatives quickly responded with tips to help me resolve the issue.
  • Flexibility: I can switch my plan at any time depending on my travel schedule.
  • Price: It’s not the cheapest cell phone plan on the market, but it’s an affordable option for a frequent traveler without the drama of a major carrier.

This article was updated in March 2024 and I review it every six months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

A Candid Review of Google Fi Wireless

In this review, I’ll share my experience with Google Fi Wireless, how it works during international trips and why I’m not switching any time soon.

Google Fi Wireless Review: Table of Contents

The Basics: Network, Plans and Pricing

Google Fi Wireless (formerly Project Fi) is a cell phone service from Google that launched in 2015. The service runs on T-Mobile’s network. (Check your coverage here to learn more about the service in your area.)

Google Fi Wireless offers three plans: Flexible, Simply Unlimited, and Unlimited Plus.

Let’s take a closer look at the similarities and differences between the plans.

FlexibleSimply UnlimitedUnlimited Plus
$35/month for two lines, plus taxes and fees$80/month for two lines, plus taxes and fees$110/month for two lines, plus taxes and fees
Unlimited talk and textUnlimited talk and textUnlimited talk and text
$10/GB for dataUnlimited dataUnlimited data
Data slowed after 15GBData slowed after 35GBData slowed after 50GB
Full connectivity for select smartwatchesFull connectivity for select smartwatchesFull connectivity for select smartwatches

The Unlimited Plus plan also comes with a free Google One membership which gets you 100GB of cloud storage for each member on the plan, and six months of free YouTube Premium.

When I switched to Google Fi Wireless in 2019, I joined the Flexible plan. While I was nervous to be on a pay-by-the-gig plan, it was a great fit since I’m almost constantly connected to Wi-Fi in my home and at work.

For those of us who are nervous about gig usage, Google offers a feature called Bill Protection on the Flexible plan (it’s basically a safety net for your wallet). Bill Protection means you won’t pay for any data used after you hit a certain limit depending on the number of lines on your plan.

Plan SizeDataMaximum Data Cost
16GB$80
210GB$135
312GB$170
414GB$205
516GB$240
618GB$275

I mentioned flexibility as one of my highlights of Google Fi Wireless and here’s why.

Advertisement

In November 2023, I added a third line to my plan. With this shift, I changed my plan to Simply Unlimited because it’s $80/month whether you have two, three or four lines. I easily made this change in the Google Fi Wireless app, and it was effective at my next billing cycle. However, Google announced a price increase in March 2024. The price for three lines on the Simply Unlimited plan is now $90/month.

While this plan doesn’t include international travel benefits, Google says I can switch between Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus at any time and it happens immediately (not the next billing cycle like switching between the Flexible plan and one of the unlimited plans). Before my next international trip, I’ll go to the app to switch my plan.

Speaking of travel…

The Best Part: International Travel

I mentioned above that the international travel features are one of the biggest reasons why I’ve been a Google Fi Wireless customer for several years. In fact, it makes our list of the best international cell phone plans.

As you can see, all three plans offer data, calls and texts within the U.S., Canada and Mexico. But if you’re traveling to other countries, the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans have you covered.

Google Fi’s network covers more than 200 destinations around the world if you are on the Flexible or Unlimited Plus plan. Text messages are free, and voice calls are $0.20 per minute. The best part is you get high-speed data for the same $10 per GB price on the Flexible plan, and your bill is still covered with the Bill Protection feature, even abroad. If you choose the Unlimited Plus plan, you also get free data while traveling internationally.

Since 2019, I have traveled to more than 10 different countries including France, Guatemala, Italy, Panama, Spain, and Thailand. When I land at each destination, the process is the same. I turn on my phone, wait 5-10 minutes for my service to activate, and enjoy my trip. I can use my phone the same way I use it at home. My service is never interrupted and I’ve never had any surprise costs.

The Unique Part: Phone Selection

When I joined Google Fi Wireless in 2019, selecting a phone “designed for Fi” was a big deal. At the time, Google Fi switched between three networks and if you didn’t have one of the eligible phone models, your service could suffer.

