[Updated 2022.4] Google Fi launched the Simply Unlimited plan last year. The author previously called it the "North America single-line unlimited data plan," with pricing starting at just $30/month. One year later, Google improved this plan: pricing now starts at only $20 (with a group of 4), and hotspot support has been added, so it has now become more of a "North America plan."

  • Key feature: not available outside North America (can be used in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico)
  • Readers living in the U.S. may want to switch to this plan, then switch back to the $45 plan when traveling abroad.
  • Fi has recently had some decent Samsung Galaxy phones available as well, if you are interested take a look

For details, please visit the official website: https://fi.google.com/about/plans

[Updated 2021.10] Google Fi added the Fi VPN feature last year. At first it was not available on iPhone, but it became available some time ago. You can enable it in the Fi app under privacy & security. The impressive part about Fi VPN is that it can still be used even when your Fi service is offline or paused, including accounts that have already been blocked by Fi from using international data. Note that because this is a Google product, you need to be able to access Google before activation.

The performance is quite strong, and the IP quality is excellent, with several servers available to switch between.

Google Fi signup (get $20 Fi credit after one month of use):

  • Apply through links shared in the blog comments section (Feel free to click the links shared by readers in the blog comments section to apply)
  • Apply via referral links from some readers
  • Referral code: 2UJ23H or 0XN1Y7

Before We Begin

There are many mobile carriers in the United States. The major ones include AT & T, T-moblie, Verizon, and Sprint. There are also smaller niche carriers, especially for users who like prepaid Plan options, such as FreedomPop with its free-plan gimmick, Lycamoblie for international roaming (this card used to be a great tool for getting Google Voive at basically zero cost and for maintaining a U.S. number abroad at almost no cost, though that opportunity has largely been exhausted), and the so-called China/U.S.-friendly XXX Ximei Americas card (honestly, you might as well just get Google Fi instead). Today we are introducing Google Fi, a service under Google that offers a lot of value. Google Fi also supports number porting from other U.S. carriers, and I will explain that below.

What Is Google Fi

Google Fi was originally called Project Fi. Starting on November 30, 2018, it was officially renamed Google Fi, and at that time it also launched an unprecedented promotion (see the expired promotions roundup at the end of the article). Google Fi currently supports the vast majority of phones, including iPhone and most Android devices. It currently does not seem to support China Telecom versions of iPhone or carrier-customized Android phones from China.

Plan Overview

In short, this is a carrier service that lets you enjoy low-cost calls, texting, and data around the world. The most basic fixed monthly cost is $30, including $20 for unlimited domestic U.S. talk and text plus global LTE data at $10/GB. If you use less than 1GB of that $10 data allotment, the unused portion is credited back the following month based on actual usage. Roaming call and text charges vary by country, but they are generally very inexpensive. You can check specific rates here: https://fi.google.com/about/rates/  Here we will mainly focus on data. The global data rate is especially attractive: just $10/GB with LTE access. Unused data is refunded proportionally, and if you go over, that is fine too—it is still charged at $10/GB, with any unused portion likewise refunded proportionally. Each person can also add up to 4 data-only SIM cards for use with your own devices, especially tablets, computers, WiFi hotspots, and other equipment in the U.S.

Google Fi has introduced new group plans, summarized below:

  • Unlimited plan: speeds are throttled after 22G of usage (service becomes slower after throttling, but it is still usable). Note that this is 22G per person!
  • Flexible plan: $10/G, pay for what you use with credits for unused data; the data billing cap is $60/60G, after which data is free, and speeds are throttled after 15G.
  • If multiple people join, the per-person prices are listed below. The Unlimited plan is especially cost-effective for groups of 4 or more.
  • You can also change plans at any time on the Google Fi homepage
Number of People Simply Unlimited Unlimited Plus Flexible Plan
1 person $50/month/person $65/month/person $20/month/person + $10/GB
2 people $40/month/person $55/month/person $18/month/person + $10/GB
3 people $25/month/person $45/month/person $17/month/person + $10/GB
4 people $20/month/person $40/month/person $17/month/person + $10/GB
5+ people $20/month/person $40/month/person $16/month/person + $10/GB

With the Unlimited plans, whether individual or group, each person can receive the entry-level Google One membership (the Google Drive membership tier) at no extra cost [from the official site]:

  • Worth $1.99/month, includes 100GB of storage space (shared across Gmail, Google Photo, and Google drive; free Google drive accounts only include 15GB of storage);
  • Can be shared with up to 5 additional family members;
  • Google expert support
  • Hotel discounts: in regions where Google One is available, select hotels may offer Google One members discounts of up to 40%. Sign in to a Google account with Google One membership and search for hotels.

