Key Differences Between Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus Plans

The key differences between Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus plans primarily revolve around data usage, international benefits, and additional features.

Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited vs Unlimited Plus

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

• Data Allowance:
  • Simply Unlimited offers up to 35GB of high-speed data per month, after which data speeds are reduced to 256kbps.
  • Unlimited Plus provides up to 50GB of high-speed data before data speeds are similarly throttled to 256kbps.
• International Coverage:
  • Simply Unlimited includes unlimited data, calls, and texts within the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, it does not support international data roaming outside these regions.
  • Unlimited Plus offers free high-speed data in over 200 countries or regions, making it advantageous for frequent international travelers. It also includes free calls from the US to over 50 countries, regions, and territories.
• Hotspot Tethering:
  • Simply Unlimited provides 5GB of mobile hotspot data per month.
  • Unlimited Plus allows for unlimited full-speed hotspot tethering, which is a significant advantage if you use your phone to share internet with other devices regularly.
• Additional Benefits:
  • Unlimited Plus includes 100GB of Google One storage at no additional cost and one year of YouTube Premium for new subscribers (though this has been reduced to six months for new subscribers as of March 7, 2024). These perks are not available with the Simply Unlimited plan.
• Pricing:
  • Simply Unlimited starts at $50 per month for one line, with discounts for multiple lines.
  • Unlimited Plus is priced at $65 per month for one line, with costs increasing for additional lines, although it offers more comprehensive features which might justify the cost for certain users.

These differences make Unlimited Plus more suitable for those who need extensive international data usage, require more data in general, or benefit from additional Google services like storage and YouTube Premium. Simply Unlimited is better suited for users who mostly stay within North America and do not require extensive data or hotspot usage.

How Fast is 256kbps? Is it realistically usable?

At 256kbps (kilobits per second), internet usage is significantly slower than what most users are accustomed to with modern broadband or even mobile data connections.

Here’s how this speed would generally perform for common online activities:

• Watching YouTube:
  • Not Recommended: At 256kbps, you would struggle with streaming video content. YouTube’s lowest quality setting (144p) requires around 100-200kbps, but buffering would be frequent, and the video quality would be poor. Higher quality settings would be practically unusable due to constant buffering.
• Checking Email:
  • Possible but Slow: Email primarily involves text, so it’s one of the more feasible activities at this speed. However, if emails contain attachments or images, loading times could be significantly delayed. For basic text emails, it’s manageable but slow.
• Surfing the Web:
  • Basic Websites Only: You can browse websites, but you’d be limited to text-heavy sites or very basic pages without many images or scripts. Loading times for even simple sites would be slow. Complex, image-heavy, or script-laden websites (like modern news sites or social media) would either take a long time to load or might not load properly at all.

Realistic Use Cases at 256kbps:

• Text-based communication: Chat services, basic emails.
• Minimalist web browsing: Accessing text-based news sites, forums, or blogs that aren’t heavy on multimedia.
• Low data applications: Very basic apps that don’t require much data, perhaps some instant messaging without media.

Limitations:

• Multimedia: Forget about streaming music, watching videos, or dealing with video calls; these are not feasible at this speed.
• Interactive Sites: Any website requiring frequent data exchange or real-time updates would be slow, such as online gaming, social media feeds, or interactive dashboards.

In summary, while you can technically perform these tasks, the experience would be far from what most users consider “usable” today, especially for anything involving multimedia or real-time interaction. This speed is more reminiscent of early internet experiences rather than what’s considered standard now.

Does Google Fi Simply Unlimited Unlimited Plus Work in Hawaii?

Yes, both Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus plans work in Hawaii. Here’s how each plan performs in this context:

• Simply Unlimited:
  • Includes unlimited data, calls, and texts within the US, which encompasses Hawaii. You’ll have access to high-speed data up to 35GB per month, after which data speeds will be reduced to 256kbps.
• Unlimited Plus:
  • Also provides unlimited data, calls, and texts throughout the US, including Hawaii. It offers high-speed data up to 50GB before data speeds are throttled to 256kbps. Additionally, Unlimited Plus includes international data in over 200 countries, but within the US, including Hawaii, you don’t have to worry about international data caps or charges.

Both plans utilize T-Mobile’s network for coverage in Hawaii, ensuring you have access to 4G LTE and 5G where available. Therefore, you can expect good coverage in urban areas of Hawaii, with service potentially varying in more remote locations based on T-Mobile’s network reach there.

For the most current and detailed information on coverage, it’s always a good idea to check Google Fi’s coverage map or use their trial period to test coverage specifics in your area of Hawaii.

Does Google Fi Simply Unlimited Unlimited Plus Work in Japan?

Here’s how Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus plans work in Japan:

• Simply Unlimited:
  • Does not work for international data roaming in Japan. The Simply Unlimited plan only includes unlimited data, calls, and texts within the US, Canada, and Mexico. If you travel to Japan, you would not have access to high-speed data or calling capabilities outside these three countries. However, you can still make calls over Wi-Fi, but it wouldn’t provide you with mobile data service.
• Unlimited Plus:
  • Yes, it works in Japan. The Unlimited Plus plan includes high-speed data in over 200 countries, which includes Japan. You can use your data in Japan at no additional cost for up to 50GB per month, after which speeds will reduce to 256kbps. Calls and texts are charged at $0.20 per minute for cellular calls when not on Wi-Fi, and texting is free from Japan.

Key Points for Using Google Fi in Japan:

• Unlimited Plus is your go-to plan if you need data in Japan. With this plan, you can use your phone’s data for normal browsing, Google Maps, WhatsApp, and other internet activities without additional charges, up to your data cap.
• Coverage: Google Fi in Japan likely uses networks from major carriers like NTT Docomo, SoftBank, or KDDI (au), although Google does not specify which carriers they partner with in each country. Coverage is generally good in urban areas, but might be less reliable in more remote regions.
• 5G Support: For supported devices, 5G is available in Japan, enhancing your data experience in areas where 5G coverage exists.
• Limitations: Google Fi’s terms of service state that you should mainly use the service in the US before using it internationally. There’s a 90-day limit for international use unless you’re military personnel, after which your service might be suspended or require you to justify extended use abroad.

If you’re planning to stay in Japan for an extended period, you might consider getting a local SIM or eSIM for potentially better local service, pricing, or if you need a Japanese phone number for local services. However, for short visits or if you’re already on Unlimited Plus, using Google Fi in Japan is straightforward.