Google terminates Pixel Pass subscription

A few weeks after the launch of the Pixel 8 series, Google terminated the Pixel Pass subscription, closing it to new subscribers.

Coinciding with the launch of the Pixel 6 series, Google began offering an all-in-one subscription that bundled your choice of Pixel phone, Preferred Care protection, Google One cloud storage, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass and (optionally) Fi Wireless service. For the right customer, Pixel Pass plans, which start at $45, were solid deals, offering a modest package discount. That said, Pixel Pass was only available in the US.

However, it seems Google may not have found enough right customers. In an announcement shared on a new support page, Google confirmed that the Pixel Pass subscription was discontinued as of August 29, 2023. The company cites its focus on offering the best value and flexibility to the customer.

Our goal is to offer the best value of our hardware products, while giving users the flexibility to purchase their preferred services. Going forward, we’ll continue to evaluate offers based on customer feedback, providing customers with more ways to access the best of Google.

It’s important to note that the main thing that changes today is that you can no longer buy a new phone through the Pixel Pass bundle. Existing customers are not affected by today’s change and active subscriptions will continue as normal until the end of the two-year period.

As an existing subscriber, you can continue with the term of your existing Pixel Pass subscription, which is 2 years after shipment of the Pixel Pass device. You won’t be able to upgrade to a new phone with Pixel Pass at the end of the 2-year period.

Also, multiple 9to5Google readers tell us that Google is offering subscribers $100 in Google Store credit to active Pixel Pass customers. (Thanks, Rob and Kevin!)

As a thank you for signing up, we’ll add $100 in Google Store credit to your account. It is valid for 2 years and can be used for any purchase on the Google Store. To view your balance, log into your Google Store account and check your Settings page.

Notably, current Pixel Pass subscribers will continue to receive a discounted rate on Google Play Pass, Google One, YouTube Premium and Fi Wireless, and all of these services will continue to auto-renew after the phone is paid off.

At the end of your 2-year term, you own your Pixel phone and it pays off in full. Your Preferred Care service contract (Google Store) or device protection coverage (Google Fi Wireless) will end.

To maintain uninterrupted service, your included Google subscriptions (Google One, YouTube Premium, and Google Play Pass) will continue to renew each month until cancelled. You will be billed monthly for Google One, YouTube Premium and Google Play Pass at a discounted rate, visible in the email sent to you on September 29, 2023 (Subject: Important update on Pixel Pass).

If you use your Pixel Pass device on Google Fi Wireless, the $5 discount on service for your Google Fi Wireless plan will also end.

That said, if you’d rather not keep those subscriptions, you can individually cancel some or all of them after the two years are up. Google will send you a warning before this happens.

You’ll receive an email notification when you near the end of your two years on Pixel Pass. These notifications will include information about your options to purchase a new device and cancel or continue with included Google services when the term expires.

And just like before, you still have the option to cancel your Pixel Pass subscription early by paying off the remaining cost of your Pixel phone.

Interestingly, Google decided to announce the end of Pixel Pass less than two months before the expected launch of the Pixel 8 series. That said, the shutdown isn’t all that surprising considering that neither the Pixel 7a nor the Pixel Fold were ever offered via Google. Pixel Pass.

Were you a Pixel Pass subscriber? Or were you considering the bundle for your next phone purchase? Let us know in the comments below.

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