lower prices, more high-speed data

Google Fi is officially updating all three of its plans with some much-needed changes to make the service more competitive, with the two unlimited offerings seeing the biggest improvements.

Flexible

Prices have not changed from the original flexible plan, where you pay $10 per GB of data and a set amount ($16-20) for unlimited calls/texts. However, you now get “unlimited calls within Canada and Mexico at no extra cost” (our highlight). Previously, only calls from the US to these two countries were free, but now it is available on all three tariff plans.

Just unlimited

Google announced Simply Unlimited last April to celebrate Fi’s sixth birthday. This offer is a mid-range option for those who use a lot of data but don’t need other perks, and should be “the most affordable unlimited plan, especially for families and groups.”

If you have four or more lines, it’s now $20 per member per month instead of $30. It costs $25 for three lines (also from $30), $40 for two (previously $45), and $50 for one (from $60).

High-speed data – how much you can use before the 2G speed limit (256 kbps) – increases from 22 GB to 35 GB. Fi also adds 5 GB of internet tethering (for your laptop, tablet, etc.) after previously not including anything. You can’t use data outside of the US, Mexico, or Canada, and you don’t get a data-only SIM.

Looking at the situation, $20 for a Google Fi line for four or more subscribers should be the cheapest deal in the US. Visible (Verizon MVNO) comes closest to $25 for 4, while T-Mobile’s cheapest is $27 per line for 5. AT&T and Verizon are $30 for five or more.

Unlimited Plus

Finally, Unlimited Plus now starts at $40 per member per month for those with four or more lines, instead of $45. It costs $45 for three lines (was $50), $55 for two (previously $60), and $65 for one (instead of $70).

The biggest upgrade here is how you get 50GB of high-speed data per month instead of 22GB. It can be used for tethering and abroad, while (up to four) data-only SIMs remain a perk of Unlimited Plus and Flexible. There’s also 100GB of Google One and international calls to over 50 destinations from last year.

Following the morning email, Google has officially released the Fi plan updates. These changes will take effect in the next billing cycle for existing members, and new customers can take advantage of them today. Actually:

To celebrate this launch, for a limited time, you can save up to $500 on select phones, or get $100 in Fi credit if you bring your own phone when you join or add a line.

see also

Fi supports the vast majority of modern Android devices, while iPhone support is limited to 4G speeds. As an MVNO, Google uses the T-Mobile and US Cellular networks.

Learn more about Google Fi:

Thanks Darren.

Update: Post updated with official launch information

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