Joe Maring / Android Authority
Among the MVNOs available today, Google Fi consistently stands out as one of our favorites here at Android Authority. It has flexible plans, good coverage, limited data throttling, and fair pricing. There’s really not much to complain about.
One of the key benefits we often highlight for Google Fi is its international service. Whether you buy international data by the GB with the Flexible plan or need unlimited data with the Unlimited Premium plan, Fi offers some of the most robust international coverage for an MVNO.
But is Google Fi’s international data actually any good, or are you better off getting an international eSIM instead? I tried both on a recent vacation across Italy, and there’s a pretty clear winner.
How do you use mobile data when traveling internationally? 10 votes Travel eSIM 30 % International coverage included in my cell plan 50 % A mix of both 10 % I've never used/needed international data 10 %
Google Fi vs. travel eSIM: Pricing, data, and coverage
Joe Maring / Android Authority
There are numerous apps/websites where you can purchase international eSIMs, such as Airalo, Holafly, Nomad eSIM, and others. For this test, I used Saily and purchased a 30-day eSIM with 20GB of data for $29.
As with most international eSIMs, this only included data (no texting or calling support) and was limited to just one country — in this case, Italy. If I had traveled to another country during my trip, I would have needed another eSIM for it.
Comparatively, Google Fi’s Unlimited Premium plan is much more robust. You get 50GB of high-speed data, and if you use all of it, you still get unlimited data at a slower 256kbps speed. You can also use that data in 200+ countries, rather than having it limited to one destination. The plan also includes free texting to the same 200 countries and free calling to more than 50 destinations.
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