For how to choose, please refer to the “activation” section below.

Basic Pricing

  • Base monthly fee: Ulimited plans $45-$70, Flexible plans $16-$20
  • Taxes and service fees (Tax & Regulatory Fees) vary by state; they are a bit lower in states with no sales tax;
  • Data charges: the previous Unilimited cap was 18G; the new version increased it to 22G and added support for groups. Under the Flexble plan, global LTE data costs $10/GB, and if you use less than 1GB, the unused portion of that $10 data charge will be refunded proportionally the following month. The cap is 6G; after 6G speeds are throttled, and the billing cap is also $60

Calls and Texts

Rate details: https://voice.google.com/rates

  • Unlimited calls and texts from the U.S. to the U.S. and Canada
  • For international calls from the U.S., see International calling rates. For example, calls to China cost $0.01/min
  • Sending texts to any country is free;
  • Outside the U.S., both incoming and outgoing calls cost $0.2/min, which is not too expensive. However, you can combine it with Hangouts to achieve very low-cost or even $0 calling. For example, while in China, you can use Google Fi through Hangouts to call a +1 U.S. number for free; calling a China number through Hangouts costs 0.01 cent/min. Good value, although WeChat video calls are free.

Guide to using it outside the U.S.: https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6157794

Coverage Within the U.S.

Google Fi has three partner carriers in the United States: T-Mobile, Sprint, and US cellular. Depending on where you are, it may connect through a different carrier. The signal is slightly weaker than AT&T in some places, but whether at home or while traveling, the impact is generally minor. In remote areas of the U.S. where T-Mobile has no signal, AT&T usually does not have signal either.

Coverage within the United States. Data source: https://fi.google.com/coverage

Google Fi Data-Only SIM

  • A Google Fi data-only SIM is an add-on line. You must activate the primary line first before linking a data-only SIM.
  • The data-only SIM shares data with the primary line. Each primary line can have up to 4 data-only SIMs attached. If you choose a group plan, each person can have 4 additional data-only SIMs.
  • After activation, a data SIM can be used with a specific device, such as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.

Google Fi IP Range

When the connection is stable, Google Fi can provide a fixed IP, and that IP is in the United States even if you are outside the U.S. IP behavior is more varied now, but one thing is fairly clear: as long as the connection does not drop, the IP generally stays fixed during that session.

When shopping online internationally (or placing orders that benefit from a U.S. presence), some merchants prefer orders from a fixed U.S. IP, and Google Fi can help with that. Some U.S. bank apps or websites, such as AMEX, may require SMS or email verification when your IP is outside the U.S. That is manageable, but having Google Fi makes things easier.

Advantages of Google Fi

Google Fi is actually a good fit for a lot of people, and it now supports most phones and devices, whereas in the early days it only supported Google’s own phones. It is especially useful for those of us who are deep into credit card rewards, and you can also pair it with Wi-Fi devices to support multiple devices automatically. Here are a few common use cases:

Long-Term Use in the U.S.

