Heads up, awardtrail readers! That sweet free mobile plan from Helium Mobile? It's getting a tiny bit less sweet starting January 27, 2026. While you'll still get 3GB of data, 300 texts, and 100 minutes of calls for absolutely $0, you'll now have to cover taxes and fees. These fees vary depending on your service address, so check your billing history in the app to see the exact amount you'll be charged. Also, 2GB of your monthly data will be exclusively on the Helium Network, while the remaining 1GB will be on a partner nationwide network.

Why does this matter? Well, free is always good, and while it's still free (minus taxes/fees), it’s a change that you need to be aware of. Plus, there's a new option! Helium has launched a $5/month kids plan that includes unlimited calls and texts in addition to the 3GB of data. If you're already on the free plan and want unlimited talk/text, you can add it for $5/month, too. This could be handy for a backup phone, a travel phone, or even just to snag deals that require a separate number. Just remember you'll need to download the app and submit a photo of your ID to sign up.