All of the prices above are for a single line, paid monthly. Google periodically offers half-off and other special deals, usually only if you bring your own phone.
Activate the chip
Once you’ve chosen your plan and signed up, Google will send you a SIM card. It took a couple of days for my physical SIM to arrive, but I’m happy to take the slight delay if it saves me from having to set foot in a physical carrier store. If you’re using an iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Phone, or another device that supports ESIM, you can set up FI with an ESIM right away.
When your chip arrives, you’ll need to use a SIM tool to pop out the SIM tray and insert the SIM card into your phone. Then download the Google FI app (you’ll need to be on Wi-Fi to do this, as the chip doesn’t connect to a network yet) and follow the steps there. If you’re porting your old phone number, it may take a little longer. For me, after setting up my new number, FI was up and running in about 5 minutes. That’s it, you’re done.
I’ve been traveling and living in rural areas for the past 7 years and have tried just about every phone and hotspot plan – none of them come anywhere close to this easy one. The only one that comes close is Red Pocket Mobile which I still use in addition to Google FI. There are cheaper plans out there, but for ease of use and reliability, FI is hard to beat.
Using Google Fi as a hotspot
You can use Google FI as an easy way to add cellular connectivity to any device that accepts a SIM card, such as a mobile hotspot. You’ll need to activate your Google FI SIM card with your phone using the Google FI app, but once activated, you can insert the chip into any device your plan allows. If you’re on an unlimited plus plan, that means you can insert the chip into an iPad, Android tablet, or 4G/5G mobile hotspot. However, you’re still stuck with a 50 gigabyte data limit, so make sure you don’t go too deep with Netflix.
Alternatively, consider ordering a Data-Only SIM. Google lets you have up to four if you’re on the Unlimited Premium or Flexible plans, which means you can keep four gadgets — a spare phone or tablet — connected to the internet. The caveat is that they can’t place phone calls or receive texts. You don’t have to use your phone to activate the SIM in the first place. You can order a Data-Only SIM in your account’s plan section, under Devices and Subscriptions. If you have an eSIM-only device that you want to connect, you can tap Add Tablet and FI will offer you a QR code that you can scan to activate the SIM.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a Google account? Yes, you need a Google account to sign up for Google FI, but you don’t have to be all Google to use FI. I have an Android phone and I use Google apps because that’s what we do here at Wired, but outside of work I don’t use any Google services other than FI, and it still works great.
- Does Google Fi track my every move? Yes, but so does your current provider. Google Fi’s terms of service say that Google doesn’t sell what it calls customer-proprietary network information — things like call location, information, and the features you use — to anyone else.
- I’m traveling and want to use Google Fi abroad. Will this work? Fi’s terms of service require you to activate the service in the US, but after that it should theoretically work anywhere that Fi has partnered with a network of countries . Wired editor Julian Cioccattu has used Fi in several countries while traveling. However, based on feedback from Wired readers and reading travel forums, it seems like most people get disconnected if they’re outside the US for more than a few weeks. I’d say don’t plan on using Google Fi to fulfill your digital nomad dreams.
Tips and tricks
Using the Google FI app, which may not have a lot of features available at first. One of my favorites is an old Google Voice feature that lets you forward calls to any phone you like. This is also possible with Google FI. All you have to do is add a number to the FI forwarding list, and anytime you get a call, it rings both your cell phone and the secondary number — whether that’s your home phone, a second cell, or the phone at the Airbnb you’re in. This is super handy in places where your signal strength is spotty — just route the call to your landline. It can also be worth enabling the Wi-Fi calling feature for times when you have access to Wi-Fi but no cell signal.
Another feature that’s becoming increasingly useful as the number of spam calls I get continues to climb is call blocking. The Android and iOS calling apps can block calls, but it sends the caller straight to voicemail, and you still get voicemail. Block a call using the Google FI app, and callers get a message saying your number has been disconnected or is no longer in service. As far as they know, you’ve changed numbers. To set this up, open the FI app and look under Privacy & Security > Manage Contact Settings > Manage Blocked Numbers, and then you can add any number you want to the list. If you change your mind, just delete the list.
One last thing worth mentioning: I haven’t canceled my Google Fi service despite switching to Starlink for most of my hotspot needs. Instead, I simply pause my Fi service through the app. That way, if I need it for some reason, I can reactivate it very quickly.
