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We’ve covered Helium Mobile in the past, including when their industry-rocking “Zero” plan, which cost a whopping $0 per month, was released. It was met with high praise, as even if it required location data (at first), it was truly a free cell plan.
There were, however, some customers that were with Helium even before this plan. Those beta customers have been with Helium for the long run, so it’s a shame what Helium has decided to do.
So long, testers!
In a move that is sure to do irreparable damage to customer trust, Helium Mobile is officially axing its beta testers’ $5 and $20 plans starting January 27, 2026.
The idea was simple. While Helium was still testing its network for quality and stability, members who were lucky enough to take part in an invite-only beta program could take advantage of a $5/month unlimited plan as a thank-you for helping the company figure everything out.
Later on, there was a $20/month unlimited plan the company offered more widely to the entire country.
The best part? According to a now-archived page on the Helium Mobile website, “Participating users will receive the Unlimited Plan Beta promo price for as long as they remain a Helium Mobile subscriber.” Sounds great right?
Well, both the $5 plan and the $20 plan are now receiving identical treatment, with Helium claiming it was merely an “early-access offer that helped us test, learn, and grow.” These customers are now being forced to change to one of their newer plans.
Changes to the “Zero” plan
So what’s a customer to do? Well, they can switch to one of Helium’s other plans, including their free “Zero” plan, which gives you 3GB of data, 100 minutes of voice, and 300 texts. Alternatively, you can follow suit with the many displeased users on Reddit and jump ship.
There’s just one thing, actually, about that whole “free” thing. As if things weren’t already bad enough for Helium, the company will soon begin charging taxes and fees for its famous Zero plan.
Their reasoning? “As the service grows, we’re making a small adjustment so we can keep offering the Zero Plan as an affordable phone service long term.” It seems that good things truly don’t last forever, and we can certainly see this significantly hurting the company’s member count.
What are the other Helium alternatives?
If you’re looking to stick around, the Infinity plan is rather attractive, offering unlimited everything for a mere $30/month. If you don’t need as much internet data, though, the Air plan gives you 10GB of data and unlimited texts & calls for $15/month. We can’t act like those numbers aren’t appealing, but if you’re appalled by the company going back on its word to its most loyal customers, we can’t blame you.
What’s your take on all of this? Is Helium in the wrong for going back on its word? Was a $5/month plan simply something that would sink the company in the long run? Let us know your thoughts and feelings below!
