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I have had Google Fi for 5 years (since beta). It has changed some over the years and the CS is not great. I have always used the Google Pixel/Nexus phones. These are multi carrier unlocked. Google Fi does network switching, so it sometime runs and depending on your location T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and local rural GSM carriers. It isn't great in rural areas for internet, but usually has phone service. My bill is usually $25+/- per month because I don't use much data on my mobile. If you use a lot of data, it is no longer the cheap option anymore. If you travel a lot (domestic/abroad) it can come in handy. If you do the math on the cost, I have saved $40-$80 per month over most carriers. I have saved thousands compared to most people I know.
That said, I am transitioning to a different carrier. The reason is for more data and better privacy. I should be mostly google-free relatively soon.
If anyone decides to switch to Google Fi, buy a Pixel. I have heard lots of issues using other phones. The Pixel 4a is $350 full price, works great and has a bicthin' camera. Don't worry about getting 5g, as it's mostly marketing vaporware in 2021. Even if you are getting "5G", the technology is under-leveraged and it's not much better than LTE (4G). Fi will give you a deal on a phone for new account and if you port a number in.
If you live in the city, don't use a ton of data and are cheap, it's still a good option. Customer service with all mobile phone and internet providers sucks donkey-dick and likely will never improve.
If anyone is considering Google FI, I will sent you a discount/invite and save you a couple bucks.
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I've used total wireless (verizon towers) and Mintmobile (tmobile towers) with little complaints, both are excellent values. Except tmobile coverage sucks in some places, but other then that...
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Everything Delfuego said about the Pixel is true, except they are also delicate. I've never broken a smart phone in my life until I broke 4 of those in a row.
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My wife and I have the old fogey plan on T-Mob. $60 a month unlimited talk, text, and data for 2 lines. 50 GB tethering data.
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Yeah if I had to pay what it sounds like most people are paying, I'd be switching as well.
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When I bought my Pixel #3a phone I decided to give Google FI a try - price wise it was fine, cheaper than AT&T and even cheaper than AT&E month to month.
Service is a crap shoot; which is about the same as my AT&T service. When I use to work east of the city, AT&T was king, best service you could get.
I need my phone for about 3 things, and using it as a phone is the 3rd on the list. In my basement I am lucky to get one bar on AT&T while google FI I get about 2.
The fact that my phone has an e-sim made it easy to see if Google Fi would work for me...no fuss, no muss.
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Can you use Wifi calling at home with Google Fi? I didn't see that mentioned and figured home service wouldn't be a huge deal if you can just call on Wifi.
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You're supposed to be able to use WiFi calling. I couldn't place an outgoing call from inside the house. At all.
What's really funny is I cancelled my service with Google Fi yesterday morning. Today I've received two phone calls...while inside. You know your phone service is fucked up when it works better after it's been cancelled than it did when it was active. I can still text on the cancelled service, too. I've received several voicemail notifications today...maybe 3 or 4. But naturally I can't connect with my voicemail because "The Google Fi customer you're calling has an account that is no longer active." SMDH...
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Sounds like you should have waited 24-48 hours!
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Google Fi does WI-Fi calling, SMS and all other services over Wi-Fi. It will do VoIP over Wi-Fi international too. The service is pretty slick if it works. Carrier hopping, Wi-Fi to mobile and mobile to WI-Fi hand off. Voice to text, text to voice, live-translation, no bloatware, good blocking/screening, auto-hold service for when your waiting for customer service to answer. They try to do some cool shit.
If data was cheaper and Google didn't track every 1 & 0 used by the phone, I might keep it. I still might keep the line of service for international travel and backup. Suck that it didn't work out for Bailey, but coverage always trumps features in my book.
