Google Fi is Google’s own phone plan, and in the US it runs on T-Mobile’s network. Looking for a Google Fi alternative usually means two things. You want your phone line out of your Google account, and you want to keep the number everyone already has. Both are easy, because every carrier below accepts a ported number and Fi keeps your service running until the move completes.
Fi is covered by Google’s privacy policy. Its own privacy notice also opts you in by default to using your call records (what carriers call CPNI) to market Google communications products, though you can opt out. Once you move, your new calls and texts are logged by your new carrier instead.
Quick Comparison
| Alternative | Best for | Price (Oct 2026) | Network | Privacy | Abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape | Privacy | About $70/month early-adopter price, normally $99 | Nationwide 5G (network not named) | Logs deleted after a day, IMSI rotation on select devices, SIM-swap protection | Global roaming listed as included |
| US Mobile | Value and travel | Unlimited Starter about $25/month; Unlimited Premium about $44/month | Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile, your choice | An ordinary carrier | Premium includes 20 GB in 180+ countries |
| Mint Mobile | The lowest bill | From about $15/month (6 GB, 12 months upfront); unlimited about $30/month | T-Mobile, which owns it | An ordinary carrier | Roaming add-ons; calls to Mexico, Canada and the UK included |
| Visible | Simple unlimited on Verizon | $25/month; Visible+ $35; Visible+ Pro $45, taxes and fees included | Verizon, which owns it | An ordinary carrier | Global Pass from $5/day; Visible+ adds Mexico and Canada |
| T-Mobile Prepaid | Fi’s network, no prepaying | About $40–$60/month with AutoPay | T-Mobile | An ordinary carrier | Unlimited Plus adds Mexico and Canada talk and text |
| Travel eSIM (such as Airalo) | Data on trips | Data packs from a few dollars | Local partner networks | Data only, no number | 200+ locations |
Which One Should You Pick?
- If privacy is the reason you’re leaving, choose Cape. It’s the only carrier here that builds its service around collecting less.
- If you travel abroad often, choose US Mobile Unlimited Premium. Its 20 GB in 180+ countries is the closest thing to Fi Unlimited Premium, which includes 50 GB in 200+ destinations.
- If you want the smallest bill, choose Mint Mobile and pay for a year upfront.
- If Verizon covers your area best, choose Visible or US Mobile on its Verizon network.
- If you want to stay on exactly the network Fi uses and pay month to month, choose T-Mobile Prepaid.
Coverage matters more than any feature. Check each carrier’s coverage map for your home, work and commute before you port, because changing your mind means another port.
The Alternatives, One by One
Cape
Cape is a privacy-first US carrier. It deletes call and text logs after one day and rotates your phone’s network identifier on select devices, which is meant to make your phone harder to follow on the network. It also includes secondary numbers, SIM-swap protection and a network lock.
- Pick it because it treats your phone line like sensitive data, and it supports GrapheneOS. On GrapheneOS you turn on eSIM support in settings and finish activation in the owner profile.
- A possible deal-breaker is the price, the highest here. Cape works only by eSIM, on Pixel and Samsung phones running Android 13 or newer and on iPhone XR, 11 or newer. Without Google Play services on GrapheneOS, its push notifications and network lock don’t work yet.
- It costs about $70/month for early adopters, normally $99 (Oct 2026), with no contract.
US Mobile
US Mobile sells service on all three big US networks. Warp is Verizon, Dark Star is AT&T and Light Speed is T-Mobile, and you can switch between them.
- Pick it because you get Fi-style flexibility at a lower price, and Unlimited Premium includes 20 GB of roaming data in 180+ countries.
- A possible deal-breaker is that it’s an ordinary carrier, with no special privacy protections. Features vary by network, so check the plan details for the one you choose.
- Prices (Oct 2026) are about $25/month for Unlimited Starter and about $44/month for Unlimited Premium. People who bring a number often get a discount for the first months.
Mint Mobile
Mint is a prepaid brand owned by T-Mobile, so it runs on the same network as Fi. You pay for 3, 6 or 12 months at once.
- Pick it because it’s the cheapest way to keep Fi’s coverage. If you liked Fi’s pay-per-gigabyte Flexible plan ($20/month plus $10 per GB), Mint’s small plans usually cost less.
- A possible deal-breaker is the upfront payment, $180 for a year of the 6 GB plan. Check its roaming add-ons before a trip. Calls to Mexico, Canada and the UK are included.
