Pixel 9 owners will get Satellite SOS free for one more year, according to a Google spokesperson’s statement to PCMag. The original offer covered only the first two years after a device was activated. For the earliest Pixel 9 buyers, that window is now close to running out.
Google launched Satellite SOS with the Pixel 9 line in August 2024 and said then that it would be free only for two years. On Tuesday, PCMag asked Google whether it planned to start charging. A Google spokesperson replied with this statement:
Confirming that we’ve extended this offering, at no additional cost, for one additional year. We have no details to share beyond that at this time
Google’s Pixel 9 Satellite SOS specs page still says two years
As of Oct 21, Google’s Pixel tech specs page still describes the service as free for the first two years after activation. PCMag noticed the same unchanged footnote. For now, the extension rests on one spokesperson statement given to one outlet.
Google’s Satellite SOS help page lists every Pixel since the Pixel 9 as supported, except the Pixel 9a. That page carries no pricing or free-period details. The Pixel 9-family footnotes on the specs page list the feature as available in the US. PCMag’s report does not say which countries the extension covers.
Who gets the extra year
Google’s statement covers Pixel 9 owners. The Pixel 9a does not support Satellite SOS, so it is not part of this. Google has not said whether the extra year counts from each phone’s activation date or from some other point. That means no exact end date can be given for any single phone yet.
What happens after that is still unclear
As of Oct 21, Google hasn’t announced a paid plan or a price. The spokesperson also said Google has nothing more to share for now. A free extra year is welcome, but this is a safety feature. Owners still can’t plan for what it will cost or when billing might begin. A published price and an updated footnote on Google’s own pages would settle that.
The Pixel service runs on Skylo’s satellite network, according to PCMag. PCMag adds that Skylo is moving to Globalstar satellites, which also power the iPhone’s satellite features. Apple has extended its own free iPhone satellite period several times, including an extension covering the iPhone 14, 15 and 16.
Sources: PCMag, Google Pixel tech specs, Google Pixel Help
