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.
Common Questions (20)
Signup can require government ID and a face scan before you can choose a SIM type, and pSIM often adds selfie plus ID upload. Some eSIM activations have gone through with only name, DOB, and address, but others were blocked at the ID step, so the flow is not consistent.
The plan is no longer fully free for many new and existing users: Helium has announced taxes and fees based on service location, and some users report charges from cents to over $5 per month. Helium also says the Zero Plan will stop being free on June 11, 2026 unless you cancel or change plans.
Physical SIM availability has been inconsistent: multiple users reported out-of-stock errors, temporary unavailability, and failed orders, while others later confirmed pSIMs were back in stock and orders went through. eSIM remained available during the shortage.
No. Helium now requires some data use each month, and users report warning emails and possible suspension if the line stays inactive for a full cycle. Some users also report odd usage tracking, so the app meter may not always match actual use.
Yes. The signup process asks for government ID and sometimes a face scan, and users worry the company is collecting identity, location, and usage data in exchange for the free service. Several comments describe that tradeoff as the main catch.
Yes. Helium removed the always-on location-sharing requirement, and users report the line keeps working with location off; after activation, the app can be deleted or left disabled without breaking service. The phone still appears to provide location data through tower triangulation.
Yes, that is the most common use case reported: spare phones, drone mapping, gig-work backup, emergency phones, and dual-SIM setups. Users say 3GB is enough for light data use, maps, verification texts, and occasional tethering.
The Zero Plan is described as 3GB total, but Helium says 1GB is delivered through nationwide partners and 2GB through the Helium network starting Jan. 27, 2026. The 3GB limit is a hard stop with no slower fallback data, and some users report throttling after 1GB or 2GB depending on the terms shown in their account.
Port-out details can be provided quickly through in-app chat, and once the number is ported to the new carrier the Helium account can cancel automatically. Some users also report cancellation delays or missing PIN emails, so it may take extra follow-up.
The Zero Plan is being phased out for new customers and will stop being free on June 11, 2026. Existing users may keep service for now, but Helium says payment details or taxes and fees will be required starting Jan. 27, 2026.
It runs on T-Mobile coverage, so it should work where T-Mobile is strong. Users also report it working overseas, including Europe and Asia, sometimes with Wi‑Fi calling enabled.
Yes, after activation the app is not required for day-to-day use, and users report deleting or disabling it without affecting service. It is mainly needed for setup, account changes, and some verification or support tasks.
Yes, but only if you can get a physical SIM when stock is available. Some users without eSIM-capable phones waited for pSIM restocks or bought eSIM-to-physical-SIM adapters, while others switched to a cheap eSIM-capable Tracfone as a workaround.
Yes. There is a $5 per month unlimited talk-and-text add-on, and it can be useful if you mainly want the free plan's data but need more calling and texting than the base 100 talk and 300 texts.
Helium's FAQ says the same identification information can be used for multiple accounts, but the company reserves the right to review and suspend accounts for suspicious activity. In practice, users note this may work, but one account per SIM is the normal setup.
Users report it can work abroad, including Europe and Asia, especially when Wi‑Fi calling is enabled. One user also said it worked even without internet in some overseas situations.
No bank card is required for the free plan signup in the comments, but Helium later asked some users to add a payment method for taxes and fees. If you do not add one by the deadline, service may be suspended.
Yes. Users report porting in numbers from NumberBarn, Google Voice via Google Fi, and Straight Talk after regenerating a port-out PIN. Porting can complete in a few minutes to a couple of hours.
Yes, but the native dialer may still place calls from the Helium SIM number instead of Google Voice even when GV is set as the preferred caller ID. Dual-SIM users report using Helium for data and another plan or Google Voice for calls and texts.
Users report that once you upgrade to a paid Helium plan, you may not be able to return to the free Zero Plan. That makes the $5 unlimited talk-and-text add-on a safer test than moving to a full paid plan.
AI-generated summary based on comments from the community. Updated ago
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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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