Google Fi Wireless is celebrating its 10th birthday with several plan updates, including a new entry-level offering.
Project Fi was announced on April 22, 2015. In 2018, it became Google Fi, with “Wireless” added to the end five years later. At the decade mark, Google is continuing to focus on offering “simple and secure” wireless connectivity, as well as technical innovation and value. Examples of this include encrypted calling between Android phones and letting members use their data however they want.
The new entry-level plan is called “Unlimited Essentials.” It starts at $35 per month for one line — or $15 less than the previous offering — with 30GB of “high-speed data” before you’re throttled. Despite the name, you do get free smartwatch connectivity and existing safety features, like the VPN.
Meanwhile, Simply Unlimited is becoming “Unlimited Standard” with 50GB of high-speed data (previously 35GB) and 25GB of hotspot tethering (previous 5GB) for the same $50 per month (one line). Unchanged is data, calling, and texting in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Finally, there’s “Unlimited Premium” (previously Unlimited Plus) with 100 GB of high-speed data (from 50GB) plus 50GB of hotspot tethering in a separate bucket. Pricing remains unchanged at $65 per month for a single line. Google says this plan is for those “who want unlimited data with maximum perks and global connectivity.”
That data is available in 200+ international destinations. You also get 100GB of Google One cloud storage and six months of YouTube Premium, as well as new data-only eSIMs for cellular tablets and laptops. Previously, Fi only offered physical SIM cards for those data devices. It comes as more gadgets these days lack SIM slots. The process involves scanning a QR code to download the eSIM to that device. Notably, you can download a data-only eSIM to phones.
There are no changes to the original Flexible plan where you pay $10 per GB of data (+ $20 for unlimited calling and texting). This offering does offer physical and data-only eSIMs, as well as international data.
Meanwhile, Fi today is more than doubling its international 5G network to more than 92 locations for those on the Unlimited Premium and Flexible plans. Google is also adding iPhone support for that overseas 5G service (after previously being Android only).
Speaking of iOS, Google is improving the iPhone experience and streamlining the activation process for faster setup. In the coming weeks, visual voicemail will be available in the iOS Phone app instead of needing to use the Fi client. More about that here.
As part of the 10th anniversary, Google Fi is offering new customers a free Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel Watch 3 until April 29:
- “You’ll get $300 off the Pixel 9 Pro instantly and the remaining $699 back over 24 monthly bill credits”
- “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.”
Existing subscribers will get deeper instant discounts on the Pixel 9 series.
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