There are still unique perks for certain phone models on Google Fi Wireless. For example, Pixel users with Android 12 and above get access to the W+ network when available if the Fi VPN is enabled. Google says the “W+ network uses select secure, high-quality Wi-Fi networks to improve your mobile data connection in highly congested areas.”

Regardless, you can keep your current unlocked phone (check compatibility) and switch to Google Fi Wireless.

Planning to switch phones before joining Google Fi Wireless? You can trade in your old phone or sell it to make a few extra bucks.

Advertisement

Here is a look at a few phones designed for Google Fi as of March 2024:

  • Pixel 8 Pro
  • Pixel 8
  • Pixel Fold
  • Pixel 7
  • Pixel 7a
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
  • Motorola razr+
  • Moto g 5G

Notice any major brands missing? While Google doesn’t sell Apple iPhones, most models are compatible with Google Fi Wireless.

Google Fi Wireless does offer device protection starting at $4 per month, but money expert Clark Howard doesn’t recommend it. Check to see if your credit card offers free device protection instead.

The Details: Activation, Call, Text and Data Performance

The activation process was simple and seamless, and Google Fi Wireless doesn’t charge any activation fees. Since 2019, I have ordered three more phones from Google Fi: a Google Pixel 3a, a Google Pixel 5a and a Google Pixel 7a. Google provided simple and easy-to-follow steps to move my service to the new phone and the service transition was uninterrupted.

As for call performance, I have experienced zero dropped calls and zero missing text messages — at home and abroad.

Google Fi Wireless claims to offer high-speed data both domestically and internationally. While I don’t regularly stream music or videos on my phone, I haven’t experienced any issues with downloads or buffering.

I used the Speedtest by Ookla app to test download and upload speeds. The average was 36 Mbps download and 35 Mbps upload — plenty fast for video streaming.

The Support: Customer Service

The wireless network offers 24/7 support by phone, chat and email, which you can easily access from your online account or through the Google Fi app on your phone.

I lost my Pixel 3a in March 2022 and chatted with customer service to ensure that my data was erased properly. Thankfully, I was connected to a representative in under two minutes and received the action items and assurance I needed.

I also contacted support in July 2023 and I was connected with a person via chat immediately. After checking with colleagues, they followed up with a resolution via email and everything was resolved on the same day.

Advertisement

The Recap: Why I’ve Been With Google Fi Wireless for Five Years

In my experience as a five-year Google Fi Wireless customer, it’s the best phone plan for my lifestyle.

While cheaper options exist, Google Fi’s international benefits, flexibility to switch plans, and customer service make it a top pick. If you’re a frequent traveler, this plan is worth your consideration.

Before making the actual switch, you can try Google Fi Wireless for free for seven days if you have a compatible eSIM phone.

If you’re not a frequent traveler, you may want to consider a less expensive unlimited data plan or a cheaper phone plan. Mint Mobile is one of our top recommendations for cell phone plans and it also runs on T-Mobile’s network.

Read about other top cell phone plans in Team Clark’s guide.

Have you tried Google Fi Wireless? Let us know in our Clark.com community!

Article Updates
  • March 13, 2024: Updated pricing for three lines on the Simply Unlimited plan from $80 to $90/month due to a price increase by Google. Changed YouTube Premium perk for Unlimited Plus plans from one year to six months per Google. Updated phone selection.
  • November 6, 2023: Added my recent switch from Flexible to Simply Unlimited. Updated phone selection.
  • October 5, 2023: Added access to W+ network for Pixel users on Android 12 and higher. Updated current phone selection.
  • April 20, 2023: Updated Google Fi company name to Google Fi Wireless, added information about smartwatch connectivity, and the seven-day free trial.
  • April 17, 2023: Removed U.S. Cellular as a network used by Google Fi. Updated available phone selection list.
  • April 8, 2022: Updated plan pricing because Google Fi dropped prices on its Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus plans.
  • April 22, 2021: Added Google Fi’s new Simply Unlimited plan option.
Advertisement