Hi everyone,
We’re very excited to announce that Fi SIM cards are now available for purchase in 500+ Best Buy stores across the US.
These SIMs will be sold separately from devices and are priced at $9.99. When you purchase a Fi SIM from participating Best Buy stores, you are eligible to receive a $10 service credit upon SIM activation on Fi (with a limit of one qualifying activation per person and a limit of six qualifying activations per group plan). Note: While Best Buy employees will not be able to assist in Fi SIM activations, it’s easy to do on your own by following the steps listed here.
FAQs
1. Are only new Fi members eligible for the $10 service credit?
Any user (current or new to Fi) can buy a Fi SIM and get the $10 service credit if it’s activated on Fi (with a limit of one qualifying activation per person and a limit of 6 qualifying activations per group plan, and with no port-in requirement).
2. I purchased a Fi SIM from Best Buy, how do I receive the $10 in service credits?
Within one week after activation, you will receive an email confirmation of the service credit and will see the $10 credit on your subsequent bill(s).
3. I purchased a Fi SIM from Best Buy, but I’m having difficulty activating it.
Try following the steps listed here. Still having issues? Let us know below or contact Fi support.
4. Which Best Buy stores are carrying the Fi SIMs?
We recommend contacting your nearest Best Buy store for product availability.
5. What types of SIMs will be available for purchase?
Google Fi Talk & Text SIMs will be available. Note: Data-only SIMs will not be available.
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For more information, you can read through our terms and conditions here.
Questions? Check out our FAQ page, or let us know here!
Best,
Kelly, Google Fi Community Manager
For those that have devices that only use physical SIM cards, be aware that obtaining a replacement is difficult. You cannot find them at local retailers anymore. Google Fi support will tell you that you can purchase them at Best Buy, Target, Walmart stores; or Amazon. All of their websites are either sold out or do not show that the cards are available either.
Ordering direct from Google Fi can take a week or more and tracking details are limited.
Good Luck!
I am getting ready to travel to Europe and bought a Google Fi sim from Best Buy to put in a older phone for use while I'm gone. I currently have Verizon and have no intentions of leaving Verizon upon return. I threw the sim card in my older phone (S7) and it's telling me my Google account cannot be used for Fi because it's not authorized. Ok, fine, I created another account but it just directs me to the Google Fi website to purchase a plan, with free sim card as if I hadn't boughten a card already. What the hell is happening?
You get a free SIM for Fi service. You can buy one for $10, and get a $10 credit, or sign up for a new account and they'll send you a free one. Or, if you're in a hurry (this was me), you can buy a SIM, get the credit, and keep the free one as an unactivated spare to keep in case you lose one, lose a phone, or have some other issue that makes the old SIM unavailable.
However...so, I'm guessing you've done this before?
"I currently have Verizon and have no intentions of leaving Verizon upon return"
"it's telling me my Google account cannot be used for Fi because it's not authorized"
If so, you've violated your TOS and gotten banned from their service, once they associate this new account with you, they'll likely ban you entirely from Google Pay and any associated services. From their perspective, this is fraud.
Besides the other commenter bringing up valid points, Fi requires at least 51% usage in the US. It's not an international-only service. Besides the questionable things the other comment goes over, if it's for any long amount of time, Fi can cut your service off because you will be using 100% outside the US.
Why not just get a euro sim when you arrive? Cheaper, too, unless you aren't going to use any data whatsoever... and that will likely still be cheaper than Fi, even at $20/month.
I just picked up this sim card from BestBuy. I only need it for about a month, so this is perfect. I went to follow the setup instructions and the first step seems to be go online and pay a bunch more money. Didn't I already pay when I got the card? Is there a way around this? I'm confused at step 1.
What you paid for the card has nothing do with the monthly bill as you’ll be credited for the cost of the SIM purchase. Calls and texts on the Flexible Plan are prepaid so $20.00 plus taxes and fees are immediately billed and are prorated dependent on your actual billing date. Data is postpaid on the Flexible Plan so you’ll be billed next month at $10 per GB. If you selected one of the unlimited plans, it’s all prepaid and prorated to the start date of the next billing cycle. FWIW, if you bought this to use on an overseas trip, you’re going to be very disappointed.