  • Scenario 1: You want to keep a U.S. phone line at relatively low cost. Of course there are cheaper options, such as FreedomPop or prepaid plans like Tello, but those can be annoying to manage and sometimes come with pitfalls. Time is money too. Google Fi’s base plan costs only $20, and data is $10/G. With Wi-Fi available almost everywhere, any unused data is credited back proportionally on your bill. KUKU clearly remembers being pulled into an AT & T family group right after arriving in the U.S.; when the group was small, the monthly share came out to $40+, and the data often got used up by other people. With Google Fi, your own 4G data is yours to use. Especially with the newer 4-6 person unlimited plan, which includes global unlimited data and four data-only SIMs per person, it is hard to beat this pricing.
  • Scenario 2: Credit card rewards enthusiasts. If you have earned all those points, why not take your LD along and travel the world a bit? Google Fi saves you the trouble of switching plans. And no matter where you are in the world, you can get online without dealing with internet restrictions or setting up a separate VPN solution, while continuing to use your own U.S. number.
  • Scenario 3: Frequent travelers returning to China to visit family or flying internationally for work. Today Singapore, tomorrow Australia, the day after Ireland. If that sounds like you, then Google Fi is an especially strong fit.
  • For the latter two groups, another major advantage is that you can receive bank text messages and calls for free while outside the U.S., and use Hangout to call U.S. numbers for free as long as you dial with +1.

Short-Term Use Outside the U.S.

  • If you are about to take an international trip, you might think that paying $30 for your carrier’s roaming plan is a better deal. Not necessarily. Why? First, if you sign up for Google Fi through our link, you can get a one-time $20 credits. That effectively brings the one-time cost down to $10. Second, carrier roaming packages are usually sold as one-time bundles. For example, you might pay $15 for a certain amount of data, but if you do not use it all, you do not get a refund, and if you exceed the limit, you could be charged a large roaming overage. Google Fi does not have that problem. You pay for what you use, and the rate stays the same even if you go over. You can think of it as paying $10 for a one-time 1GB LTE data SIM.
  • If you are heading back to China to visit family soon, there is not much more to say. It is just very useful.

Long-Term Use Abroad

For example, let’s talk about readers in mainland China and the advantages Google Fi offers there.

  • Using U.S. credit cards from mainland China: Google Fi is a physical phone SIM, which makes many things more convenient. A lower-cost option is of course Google Voice (GV), but GV is a virtual number and comes with some limitations. For example, Chase Zelle does not work with Google Voice, while Google Fi works fine.
  • A great tool for international online shopping: No matter where you are, Google Fi presents a U.S. IP, and when the signal does not change, that IP can remain fixed for a while. For people who need to shop from U.S. merchants, a fixed U.S. IP can be very important. A real U.S. phone number from Google Fi is also valuable.
  • Built-in access without needing a separate VPN: because this is a U.S. SIM and a U.S. number, the traffic is effectively routed through the U.S. Even though the signal display may show a local carrier, such as China Mobile or China Unicom, it does not affect your internet access. That can save you the cost of buying a VPN. The same applies to a data-only sim.
  • You can activate it in real time while outside the United States.

Multiple Data-Only SIMs

One account can have 4 data-only SIMs. Including the primary SIM, that gives you a total of 5 SIMs. On an unlimited plan with 4 or more people, that means 4x5=20 SIMs can use global unlimited data at the same time, though only the four primary lines have actual phone functionality. What more needs to be said? With the unlimited plan, you can give the data-only sim to family members in China and they can benefit from built-in unrestricted internet access. If you want to reduce costs, some people may also be willing to buy access to a data-only sim at a reasonable price, but do not abuse this or your account could be shut down.

Temporary Pause Allowed (Keep Your Number with $0 Service Cost)

You can temporarily pause service to save money. Each pause can last up to three months, and using this feature repeatedly can save quite a bit when you do not need the line. It is essentially a short-term way to keep your number with $0 service cost. See below for details.

Disadvantages of Google Fi

  • If you are on an individual plan and need data, then at $30 per month you only get 1GB of data, which is not very cost-effective if you never leave the United States.
  • If you only use it in the U.S. and do not use much data, there may be other phone plans that fit you better.
  • When used in mainland China, although it is LTE and generally good enough overall, speeds are somewhat slower than local carriers’ 4G.
  • The $10/G data cost outside the U.S. is still not especially cheap, particularly now that short-video apps are everywhere. That said, in mainland China, this unrestricted data access can still be an excellent value.

How to Buy a SIM Card

A lot of merchants or gray-market sellers offer them, but the author does not recommend those options because they are often not cost-effective, and dealing with a bad SIM can be a hassle. We recommend reserving or purchasing through one of the following channels so that any bad-card issues are easier to resolve:

  • Join directly on Google’s official website. Google will send you a free SIM card. When registering remotely, your IP may affect your registration success rate. If that is a concern, the second channel below may be a better fit.

