What Is Google Fi, and Is It Worth It?
What is Google Fi, and is it worth it?
Google already makes the operating organization that powers your smartphone and, for some of us, makes the phone itself. And if you sign up for Google Fi, the tech behemothic tin can provide the cellular service for that phone, too.
Known equally 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 keep you covered. Subscribers were drawn to its pay-simply-for-what-you-use 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, Projection Fi is all grown up — and then much so that Google changed the name of the service to Google Fi and removed 1 of its biggest restrictions. While only select phones worked with the service before, now you tin can apply merely nearly any smartphone with Google Fi, including Apple tree's iPhone. You can even now pick upwardly a SIM kit from Best Buy retail stores and join the service the very same solar day.
Here'due south what you need to know about Google Fi.
What phones can you employ with Google Fi?
Phone choice had been the biggest limitation with Projection Fi. But now that the service is rebranded as Google Fi, that'due south 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 will soon be joining the mix, too. In addition, 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 xx and all Galaxy S21 models; bachelor Motorola phones at Google Fi include the Motorola 1 5G Ace, Moto K Power and Moto G Play.
These optimized phones are able to have reward of Fi's intelligent network switching, seamlessly jumping to any belfry offers the all-time coverage betwixt T-Mobile, US Cellular and what's left of Sprint. (Sprint merged with T-Mobile, which has absorbed Sprint's network.)
Google has also broadened Fi's reach by expanding the number of phones you can use with information technology. Today, you can sign up using almost any Android phone. If you've got an iPhone, you lot tin sign up for Google Fi, too, using the Google Fi iOS app.
Expanding the number of phones that will piece of work with Google Fi certainly widens the pool of wireless users who can take reward of Google's straightforward data programme pricing. The trade-off in not using a Fi-approved phone, though, comes with what network yous'll utilize when accessing cellular connectivity. Phones that aren't designed for Fi cannot switch between those three networks, and will make do with T-Mobile connectivity alone.
Like other carriers, Google Fi allows yous to transfer your current cellphone number over to its service when you sign upwards.
What network does Google Fi utilize?
As with other mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, Google Fi relies on another carrier'due south network to provide cellular coverage. In Google Fi's case, a couple of carriers are used — T-Mobile (and what's 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 be and connects you to that ane. Should y'all relocate to an surface area where another carrier partner has better coverage, you lot'll exist switched over to the ameliorate connection.
In addition to LTE coverage, you can too expect 5G coverage from those networks, if you've got a uniform device — that is, 1 with a 5G modem.
But cellular coverage is only part of the Project Fi story. Similar to fellow MVNOs Republic Wireless and TextNow, Project Fi besides delivers talk, text and data over VPN-protected public Wi-Fi hotspots when a wireless network is available. Over again, Google promises seamless switching between Wi-Fi and cellular connections for its Fi-certified devices. And it'southward that reliance on Wi-Fi that allows Projection Fi to offer lower monthly bills compared to the major carriers.
Things work a little differently if you sign up for Google Fi with another Android device or an iPhone. In that case, your device will be restricted to either T-Mobile's network. You'll also give up that seamless switching over to Google's network of Wi-Fi hotspots when you're out and about.
What are the all-time Google Fi plans?
Fifty-fifty with its new proper noun and broader assortment of smartphone options, Google Fi keeps plans unproblematic. Yous've nevertheless got Fi'southward classic offer, called Flexible, which provides unlimited talk and text (including international texting) for $20 a calendar month.
Just what about data? You lot gauge how much data you lot'll utilize each month, paying $x for each GB. Allow's say y'all expect to apply 3GB per month. That would tack on some other $30 to your neb, meaning you can expect to pay $l each month. Given Google Fi'south utilize of Wi-Fi when available, you presumably would utilise less LTE data than you might with a traditional carrier — though that more often than not depends on where yous
At first glance, that doesn't compare peculiarly well to other low-cost carriers. Metro by T-Mobile, one of our top choices among discount carriers, offers a 10GB plan for $twoscore a month — that same $40 buys you but 2GB of information at Projection Fi.
But Google Fi's appeal lies in the fact that you won't have to pay for whatsoever unused data. Google Fi charges you down to the cent for each MB. Sticking with our 3GB scenario, should yous use just two.2GB in a month, you'll pay $42 at the end of your billing cycle.
The service's Bill Protection feature effectively adds unlimited data to Google Fi for those who use the standard Flexible plan. Beak Protection caps your monthly nib at $80 a calendar month, or 6GB of data nether Google'due south $10-per-gigabyte pricing. Notwithstanding, you're nevertheless able to apply data in one case you go over 6GB without your bill increasing. Only when you striking 15GB of data during a calendar month will Google start to ho-hum your data speeds.
