Google Fi vs. Consumer Cellular: Which carrier is better?

Google Fi and Consumer Cellular are well known prepaid carriers that offer varying plans for a wide audience. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Google Fi is on the T-Mobile network, while Consumer Cellular is on both AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks. 

Google Fi and Consumer Cellular are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Google Fi is an MVNO of T-Mobile, while Consumer Cellular is an MVNO of both AT&T and T-Mobile. With Consumer Cellular, users can choose between which network they want to use for service.

Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Google Fi offers premium data, and Consumer Cellular offers several limited data plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Google Fi offers premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Google Fi Plans

Several plans offer unlimited data with premium data at a cap. 

Google Fi offers 2 unlimited plans and one plan with pay-per-use data. Each of its unlimited plans offer a limited amount of premium data. Each plan allows up to 6 lines and renews monthly. Google Fi is on QCI tier 6 of 9.

Image courtesy of Google Fi’s website. 

If you purchase your phone from Google Fi, your device will already be unlocked. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

Flexible 

This plan allows you to pay for the exact amount of data you use each month. 

Google Fi’s Flexible plan is unlike a lot of other plans on the market, as it allows you to pay a set amount per month for talk and text features. Users then pay for only the amount of data they use. After 15GB of data, your speed is slowed to 256 kbps, or 3G speeds. You can still send texts, emails, and use social media with little issues. Streaming video will be much more difficult. 

The plan also includes the ability to buy mobile hotspot data, and all plan data can be used as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $20 per month, plus $10 for each GB you use. For example, you’d pay about $70 per month if you used 5GB.

Simply Unlimited 

This plan gives you 35GB of premium data before slowing down. 

The Simply Unlimited plan gives you 35GB of premium data. Premium data means your data will not be deprioritized in times of high traffic and congestion. After 35GB, data slows down to 3G speeds. 5GB of hotspot data is also included in the plan, then stops after that allotment. 

The plan costs $50 per month. At this rate, you get 35GB at $1.42 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus

This plan is 50GB of premium data. 

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan has 50GB of premium data. Connection is then slowed down to 3G speeds. You can use all 50GB of plan data as mobile hotspot data, but hotspot data stops after the 50GB. 

The plan costs $65 per month. At this rate, you get 50GB at $1.30 per GB. 

Consumer Cellular Plans

All plans allow for a $5 Autopay discount when you sign up for participation. 

Consumer Cellular offers 4 plans, with limited plans ranging from 1 to 10GB. You can add up to 7 lines on one plan, with additional lines being $15 each. All plans from Consumer Cellular are deprioritized. As for QCI tiers, Consumer Cellular is tier 7 on T-Mobile’s network and tier 8 on AT&T’s network. 

If you purchase your phone from Consumer Cellular, your device will be locked until your device is paid for in full. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. The advertised price includes their $5 Autopay discount. 

1GB 

This plan stops data access after 1GB.

This plan offers 1GB of data. You can use all of your plan data as hotspot data. However, after you use 1GB, your data access stops completely. 

The plan costs $25 per month before the $5 Autopay discount. 

5GB

This plan gives you 5GB with hotspot access. 

This plan gives you 5GB of data per month, with the option to use it as hotspot data. Again, your data access stops after this allotment. 

The plan costs $30 per month before the $5 Autopay discount. At this rate, you get 5GB at $6 per GB. 

10GB

This plan allows hotspot access with all plan data. 

This plan gives you 10GB of data before cutting off at the data cap. You can use your hotspot for all plan data. 

The plan costs $40 per month before the $5 Autopay discount. At this rate, you get 10GB at $4 per GB. 

Unlimited 

This plan gives you 50GB of full speed data before slowing down your connection. 

This is Consumer Cellular’s biggest plan, as it gives you 50GB of full speed data. After you reach 50GB, your data will slow to 128 kbps, or 2G speeds. This is enough to send text messages and emails and browse websites, but not much else. These speeds are extremely slow and may be frustrating for users. You can use a hotspot for all plan data.

The plan costs $55 per month before the $5 Autopay discount. At this rate, you get 50GB at $1.10 per GB.  

Features

Google Fi offers more features with their plans.  

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Google Fi offers domestic roaming data on their plans. Consumer Cellular does not offer this feature.

Mexico & Canada Connection

Google Fi offers talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada included with both its unlimited plans. However, only text is included in their Flexible plan. Talk and data are pay-per-use. For Consumer Cellular, Mexico and Canadian connection is pay-per-use at various rates depending on your network.  

International Connection

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan includes international text and data. Calling internationally is pay-per-use outside the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Simply Unlimited plan does not include international connection, and the Flexible plan includes international texting, but talk and data are pay-per-use. Calling costs $0.20 per minute. For Consumer Cellular, international connection is pay-per-use at various rates depending on your network.  

Video Streaming Quality

Google Fi offers 4k Ultra High Definition streaming for their Flexible plan and 480p Standard Definition streaming for their unlimited data plans. Consumer Cellular streams at 480p Standard Definition on all plans.

Streaming Services

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan offers a free subscription to Youtube Premium. Consumer Cellular does not offer this feature. 

Cloud Storage

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan offers 100GB of Google One. Consumer Cellular does not offer this feature. 

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from either carrier, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time.

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception. 

Spam Protection

All Google Fi plans offer spam protection included. Consumer Cellular does not offer this feature. 

Free Trial

Google Fi offers a 7 day free trial. Consumer Cellular does not offer this feature. 

Customer Service 

Google Fi does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. Consumer Cellular has 4 physical stores.  

Google Fi is a  digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Google Fi offers 24/7 customer support over chat and over the phone at 1-844-TALK-2-FI. Consumer Cellular has 4 stores, with 2 located in Florida and 2 located in Arizona. Otherwise, users can call their customer support line at (877) 320-3486 and use their chat line any time between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time. 

The Verdict

The better plan depends on what you need.  

Overall, Consumer Cellular and Google Fi offer very different plans. If you’re looking for all that a phone plan can offer, Google Fi is the best choice with their Unlimited Plus plan. However, if you don’t need that much data, Consumer Cellular is the better option for you. Google Fi’s Flexible plan and Consumer Cellular’s Unlimited plan are more expensive than their alternative options between both plans, though. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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