Google Fi was the perfect carrier for me 10 years ago, but not anymore

Google Fi has slowly evolved, but it hasn’t fundamentally changed. Since its early days, it’s been built largely around three core ideas:

• US coverage through multiple networks

• Seamless international travel

• Simple, transparent pricing

Now rebranded as Fi Wireless, it still aims to deliver those goals. The difference is that many of its once-unique features are no longer exclusive and, in some cases, arguably no longer best-in-class.

Wide coverage across the US

In 2025, Fi relies solely on T-Mobile’s network. T-Mobile has good nationwide coverage now — thanks in part to its Sprint merger — but so do most carriers. What used to make Fi special for me was its ability to hop between networks.

I’ve lived in several rural areas, so network flexibility used to matter a lot. These days, I live in a rural region with excellent Verizon-based coverage but not-as-good T-Mobile coverage. On Verizon, I get strong reception and 5G nearly everywhere, so Fi’s single-network setup holds less appeal to me since it runs on the Uncarrier’s network.

If you need access to multiple networks, Fi is no longer the leader here either. US Mobile now fills that niche, supporting all three major networks and offering advanced options like Warp 5G and Light Speed for automatic switching between two networks.

Seamless international travel

Fi was once the king of international travel with $2 per gigabyte of data in over 200 countries — and it just worked. Today, competitors have raised the bar.

All three major US carriers now include free roaming in Canada and Mexico on most postpaid plans. Some prepaid carriers do as well. Verizon’s premium plans extend coverage to many countries, albeit at a higher cost. Prepaid options have stepped up, too:

• Mint Mobile: Free calling to Mexico, Canada, and the UK from the U.S. It also offers free roaming in Canada or a $20 “Minternational Pass” with 10GB of data (works out to the same $2 per gig as the Google Fi Flex plan charges in 2025).
• Visible: All plans include unlimited talk and text in Canada and Mexico. Higher-tier plans add Global Pass days, plus broad international texting and calling options.
• US Mobile: International calls from the US are included in unlimited plans. Higher-tier options offer up to 20GB of roaming data usable in hundreds of countries, depending on the network (Dark Star, Warp, or Light Speed).

To be clear, none of these international programs quite match Google Fi Wireless even in 2025, as this is one area where Google has never fallen behind, especially when it comes to the Fi Unlimited Plus plan.

Google’s best plan includes 50GB of high-speed data usable in the US or abroad across over 200 countries. There’s no need to accrue passes or juggle multiple caps. As long as you spend most of your time in the US during any 90-day window, Google doesn’t mind if you travel extensively. That’s hard to beat, though it’s overkill for many users.

Even for those who travel less, Fi offers a hidden advantage: reliability. Fi’s international experience is rarely perfect, but it usually works with fewer hiccups. A quick glance at Reddit shows many users struggling with APN issues on other carriers like US Mobile, Mint Mobile, and countless others. Visible is generally more reliable here, but this is still a category where Fi has an edge.

Simple, transparent pricing (and once, value)

I already mentioned how Google Fi had more transparent pricing and was generally a better value unless you consumed huge amounts of data in 2015. Of course, trends and pricing change. Unlimited became more common again, and even Google introduced its own unlimited plan in 2019.

At launch, Google Fi Unlimited cost as little as $45 per line for four, or $180 in total. At the time, this was still at least $30 less per person than you’d pay for unlimited with any of the big three carriers, typically, and yet it still had superior international features. The rates were also pretty comparable to other prepaid unlimited plans of the era, depending on the number of lines involved.

Fi kept its original flexible plan (now called Fi Flexible), but its value proposition weakened. By 2019, Mint Mobile charged $15 a month for 3GB, $20 for 8GB, and $25 for 12GB. In contrast, Google Fi charged $20 just for access and $10 per gig. Using only 500MB could still cost $25 a month — more than Mint’s 12GB tier.

In 2019, I switched to Fi’s Unlimited plan, which I kept until 2021. As my traveling days came to a halt, I later downgraded to the then-new Simply Unlimited plan, which dropped international features in exchange for lower pricing. A single line at the time cost $60 a month, but three or more lines brought the price down to $30 each. While not a bad deal for families, it no longer stood out unless you wanted phone deals tied to Pixel or Galaxy promos.

After a few months on Simply Unlimited, I realized I didn’t need Fi anymore. I began exploring other prepaid carriers, and I haven’t looked back outside of work purposes.

In 2025, 10 years after its launch, Google Fi has been overtaken in affordability by carriers like Tello and Mint Mobile, especially for low-data plans. Even on the unlimited side, there are cheaper options, though Fi Wireless remains comparable to other premium prepaid brands like Cricket and Metro by T-Mobile.

Many of Fi’s early advantages eroded over time, but that was never really the point. Google Fi was designed to offer simple, reliable service anywhere, without hidden fees or confusing roaming charges. While it’s moved away from its original multi-carrier model in the US, its core philosophy remains intact. The main difference now is that it has greater competition.

Fi still shines for frequent international travelers, especially when it comes to the Unlimited Plus plan. Google seems content keeping Fi Wireless a niche product, and that’s okay. It has a clear target audience and yet still manages to attract others, such as families taking advantage of multiline discounts or fans of the broader Google ecosystem.

Personally, I switched to Visible for my main line after leaving Google Fi. It was far cheaper than Fi’s Simply Unlimited and worked well on Verizon’s strong network in my area. Eventually, I moved to a Verizon family plan to finance multiple devices (largely a mistake), though I’m slowly migrating back to prepaid options as those phones are paid off.

I still test Google Fi occasionally when something new rolls out, but those moments are rare. Fi Wireless hasn’t pushed the envelope lately, and unless I start traveling more, I don’t see myself returning full-time. Barring that, to get me back, Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited would need more generous hotspot limits and a higher data cap before throttling kicks in. Lower pricing would help, too, especially for the Flexible plan, which still charges $20 for access and $10 per gig, which feels like a lot in 2025.

Of course, Google would need to be careful. Price cuts could undermine the postpaid-like experience that keeps many loyal customers around. And even then, it wouldn’t be enough to win me over, as my biggest barrier is Fi’s reliance on T-Mobile. Unless T-Mobile’s coverage improves in my area — or Fi brings back multi-network support like US Mobile — I’m not likely to switch back.

Realistically, I don’t expect big changes. Google Fi Wireless clearly isn’t a major company priority, and keeping the status quo seems more in line with its current strategy. Price tweaks, sure. But I don’t foresee any dramatic overhauls (though I could be wrong).

That said, while Google Fi is no longer my personal carrier of choice, it’s still one of the best mobile phone service providers in the US. I still often recommend it to those who travel frequently or for those who might value its unique perks. It may not be mainstream, but for the right user, it still delivers.