Take it back for a refund and order directly from Google Fi. Free esim to order or physical sim and less confusion.
How the heck are you supposed to order a new SIM on mobile? In the app if I go to shop it just gives me a limited list of devices to buy. If I go to the website in Chrome and tap "sign in" it just opens the shop tab in the Fi app. As far as I can tell there is no way to order a new SIM on mobile.
I bought a Google Fi SIM for $65/mo because im traveling to Europe in a few days - was told I had to activate it in the US. I didn't know that paying the exact amount thru Best Buy didn't mean the plan didn't come with it or isn't already activated? Wht did i pay $65 for the SIM?
So now I have to make a google fi account (although i have 2 active google accounts already) as prompted, and it is making me go thru buying ANOTHER SIM card??? By the time it ships and gets here I will be gone already. Please someone help me. I have no clue what I'm doing wrong. Thank you
I'm not sure what you bought at Best Buy but the SIM cards are free. The only thing you should be paying for is the service through Goggle.
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My Nexus 6P crapped out on me about 2 weeks ago due to bootloop issues. I enjoy using Google Fi so I want to buy a replacement phone in the Fi family. I've decided on the Pixel 3a.
I'm not the most tech-savvy guy, so my questions are probably pretty...simple...should I buy a Pixel 3a from Google Fi via their website or from Best Buy? Is there an advantage or disadvantage from buying from one or the other.
- Best Buy: an unlocked Pixel 3a is selling for $423.99 (including sales tax, free shipping), but also includes a Google Home mini (apparently a $49 value).
- Google Fi: Pixel 3a for $399 (I think this could be cheaper if someone sends me a referral code or something like that).
Will the Best Buy phone include a lot of bloatware? Is it worth it buying from Best Buy just to get the Google Home Mini? Or should I purchase direct from the Google Fi website?
Thanks!
Edit: Forgot to add that my plan is to pop my Google Fi SIM card from my Nexus 6P into the new Pixel 3a...I'm assuming this is how it is supposed to work?
Update: I ended up buying through Google Fi. I was worried about Best Buy throwing in some sort of gimmick or bloatware or being signed up for something because I forgot to uncheck a box. Purchasing through Google Fi was super easy and I experienced no issues at all. The Pixel 3a is an amazing phone - I love it. I really liked my Nexus 6P - I like the Pixel 3a even more!
Thanks for all your help!
Buy from Best Buy. Just look at r/projectfi and r/googlepixel for innumerable horror stories related to issues buying from Google - payment problems, phones stolen somewhere in the supply / fulfillment chain, etc.
I bought pixel 3 from Fi store for Google stock software experience. Also using Fi eSim in foreign. There is many stories. And I still live with it.
Just a FYI for those looking for sim cards in physical stores. Was told that the item was listed as do not sell even though I had it in hand.
Best buy also didn't have any on shelf but they had a box with extra's and gave me one for free.
The sim card in my phone is on the fritz. It has been disconnecting several times a day, and each time it takes 15 minutes up to get it to work again.
When I talked to support they said I should replace the sim card, that it is free from them or a credit if I buy it from a store, but not a single store in my area sells them. Target doesn't even have it on their website, Best Buy is online only, amazon doesn't have it. Is there a secret store I am missing? I have looked online and have found no other options, and ordering it from google fi will take a week.
Sign up for free trial (click get started here https://fi.google.com/about/free-trial)
Download the eSIM using Google Fi app on your phone. Or use their "iOS setup" page fi.google.com/ios/quicksetup (actually works on both Android and iOS)
Upgrade to full featured paid plan right away
Congratulations, you're now on Fi without being forced to wait for a physical SIM.
Anyone know if I buy the phone with promo and choose “google fi” can I cancel it later and throw my T-Mobile pre paid SIM card in there and will it work? Is activation all non contract or is the phone stuck on the network ?
Best Buy has the Pixel 6a for $300 when you "activate now" on Google Fi. I did this, and got the phone today, and activated it on the Flexible plan. Is there any reason why I can't immediately pause the Google Fi service? I have scoured around the web and all the order details/emails I got from Best Buy and found no requirement to leave the service active in order to keep the $300 price.
Maybe I'll leave it active for a day or so and then try pausing the service, see what happens... unless someone can give me a good reason not to?