Google Fi vs Republic Wireless 3.0 Mobile Phone Service Review July 2023


Important note, March 18, 2023: Below is my review and comparison of Google Fi and Republic Wireless by Dish. I was with both companies for many years, and both have positive aspects.  

Currently, my whole family is enjoying the Google Fi “Simply Unlimited” plan which is $80/month for 4 lines. This means I am paying $20/month each for a generous unlimited data, text, and talk plan. I am pretty sure this is unbeatable with the usual carriers and MVNOs, including Republic Wireless. This is particularly true because of some of the attractive features that Google Fi includes. There is a free 7-day trial that you can start right away.

Is Google Fi or Republic Wireless Better for You? Google Fi generally offers better value, especially for groups and families, with more phone support (Android and iPhone), additional connectivity options, and international calling benefits. Republic Wireless, while more limited in phone compatibility and network options, offers competitive pricing and quality service, particularly for individual users or those less concerned with international features.

If you’re tired of the big U.S. mobile phone companies (aka AT&T, Verizon, U.S. Cellular, and T-Mobile), you may want to consider two solid contenders: Google Fi Wireless and Republic Wireless 3.0.

In general, I am a fan of both Google Fi and Republic Wireless mobile phone companies; however, at this time, I feel that Google Fi Wireless is easily worth it and the better value – especially for groups and families. Get a $20 credit and a free 7-day trial here.

Read my Republic Wireless / Google Fi review below to find out about the ups and downs of both discount mobile phone companies, information about Republic Wireless and Fi-compatible phones, and more.

  • If you decide to go with Google Fi, please use my “refer a friend” code. After you’ve been on the service for 30 days, you’ll get a credit for $20, and so will I! The Google Fi coupon code/promo code is WKN59C, or you can just follow this link. There is a free 7-day trial available if you have a recent phone with eSim (If you have a recent model phone, it’s a good chance you do).

    You can check to see if you qualify for the 7-day free trial of the service – at this writing, it is only available to users in the United States. You can pretty much start using Fi right this second if your phone has an eSim (You can check here).
    If you need a new phone, you can get a Pixel 6a (excellent phone) without a trade-in for free (via bill credits over 24 months) or a Pixel 7 with a trade-in.

BTW, check here for current Google Fi special offers.

What Do Google Fi and Republic Wireless Have in Common, and What’s Different?