Preloaded $10 SIM card purchase options:

How to Activate

[Update 2: 2020.2] Based on reader reports and online DPs, starting February 1, 2020, Google blocked signal reception when activating Fi physical SIM cards and eSIMs in mainland China (activation may go through, but there is no signal). Since our authors have not personally run into this situation, we have not been able to research a workaround for activating a SIM in mainland China. If you have any good ideas, please share your experience in the comments.

One possible workaround that may work (needs testing):

First activate SIM card A in the U.S.
After activation, transfer to SIM card B in China
Use SIM card B in China
A few suggestions here:

Do not abuse Fi’s unlimited international data. If you will not use it for a short period, you can pause service.
If you mainly use it in mainland China, do not use it for only 1–2 months and then discard it; this may be a major reason many accounts are now getting banned.
If you think it is expensive, besides pausing service, you can also share your refer in our comments section.
If you activate it in the U.S. and bring it back to China, that is generally fine; Google also encourages people to use it while traveling abroad. However, if you do not use Fi in the U.S. for an extended period (more than one year), Google may suspend your data service.

Applying for and Activating the Primary Line

If you have read the above and decided to get one, keep reading for a simple walkthrough of how to open the line:

Application

Apply for Google Fi through a referral link to receive an extra $20 credit.

After you click in and select Join Fi, you will log in to your Google account (you can choose an account not linked to Google Voice). If this Google account is linked to Google Voice, note the following:

  • The same Google account cannot have both a Google Voice number and a Google Fi number at the same time.
  • You can choose to port in your Google Voice number. If you stop using Fi later, the number will automatically return to Google Voice.
  • You can also give up that Google Voice number (irreversible—are you sure?). After giving it up, you can port in another number or transfer your existing number from another carrier.
  • If you port from GV to Fi, any credit in your original GV account will automatically transfer to your Fi account.

Choose a Plan and Phone Type

The main plan options are summarized below:

  • Unlimited plan: speeds are throttled after 22G of usage (it will be slower after throttling, but still usable if needed). Note: it is 22G per person!
  • Unlimited plan: each person also gets 100GB of Google One (formerly Google Drive), worth $1.99/month;
  • Flexible plan: $10/G, with charges adjusted based on actual usage; data charges are capped at $60/60G, and usage is free after that; speeds are throttled after 15G.

If you are using it alone, the Flexible plan is recommended. If money is no object, then whatever you prefer.

  • If multiple people are using it, the 4-person unlimited plan is amazingly good: $45/month for unlimited global data! Paired with your data-only SIM, it is quite good for use in the U.S.
  • If multiple people are using it and data needs are not high, then the Flexible plan becomes more suitable as the group gets larger. But there is always the chance of a “teammate” going over the data limit, so I still think the 4-person unlimited plan is excellent.
  • You can change plans through the Google Fi website or mobile app.

Choose to bring your own phone, or buy one if you like. Many Android phones and iPhones are supported, though support for less common phones may be limited, so be sure to check:

Next, choose whether you need Google to ship a SIM card. I bought mine from BB, so I selected “I already have a Google Fi Sim.” If you need to add a person, just click Add Person:

When choosing your number, you can keep the Google Voice number on this account, get a new number, or port in a number from another U.S. carrier (the port-in section is explained in more detail below):

If you give up the Google Voice number linked to this account, you will lose it permanently. If you port in from GooleVoice, the balance in Google Voice will also transfer into the newly opened Fi account, so there is no need to worry;

Next, it will ask whether you have a $20 referral credit. If not, and since I worked so hard on this, feel free to use our code: 2UJ23H or 0XN1Y7 (recommended to copy and paste)

After that, choose the credit card you want to use for billing, then happily wait for the SIM or start activating your SIM card. If you bought your SIM card from Best Buy, after activation Google will email you to let you know that an extra $10 credit is on the way (though in practice you paid for it yourself).

