I’m thinking of getting a Google Fi phone and service (it would be a second phone) just for use when I travel overseas. My data rates are too expensive overseas and so I’m wondering if anyone has experienced using one of these phones and the service while traveling. Need it for Data only and it’s the cheapest best solution I’ve come up with.

Thanms for imput.

I don't have one, but Google has been heavily promoting their phone at airports...

There is a thread in the Technology forum where you can see recent reviews of service while roaming.

But I'll add my own. I have the Nexus 5X with Google fi as my second phone for travel abroad and it works really well. Data works up to LTE depending on the network but at 2G you can still get emails and use maps. Free calls while on Wifi back to the US (and local I believe) makes for a good quality, low cost, easy use of travel. Being able to suspend service, two months at a time, at no additional cost is a big bonus. Have used it in Mexico, Buenos Aires, Canada, South Africa, Israel, many places in Europe with pretty much no issues.

Shoot. I just read that you can only pause your account for limited time. This option isn’t gonna work well from me.

You can pause your account for two days at a time, they send you an email reminding you that your account will reactivate a day before and you login the next day and resuspend. Have never been charged if you do it same day.

Service wise, I get faster speeds than tmobile.

Out of curiosity, why wouldn't you just use it as your primary phone at home and abroad?

I've had a Nexus 5x and now a Moto X4 with Fi, and my wife had a 6P and has moved on to a Pixel 2. The service both at home and abroad has been great. I've been able to connect everywhere I go in the US with the exception of a remote island that has only a Verizon tower on it. I've had no trouble in the Dominican Republic, Thailand, or Mexico either.

I switched to Fi about a year an a half ago and it's been a life saver for travelling. I've saved so much money overseas! And it's nice to know I don't have to panic about finding wifi everywhere I go. Some remote areas don't have fast coverage, but there's usually at least a little bit. I also have a data only sim for my iPhone and it works like a charm.

ATT & VZN still have some rather budget unfriendly international roaming & calling rates. Tmobile & Sprint along with Fi and MVNOs win with these kinds of plans.Bit Fi doesn't work everywhere domestically with strong service where ATT or VZN are stronger. Also they do require a Nexus or Pixel phone to get the 3 network connectivity.

If you are in a Sprint strong area and own your phone/willing to full purchase a phone Sprint is offering a free year of unlimited service with international service. I got it last month and it's been great.

Please follow the redirect as we move this query.

~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk

Google FI is hands down the best service for international travelers. Unlike Sprint and T-Mobile with their "free" data abroad... with Google FI, you pay the same $10/Gig everywhere, and you get FULL speed (or damn near) LTE everywhere you go. This is a Massive distinction.

On T-Mobile, you pay $20 for 1GB 10-day passes... which are a massive pain to constantly renew. I was on FI for about 2 years until I finally left them... mainly because I wanted to use an iPhone and an Apple Watch LTE.

Just came back from a week in London, UK and had no issues worth Fi. Worked great. Currently have a pixel 1. The Nexus was awful for me though, went through three phones. Google ended up refunding the cost of the Nexus. Can't beat their customer service!!

Fi is absolutely fantastic for international data. I'll still use my huawei hotspot and a local sim if I'm somewhere for more than a couple days, as I use a lot of data. But the ability to get off an airplane and just turn the phone on and it's works with no additional cost is huge. Also the extra data-only sims are nice too, as I have one for the GF's phone, so she can swap that out and have data as well on her phone.

Can be a little pricey if you aren't careful for regular daily use. IE: sitting on a boat last weekend, using my pixel2 as a hotspot and streaming college football all day to a 32" tv. Used like 10gb of data, so that's gonna be 100 bucks next bill...but then again, I was sitting on a boat watching football with a cold beverage in my hand, so that's pretty cool.

I would if it were they allowed iPhones. ;-)