Executive Summary

    • Google Fi supports more phones (Android and iPhone) and has additional connectivity options, mainly when calling or traveling internationally (with specific plans, there are no “roaming” fees in 120 countries – including China, India, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean). And depending on which plan you choose, calls to these countries may be included for free.
    • Android Phone Support: Both companies offer service on   GSM Android-based phones. In general, Google Fi works with most Android phones, while Republic Wireless supports a more limited list. Having said that, you’ll want to use a good quality phone with these services. There is a list of recommended compatible phones that include Google’s Pixel phones, Galaxy S, and Motorola phones.   There are frequently special rebates on various phones that change throughout the year.
    • Google Fi has built-in security in the form of a virtual private network (VPN) when you’re accessing the service via WiFi. This is important because it will give you more confidence that your data isn’t being stolen when using public WiFi hotspots (eg – at the airport). By the way, by default, all calls are automatically encrypted.
    • Service coverage generally isn’t an issue for U.S. customers of either carrier.
    • Google Fi (by way of the Google Store) will take trade-ins for specific phones and give you credit for it to use for your Google Fi bill. Credits range from around $25 to $165.  I will say that it is very convenient to purchase your phone from the Google store if you’re in the market for a new phone. This is a great way to get “device protection” insurance (see below). BTW, if you just need a SIM card for your current phone, you can also get that directly from the store – if your phone can use. Note that you can get a ‘free’ phone via bill credits on Fi (at this writing, the phone is a Pixel 6a).
    • Google Fi (by way of the Google Store) offers something called a “Pixel Pass,” which comes with a new Pixel phone, YouTube Premium, extra storage, and more—starting at $37/mo. You can think of this as a subscription to the phone, and it might be an excellent way to keep up with the latest phone for some folks.
    • Both companies allow you to make calls and send text messages over WiFi. Both try to save data by connecting you via WiFi when possible. As mentioned before, Google Fi has the added advantage of built-in VPN security over WiFi. This means there’s less worry about hackers snooping on your data when you’re using WiFi in public places because it will be encrypted.
    • Both companies are month-to-month, with no contracts. Stop service at any time.
    • Google Fi service automatically routes your calls and data on one of two networks (Sprint/T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular), including 5G where available, depending on which has the best connection when you place a call or use data.  Republic Wireless is only on T-Mobile’s network. The service coverage maps for both companies are therefore pretty strong.
    • Both companies offer very competitively priced unlimited data plans.  Republic Wireless’ best single unlimited plan is currently $40/month. At the moment, Google Fi’s best-unlimited plan would cost $70/month for one line, but it gets progressively cheaper with up to 4 lines. These prices are as of July 1, 2023:
      • Google Fi offers three distinct mobile service plans tailored to different user needs: Flexible, Simply Unlimited, and Unlimited Plus.
        • The Flexible plan starts at $20/month for one line and $10/GB for data–it is $65 for four lines +$10/gig for data. It’s ideal for light data users, as it allows you to pay only for the data you use, making it a potentially economical choice.
        • The Simply Unlimited plan, starting at $50/month for one line/$80 for four lines, offers unlimited data, talk, and text in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and is a great choice for moderate to heavy data users who regularly need data but don’t require the additional features of the higher tier plan.
        • Finally, the Unlimited Plus plan starts at $65/month for one line/$160 for four lines, and provides not just unlimited data, talk, and text in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, but also free calls to over 50 countries and territories, full-speed hotspot tethering, a year of YouTube Premium, and 100GB of Google One cloud storage. It’s an excellent choice for heavy data users and international travelers or those who want the extra convenience of bundled Google services.
    • Both Republic Wireless and Google Fi have superb call quality most of the time. Since Google Fi has the ability to switch networks, some people are more likely to find more bars on their network. If you are placing calls on a decent WiFi network, either provider works great.
    • Both companies offer the option of monthly payments/financing on the phones they sell.
    • Both companies also offer a la cart data plans–if you’d rather try to save on data by using WiFi more often, you can safely go with one of these options.
    • If you do not choose unlimited data, the data on Republic Wireless is cheaper than on Google Fi; however, Google Fi’s “flexible plan” billing model is much more, well, flexible since you only pay for the data you use–and you only pay to the penny. In other words, although they quote $10/gig, they only charge you for any fraction you actually use when you select this plan–you don’t have to pay for an entire gig.
    • Again when we’re talking about a la carte plans (not unlimited): With Republic Wireless, you will know exactly how much you will be billed at the end of the month based on which plan you select. With Google Fi, you will know the base costs, and then the actual bill depends entirely on how much data you use. Google’s “Bill Protection” feature puts a cap on the monthly charge and amounts to an unlimited plan.
    • Google Fi has two “unlimited plans.” These are a great deal if you use lots of data.  An individual on the “simply unlimited” plan will get 35 gigs per month of high-speed data without throttling and without paying anything more. The more expensive “unlimited plus” plan lets you have up to 50gigs of data before throttling and allows you to roam for free in most countries-data is free, but calls on the network outside the USA/Canada may incur a per minute charge.
    • With the “simply unlimited” plan, you can call Mexico, USA, and Canada for free. With the “unlimited plus” plan, you also get free calling to over 50 countries included in the unlimited plan.  
        • If you’re on an a la carte plan, Republic Wireless requires you to upgrade your plan when you hit your data limit. You can upgrade and downgrade your plan up to two times per month. This is a bit of a pain. You also must pay for the entirety of the amount of data in the plan you select no matter what portion of the data you use.
        • Republic Wireless plans get cheaper when two or more people sign on to an account, however, the “bulk” pricing only improves for two people, and after that, everyone pays the same. Republic Wireless also is cheaper if you subscribe to Dish Network. Unlimited plans are $29.99 per line.
        • Google Fi has a “group plan’  with very competitive rates which decrease incrementally with up to 4 or more people, convenient “bill splitting” features if you’re sharing with friends, and data plan sharing. This can be an especially great deal for members of your family who don’t use alot of data…and the bill splitting is very innovative. Google Fi will let you pause a member of your group’s data usage or pause their service completely. There is also a way to limit the amount of paid data on a group member’s account. (They will still have access to “slow” data for free.) On Republic Wireless, you can downgrade a user’s plan to not have data, but you can’t really pause their account yourself (although you may be able to do this by contacting customer service).
        • If you purchase your phone from Google Fi, you can enroll in their “Device Protection” insurance plan for about $7/month. I highly recommend this, as it has been hassle-free help for me on three occasions including one where a $300 phone was dropped in water. In the event something goes wrong with your phone it will be replaced with a refurb for around $60 – $90. If your screen is broken, you can take it to a local retail shop and have it fixed for around $20.

