Does Google Fi Have Good Coverage? (All You Need To Know)

Google Fi, or Google Fi Wireless, has had a slow but steady progression in the wireless provider world. In 2015 the service was first announced as “Project Fi” and was invite-only, but only a year later it became open to the public. Nowadays anyone can sign up for the Google-owned company and try out their flexible phone plans. And initially you might be worried that you can only use a Google manufactured device for this service but that’s not the case as most newer phone models will work with the provider- just make sure you check your compatibility first.

The good news for fans of their iPhones or Samsung Galaxys is that you'll be able to enjoy the service, but a lot of questions remain, including the most important one, especially to a prospective customer: does Google Fi have good coverage? Having strong, consistent signal strength is a must for anyone with a phone and it’s good to know what kind of coverage a wireless provider has before you sign up. Today we’re here to give you all the info you need so you can either cross Google Fi off the list of potential providers or circle it in green as your one to choose.

• Quick Overview: Google Fi’s Coverage Map
• What carrier does Google Fi use to provide coverage?
• 5G Coverage vs LTE Coverage
• Google Fi’s Phone Plans & Data Speeds
• Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Overview: Google Fi’s Coverage Map

Have you ever been sitting on the couch, watching TV, and a commercial for a wireless carrier will come on? Normally during that commercial they will show a big map of the country with dots or colored-in states showing off the provider’s coverage. That’s called a “coverage map” and you don’t have to pause the TV at the right moment just to get a glimpse, on almost any provider’s website they’ll have a dedicated tab for their own coverage map you can zoom in and out of and look up your address and/or city to see if you have coverage in your area. 

And Google Fi is no different as you can view where their service extends to and what type of coverage, i.e: Extended, 5G, and 4G LTE- etc, is expected in specific cities. Here’s a couple screen grabs of their map, let’s first start with a wide view:

And then here’s a closer look of all but Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico:

Google Fi Wireless has got a good range of coverage, in fact if you’ve been a frequent researcher of wireless carriers then you know that a lot of other smaller carriers won’t have coverage in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, so already Google Fi is ahead in square footage. You can view the coverage map in full here.

Now another thing you might notice that’s a bit different is Google Fi shows off not just 4G LTE and 5G coverage but also something called “Extended” coverage. Jeff Kenton, a Gold Product Expert on the Google Fi Forum, said “Extended means that there is a roaming agreement between Fi Wireless and another service provider in that area.” Essentially this means that in more rural areas like hilly valleys, forests, and deserts, you’re going to get the “best possible coverage” available in those areas. You won’t get the solid coverage of 4G LTE and 5G areas but you will get some type of coverage. 

What carrier does Google Fi use to provide coverage?

Google Fi along with a ton of other small carriers are under the umbrella that’s known as being a MVNO. MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator which describes a phone company that doesn’t own their own cell towers. Unlike the “big three” – Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile that do own their own cell towers, MVNOs will instead partner with them and piggyback off of their cell tower’s signal to provide coverage to their customers, as towers cost a lot of money to maintain, manage, and power. Google Fi uses T-Mobile’s amazing network and that means you’ll get access to one of the best carriers at lower costs- and who doesn’t like saving a bit of change?

Now normally when you sign up for a MVNO you’ll end up dealing with data deprioritization and throttling, but Google Fi is a bit different as you won’t have to deal with data deprioritization, only throttling- (that is good to keep in mind, that throttling does still occur, but more on that in a bit).

In fact, they advertise that they don’t deprioritize on their website, “Fi is not subject to data traffic deprioritization during times of high network usage.” That is a huge plus for MVNO fans as data deprioritization can be a bit of a snag to deal with. 

Another plus for coverage fans is Google Fi has a program called the W+ Network which is their own network that “uses select secure, high quality Wi-Fi networks to improve your mobile data connection.” When you’re in a high traffic area or in a place with low connection your device will connect to a secure Wi-Fi network to help improve your connection so you can use your phone the way you need to. 

Now not every Google Fi customer has access to the W+ Network, “you need a Pixel device that runs the latest version of Android 12 or up,” so keep that in mind if you find this feature to be a must-have.

5G Coverage vs LTE Coverage 

Those who’ve seen technology progress with wide eyes over the past twenty years have seen the rate it’s growing and evolving, and it’s truly been a marvel to watch. In fact it’s crazy to think that the concept of 5G is only just turning five years old this year but it’s so sought after by those who are constantly on the go because as of right now it’s the best generation of connectivity we have. Although 4G LTE is still the most accessible, 5G has been making its mark and T-Mobile is the leader in the big three race for most wide-spread 5G coverage, and since Google Fi is using T-Mobile’s map you are expected to get some of the best speeds. 

