Google Project Fi - Review 2022 - Blackwell Utmacksmay

Google's Project Fi is a unique, easy-to-use, and well-loved wireless carrier that'southward had longer legs than I gave information technology credit for when I offset tested it back in 2022. While it's still a niche option because of its very limited selection of phones, its spectacular results in our almanac Readers' Option poll mean it'south worth considering if you're interested in Google's Pixel phones.

We don't typically review wireless carriers: We exit that upward to our almanac Fastest Mobile Networks and Readers' Choice projects. Merely Google Fi is unique. While it doesn't run its own cell phone network, which makes it an MVNO (a mobile virtual network operator), information technology'due south the simply MVNO to combine 3 different cellular networks, Sprint, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular, for unified coverage. That gives it amend accomplish than whatever of those networks has on its ain.

Pricing

Before we go into network details, let's talk well-nigh how much Google Fi costs. Afterward all, toll is i of the nigh important factors in choosing a carrier. And the first thing you should know is that Fi doesn't offering unlimited data. Like other virtual networks, its plans make more than sense for depression-to-medium data users than for heavy information users.

Yous'll pay $20 for the first line, $15 for each additional phone line, $10 for each additional tablet, and $10 per 1GB of data. There's no contract, and so you can cancel any time.

Project Fi

We looked at several unlike plan permutations and found that Fi is by and large less expensive than T-Mobile or Sprint for individuals and families using less than 4 to 5GB of data per person, and more expensive for those who use more than that. At depression data levels, Fi gets undercut by less expensive MVNOs, such as the ones covered in our Inexpensive Cell Phone Plans story.

Fi'southward plans can toll less than they appear to because you only get charged for the data you use. If you lot think you'll use 5GB but simply use 2GB, you only become charged for the 2GB. Fi is besides the but carrier we've seen with unlimited international LTE loftier-speed roaming at domestic rates.

3 Carriers in Ane

If you desire to sell a nationwide cellular service in the US, y'all generally accept to contract with i (or more) of the four companies that run the most towers: AT&T, Dart, T-Mobile, or Verizon. That's because it'due south insanely expensive to build a nationwide network of cellular towers.

AT&T and Verizon tend to be very stingy with their MVNO contracts, so startups looking to introduce turn to Dart and T-Mobile. Project Fi is the first MVNO to seamlessly combine the Sprint, T-Mobile, and U.Southward. Cellular networks, which don't easily mix because T-Mobile is GSM and the other 2 are CDMA (bank check out this explainer for why those technologies are incompatible). It also lets you send calls and texts over Wi-Fi, and roam in and out of Wi-Fi zones without your call dropping.

There are other carriers that accept both Sprint and T-Mobile contracts, such every bit Ting, although you tin can't have both networks on i device. The major carriers likewise do their own Wi-Fi calling. Just Fi brings together more options than anyone else.

Project Fi debuted combining Sprint and T-Mobile; final year, information technology added U.S. Cellular. That dramatically improved rural coverage, as USCC's strengths are mostly in rural areas, where Sprint and T-Mobile oft don't have coverage.

The Fi network offers much amend coverage than T-Mobile does in small Iowa and Missouri towns, for example, and the service fills in coverage gaps well-nigh Galax, VA and Jacksonville, NC. In the West, though, information technology still isn't upwardly to Verizon levels; if you're in a place where AT&T or Verizon are the simply carriers that work well, like Wyoming and northern Wisconsin, you'll be stuck at deadening 2G speeds with Fi.

Using Fi

Fi phones don't constantly assess network quality; they seem to do a check when a network entirely drops. Our examination phone stubbornly insisted on remaining on Dart at i point when T-Mobile in the area was much faster, for instance (there'south a free app you tin can download called Betoken Spy that shows what network y'all're using).

You tin can force a switch between networks by punching in a 'dialer code.' Typing " *#*#34866#*#*" into your dialer, for example, volition force the telephone to jump to T-Mobile. These codes aren't officially promulgated by Google, merely they're tolerated by the carrier'due south official support boards.

