If you’re in search of a new cell phone plan, you may have come across Google Fi and its affordable pricing.
A budget-friendly carrier like Google Fi can save you over $500 per year on your cell phone bill.
However, you may wonder if Google Fi’s coverage will meet your expectations.
In this article, we will explore the coverage provided by Google Fi and compare it to other major carriers to help you make an informed decision.
Google Fi is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that operates on T-Mobile.
By utilizing T-Mobile’s existing infrastructure, Google Fi is able to offer affordable plans without compromising on the quality of service.
Below, you can check Google Fi coverage in your area. The first map is an estimated coverage map created with data from the FCC.
The second map is our community-contributed map of Google Fi’s coverage.
Over 1.6 million speed tests have been uploaded to the map by community members and Google Fi subscribers to help paint a more accurate picture of what coverage is like in your area.
Everyone is invited to contribute to the map to help make it more accurate. Here's how to contribute, if you're interested.
Check Google Fi coverage in your area by using search bar in the maps below:
The above data comes from the FCC’s National Broadband Map.
The FCC displays coverage data in terms of the percentage of area in the United States that each carrier covers.
Currently, the highest percentage of the area in the United States covered by a single network is 55%. This may seem like a smaller percentage than you would expect, but it’s because large areas of rural land where no one lives, like the vast wilderness of Alaska (17.5% of the total land area of the United States) remain uncovered.
We calculate the total square miles covered by the network by multiplying the percentage of area covered by the total area of the United States, which is 3,805,927 square miles as reported by the United States Census Bureau in 2010.
Google Fi uses the T-Mobile network to provide coverage.
Since Google Fi relies on T-Mobile, its coverage is essentially the same as that of Verizon.
This means that Google Fi offers extensive 4G LTE and 5G coverage across the country.
You may have heard or read about Google Fi using other networks for coverage. That’s because previously, Google Fi used T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular to provide service.
However, since the Sprint-T-Mobile merger, Sprint and T-Mobile have become one network, and Google Fi recently stopped using US Cellular for coverage as of February 28th, 2023.
The only network Google Fi uses for coverage right now is the T-Mobile network.
Google Fi rides on T-Mobile’s 5G network, which covers 98% of the U.S. population.
T-Mobile Extended Range 5G covers 323 million people with usable 5G speeds and service.
T-Mobile Ultra Capacity 5G covers 260 million people with super fast 5G speeds.
T-Mobile, and as a result Google Fi, has one of the largest 5G networks in the country.
Google Fi offers nationwide 4G LTE coverage using T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network, which covers over 99% of Americans.
Since Google Fi runs on the T-Mobile network, coverage is the same between the two carriers.
You’ll get the same access to T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G networks.
Google Fi even includes domestic roaming, which is where your phone switches to a partner network for coverage in areas where your primary network doesn’t have service.
You can check T-Mobile coverage here.
Google Fi coverage is a little bit worse than AT&T coverage.
AT&T has a bigger coverage footprint than Google Fi, with 51% total coverage compared to 34% total coverage.
However, both provide similar coverage areas for 5G. Google Fi 5G covers 24% of the US with 5G, while AT&T covers 28% with 5G.
Along with coverage, data speeds are another important factor to consider.
Here, Google Fi outperforms AT&T, boasting faster median download speeds and upload speeds according to Ookla’s latest report.
Google Fi's median download speed is 151.37 Mbps, while AT&T's median download speed is 65.57 Mbps. Similarly, Google Fi's median upload speed is 12.53 Mbps, compared to AT&T's 7.98 Mbps. For users who want faster data speeds for video streaming, downloading, and uploading content, Google Fi may be a better option.
Overall, AT&T offers more extensive coverage than Google Fi.
You’re more likely to have AT&T signal in more places, which can make AT&T a better choice for more rural areas.
However, Google Fi provides faster download speeds than AT&T, which may make it a great choice for crowded cities or other environments with a lot of people.
Check AT&T coverage in your area here.
Google Fi’s coverage is a little bit worse than Verizon’s coverage.
Verizon covers a whopping 55% of the area in the US, compared to 34% covered by Google Fi.
That said, Google Fi has substantially more 5G coverage than Verizon does. Google Fi has 24% 5G coverage and reaches over 323 million people with its 5G network.
Meanwhile, Verizon has 8.6% 5G coverage and reaches 230 million people with its 5G network.
Google Fi also boasts faster speeds than Verizon, getting median speeds of 151 Mbps down and 12.5 Mbps up.
Verizon had median speeds of just 69 Mbps down and 9.3 Mbps up.
Both carriers will likely provide adequate coverage in major cities, with T-Mobile offering substantially faster speeds.
Outside of cities, Verizon’s greater overall coverage area may come in handy.
You can check Verizon coverage in your area here.
This data comes from the FCC.
This data comes from our community-contributed coverage map.
Google Fi uses T-Mobile towers to provide coverage.
Google Fi uses T-Mobile, which covers over 99% of Americans. Most people will have service on Google Fi.
Yes, Google Fi offers 5G using T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network that covers over 98% of Americans.
Some of Google Fi’s plans include free talk, text, and data roaming in Canada.
Some of Google Fi’s plans include free talk, text, and data roaming in Mexico.
Yes. A hallmark feature of Google Fi is that they include free international texting and data roaming with their Flexible plan and their Unlimited Plus plan. International calls are available for just $0.20 per minute for both plans.
International data is not available for Google Fi’s Simply Unlimited plan.