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 3GB plan that works best as a backup or secondary line on T-Mobile coverage, with easy eSIM activation on supported phones and a $5 unlimited talk and text add-on. The plan can handle basic use, verification texts, maps, music, and even overseas service for some setups, and the app can usually be removed after activation. The main friction is the signup process, which often asks for government ID or a face scan, and physical SIM stock has been spotty. Recent comments also flag usage tracking quirks, hard data limits, and new taxes and fees that make the plan less straightforward than it first appears.
Backup-phone owners who only need a few gigabytes, because the plan can cover maps, music, and occasional verification texts on a spare device.
People with eSIM-capable phones who want quick activation, because eSIM setup can be instant and may skip extra ID uploads.
Travelers who need a secondary line abroad, because the service can still receive verification texts overseas and may work in Asia over Wi‑Fi calling.
Dual-SIM users who want data on one line and calls on another, because the Zero plan can sit alongside a paid line without interfering.
People who need a physical SIM right away, because physical SIM stock has repeatedly been unavailable and orders can fail.
Shoppers unwilling to submit government ID and a face scan, because the signup flow can require identity verification before activation.
Primary-line users who need dependable always-on service, because the plan can suspend accounts for inactivity and data tracking can be inconsistent.
Privacy-sensitive buyers who do not want biometric or identity data stored, because the signup asks for ID and selfie information.
Common Questions (6)
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340 Comments
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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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