What Is Google Fi, and Is It Worth It?
What is Google Fi, and is information technology worth information technology?
Google already makes the operating arrangement that powers your smartphone and, for some of us, makes the phone itself. And if you sign up for Google Fi, the tech behemothic can provide the cellular service for that phone, as well.
Known as Project Fi when it launched in 2015, Google touted its service as an alternate wireless carrier for select Google devices by using a blend of Wi-Fi and other carrier networks to continue you lot covered. Subscribers were fatigued to its pay-only-for-what-you-employ approach, too, especially after Google started capping the amount it charges each month.
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One-half-a-dozen years after its launch, Project Fi is all grown upwardly — so much so that Google changed the name of the service to Google Fi and removed one of its biggest restrictions. While only select phones worked with the service earlier, at present y'all can utilize just about whatever smartphone with Google Fi, including Apple tree's iPhone. You can even at present selection upwardly a SIM kit from Best Purchase retail stores and join the service the very same mean solar day.
Hither'southward what you need to know about Google Fi.
What phones tin can you use with Google Fi?
Phone pick had been the biggest limitation with Project Fi. But at present that the service is rebranded equally Google Fi, that's changed in a major way.
As before, Google Fi is best experienced on Google's own phones such as the Pixel 5a. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro volition soon exist joining the mix, too. In improver, Google Fi sells phones from other device makers that are optimized for its wireless service. That includes the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy A32 5G, Milky way Note twenty and all Milky way S21 models; available Motorola phones at Google Fi include the Motorola 1 5G Ace, Moto G Power and Moto One thousand Play.
These optimized phones are able to take reward of Fi's intelligent network switching, seamlessly jumping to whatsoever tower offers the best coverage between T-Mobile, U.s.a. Cellular and what'southward left of Sprint. (Sprint merged with T-Mobile, which has absorbed Sprint'southward network.)
Google has also broadened Fi'southward reach by expanding the number of phones you can utilize with information technology. Today, you lot can sign upward using most any Android phone. If yous've got an iPhone, you lot can sign up for Google Fi, too, using the Google Fi iOS app.
Expanding the number of phones that will work with Google Fi certainly widens the pool of wireless users who tin take advantage of Google'due south straightforward data plan pricing. The trade-off in non using a Fi-approved phone, though, comes with what network yous'll employ when accessing cellular connectivity. Phones that aren't designed for Fi cannot switch betwixt those three networks, and will make exercise with T-Mobile connectivity alone.
Like other carriers, Google Fi allows you to transfer your current cellphone number over to its service when y'all sign up.
What network does Google Fi use?
As with other mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, Google Fi relies on some other carrier's network to provide cellular coverage. In Google Fi's case, a couple of carriers are used — T-Mobile (and what'southward left of Sprint) and regional carrier US Cellular. For Fi-certified devices, Google says its cellular services determines which carrier has the fastest network where you happen to exist and connects y'all to that 1. Should y'all relocate to an expanse where another carrier partner has better coverage, you lot'll be switched over to the meliorate connection.
In add-on to LTE coverage, y'all can besides expect 5G coverage from those networks, if y'all've got a compatible device — that is, ane with a 5G modem.
But cellular coverage is only part of the Project Fi story. Like to boyfriend MVNOs Democracy Wireless and TextNow, Project Fi as well delivers talk, text and data over VPN-protected public Wi-Fi hotspots when a wireless network is available. Once more, Google promises seamless switching between Wi-Fi and cellular connections for its Fi-certified devices. And it's that reliance on Wi-Fi that allows Project Fi to offer lower monthly bills compared to the major carriers.
Things work a little differently if yous sign up for Google Fi with some other Android device or an iPhone. In that case, your device will be restricted to either T-Mobile'due south network. You lot'll also give upward that seamless switching over to Google'south network of Wi-Fi hotspots when you're out and about.
What are the all-time Google Fi plans?
Even with its new proper noun and broader array of smartphone options, Google Fi keeps plans simple. You've even so got Fi's classic offering, called Flexible, which provides unlimited talk and text (including international texting) for $20 a month.
Only what nigh data? You guess how much data you'll employ each month, paying $10 for each GB. Permit'south say you expect to apply 3GB per month. That would tack on another $thirty to your bill, meaning you can expect to pay $l each month. Given Google Fi's use of Wi-Fi when available, yous presumably would use less LTE data than you lot might with a traditional carrier — though that mostly depends on where you
At commencement glance, that doesn't compare particularly well to other low-price carriers. Metro by T-Mobile, one of our top choices amidst discount carriers, offers a 10GB plan for $40 a month — that aforementioned $40 buys yous simply 2GB of information at Project Fi.
Simply Google Fi'due south entreatment lies in the fact that you won't have to pay for whatever unused data. Google Fi charges you down to the cent for each MB. Sticking with our 3GB scenario, should you employ simply 2.2GB in a month, you'll pay $42 at the end of your billing bicycle.
The service'southward Bill Protection characteristic effectively adds unlimited data to Google Fi for those who utilize the standard Flexible program. Bill Protection caps your monthly pecker at $80 a calendar month, or 6GB of data under Google'southward $x-per-gigabyte pricing. Nonetheless, you're still able to utilise data once you lot go over 6GB without your bill increasing. Only when you lot hit 15GB of data during a month volition Google starting time to tiresome your data speeds.
