Google Fi was already my top choice for eSIM while traveling, and now it’s even improved.

      Last week was a significant occasion for Google. While it was the 20th anniversary of YouTube, it also marked the tenth anniversary of Google’s wireless service in the United States.

      For ten years, Google Fi Wireless – formerly known as Project Fi – has been impressing customers with a variety of outstanding benefits included in its plans.

      It has been my preferred SIM card for traveling, and for several years, it has served as my main carrier. Recently, Google has improved it further, reinforcing why it remains the best eSIM for travel.

      Introducing the new Google Fi Wireless plans

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      If you've traveled to countries with restricted internet access, like China or India, you understand the importance of a VPN. The best VPNs provide an unfiltered and unrestricted internet experience, and as a Google Fi Wireless user, you receive Google's VPN free with every plan.

      In celebration of its 10-year anniversary, Google Fi has introduced a new, more affordable plan that allows even more people to become part of the Google Fi community. The new "Unlimited Essentials" plan starts at $35 for a single line, which is $15 lower than the previous lowest plan. This plan includes 30GB of high-speed data before throttling, with the option to purchase additional high-speed data for an extra fee.

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      The previous lowest plan has been renamed from Simply Unlimited to Unlimited Standard and now offers 50GB of high-speed data, an increase from the former 35GB. It also raises the included hotspot data from 5GB to 25GB per line, in addition to unlimited calls, texts, and data roaming throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.

      The top-tier plan, which I personally use, is now referred to as Unlimited Premium. It features double the high-speed data at 100GB, along with 50GB of standalone hotspot data for tethering. It continues to be priced at $65 per month and includes six months of YouTube Premium, 100GB of Google One cloud storage, and various benefits tailored for travelers.

      5G available in over twice as many locations

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      I’ve used Google Fi for several years, and it effectively tackles the main issues related to traveling with your home carrier. The Unlimited Premium plan provides data in more than 200 international destinations, which remains the same. However, a new development is that you can now access high-speed 5G when roaming in 92 countries.

      While many networks offer roaming, I've often encountered the limitation of only accessing slower LTE speeds. The introduction of 5G roaming enhances this, making Google Fi even faster while abroad. In my experience, it has consistently been quicker than T-Mobile when traveling, and this update is likely to strengthen Google Fi’s advantage.

      You might wonder if 5G roaming is necessary, and as someone who travels frequently, I can confidently say that it is very beneficial. Many countries may have weak LTE networks but robust 5G networks, particularly if their network improvements coincided with the rollout of 5G. The faster speeds significantly enhance the usability of your phone while traveling, whether for accessing maps, researching information, streaming YouTube videos in 4K, or browsing social media.

      These updates confirm that Google Fi is my top choice for a carrier, and Google has addressed one of my major concerns regarding Google Fi.

      Data eSIMs are finally available

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      One of the standout features of Google Fi has been the availability of a data-only SIM that shares the same data pool as your main SIM. Instead of having to purchase a secondary SIM, which could raise your plan’s cost, the data-only SIM is ideal for those with a secondary phone, needing data for a tablet, or ensuring family members can access data on their devices while traveling.

      However, there was one issue: a physical SIM card slot was required. Apple removed the SIM card slot from the iPhone two years ago and followed suit with the iPad, meaning you couldn’t use a data-only SIM with either device.

      That has changed: Google Fi has just introduced data-only eSIMs. You can now set up to four data-only eSIMs (or order a physical SIM if you prefer) for each line on Unlimited Premium or the Flexible plan, which costs $20 per month and $10 per GB of data used, with a maximum of $80 per month per line.

      Why my commitment to Google Fi has deepened

      Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

      For a few months, I had been contemplating leaving Google Fi due to the absence of a data-only eSIM. Google Fi is the only carrier offering a data-only SIM card without additional charges, but the lack of an eSIM option meant it couldn't be used with my iPhone or iPad.

      This limitation also meant it would take up the physical SIM slot