World-wide Cell phone service

I have loved Google Fi for 2 years, using it for travels in London, Istanbul, Stockholm, Gdansk, Sevilla and more. I step off the plane and it works, the same plan that I'm on at home, without any additional setup or SIM cards.

It was the best thing I did to simplify my travels.

I've had Google Fi for something like 5 years now. It has worked well everywhere I have went (at least 10 countries) with only minor issues, better since I upgraded to 5G.

Probably my only complaint is that at home, we use almost no data, so pay by the Gig and have a cheap bill, but when traveling, we use lots and lots of data. Now that I have a dual SIM phone though, for extended trips I may look at a data only SIM for use there. They will start to throttle data speeds after so many gigs used.

The other caveat, is that if you travel for long periods, over 60 or 90 days, they may cut service off, or reduce it significantly. This actually is somewhat common though across carriers with liberal international use.

I also use Google Fi for travel and it has worked great. Sometimes it can take up to 10 minutes to activate when you switch countries, but patience pays off. When not traveling I hibernate my plan for three months off, one month on, so I can keep my account active at minimal cost.

As Paul noted, there are limitations if you plan to travel long term, as well as making sure you time your Google Fi activation so it's not right before you travel (they may cut you off or it may not work at all). Several forum threads explore this issue, for example: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/google-fi-e-sim-been-told-to-have-a-plan-b-and-need-advice

I'm in Paul's situation. My data usage is almost nil at home but rather high when traveling, and $10 per GB adds up. Data-only eSIMs can be purchased at a cost of about $3 per GB, so I've started using eSIMs most of the time. I can still use the Fi SIM for inbound and outbound texts, and if I need to make a phone call, I can temporarily activate the Fi SIM.

Fi now cuts my data off after I've been out of the US for around 85 days. The texting and calling capabilities live on.

Just curious if anyone uses Google Fi with an Apple phone? Right now I'm sharing a T-Mobile plan with my daughter and her family but once we move into separate households this year, we are planning to each get our own cellphone plan, and I'm thinking about Google Fi. So was wondering how it works with Apple? According to the GF site, there will be a few changes, but nothing major. However, I would like to confirm that.

Just this morning, I bought a data esim from Roamless, that covers the US. There are plans for some 181 countries, plans for Europe, worldwide plans, and various other regions. What I especially like is that it is a Paygo plan, no monthly fee, where I paid $20 for credit in my "wallet" (and somehow received an extra $6.18 in free credit). If I don't use it, the credit lasts forever. If I use any data, it costs $2.45 for each 1 Gb. Similar prices in other countries. In the US, I can connect to AT&T or Tmobile towers.

My "normal" phone is with Tmobile, but they have poor (or none) coverage in the northern woods, so I'll use my backup phone with Roamless when I'm up there. And I'll use it in Europe if I'm in a country where Tmobile has slow data and I want to do more than just texting.

And since none of my older phones do esim, I bought a $25 card from 5ber that lets me load esim's into it. Took a while to get it all working, but works great now. My thanks to the folks on this forum who mentioned 5ber, esim.me, and Roamless.

Google Fi and T Mobile are great options for frequent travelers and those who prefer the convenience of using their usual home service

I only travel abroad only once or twice a year. Primarily to developed countries. Given that I optimize my cell service for use when I’m home. I’m around WiFi most of the time so I get a skinny 2GB bundle. Costs $18 per month for 2 lines. The equivalent on Fi would be $55 plus taxes and fees. So let’s call it $60. On an annual basis that’s a difference of about $500 minus maybe 50 for the local plan I pick up. Net 450. That’s enough to buy a new iPhone every 3 years. To top it off Fi uses T Mobile service. T Mobile has somewhat inferior service where I am. So I would pay more for slower data when home.

With dual SIIM phones I’m able to get calls and texts on my US number while overseas. So no need for them to call an overseas number.

Safe and happy travels everyone

"m surprised that more people, especially frequent travelers. haven't discovered Google Fi as cell-phone service."

I know most users if this forum are American, but worth noting one of the reasons most people haven't discovered it is that it's only available for US residents.

While Google Fi is excellent as a seamless service offering, and some of this is
personal experience, I have not found Fi customer service to be great. In fact,
I have found them to be mostly clueless.

If you buy a phone from them, it comes to you unlocked, which is a nice advantage
compared to buying phones from just about any other US carrier. If you can get
a deal (Fi is having a sale on phones right now), then you can almost upgrade
every ~2 years and sell the old phone for close to what you paid for it.

I'm surprised that more people, especially frequent travelers. haven't discovered Google Fi as cell-phone service.

My take is that many go for plans with "free phones", usually iPhones, though there is no such thing as free, those plans come with higher fees and long locked in terms.

Google Fi does offer plans where you buy the phone in installments, but only Android phones.

For the question above regarding use with iPhones, yes, Fi works just fine with Apple devices, though you do need a Goggle account (Gmail basically). Later iPhones are supported only via eSIM.

For the question above regarding use with iPhones, yes, Fi works just fine with Apple devices, though you do need a Goggle account (Gmail basically). Later iPhones are supported only via eSIM.

Thanks, Paul. I've had multiple Google accounts since they first started offering Gmail in 2004, so no problem there, and my phone has no physical SIM. Definitely something to think about.

For Mardee and others thinking about Google Fi for USA home usage, I believe they use the TMobile network domestically. I'd switch my whole cell phone over to Fi and dispense with my current carrier, but I have my parents on my plan and they have really poor TMobile coverage where they live.

While Google Fi has a primary agreement with T-Mobile in the US, they do use other towers depending on signal. So if in a an area with T-Mobile towers, they will preferentially use the T-Mobile towers, but if no tower is available, or poor reception, they will use AT&T or Verizon towers.

Of course your personal experience may be different in some areas, and if you do not have a 5G phone, that will vary service as well.

Before anybody asks, and of course nobody has actually asked me, but hey, here is my thought: Google Fi has the capability of calling land lines. US only, no Canadians allowed to get Google Fi.

If you buy a phone from them, it comes to you unlocked, which is a nice advantage compared to buying phones from just about any other US carrier.

Actually, pretty much every US carrier will sell you an unlocked phone if you pay for it up-front.

I know most users if this forum are American, but worth noting one of
the reasons most people haven't discovered it is that it's only
available for US residents.

You beat me to it. I discovered this a few years ago and haven't even thought about it since.