2 weeks Ago By Paul Thurrott
I was looking at canceling Google Fi and going with another Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), but thanks to some impressive service upgrades, I’m now considering paying them more instead. “We started Google Fi Wireless 10 years ago to bring people wireless connectivity that’s simple and secure,” . “Starting today, we are adding a new plan with a lower price, upgrading other plans with more data, more than doubling our international 5G network, and celebrating our 10th birthday with new promotions that you won’t want to miss.
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Here’s what’s new. Google has introduced a new low-cost entry for Fi, the new plan. This provides customers with unlimited data (unthrottled up to 30 GB per month), calls, and text in the United States for just $35 per month.
What’s missing? There’s no hotspot capability, no data, calls, or texts within Canada or Mexico (as there is with the renamed Unlimited Standard plan) or any other countries (as there is with Unlimited Premium), and calls from the U.S. to other countries are “affordable” as opposed to free Canada and Mexico (Unlimited Standard) and/or free to over 50 countries (Unlimited Premium).
“Unlimited Essentials is our newest unlimited plan designed for those who just want, well, the essentials,” Zheng says. The Simply Unlimited plan I was subscribed to is being renamed to . It now offers 50 GB of high-speed data per month (up from 35 GB) and 25 GB of high-speed hotspot capabilities (up from 5 GB) for the same $50 per month as before.
And as before, this plan offers unlimited data, calls, and texts in Canada and Mexico, full connectivity on select smartwatches (including the Pixel Watch 3 I’m currently using), VPN by Google, and Google AI-powered advanced spam call blocking functionality. The Unlimited Plus is now called . It now offers 100 GB of high-speed data (up from 50 GB) and 50 GB of high-speed hotspot capabilities (up from 25 GB) for the same $65 per month as before.
And as before, this plan offers unlimited data in 200+ international destinations, data-only connectivity for tablets and laptops at no extra cost (now with eSIM capabilities for the first time), and other perks. (The new data eSIM capability is available now on , too.) Google Fi’s international 5G capabilities are for those on Unlimited Premium and Flexible plans, thanks to the addition of 54 new countries.
And for the first time, Google is making 5G available on iPhone in addition to Android when traveling outside the United States. In addition to the 5G international data capabilities noted above, those using Google Fi with iPhone will now get a “streamlined and shortened” activation process so you can get up and running more quickly. Google Fi now supports RCS messaging on iPhone, too, allowing customers to share high-quality photos and react to texts with emoji.
And “in the coming weeks,” iPhone users will finally be able to listen to voicemails with the native Phone app instead of being forced to use the Fi app. To celebrate Fi’s 10th anniversary, Google is now offering new customers the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel Watch 3 for free with a $300 discount at purchase time and $699 back spread evenly over 24 monthly payments. “After the phone ships, we’ll email you a code for Pixel Watch 3 to get $100 off instantly and $349 back over 24 monthly bill credits,” Zheng explains.
“This offer is available until April 29, or while supplies last.” . Google usually has some number of instant rebate discounts for Pixel series phones in the Fi app, but it’s now offering “even deeper” discounts than usual.
Looking at the app, I see $200 off Pixel 9a, plus $450 off Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. But the Fi website also lists $450 off Pixel 9 Pro Fold, $350 off Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25+ and S25, and several other deals. I do struggle a bit with the local wireless carrier that Fi uses here in Mexico, but the Unlimited Plus plan is suddenly quite interesting.
For $15 more per month than what I’m paying now, I’d get double the high speed data (100 GB vs. 50), double the hotspot (50 GB vs. 25), unlimited data in over 200 countries, but the ability to get data eSIMs for other devices.
And that is quite compelling. We’ll see. For now, I’ll stick with what’s now called Unlimited Standard.
But I may just upgrade. . Paul Thurrott is an award-winning technology journalist and blogger with 30 years of industry experience and the author of 30 books.
He is the owner of and the host of three tech podcasts: with Leo Laporte and Richard Campbell, , and with Brad Sams. He was formerly the senior technology analyst at Windows IT Pro and the creator of the SuperSite for Windows from 1999 to 2014 and the Major Domo of Thurrott.com while at BWW Media Group from 2015 to 2023.
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