Screenshots from today's (1/11) email:
Helium Mobile Zero Plan will end on June 11, 2026
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Quote
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We have some important news to share regarding your Zero Plan.We've made the difficult decision to sunset the Zero Plan on June 11, 2026. The Zero Plan gave thousands of people free wireless service and helped build the fastest-growing, people-powered wireless network in the US. While we were able to offer this plan for a while, it's not sustainable long term. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who joined and gave us a chance. By focusing on our paid plans, we can invest in a better experience and stronger coverage for subscribers. If you take no action, you'll be automatically upgraded to the $15/month Air Plan on June 11. What This Means for You You can upgrade to the Air Plan ($15/mo) or Infinity Plan ($30/mo) on your own through the Helium Mobile App anytime before June 11. If you choose to leave Helium Mobile, you can cancel your plan and transfer your number to another carrier by going through the in-app cancellation flow. |
Top Comments
I bring this up because some of us would be on this plan only for a backup phone not normally used (like me).
So here is my first month of experiencing this new requirement.
The first couple of months on the plan I've had the phone not using it at all with location services on.
Once I started with this new twist I have no idea how but with virtually no use my data usage in the app states I've used 2.3GB out of 3. But I cannot get data to work now. I contacted them and they claim I ran out of data. But the meter has said 2.3GB usage for 2 weeks. It never updated higher and I do not use the phone. Plus I keep wifi on except for the first day, in order to use some data for only a few minutes.
So something is not jiving. They claim the stats may not be up to date, but they def should have been reflected properly by now (I would expect). Since I have no prior data usage, maybe they just have a bad tracking system...
Meanwhile they sent me 2 emails warning me no data was used and I needed to use data or I would lose the plan. When I inquired about these warnings each time, they claimed they were just sent in error the first time and they not only claimed the same thing the second time, but they also said they sent the same warning to everyone on the zero plan in error.
I find that very hard to believe.
So time will tell whether my data works properly or at all in my next cycle (when I should be replenished to 3GB available again). Or if my account gets canceled due to not using data, even though the CSR said I used all of my 3GB.
With the way things went this month, I feel like anything could happen, including losing my account and having to start all over with a new number.
If anyone has had weird stuff happening like this (under the new data usage requirement) please chime in.
From heliummobile.statuspage.io
Update - We are continuing to work on a fix for this issue.
Oct 23, 2025 - 15:29 PDT
Identified - Physical SIM cards are temporarily unavailable to order for Zero Plan activations. eSIMs are still available for all subscribers. Paid plan orders are not affected.
We are working to restock availability as soon as possible.
Oct 23, 2025 - 12:49 PDT
Tuesday Nov. 11 UPDATE: At about 6:00pm ET Helium sent me an email stating, "Incident Resolved...Physical SIM cards are now available again. Thank you for your patience." My wife ordered a SIM and received confirmation number/email.
Community Reviews
Helium Mobile Zero is a free backup or secondary line that can be handy for basic data, verification texts, and occasional calls on T Mobile coverage. eSIM activation is often quick and can work without much friction, and the app can be removed after setup. The main catches are the ID and selfie checks for some activations, physical SIM stock problems, and reports of odd usage tracking or data limits. The plan also appears to be changing, with taxes and fees now applying and the free offer ending for new users.
backup-line users who want to avoid always-on location sharing because commenters said the Zero plan no longer requires app-based location sharing and they could keep location off while still getting service.
people who mainly need verification texts and can use Google Voice for voice/text otherwise because commenters said the free plan is good for SMS verification while they use GV for the rest.
travelers who want a line that can work overseas because commenters reported it worked well abroad (including in Europe) and sometimes even without internet, similar to other prepaid options.
people using a spare/secondary phone for things like drone mapping or commute traffic because 3GB/month was enough for their use and they liked having mobile data for the drone map instead of tethering over Wi‑Fi.
iPhone users who want a quick eSIM activation on an older spare device because one commenter said setup on a spare iPhone XR took about 3 minutes and eSIM activation worked after installing the Helium app.
people who can't or don't want to provide government ID/selfie/biometrics because multiple commenters said identity verification was excessive or blocked them from getting a SIM (including cases where they couldn't complete verification).
people relying on physical SIMs right now because commenters reported physical SIM stock was temporarily unavailable/out of order and orders failed even when accounts were created.
people who want a "set it and forget it" data allowance because commenters reported confusing data tracking/"phantom" usage and warnings that could lead to losing the plan if the app meter doesn't match what they actually used.
people who are uncomfortable with the plan potentially changing from "free" to paid/taxes/fees because commenters shared that the Zero plan was later reported as no longer free and that payment method/taxes/fees could be required or service could be suspended if not updated.
people who need eSIM on phones that don't support it because at least one commenter said their Moto G Stylus 2022 couldn't use eSIM capability.
Common Questions (20)
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[ME] If I decide to give this a try, are there any services I should turn off, or other changes I should make on my Pixel 8 Pro BEFORE I get started?
[Copilot]
Yes — before activating the Helium Mobile Zero Plan on your Pixel 8 Pro, you should adjust a few settings to minimize unintended data usage, protect privacy, and ensure smooth performance.
📲 Recommended Pixel 8 Pro Settings Before Starting
These changes help you stay within the 3GB data cap and avoid background activity that could drain your allowance:
🔧 Connectivity & Data Management
Turn off 5G (unless needed): Go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > Preferred network type → choose LTE. This reduces battery drain and prevents unnecessary high-speed data use.
Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning: Go to Settings > Location > Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning → turn both off.
Turn off "Connect to public networks" and "Turn on Wi-Fi automatically": These can trigger background data use when switching networks.
Restrict background data for non-essential apps: Go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Mobile data & Wi-Fi → disable "Background data."
🔋 Battery & App Behavior
Set unused apps to "Restricted" battery mode: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage > [App Name] → choose "Restricted." This prevents background activity.
Avoid unrestricted battery access for the Helium app unless needed: If you're not using Discovery Mode, keep it on "Optimized."
🛡️ Privacy & Location
Turn off Location unless actively needed: Go to Settings > Location → toggle off. This prevents passive data use and location tracking.
Skip Discovery Mode in the Helium app: This mode shares your location for rewards but may use data in the background.
📡 Network Switching
Monitor signal strength: If you're in an area with weak Helium hotspot coverage, your phone may switch frequently between networks, causing data spikes. Keeping Wi-Fi on when available helps reduce this.
🧠 Optional Enhancements
Enable Bedtime Mode: Limits background activity during sleep hours and saves battery.
These tweaks help you stay within the Zero Plan's limits and avoid surprises.
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Correct!
also a second backup phone on instabridge..
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also a second backup phone on instabridge..
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