You can add additional people to your Google Fi account for another $15 per line. Everyone on the account draws from the aforementioned pool of LTE data, and so a family of 4 that uses nine.5GB a calendar month would pay $160, which is what T-Mobile charges that same family unit for unlimited data. Bill Protection works on multiline accounts, too, though the cap varies depending on how many lines of data you have.
More recently, Google Fi introduced a true Unlimited option that costs $lxx per month for a single user and comes with Google One deject storage membership included. That translates to $60 per calendar month for 2 users each, or $50 for iii. Four or more users on a programme will exist charged $45 for each line. Like other carriers' unlimited offerings, this one has a deprioritization betoken, whereupon information consumed by a limit of 22GB will be throttled relative to others users.
There'south i other unlimited data plan pick at Google Fi. Called Simply Unlimited, it starts at $60 per month for one line. Notwithstanding, y'all'd give up a lot of the perks that makes Google Fi and so highly-seasoned — there's no coverage if yous travel overseas, you don't get any Google 1 cloud storage, and you tin't tether.
What special features does Google Fi offer?
Likewise rebates on unused data, most Google Fi customers are able to use their phones every bit a wireless hotspot for no boosted price, though any data they apply comes out of their monthly allotment. Simply Unlimited plans don't offer hotspot capabilities.
Google Fi's existent special feature should entreatment to international travelers: You're able to draw from your regular pool of information in 200-plus countries, without having to pay any roaming fees. To put that in context, T-Mobile lets you apply unlimited data when traveling in 200-plus countries, but it severely limits your speed. Verizon charges yous $5 to $ten per twenty-four hour period depending on where you're traveling to use your data program overseas, unless yous're paying for its most expensive unlimited program.
Equally noted above, unlimited international texting is included with your Google Fi plan. Phone calls in more than 200 countries will cost you xx cents a minute over cellular connections; rates vary for Wi-Fi calls.
Google has implemented an option called Enhanced Network that routes all internet connections through the company'due south secure VPN. This means that whether yous're on mobile information or one of Google'south 2 million free public hotspots, your data is individual and cannot be viewed by anyone — T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular or even Google itself. This feature does result in 10 pct more data usage than normal by Google'due south estimation, though information technology'south definitely a worthwhile addition for those concerned about security. It'southward just bachelor to Fi-certified phones, however.
Google Fi also offers a referral program in which you tin get a $20 credit for each new user you bring into the Google Fi fold. You're capped at 10 referral credits, or $200.
What is Pixel Pass?
As part of the Pixel half dozen launch, Google Fi is introducing a program called Pixel Pass. Nether this programme, you lot buy your phone for a monthly fee and get subscriptions to a number of Google services — Google One storage, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium streaming, and Google Play Pass gaming. You besides get Preferred Intendance, which offers two years of accidental-damage coverage and ane year of mechanical-breakup coverage.
Pixel Pass costs $45 a month for the Pixel 6 and $55 a month for the Pixel 6 Pro. We have a breakdown on whether Pixel Pass is worth it. You do relieve money on all those subscriptions over time, just if you're not planning on signing up for them, it is a ii-yr delivery, which might cramp some users' styles.
Afterwards ii years, though, you are eligible to upgrade to a new Pixel phone, so that's another possible perk.
What do customers say about Google Fi?
Reviews of Google Fi posted by the service's users in the rebranded Google Fi app are a honey-fest for Google's wireless service. Fi gets an boilerplate rating of 4.five out of five, with more than than 80 percent of customers posting 5-star reviews. Customers like paying only for the data they use and the lower monthly bills. The few complaints on the Google Fi app concern phone call quality.
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That pretty much squares with the wider perception of Google'south service, which has won the Readers' Choice Laurels as Projection Fi at PC Mag for three years running. Other reviews at Computerworld and Forbes are similarly glowing, praising the services customer service and simplified billing. Those reviews do acknowledge the limitation on supported phones, and the Forbes reviewer suggested that heavy data users won't get much bill satisfaction from Google Fi.
We've reviewed Google Fi, testing it on both optimized phones and regular handsets, and we recollect information technology delivers an unparalleled customer experience, even if other carriers offer cheaper plans and you get the well-nigh out of Google's service with an optimized device. Google Fi likewise offers our favorite cell phone plan for international travelers.
Google Fi outlook
There are some clear advantages to Google Fi, from the straightforward billing to the monthly credits for unused data. Nib Protection makes Google'south service even more appealing for heavy-data users. If you adopt Google'due south Pixel phones, the service is a no-brainer, and international travelers will love the convenience of using their regular data plan to stay connected on the go.
Since Google Fi has been expanded to work with phones across Google-approved ones, more users tin give this service a try, though yous're sacrificing some of the benefits of having an optimized device.
Other carriers may offer more aggressively priced data plans, though Pecker Protection makes Google Fi more competitive for heavy data users. You may not reap Google Fi's benefits if you're not around Wi-Fi as much, though. That said, fans of Google devices volition find plenty to like about Google Fi.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/project-fi-faq,review-4530.html
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