      What’s So Special About These Two Mobile Phone Carriers?

      They have some great selling points and great phones in common. As mentioned earlier, I have been a customer of both of these services, so I wanted to share some insights for people trying to figure out if Fi or RW is right for them and whether or not they should dump the usual suspect mobile carriers and save money. (The answer is probably YES!)

      Below is a review of some of the feature differences between the two mobile phone service companies:

      What are the Compatible Phone Options for Google Fi and Republic Wireless

      Republic Wireless and Google Fi get the best performance with certain pre-selected phones that work on their network. 

      When you sign up for either of these companies, you’ll either have to bring your own phone (which, in the case of Republic Wireless, will need to be on their list of approved phones) or purchase one from the company.

      The phones they recommend are generally among the higher-end phones.  If you purchase a phone from either company, it will come “unlocked” — it will be yours to take with you should you ever decide to move to a different phone company. This is good to know as it is often not the case when you buy a phone from other carriers.

      [Learn More About Google Fi]

      Likewise, if you buy your own phone (or if you already have one that’s compatible), it will need to be “unlocked” for it to work. If you are purchasing a new phone, just be sure that not only is it a compatible model but that it is an unlocked phone.

      For example, if you have a compatible phone that you purchased on a plan through AT&T, it may not be unlocked. Depending on your contract, you may or may not be able to get AT&T to unlock it for you. You’ll have to call and ask to be sure.

      Both Republic Wireless and Google Project Fi will provide you with a SIM card that you’ll need to install to use their service. You can possibly use a downloadable “eSim” card to use either service if you have a compatible phone. For Republic Wireless, this only applies to iPhones. With Fi, you can use it with Android or iPhone.

      Google Project Fi Phone Options

      At the moment, Google Fi supports most Android phones. There is a list of compatible phones on their website. It includes most modern Android and iPhones.

      As you may be aware, the Pixel 7 phone is now the flagship phone of the Android operating system and has some fantastic features-I am a HUGE fan of this phone (EXCELLENT camera, fast response, waterproof, very good all around, and perfect for Fi–follow this link and click SHOP to see the discounted Fi customer price).

      If you need a cheaper option, I am impressed with the more affordable “a” versions of the Google Pixel phones (Google’s flagship): the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4a, and Pixel 5a and Pixel 6a. These phones are a bit slower than the “regular” versions of the phones (without the “a”), and have a plastic body that is NOT waterproof but also has an excellent camera.

      Generally speaking, if you have a Pixel 4 – 7, you’ll get a monthly software update from Google–You will always have the latest release of Android–a truly nice feature, rather than waiting and hoping that your phone will get an update…a chronic problem due to a combination of phones and phone companies.

      You may want to look at refurbished Pixel phones on Amazon.

      Along those same lines, you can purchase these phones from Google when you sign up for service. Still, you should double-check the price on Amazon to make sure you can’t get a better deal — here are some links to refurbished older Pixel phones which are fairly inexpensive but still good:  Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 2.

      You can finance the phones when purchased on Google or Amazon. Having said that, a compelling reason to buy the phone from Google is their trade-in program which is applicable to specific phone models and includes a Google Fi credit of varying amounts depending on the age and condition of the trade.

      I bought several phones through Google Fi’s store and have had good luck. It does make it a little bit easier than bringing your phone.

      A Word About Google Fi Device Protection

      The Google Fi device protection will cost you about $7 per month and covers things like: cracked screens, spills, and device malfunctions, and in some cases, even theft.

      Here is an overview of the device protection rates for some devices. To see the whole list, and to learn more, visit Google Fi’s website.

      Google Fi Device protection costs benefitsIf something goes wrong, they will replace your phone with a new or refurbished similar phone. I have used the service once when the battery was failing on my Nexus 5x.

      It was quickly replaced with a refurbished, identically configured phone. There is a deductible to consider.
      See the table above for example of costs for device protection and the deductible you’ll have to pay if you get your phone replaced using this service. You can only sign up for device protection if you buy your phone from Google.