- Prices on 12-month plans (Oct 2026) are about $15/month for 6 GB, $20 for 17 GB, $25 for 23 GB and $30 for unlimited. Shorter terms start with an introductory price, then cost more.
Visible
Visible is Verizon’s own low-cost brand, with unlimited data and hotspot on every plan.
- Pick it because it’s simple, and prices include taxes and fees. Visible+ and Visible+ Pro add data in Mexico and Canada and a Global Pass day or two each month.
- A possible deal-breaker is the speed cap on hotspot, from 5 Mbps on the base plan. Travel elsewhere costs from $5 a day with Global Pass.
- Prices (Oct 2026) are $25/month for Visible, $35 for Visible+ and $45 for Visible+ Pro, with occasional promo codes.
T-Mobile Prepaid
T-Mobile Prepaid gives you Fi’s network directly, month to month, with no contract.
- Choose it if you want T-Mobile coverage without paying months ahead.
- A possible deal-breaker is that it costs more than Mint for the same network, and only Unlimited Plus includes calls and texts to Mexico and Canada.
- Prices with AutoPay (Oct 2026) are about $40/month for Starter, $45 for Unlimited and $60 for Unlimited Plus.
Travel eSIMs for Trips Abroad
Fi made travel easy, and that’s the part you’ll miss most. A travel eSIM sells data for one country, a region or the whole world, and sits next to your main line on phones that can hold more than one SIM. Airalo, for example, covers 200+ locations.
- Choose it if you travel a few times a year and your new plan doesn’t include data abroad.
- The catch is that packs are data only. Calls and texts to your US number still depend on your main plan, so use messaging apps over the eSIM’s data while you’re away.
Check These Before You Leave Fi
- Phone financing. If you financed a phone through Fi, the full remaining balance is charged when you close the account.
- Your phone is unlocked. Google says Fi phones aren’t locked to Fi. Check the new carrier supports your model, and eSIM if they require it.
- Google One and YouTube Premium. Unlimited Premium includes 100 GB of Google One storage. Those benefits end 7 days after Fi service ends, and YouTube Premium ends too. If you store more than your free space, Drive and Photos stop uploading and Gmail may stop sending and receiving. Clear space, buy storage from Google One directly, or move your files first with our Google Drive guide.
- The last bill. On unlimited plans you pay for the full month you leave in. Flexible plans get a credit for unused days. Final billing and refunds can take up to 90 days.
- Voicemail. Save any voicemails you want to keep, using your Phone app’s save or share option if it has one. Texts and call history stay in the apps on your phone.
- Group plans. Group owners can leave in the app or on the website. Group members on iPhone use the Fi website.
How to Switch From Google Fi
Get the New Line Ready
- Check the new carrier’s coverage map and its phone compatibility checker. Cape works only by eSIM, so your phone must support it.
- Decide which number you’re keeping. The port moves your Fi number, so you don’t need a temporary one.
- Download recent Fi bills as PDFs for your records. You can still sign in to view past bills after the account closes.
Get Your Account Number and Transfer PIN From Fi
Only start this once your new carrier is ready to take the number.
- Open the Google Fi app, or go to fi.google.com/account and sign in.
- On the Account tab, select Manage plan. Scroll down and select Leave Google Fi.
- Follow the prompts, choose to transfer your number to another carrier, and confirm. A Cancellation pending banner appears.
- Under the banner, select Get Transfer Info. Copy the account number and transfer PIN exactly, since both are case-sensitive.
Start the Port at Your New Carrier
- Sign up with the new carrier and choose to bring your number. Enter the Fi account number and transfer PIN, plus the name and address on your Fi account.
- Don’t pause or cancel Fi yourself. Fi stays active until the new carrier activates your number, and pausing service can make the port fail.
- If the port hasn’t gone through within 14 days, the PIN expires. Repeat steps 4 to 7 to get a new one.
Test Everything After the Port
- Make a call, send a text and load a web page on mobile data.
- Trigger a verification code from your bank and from any account that texts your number, including your Google account’s 2-Step Verification. Your number moved with you, so the codes should still arrive.
- Delete the Fi eSIM or remove the Fi SIM card, then uninstall the Google Fi app.
- Watch for two final statements from Fi, and check any refund reaches your original payment method.
If you also use Google Voice for a second number, our Google Voice guide covers porting that one out. Thinking about the phone itself? Our degoogled phone guide explains your options.
Fi is often one of several Google products tied to your account. Our free scan lists the others from files you download yourself, without uploading anything.