As for LTE-goers, well, it doesn’t offer as much as its competitors as T-Mobile is a bit behind in the races. Their 4G LTE service is only 8% behind Verizon and AT&T, which isn’t too bad, and as tech is only progressing it’s good to keep up-to-date with current technologies, including 5G phones. So if you’ve been thinking of upgrading your phone or are already on the 5G train you’ll be happy with Google Fi. 

Plus with access to the W+ Network and “Extended” coverage you might have a better chance at coverage compared to other MVNOs if you’re looking for 4G LTE only.

Google Fi’s Phone Plans & Data Speeds

Google Fi has three “categories” of plans where you can have up to six lines:

• Flexible- (those who are looking to pay for the data you use)
• Simply Unlimited- (a basic unlimited plan)
• Unlimited Plus- (their unlimited plans with a few cool perks)

Let’s first go over their Flexible plan:

Plus:

• Hotspot Tethering (it does count towards your monthly data usage however)
• Shareable Data with tablets and other devices
• Use your $10/GB from the US, Canada, and Mexico to make calls in over 200+ destinations
• Free texts from the US, Canada, and Mexico to over 200+ destinations
• 20¢ a minute for calls outside of the US, Canada, and Mexico
• Your $10/GB of data can be used while traveling outside the US, Canada, and Mexico in those 200+ destinations- (though it is not intended for over 90 consecutive days which you can learn more about in the Help Center)

Then we have their Simply Unlimited plan:

Plus:

• 5GB Hotspot Tethering
• Use your data from the US, Canada, and Mexico to make calls in over 200+ destinations

And finally their Unlimited Plus plan:

‍

Plus:

• Unlimited Hotspot Tethering (it does count towards your monthly data usage)
• Shareable Data with tablets and other devices
• One year of Youtube Premium on them (as long as you are actively using Fi Wireless)
• 100GB of Google One cloud storage 
• Use your data from the US, Canada, and Mexico to make calls in over 200+ destinations and for free in 50+ destinations
• Free texts from the US, Canada, and Mexico to over 200+ destinations
• 20¢ a minute for calls outside of the US, Canada, and Mexico
• Your data can be used while traveling outside the US, Canada, and Mexico in those 200+ destinations- ( again, not intended for over 90 consecutive days which you can learn more about in the Help Center)

Lots of cool perks for a MVNO!

What’s their data allotment for the month?

Instead of there being one number for their data threshold like other providers, Google Fi has three different data thresholds reflecting the prices of their plans. It’s great for those who want to pay more to get more as Flexible customers will have data speeds slow down after 15GB of use for the month, Simply Unlimited customers will have data speeds slow down after 35GBs, and for Unlimited Plus customers it is 50GBs. (This is where data throttling comes back into play, as although we know they don’t deprioritize they do throttle which will happen after the specified use above). 

Frequently Asked Questions - Wrap Up!

Let’s summarize what info we learned in a three FAQ wrap up.

Is there a “trial” so I can try Google Fi without commiting?

Yes! Instead of fully committing to switching you can try their “Try Fi for free” program where you can test their service and coverage free for 7 days and it works right beside your current service so you don’t need to end your attachment to your current carrier. 

But how?

If your phone is eSIM compatible you can sign up for a free trial by downloading the Fi app. If you don’t cancel and end up loving it you’ll automatically get put on their Simply Unlimited plan and will get charged for it so be sure of your decision and cancel anytime leading up if it isn’t for you. Learn more about it here.

Can I bring my own phone and can it be used on the W+ network?

Yes! You can keep your current device and sign up for a Google Fi plan. As for being able to access the W+ Network, you will need to have a specific type of phone- more specifically, “Pixel device that runs the latest version of Android 12 or up.” To see all the rules and regulations of the W+ Network, check out their Support Page which details how to connect and disconnect to the network.

Does the W+ Network protect your information when you’re connected?

According to their website, yes your internet traffic is encrypted and private, meaning you don’t have to worry about anyone trying to track your searches, purchases, or anything else you may access as you browse on your phone while connected on the W+ Network. 

For a MVNO, Google Fi has got a lot going for it and there’s a lot to look for from a coverage standpoint- especially with their W+ Network and “Extended” coverage. But if you want to be sure, you can compare and contrast Google Fi to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.