      Bring an Additional Data Only Device to Google Fi

      Google Fi will allow you to add a free additional “data only” SIM card to your account – it will also let you connect your Google or Samsung Smartwatch. This will let you share your data plan with another device (without any additional monthly fees!) So for example, you could have your main SIM card in your Google Pixel phone, and then put the data-only SIM in an iPad. Whatever the device, so long as it’s able to use a compatible SIM card, and it is “radio compatible” with T-Mobile. You cannot use the phone’s dialer with this option and there is no tethering. Here is a list of devices they have verified are compatible with the free data-only SIM card:

      • Android tablets running 7.0 or higher with LTE bands 2 and 4 (US versions)
      • iPads running iOS 10 or higher with  LTE bands 2 and 4 (US versions)
      • Samsung Galaxy Tabs S2 or newer (US versions)
      • Nexus 9 LTE (US versions)
      • Sony Xperia Z4 (US version)

      Other devices not on the list could work, if they are unlocked and radio-compatible with T-Mobile (GSM Radio) and they have the right sized SIM slot. For example, I have heard of people using it with their iPhone 6. You can just order one and try (it’s totally free! You don’t even have to pay for shipping.) if you think you have an unlocked device that will work. Just remember there will be no calls or texts through the normal channels (although you can certainly replace the regular dialer and text messenger with some other app for example, What’s App, Viber, or Skype…). Note that you might potentially need a “nano SIM to Micro SIM adaptor” for some devices.

       Multiple Mobile Networks and WiFi in Use

      One very cool feature of Republic Wireless and Google Fi is the way they can move seamlessly between wireless networks and place calls/send text on WiFi networks. Google Fi has the upper hand here, as it can make use of 3 major US mobile phone networks: T-Mobile, and US Cellular. Whichever network is providing the strongest signal is the one that your call will be routed on. It does this in real-time, so if you should move to an area where one of the three providers is giving you a better signal your call will switch networks and you’ll be “none the wiser.” Republic Wireless utilizes just one network–T-Mobile (actually, they don’t tell you, but they hint that it’s the one that has the best 4G LTE network.)

      The Seamless Handover Between Phone and WiFi

      Both Republic Wireless and Fi will allow you to seamlessly switch over to and away from a WiFi connection. This is REALLY handy. Especially if you live in a place where there just isn’t really any strong cellular signal (or if, for example, you work in a basement that has WiFi, but no mobile signals get through). If you’re connected to a WiFi hotspot, you don’t incur any data charges and you can use voice, data, and text as you would on the mobile network. Did I mention how great this is? 🙂 If you place a call, and then move away from your WiFi network, your phone is going to seamlessly jump on to the wireless network, assuming one is available. Google Fi also keeps a database of hundreds of open WiFi networks that it can automatically connect to. When it does, it always uses an encrypted connection to protect your calls and data. It seems to work very well and saves you money.

      The Flexible Plan on Google Fi

      Here is some information about the cost of the a la carte pricing for Google Fi – in case you decide not to get the unlimited plans. The formula for pricing is something like: Google Fi Monthly Payment = Base Cost of $20/month + data used & international calls + phone insurance (optional) + taxes, fees (in my case $3.62 in October 2016 for a single line to be exact–see sample bill below). Google’s FAQs state, “Taxes and government surcharges vary by service address, but are normally between 10-20%.

      For example, if your monthly bill is $40, the taxes on your statement could be between $4-8.” If you’re paying for your phone every month, that fee would also be charged on your monthly bill along with device protection fees if you are enrolled. Google Fi “Flexible Plan” is really a pay-as-you-go offering.  They do give you benchmark “data plans,” but really, at the end of the month you’re only going to pay for what you actually used as far as data (down to the megabyte). This is a bit hard to grasp, because we’re so used to phone companies that charge you the minimum of your chosen data plan and then charge you for additional data as you go, but in specific large blocks of data.

      This is not the case with Project Fi. When you sign up for Google Fi on the Flexible Plan, you will “choose a data billing plan,” but really it’s just to give you an idea of what you will be spending each month. That might sound scary, but it works–especially with their bill protection feature. Even though you signed up for a plan, they charge you by the megabyte.

      To put this more specifically, Google currently charges a base of around $20/month to keep the service activated for voice and texting, then they charge $10/gig of data used (plus a monthly fee). In reality, though, if you only used 350 megabytes in a month, you would be charged $3.50 for data, not the whole $10. So you are always charged for just what you used, no matter which plan you select. Google Fi’s help explains signing up for a data plan on their network this way “You’ll always pay for what you use, so changing your data budget is like setting a goal. We’ll send you alerts as you get close to your budget.” They go on to explain that “With Project Fi, you’re charged $10 per GB for data. If you use more data than your budget, you’ll be charged for the exact difference–at the exact same rate. If you use less, you’ll get credited for what you don’t use. “

      If you really need to have no more than an exact amount of data used, you can use your phone’s “set mobile data limit” features to set a hard limit. This way, when your phone notices you’ve reached a certain data threshold, it will shut off its mobile data usage. Pro Tip: I’d recommend the Datally app made by Google to control your data usage.