Speeds aren't capped or express in any way, and in testing appeared to match the functioning of a Pixel with a native T-Mobile SIM. But Fi doesn't support Sprint and T-Mobile'southward HD vocalism call features.

Fi will too automatically connect you to Wi-fi hotspots in Google's database, and it volition default to Wi-Fi calling on a strong Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi is entirely optional, but every bit Fi doesn't have an unlimited plan and charges you just for the data you apply, you should apply Wi-fi every bit much every bit possible.

Cross-device calling and texting takes place in the Google Hangouts app. A Google Fi-enabled Gmail or G Suite account can access Hangouts on any phone, tablet, or spider web browser, then make calls or ship texts through information technology using your Fi phone number. T-Mobile has this feature, which it calls Digits, simply Hangouts is smoother and easier to use than the heavy and clunky Digits spider web app. Voicemails become transcribed and texted to yous.

Pixel XL Nexus

Phone Selection

Fi'south major downside is that it merely works properly with two phones on auction right at present: the Google Pixel and Pixel 40, both of which are expensive and don't support Sprint and T-Mobile's latest network technologies. If y'all're going to become with Fi, call up almost waiting for the Pixel 2, which is likely coming subsequently this summer.

Project Fi volition also work with Nexus 6P, Nexus vi, and Nexus 5X phones, which are no longer on auction, although there's a vibrant market for used devices.

There are plenty of online reports of people activating Fi SIMs in a Pixel and then using them in other phones, even iPhones. You can if you desire, but you'll lose Fi's ability to switch networks; the service volition just office similar a T-Mobile MVNO, and at that place are cheaper T-Mobile MVNOs and even mainstream T-Mobile plans. I can encounter the value if you accept a master user with a Pixel phone and a secondary user with a non-Pixel, merely y'all shouldn't sign upwardly with Fi primarily to use on non-Pixel phones.

Finding the Dearest

Project Fi's spectacular results on our Readers' Choice survey defy gravity, logic, and our own testing. For instance, our readers gave it coverage scores better than Verizon'due south, and speed scores faster than T-Mobile's, which don't sync with what we saw firsthand in New York City. Fi users love it seemingly across reason. I have some ideas why.

Fi'southward direction app and support system are the best of any carrier I've ever seen. Most wireless carriers' apps are clunky, slow, and awkward. Not and then with Fi: You can run into very clearly how much data you lot've used and command your programme details simply and easily. The app shows estimated response times for phone calls, live chat, and electronic mail questions. Google knows how to run a forum, too, and the Project Fi forums are jam-packed with useful questions and answers.

Google Fi screenshot

But I think at that place's as well a lot of cocky-selection happening here. Project Fi appeals to a tech-savvy and well-heeled crowd (because of the expensive phones), and every bit y'all browse the forums, yous notice that people appear to be knowledgeable, polite, and informed. The excellent back up is backed by Google'due south profitable businesses and merely has to handle a relatively small client base. Fi is, substantially, a high-class boutique feel, and its users reward that with loyalty.

Skilful coverage and speed scores, by the way, make sense when you realize that Fi merely works with loftier-end phones. There's a big variation between phone performance; folks with older T-Mobile phones that don't have LTE Band 12, for instance, run across radically reduced coverage on the carrier. Past restricting its service to a few high-quality phones, Fi puts its best pes forwards at all times.

Conclusions

Google Fi isn't the cheapest carrier out there, it doesn't have the nigh coverage, and there's no unlimited program. But it's by far the all-time loved, because it's the least hassle. Fi has a simple service plan, a adept app, and great support. Its coverage is better than either Dart or T-Mobile, especially because of its combination with U.S. Cellular in rural areas. We don't paw out Editors' Choice awards to wireless carriers. Only Fi earns our Readers' Selection designation, and that matters a lot.