What Networks Does Google Fi Use

Common questions about Google Fi include "What Networks does Google Fi Use?" and "How much are Project Fi Taxes and Fees?" Despite Google’s dominance, Google Fi isn’t quite as widely used as other network carriers, although it is increasing in popularity every day. Much of the buzz around Project Fi comes from its unique method of providing coverage. Let’s look further at the networks Google Fi uses and Project Fi taxes and fees, so you can make an informed decision about whether Project Fi is right for you.

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What Networks Does Google Fi Use?

As opposed to being a single network, Project Fi is a collection of three networks – T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular – and automatically connects the user to whichever of those three networks has the strongest signal when they try to make a call or send a text. Project Fi also allows the user to connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots, protecting their device and info through encryption prior to connection. Stay connected with 3 mobile 4G LTE networks and 2 million+ secure Wi-Fi hotspots.

I’ve been using Google Fi for over 2 years in the US, Thailand, Argentina, Chile, France, Mauritius, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, South Africa, Croatia, England, Spain and more. To date, the only place Fi has had some serious issues is in Monte Carlo. Yes, of all the places I’ve traveled, Monaco is the only one where I had zero cell reception.

With its three-network formula, Project Fi has raised and is continuing to raise eyebrows among tech junkies, but is it right for your phone? Project Fi has its taxes and fees, like any phone network, but exactly how much should you be prepared to spend in order to fully experience Google’s brainchild?

Google Fi Taxes and Fees

One of the great advantages of Google Fi, at least according to Google itself, is the transparency and simplicity of its billing process. Google Fi will charge you $20 at the beginning of every month for the month’s services.

For $20, you are able to avail yourself of much of Google Fi’s most notable features, including unlimited domestic calls and unlimited domestic and international texts. You’ll also receive 24/7 support from the Google Fi team, but it’s hardly feels worth mentioning considering any provider worth its salt should be providing it anyway. Support is available online or right from your phone and within a moment, you’ll be connected by chat, email or phone call directly to a Google Fi representative.

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Project Fi Rollover Data Plans

The aforementioned $20 monthly bill is the foundation of any plan with Project Fi. Bills start to rise and fall from user to user when it comes to data. Project Fi charges customers $10 a month per gigabyte of data used. While this certainly isn’t cheap, it isn’t particularly expensive and is actually in line with industry standards, so you can expect to be offered a very similar deal regardless of which network you take your business to.

Google Fi does manage to separate itself from its competition in the realm of data by providing refunds for all data which is paid for but not used in a month. For the sake of this example, let’s say you pay for 2 gigabytes of data at the beginning of a billing cycle, which, with Project Fi’s data fees, will set you back $20. Now, let’s further imagine the end of the month rolls around and you have used only 1.5 gigabytes of that data. Google will refund you the $5 difference and allow you to use it as credit towards your next batch of data, which entirely eradicates the risk of you wasting money by paying for data and not using it. Another benefit of Google Fi is that the data is capped – you don’t pay after the first $60. So, for a maximum of $80 you can easily use your phone globally, right when you land, without having to "top off" any data or deal with SIM cards.

Project Fi Billing

Arguably one of the most commendable things about Google Fi is the flexibility which Google grants its customers when it comes to the paying of bills and clearing of late invoices. Although you will be presented with your completed bill on the same day every month, Google doesn’t actually charge the outstanding amount to your account until 10 days later, which gives you more than a week to digest your bill and plan your budget accordingly.

During the 10-day period between billing and collection, you will have the freedom to alter your method of payment if necessary. Similarly, if you should miss a payment, Google will not immediately cut off your Project Fi service.

Instead, the company will give you a period of three days from attempted collection to clear the balance before your service is cut off. Should you indeed exceed the three day period, you will experience no difficulty reactivating your Project Fi account once the outstanding invoice has been paid.

When preparing for your Project Fi bill, it is important to remember it is influenced not only by the various services you avail yourself of as part of your plan, but also by the wireless phone taxes which are in place in your state of residence.

Wireless taxes vary from state to state, so it is impossible to tell you what you should be expecting to pay, but we do know Project Fi customers in New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Illinois pay the highest wireless taxes in the United States.

Residents of Washington have it particularly rough and are expected to pay a monthly wireless tax of 25.15%, although Illinois is not far behind given the state’s recent increase in 911 fees. We also know residents in the states of Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho are subjected to the lowest wireless taxes, while the average United States cell phone user can expect to pay 17.05% on their monthly bills.

Conclusion

If you are considering making the jump to Google Fi, it is important to remember not all phones are capable of comfortably running the service, so you may have to switch up your cell phone in order to fully experience it. Only phones designed for Fi can intelligently shift between networks, but whatever approved phone you use on Google Fi, you’ll be connected with great high speed coverage This, of course, will add a significant amount to your very first Project Fi expenditure.

The majority of cell phones are officially compatible with Project Fi are manufactured by Google, so you may find yourself spending upwards of $500 on any of the brand’s Pixel phones if you want to make the most of your Project Fi package.

Thankfully, it is possible to experience Project Fi on a Google-approved phone without draining your bank accoun.

Despite being a budget phone, the low budget Moto G6 can hold its own against more expensive alternatives and even boasts many of the features one would expect to find on an $800 smartphone. Generally selling for just a little over $200, the Moto G6 is a surefire way to save some money while still clearing those Project Fi taxes and fees.

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