      Traveling and International Calls on a Google Fi Plan

      An important and notable feature of Google Fi is that if you travel to any of 135+ other countries, your data plan will still be in effect with certain service levels (eg -Unlimited Plus). You won’t be charged any extra (beyond the regular $10/gig if you’re on the Flexible Plan and nothing additional on the Unlimited Plan), and you’ll be able to consume data, just as you did in the USA.

      I recently traveled to Italy, France, Spain, Ukraine, and Germany with my Fi phone and succeeded with calls, text messages, and data. This is a great feature because you don’t have to worry with purchasing a local SIM card or anything like that.

      Once I got to a new country, it took a few minutes, but I’d get a message from Google Fi confirming my phone had been registered in the given country, and then I could make calls, send texts, and use data. For more details and to see the list of countries that are in Project Fi’s plan, click here.

      Note that although your data costs will be the same as they are in the USA, expect to pay 20 cents per minute for calls. Assuming you have a US phone number, WiFi calls within the USA and abroad would be free, and beyond that, if you’re calling another country, the same international calling rates would apply. Of course, you can make calls to friends on Whatsapp or Google Duo, for example using the data plan for free rather than “regular” calling which incurs per minute charges.

      If you are wondering, yes, you can send text messages to other countries from Google Fi phones–I have texted to Germany and  Ukraine without problems.

      A Word About Groups and Families on Google Fi

      Google Fi offers a group plan/family plan. Each additional line above the initial primary line is $15/month, and then the data is shared at the same rates mentioned above. If you have younger kids and want to be able to control their data usage, you’ll want to use Google Family link app. It lets you set limits on the child’s phone including which content they’re viewing but you can also create settings and alerts for data usage that the youngster can’t tamper with. One great feature of this group/family plan is the bill splitting/”repay” feature. “Fi plan members can repay group plan owners for their share of the monthly bill directly through the Google Fi app. No need to pull out your calculator—Project Fi will handle the math. Reminders, payments, and tracking are all just as simple.” That means it’s a bit easier if you’re sharing an account with friends or roommates, everyone can easily pay their share of the wireless bill.

      I would note that Google Fi is mainly “pre-paid.” Meaning that you’ll pay for the plan at the beginning of the month, and then you may get billed for “extras” at the end of the month. For example, an extra might be if you make an off-plan international call. But this is an important point because you don’t want to be caught by surprise if money is tight and you get billed right after you sign up rather than 30 days later.

      A Word About Using Google Fi and Republic Wireless with Kids

      If you have children and those children have a phone, you’ll probably have concerns about their data plan usage. The question will be: how can I restrict my child or teen’s data usage so they don’t cause the parents to go bankrupt? Here are a few thoughts on this:

      1. With Republic Wireless, it’s a simple matter – you just select the amount of data you’re okay with and that’s what you’ll be charged — provided that your kid doesn’t upgrade their plan themselves–a possibility, but definitely a deliberate action, and one you may be able to restrict (see Family Link bullet below)
      2. On Google Fi, there is no “hard stop” on data usage. It will let you keep going, and you’ll be charged until you hit your plan’s threshold for unlimited data. After that there will be no further charges. So if you have a kid who uses lots of data, there is no line where the data will be “gone.”

        Having said that, they do have two features that are useful in cases where you need to control your family member’s data usage. First, you can set a data usage “alert” at whatever amount you think is appropriate. So for example, if you think you’re child should only use 1 gig per month, you can choose that amount, and you and your child will receive an alert when they hit that benchmark. Second, you, as the account owner can sign in to Google Fi and  pause the data for your child’s account. So if you’re on the ball, you can sort of control how much data is used. Depending on your child, the alert itself might be enough for them to curb their data usage.
      3. On Android devices, you can setup the “Family Link app.” Family Link is a free Google app that allows you to control all aspects of your kid’s phone usage. Family Link doesn’t specifically let you control they amount of data they can utilize, but it would allow you to restrict their ability to access certain apps. So this may be a way for you to stop them from adjusting the phone’s settings. It definitely lets you restrict the amount of time kids can spend using specific apps. I don’t know much about it, but there are similar apps for iPhone/iOS.
      4. I think it is worth mentioning again that both Google Fi and Republic Wireless are built on the idea that you’ll use WiFi as much as possible — including for sending text messages and making phone calls. Therefore, in many situations that other mobile phone companies would have you using data from the data plan, these two companies stand out since they save you from this where possible.

