Google Fi Price Keeps Going Up What To Do - Complete Guide
If you've noticed your Google Fi price keeps going up, you're not alone — thousands of Fi subscribers have been hit with plan restructuring and rising costs that make it harder to justify staying. The good news is that the MVNO market is full of better-value alternatives that offer the same (or
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Our Pick | Visible |
| Best For | Frustrated Google Fi users |
| Price | $25/month |
| Network | Verizon |
| Our Score | 10/11 |
If you've noticed your Google Fi price keeps going up, you're not alone — thousands of Fi subscribers have been hit with plan restructuring and rising costs that make it harder to justify staying. The good news is that the MVNO market is full of better-value alternatives that offer the same (or better) coverage for a fraction of the price.
Bottom Line: Google Fi's pricing has crept upward while competitors have held steady or dropped their rates. If your Google Fi bill feels too high, switching to Visible ($25/mo on Verizon), Tello ($8–$25/mo on T-Mobile), or US Mobile (custom plans on all 3 networks) could save you $20–$60 per month without sacrificing coverage or reliability.
Why Google Fi's Price Keeps Going Up
Google Fi has always been a premium-priced prepaid carrier, but recent years have seen that gap between Fi and its competitors widen considerably. When Google restructured its plans — folding the original flexible pay-per-GB model into tiered plans — many long-time subscribers found themselves paying more for features they didn't need or losing features they relied on.
The Simply Unlimited plan sits at $65/month for a single line. The Unlimited Plus plan runs $80/month. Even after autopay discounts, that's significantly more than what MVNOs charge for comparable — or superior — service. For context, Visible offers a true unlimited Verizon plan for just $25/month, taxes included. That's a potential savings of $40–$55 every single month.
The Hidden Cost of Staying Loyal
There's a phenomenon in the telecom world called "loyalty tax" — where long-term customers quietly pay more while new customers get better deals. Google Fi isn't immune to this. If you've been on Fi for years, you may be paying legacy prices that have quietly inflated over time, with no automatic adjustment downward.
Google Fi also runs on T-Mobile's network primarily (with fallback to US Cellular in some areas). That means you're paying a premium for network access that T-Mobile MVNOs like Tello provide for as little as $8/month.
What You're Actually Paying For With Google Fi
Before you switch, it's worth understanding what Google Fi offers that MVNOs typically don't — so you can judge whether it's worth the premium price.
International Coverage
Google Fi's biggest selling point has always been seamless international data in 200+ countries. If you travel abroad frequently, this is a genuine differentiator. However, if you only travel occasionally, a travel eSIM like Saily can cover international trips for less than $10 per visit — far cheaper than maintaining a $65/month Fi plan year-round.
Device Compatibility and Features
Fi offers features like calls over Wi-Fi, spam call filtering, and a VPN through Google One. These are useful but not unique. Most modern phones support Wi-Fi calling on any carrier, and Google One's VPN is now available separately. In other words, you don't need to stay on Fi to keep these features.
Multi-Network Switching
Fi's original promise was automatic switching between T-Mobile, Sprint (now merged), and US Cellular towers. In practice, most users stay on T-Mobile the vast majority of the time. This feature rarely justifies the price difference on its own.
The Best Google Fi Alternatives in 2025
If your Google Fi price keeps going up and you're ready to explore alternatives, here are the carriers we recommend — ranked by our independent scoring system.
| Carrier | Monthly Price | Network | Our Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible | $25/mo | Verizon | 10/11 |
| Tello | $8–$25/mo | T-Mobile | 9.5/11 |
| US Mobile | Custom | All 3 networks | 9.5/11 |
| Twigby | From $10/mo | Verizon | 7.6/11 |
| Metro by T-Mobile | $40–$60/mo | T-Mobile | 6.5/11 |
| Google Fi | $65–$80/mo | T-Mobile | 5.5/11 |
Visible: Best Overall Google Fi Alternative
Visible earns a 10/11 in our rankings and is our top pick for most people leaving Google Fi. At $25/month with taxes and fees included, it runs on Verizon's network — widely considered the most reliable in the US, particularly in rural and suburban areas.
You get truly unlimited data, talk, and text. Hotspot is included (at reduced speeds). There are no contracts, no activation fees, and no surprise charges on your bill. Visible is as close to a set-it-and-forget-it carrier as you'll find in the prepaid space.
Visible has also had zero documented data breaches — a factor we weight heavily in our scoring. If you're switching from Fi because of value, Visible is almost certainly the right move.
Tello: Best for Light Users and Custom Plans
Tello scores 9.5/11 and is the best option for anyone who doesn't need unlimited data. Plans start at just $8/month for basic usage and scale up to $25/month for unlimited everything — including unlimited hotspot. That's right: Tello's unlimited plan includes unlimited hotspot at no extra cost, which Fi charges extra for on lower tiers.
Tello runs on T-Mobile's network, which means if you're already getting solid coverage on Fi (which also primarily uses T-Mobile), your coverage experience won't change at all. You'll just be paying dramatically less. For a single line, switching from Fi's $65 Simply Unlimited plan to Tello's $25 unlimited plan saves $480 per year.
US Mobile: Best for Flexibility and Network Choice
US Mobile scores 9.5/11 and stands out for one key reason: it lets you choose which network you run on — Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T. This is genuinely useful if you're unsure which network works best in your area, or if you live on the edge of coverage zones.
US Mobile's build-a-plan approach means you pay only for what you use. It's an excellent option for families and anyone who wants to mix and match plans across multiple lines. Like our other top picks, US Mobile has no history of data breaches. You can explore their current plans on our US Mobile plan comparison page.
