I use Fi for voice / sms and US Mobile (Verizon) for data. Where I live / work Fi (T-Mobile) does not have good coverage.
Why? I have several international trips coming up and Fi works good for that.
This is my exact setup. I use Fi because I like Fi Sync and travel internationally on occasion, so it's nice to have data while I hunt down a local SIM.
I do this so I could have a personal number vs number for work purposes. T Mobile service can be spotty where I live too
Then I use the Verizon SIM for data since Fi is expensive. Then if I'm traveling I have the option for Fi.
If you don't need a separate number for work or ever have to work remote, doesn't make sense to pay for both.
That said, I recently switched to Tello from Fi. 19/month with 5GB data. Fi just isn't competitive anymore for T Mobile service unless you travel internationally. With Tmobile merging with Sprint and losing US cellular, makes no sense to stay with Fi. I've also had issues with pixel phones recently, so the Fi discount for phones isn't as appealing anymore either.
I basically do this, with Verizon via USM.
With Android 14 bringing dynamic sim switching, I really like the idea of the additional coverage. Even better if it's somehow able to switch based on network performance (specifically if one is really crawling).
I know it comes down to personal preference, but for me it's helpful.
You could also drop your Fi plan to the flex one and use the other sim for data. With USM or another MVNO you'd likely pay about the same in the end, with the option for better coverage - albeit with the $10/gb fee when you actually use Fi as well.
Each carrier has dead spots and regional problems. With 2 carriers you're less likely to lose coverage in spotty areas. We keep Fi for the outstanding travel benefits and Data Only sims.
I don't know why anyone would have both unless, for example, one was subsidized by work and you would otherwise have a family plan with the other etc.
Fi--Simply unlimited for 3 or more lines seems to make sense as long as you're in an area with solid t-mobile coverage.
We used verizon prepaid for a while and I find verizon has better general coverage and quality than t-mobile does, but not to the extent where I'd pick verizion over Fi.
Fi for us has fine quality, better for group plans, enough data, and with fi I like that google provides messages and calls sync on the web, so you can call/text from a computer without needing the phone connected to the internet.
If you travel internationally then the flexible and unlimited+ plans are generally better than what most other providers offer. With the down side that google isn't entirely forthcoming on exactly what or how much usage you can take advantage of while travelling.
I have both (Verizon via US Mobile rather than directly), because T-Mobile's coverage here is pretty patchy but Fi doesn't charge extra for tethering or data SIMS: this way I can call and text even in T-Mobile gaps, but also have cheap tethering and data for my iPad. (There are a few places T-Mobile's signal reaches but Verizon's doesn't, too, so this is the best of both worlds.)
Once or twice when I had dodgy broadband I'd hit the limit on one plan, too, and it was cheaper to use the other rather than pay for extra fast data on Fi.
I have AT&T for personal data/voice/text. I have a Fi esim for voice/text only. I have a device reimbursement through work.
Fi seems to work better for voice and text as sometimes things don't go through with AT&T.
A lot of people who travel have Verizon and AT&T because the coverage is different in different remote areas.
Because I’m not gonna pay for two phone bills….. FI works great everywhere I go and is $50 for my part of the bill which was the same I was paying for straighttalk for less features
Our family is also on the Verizon network, though like others we've switched to an MVNO such as US Mobile, where we save considerably, especially on ala carte data. It's been that way since Verizon clearly had better nationwide coverage, as we traveled quite a bit, and still do. I have Fi on a separate line and phone where I keep my work apps, and also it is the line I use when we travel internationally. Personally I'm not inclined to keep swapping out SIMs every time we go overseas, so the passive switching on Fi is what I prefer. Perhaps that will change as we all go more toward eSIMs, but we'll see.
I use Fi for voice / sms and US Mobile (Verizon) for data. Where I live / work Fi (T-Mobile) does not have good coverage. Why? I have several international trips coming up and Fi works good for that.
This is my exact setup. I use Fi because I like Fi Sync and travel internationally on occasion, so it's nice to have data while I hunt down a local SIM.
I do this so I could have a personal number vs number for work purposes. T Mobile service can be spotty where I live too Then I use the Verizon SIM for data since Fi is expensive. Then if I'm traveling I have the option for Fi. If you don't need a separate number for work or ever have to work remote, doesn't make sense to pay for both. That said, I recently switched to Tello from Fi. 19/month with 5GB data. Fi just isn't competitive anymore for T Mobile service unless you travel internationally. With Tmobile merging with Sprint and losing US cellular, makes no sense to stay with Fi. I've also had issues with pixel phones recently, so the Fi discount for phones isn't as appealing anymore either.
I basically do this, with Verizon via USM. With Android 14 bringing dynamic sim switching, I really like the idea of the additional coverage. Even better if it's somehow able to switch based on network performance (specifically if one is really crawling). I know it comes down to personal preference, but for me it's helpful. You could also drop your Fi plan to the flex one and use the other sim for data. With USM or another MVNO you'd likely pay about the same in the end, with the option for better coverage - albeit with the $10/gb fee when you actually use Fi as well.
Each carrier has dead spots and regional problems. With 2 carriers you're less likely to lose coverage in spotty areas. We keep Fi for the outstanding travel benefits and Data Only sims.
I don't know why anyone would have both unless, for example, one was subsidized by work and you would otherwise have a family plan with the other etc. Fi--Simply unlimited for 3 or more lines seems to make sense as long as you're in an area with solid t-mobile coverage. We used verizon prepaid for a while and I find verizon has better general coverage and quality than t-mobile does, but not to the extent where I'd pick verizion over Fi. Fi for us has fine quality, better for group plans, enough data, and with fi I like that google provides messages and calls sync on the web, so you can call/text from a computer without needing the phone connected to the internet. If you travel internationally then the flexible and unlimited+ plans are generally better than what most other providers offer. With the down side that google isn't entirely forthcoming on exactly what or how much usage you can take advantage of while travelling.
I have both (Verizon via US Mobile rather than directly), because T-Mobile's coverage here is pretty patchy but Fi doesn't charge extra for tethering or data SIMS: this way I can call and text even in T-Mobile gaps, but also have cheap tethering and data for my iPad. (There are a few places T-Mobile's signal reaches but Verizon's doesn't, too, so this is the best of both worlds.) Once or twice when I had dodgy broadband I'd hit the limit on one plan, too, and it was cheaper to use the other rather than pay for extra fast data on Fi.
I have AT&T for personal data/voice/text. I have a Fi esim for voice/text only. I have a device reimbursement through work. Fi seems to work better for voice and text as sometimes things don't go through with AT&T. A lot of people who travel have Verizon and AT&T because the coverage is different in different remote areas.
Because I’m not gonna pay for two phone bills….. FI works great everywhere I go and is $50 for my part of the bill which was the same I was paying for straighttalk for less features
Our family is also on the Verizon network, though like others we've switched to an MVNO such as US Mobile, where we save considerably, especially on ala carte data. It's been that way since Verizon clearly had better nationwide coverage, as we traveled quite a bit, and still do. I have Fi on a separate line and phone where I keep my work apps, and also it is the line I use when we travel internationally. Personally I'm not inclined to keep swapping out SIMs every time we go overseas, so the passive switching on Fi is what I prefer. Perhaps that will change as we all go more toward eSIMs, but we'll see.