      Comparing the Cost of Republic Wireless vs Google Fi

      In short, although there are some nuances to this, Google Project Fi is slightly more expensive than Republic Wireless. It really depends on how you intend to use the service which of the two would be better.

      Base Plan  cost

      Republic Wireless: $29.99/month unlimited (no group/family plan at this time) – They also offer a 19.99/month plan but it only comes with 1 gig of data  – you pay an additional $5 for each gig of data. Both plans are priced if you are a subscriber to Dish Network. I am not sure the pricing if you are not.

      Data Costs:

      Republic Wireless: Depends on the amount of data. All plans already include unlimited voice & texting: 1 gig $20; 2 gigs $25; 3 gigs $30, etc. (as of 8/6/2016). You DO have to pay for unused data. Google Project Fi: Base Cost of $20 PLUS the data costs (but only for the exact amount of data you use): $10/gig. So a one gig plan would be $30/month; 2 gig plan would $40/month, etc. +taxes, fees, etc. I am in Maryland, and I paid $3.62 in taxes and fees on my October bill (see below).

      Google Fi Sample Bill

      Here is a sample bill from Google’s Project Fi for one line in October 2016… and if you’re wondering about Google Fi taxes and fees, there is a breakout (again for October 2016 in Maryland! It might be somewhat different in other states): Project Fi Taxes and Fees

      Google Fi and Republic Wireless with Kids and Teens

      If you’re in a position where you need to be able to control your kid’s phone use, you’re not alone. This is something that I have been trying to figure out for a long time. Here are a few tips and ideas:

      • For Android phones, you’ll want to use “Family Link.” This will give you some general control over your family member’s phone, including being able to control the amount of time particular apps are available per day, and you can (mostly) pause the phone completely. The one flaw (as of this writing) is that kids can still turn their phone into a wireless hotspot to power other devices unfettered. You can hope they don’t figure that out. Mine did. iPhones have some built-in parental controls.
      • If you opt for Republic Wireless, you can control the amount of data your child uses in a very rudimentary but effective way: As I stated earlier, you must pre-purchase data in blocks of 1 gig at a time. So if your child’s phone only has one gig, it is gone when it’s gone. Each phone in your account can have its own data limit. Again, there is no real group plan for RW. So if they run out, then they have to wait until next month. That is unless you buy them another gig. The one drawback of this is that if you’d like to be able to track their location and they are out of data…well, you’re out of luck.
      • Google Fi is a bit more advanced on this. You can setup a specific limit to the amount of data your child can use. After that cap is hit, the data is still available, but it’s very slow. So this is great if you’re worried about your child running out of data when they’re not near wifi for safety reasons (for instance, if you want to track their location), this takes that worry away. On the other hand, it may be slow, so it’s not totally unusable so if you’re trying to use data as a reward/punishment, it’s definitely not a perfect setup.
      • Another possibility with Google Fi is that you can pause either data service or the entire Google Fi service. This is pretty useful, even just as a threat. With the push of the “pause” button, the service will stay off until you turn it back on at a later date.

      I have written more about parental controls for your kids’ phone and device usage here.

      Closing Thoughts

      You can’t go wrong with either of these phone companies. Both offer great service and operate with very decent phones. Google Fi has the power of additional phone networks, encrypted WiFi, international data, phone replacement insurance/device protection, etc, but Republic Wireless gets the job done at slightly lower costs. Since there are no contracts with either company, you can leave and take your phone with you at any time — you just have to finish paying for the current month and you’re done. You can undoubtedly try Google Fi and if you don’t like it, you could switch to Republic Wireless (assuming you are using one of the compatible phones that work on both mobile services!). The hardest part would be changing out the SIM card in your phone (which isn’t that hard, but can be kind of a pain if you’re a bit ham-fisted like me.) Like what you read? See my review of the Vitamix 5200 blender and my list of gift ideas for Brainy / Gifted kids.

      [See my review of Costco]

      Summary
      Reviewer
      Eron Cohen
      Review Date
      Reviewed Item
      Google Fi Wireless and Republic Wireless
      Author Rating
      51star1star1star1star1star
      Product Name
      Google Fi Wireless and Republic Wireless