Pros of Switching from Google Fi
- Save $40–$55/month on a single line
- Same or better network coverage
- No annual price increases
- Transparent billing with taxes included
- More flexible plan options
Cons of Switching from Google Fi
- Lose built-in international data roaming
- May lose some Google One perks if bundled
- Need to unlock your phone first
- Short adjustment period during porting
How to Switch Away from Google Fi Step by Step
Switching carriers sounds complicated, but it's straightforward once you know the process. The most important thing is to not cancel your Fi service first — always port your number to the new carrier, which automatically cancels Fi.
Step 1: Unlock Your Phone
If your phone was purchased through Google Fi, request an unlock before you switch. Most phones on Fi can be unlocked after 12 months of service. This ensures your device works with your new carrier.
Step 2: Get Your Account Number and PIN
Log into your Google Fi account and locate your account number and transfer PIN. You'll need these to port your number. Google makes this reasonably easy to find in the account settings.
Step 3: Sign Up for Your New Carrier
Choose your new carrier (we recommend Visible or Tello for most people) and start the signup process. During activation, select "I want to keep my number" and enter your Fi account number and PIN when prompted.
Step 4: Wait for the Port to Complete
Porting typically takes a few hours, though it can occasionally take up to 24 hours. Keep your Fi SIM active during this time — don't cancel Fi manually. Your service will automatically transfer, and your Fi account will close.
Step 5: Test Your Service
Once the port completes, make a call, send a text, and test your data connection. If everything works, you're done — and likely saving $40+ per month starting immediately.
For more detail on this process, our guide on how to switch prepaid carriers without losing your number walks through every scenario.
What If You Still Want to Stay on T-Mobile's Network?
If you've grown accustomed to T-Mobile coverage and don't want to risk a network change, Tello is the obvious choice — you get identical network access to Google Fi at roughly one-third the price. Metro by T-Mobile is another option, though at $40–$60/month it's less of a bargain and scores only 6.5/11 in our rankings.
For most users, though, we'd encourage at least considering Verizon-based options like Visible. Verizon consistently leads in network reliability ratings from RootMetrics and J.D. Power, and Visible's $25 price point makes it hard to argue against.
You can use our prepaid plan finder tool to compare plans based on your location, data usage, and budget — it takes less than two minutes and gives you a personalized recommendation.
Why Trust Our Analysis? We evaluate carriers on 11 data-driven criteria including pricing transparency, network quality, security features (2FA, SIM PIN protection), data breach history, and real user experience. Our rankings are based on verifiable facts, not paid placements. Google Fi scores 5.5/11 in our independent evaluation.
Need Data Abroad?
Your new MVNO plan won't include international roaming like Google Fi did. For travel, we recommend Saily eSIM — instant travel data in 200+ countries:
- Works alongside your existing US number
- No physical SIM swap needed
- Plans from $4.99
- Instant activation via app
- Made by the NordVPN team
Using a dedicated travel eSIM for international trips paired with a low-cost domestic MVNO will almost always be cheaper than maintaining a Google Fi plan year-round just for the occasional international use.
Best Phone to Pair With Your New Plan
If you're switching carriers and looking for an unlocked phone that works on any network, we recommend the Google Pixel 9a. Ironically, Google makes one of the best phones for leaving Google Fi:
- Works with all US carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T networks)
- Supports eSIM + physical SIM for easy switching
- 7 years of software updates
- Excellent camera and battery life
- Around $499 unlocked
The Bottom Line
If your Google Fi price keeps going up and you're looking for a way out, the alternatives have never been better. Visible delivers Verizon-quality coverage at $25/month — a saving of up to $660/year compared to Fi's top unlimited tier. Tello gives you T-Mobile coverage with the same familiar network experience for as little as $8/month. US Mobile gives you maximum flexibility with all three networks to choose from.
Google Fi scores just 5.5/11 in our independent rankings for good reason: it's an expensive product in a market full of better values. The loyalty tax is real, and the longer you stay, the more you pay. The switch takes less than an hour, and most users never look back.
If you're not sure which plan fits your usage, use our prepaid plan finder to get a personalized recommendation in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I lose my phone number if I switch from Google Fi?
No. As long as you initiate a number port through your new carrier rather than canceling Fi first, your number transfers seamlessly. The port process typically takes a few hours. Never cancel Fi manually before the port completes.
Q: Is Visible as reliable as Google Fi?
Yes — and in many areas, more so. Visible runs on Verizon's network, which consistently outperforms T-Mobile (Fi's primary network) in rural coverage and building penetration. Visible scores 10/11 in our rankings compared to Google Fi's 5.5/11.
Q: Does Tello have unlimited data like Google Fi?
Yes. Tello's $25/month plan includes unlimited data, talk, text, and unlimited hotspot on T-Mobile's network. This is comparable to Fi's Simply Unlimited plan at $65/month — saving you $40/month or $480/year.
Q: What happens to my Google Fi international data if I switch?
You'll lose Fi's built-in international roaming. For occasional travel, a Saily travel eSIM covers 200+ countries from $4.99 per trip — far cheaper than maintaining a $65/month Fi plan just for international access.
Q: How long does it take to switch from Google Fi?
The entire process — signing up with a new carrier and porting your number — typically takes 2–4 hours. Some ports complete in as little as 30 minutes. Your phone may show "No Service" briefly during the transition, which is normal.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our rankings and recommendations are based on independent research and are not influenced by affiliate relationships.
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