Activating Google Fi

Once you receive the card, or if you are using the SIM card you bought from Best Buy, download the Google Fi app on your phone. This part is straightforward. If you cannot download it where you are, check whether you need a VPN or a US Apple ID to download it from the US store.

Activation includes SIM activation, number setup, and phone setup.

Just follow the prompts and enter the relevant serial code.

In my case, porting directly from Google Voice to Google Fi took only a few minutes:

[Note] If you activate outside the U.S., you may recently trigger a “B046” activation error. This mainly appears with free SIM cards issued by google. Before activation, you can contact google customer service (online chat or phone) and let them know you will be activating the line outside the U.S. Then try activation again. This issue does not exist with the $10 prepaid SIM card purchased from Best Buy.

For phone settings (instructions are included in the Sim kit), using iPhone as an example: go to Setting—Celluar Data, fill in all APN fields with “h2g2,” enter MMSC as: "https://fi. g.co/mms/wapenc", then restart.

[Note: Android mobile data settings vary by device, so YMMV. The general path is: Settings → Wireless & networks → Mobile network settings → turn on Data roaming → Access Point Names → create a new APN → Name: Google Fi, APN: h2g2, and set MMSC to “https://mmsc1.g-mms.com/mms/wapenc”]

After filling everything out and submitting, Google will tell you that data can be used right away, but calls and text messages may take 1-2 days and will only work after the Port in is complete. You’ll also need to restart your phone. After restarting, the signal usually shows up quickly. If you’re outside the U.S., the carrier displayed will be a local telecom company instead (it’s not fixed, and sometimes the logos of several carriers rotate). At that point, you should be able to get online without issue.

Data-only SIM Activation

A data-only SIM is different from a regular phone SIM and must be ordered and activated separately:

  • Order path: Google Fi homepage → Account → Your Plan → Add data-only SIM (you can order two per day, up to four total)
  • Activation page: fi.google.com/data
  • Once activated, you can just insert it into your phone or device and start using it. No second activation is required.

Over the course of the process, you’ll receive several emails. Fi 2 is the order confirmation email that includes two data-only SIMs:

Referral Bonus

If you sign up for Google Fi through a referral link, you can receive a $20 credit, with up to $200 in credit per year. This reward is only issued after you’ve used the service for one month. Google will email you, and after that you’ll be able to generate your own referral link. In practice, you really do have to wait until the billing payment after one full month is completed. The author tried asking customer service to speed up the code issuance, but that didn’t work. After you complete one month of billing payment, you can find your personal referral code through the following two methods:

Fi and Credit Card Cell Phone Insurance

Google Fi does not mail you a paper bill, but Fi is still a legitimate wireless phone service. Even though there are only electronic bills, there are DPs on Reddit showing that if you pay your Google Fi bill with a credit card that offers cell phone insurance (Cellular Telephone Protection), you may be able to use that coverage to pay for repairs if your phone is damaged. There aren’t many existing DPs, but I personally think banks will probably approve claims in most cases, though YMMV. That means even if you are not in the U.S., you may still be able to enjoy this coverage remotely, and it may not be limited to your own phone, though again YMMV. Common credit cards that offer cell phone insurance include:

Adding Funds to Google Fi

Generally speaking, Google Fi bills automatically each month by default, but you can also make manual payments. Here is the payment link. The main use case for paying ahead is to use a card that earns bonus rewards on wireless bills (such as Freedom earning 5X in certain quarters) or a credit card that offers wireless bill reimbursement. The minimum top-up amount is $10 per transaction.

Find the subscriptions page, then click Manage
Minimum top-up is $10

Other Questions

Number Porting

Porting from another carrier to Fi

As mentioned earlier, Google Fi allows number porting. Before transferring your number to Google Fi, you’ll need to get the required port-out code from your current carrier. Just tell them you want to port your number; customer service should know what you mean. If they don’t, ask for a different rep and try again. You can also apply for the SIM through our referra link, and you can still receive the same $20.

If you don’t need to move your number to Google Fi right away, you can first port it to Google Voice and then later move it to Fi when needed. Of course, you’ll need to pay the $20 fee to port into Google Voice. See here:

You'll be charged a $20 fee to port your mobile number to Google Voice from most mobile service providers, such as Verizon or AT&T. Moving a number to Google Voice after canceling Google Fi is free.