Y'all can add together additional people to your Google Fi business relationship for another $15 per line. Everyone on the account draws from the same puddle of LTE data, so a family unit of iv that uses ix.5GB a month would pay $160, which is what T-Mobile charges that aforementioned family unit for unlimited data. Pecker Protection works on multiline accounts, too, though the cap varies depending on how many lines of data y'all take.
More recently, Google Fi introduced a true Unlimited choice that costs $seventy per month for a single user and comes with Google One cloud storage membership included. That translates to $threescore per month for 2 users each, or $l for three. Four or more than users on a plan volition exist charged $45 for each line. Similar other carriers' unlimited offerings, this one has a deprioritization signal, whereupon data consumed past a limit of 22GB will be throttled relative to others users.
There's one other unlimited data plan pick at Google Fi. Called Simply Unlimited, it starts at $60 per month for one line. However, you'd give up a lot of the perks that makes Google Fi then appealing — there's no coverage if you travel overseas, you don't go any Google Ane deject storage, and you can't tether.
What special features does Google Fi offer?
Besides rebates on unused information, most Google Fi customers are able to use their phones as a wireless hotspot for no additional cost, though any data they use comes out of their monthly allotment. Only Unlimited plans don't offering hotspot capabilities.
Google Fi'due south real special feature should entreatment to international travelers: You're able to draw from your regular pool of data in 200-plus countries, without having to pay any roaming fees. To put that in context, T-Mobile lets you lot use unlimited data when traveling in 200-plus countries, but information technology severely limits your speed. Verizon charges y'all $v to $10 per solar day depending on where yous're traveling to use your information plan overseas, unless you lot're paying for its most expensive unlimited program.
As noted above, unlimited international texting is included with your Google Fi plan. Telephone calls in more than 200 countries volition cost you lot 20 cents a minute over cellular connections; rates vary for Wi-Fi calls.
Google has implemented an selection called Enhanced Network that routes all internet connections through the company'due south secure VPN. This means that whether yous're on mobile data or one of Google's 2 million free public hotspots, your data is private and cannot exist viewed past anyone — T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular or even Google itself. This feature does effect in 10 per centum more data usage than normal past Google'south estimation, though it's definitely a worthwhile improver for those concerned nearly security. It'southward simply available to Fi-certified phones, notwithstanding.
Google Fi likewise offers a referral plan in which you can get a $20 credit for each new user you bring into the Google Fi fold. Y'all're capped at 10 referral credits, or $200.
What is Pixel Laissez passer?
As part of the Pixel 6 launch, Google Fi is introducing a programme chosen Pixel Pass. Nether this plan, yous buy your telephone for a monthly fee and become subscriptions to a number of Google services — Google One storage, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium streaming, and Google Play Pass gaming. Y'all also become Preferred Care, which offers ii years of accidental-impairment coverage and one twelvemonth of mechanical-breakdown coverage.
Pixel Pass costs $45 a month for the Pixel 6 and $55 a calendar month for the Pixel 6 Pro. We have a breakup on whether Pixel Laissez passer is worth it. Y'all do salvage money on all those subscriptions over time, only if you're not planning on signing upwards for them, information technology is a two-twelvemonth commitment, which might cramp some users' styles.
After two years, though, yous are eligible to upgrade to a new Pixel phone, then that's some other 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 love-fest for Google'due south wireless service. Fi gets an average rating of 4.5 out of 5, with more than 80 percent of customers posting 5-star reviews. Customers like paying only for the information they employ and the lower monthly bills. The few complaints on the Google Fi app concern call quality.
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That pretty much squares with the wider perception of Google's service, which has won the Readers' Option Award equally Project Fi at PC Mag for three years running. Other reviews at Computerworld and Forbes are similarly glowing, praising the services client 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 nosotros think information technology delivers an unparalleled customer experience, even if other carriers offer cheaper plans and you get the nigh out of Google'due south service with an optimized device. Google Fi also offers our favorite jail cell phone programme for international travelers.
Google Fi outlook
There are some articulate advantages to Google Fi, from the straightforward billing to the monthly credits for unused information. Bill Protection makes Google's service fifty-fifty more appealing for heavy-data users. If you prefer Google's Pixel phones, the service is a no-brainer, and international travelers will love the convenience of using their regular data program to stay connected on the become.
Since Google Fi has been expanded to work with phones beyond Google-approved ones, more users tin can give this service a try, though you're sacrificing some of the benefits of having an optimized device.
Other carriers may offer more aggressively priced information plans, though Pecker Protection makes Google Fi more competitive for heavy information users. You lot may not reap Google Fi's benefits if you're not around Wi-Fi as much, though. That said, fans of Google devices will find plenty to like nigh Google Fi.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/project-fi-faq,review-4530.html
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