Porting out from Fi

Porting your Google Fi number out to another carrier is also no problem. If the number originally came in through a Google Voice Port in, then after Fi is terminated, that number will automatically be retained for you in Google Voice. Moving it to another carrier is not difficult either.

Temporarily Pausing Google Fi

Reference: https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6079346

  • Each year, you can pause service for 180 days (6 months). Each pause can last up to 90 days (3 months), and within one billing cycle, you can pause once. If a pause exceeds 90 days, Fi will automatically resume service. In other words, if you don’t use it much during the year, you can save at least $120 in base fees.
  • In practice, you may be able to pause Fi multiple times within a single billing cycle, but it’s still best to follow the official rules.
  • After each pause, your number is retained. Data service (including data-only SIMs), calls, and text messaging will be suspended.

For readers who do not need to use Fi all the time, temporary pauses can save quite a bit of money. You can reduce costs by up to $120 per year.

If any individual pause goes beyond 90 days, Fi will automatically reactivate. Temporarily pausing Fi can help you save a meaningful amount on phone service when you don’t need it.

Changing Your Number

If you don’t like your number, you can contact online support at any time to change it. Each person can usually change their number about 3 times; more than 3 may also be possible depending on the support rep. In practice, this is basically a manual Google Voice number selection process: you first choose an area code, then the rep will ask, “How about this one?” If it doesn’t work for you, they can try another. The fastest method is actually to pretend you’re selecting a Google Voice number yourself first, since Google Voice supports self-search. Once you see an available number you like, immediately contact support and request that exact number. As long as no one else has claimed it yet, the rep can assign it to you.

[2020.6 update] Google now allows one Gmail account to hold both a Fi number and a Voice number at the same time [You can now use Fi to pick a GV number; does 1 number become 3 numbers?]

Number on data-only SIMs

In certain countries and regions, data-only SIMs may have a temporary number. This number is only meant to facilitate data usage. Don’t expect to use it as a real phone number; reportedly, trying to do so may ruin the card.

Using Fi for hotspot

If you use a Google Fi phone as a hotspot, other connected devices can enjoy the same Fi network access, even in mainland China.

Google Pixel with Fi

In the early days, only Google’s own Pixel phones could activate a SIM card, but now iPhone also supports eSIM.

Email/SMS gateway

This feature is actually of limited use. You can receive text messages via email, and you can also send email via text message, with a limit of text or files under 8Mb. For example, if my number is +1-123-456-7890, then the corresponding email address is [email protected]. For details, see: https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6356597

Canceling Google Fi

After canceling, your Fi number can be moved back to your Google Voice for free. If you choose to port in to another phone carrier, you can apply for a new Google Voice number again.

Other issues

If you run into problems during activation or use, you can ask customer support for help (24/7). Of course, their expertise is often not that strong, and they also don’t like offering compensation. In that respect, they are still quite a bit behind AT&T, where it’s often easy to get a credit as compensation.

Google Fi user experience

Although I’ve been to quite a few countries, I hadn’t activated Google Fi before. I usually bought local SIM cards on X Bao or used China Mobile international roaming instead (data is expensive, and access to Google from overseas has restrictions), so I wasn’t able to promptly share my experience. Now Google Fi has “saved” me quite a bit on SIM card costs and mobile charges. I’ll continue updating this article with usage experiences from different countries and regions. Readers are also welcome to leave comments and share your own experiences!

Mainland China

A rural fishing village: China Unicom LTE, full signal bars. Internet access was smooth. Right after inserting the SIM, sometimes it took more than 10 minutes before getting a signal.

Japan

Tokyo: network source was docomo LTE, full signal bars. After inserting the SIM, it picked up signal quickly, and the overall experience was very good.

Closing

Reader Veason previously contributed an article introducing Project Fi on our blog, but that was quite a long time ago. Based on that earlier article, I have made major updates and also added and corrected related points for maximizing value. Other contributors to this article include metahacker and ymlulu.

Google Fi application links

Google Fi phone purchase deals