Garmin inReach Subscriptions - what to choose

I just bought the Garmin 66i handheld device. Got a great deal on it brand new as it was cheaper than the inReach mini. Really just bought it for big hikes and climbs that are pretty remote compared to most areas. I was wondering if anyone has an inReach subscription and which plan they got. Some of these plans are wild expensive and some of them are much more affordable but pretty limited on features. I still have a week before the device even arrives at my door so Im hoping to get some insight on which plan to get, whether it makes more sense to do annual or monthly and so on. 

For those of you with similar devices and an inReach plan, when do you generally carry your device and what features have been proven to be worth paying for? 

I carry an InReach Mini 2 any time I expect to be out of cell phone coverage. I have the cheapest monthly plan ($11.95/month), and the InReach stays in my pack powered off. I only carry it for emergencies, and I don't message with it often enough to justify leaving it turned on or buying a more expensive plan. My iPhone SE with the CalTopo app is at least as good for navigating as any Garmin device I've seen or used. The messaging capability is useful, but there are limits to what a low power transmitter like the InReach can do. It doesn't work well in heavy tree cover, and apparently there are a few parts of the world that aren't well served by the Iridium satellite network. There are also a few countries where using satellite communicators is heavily regulated or flat out illegal.

I have an Inreach Explorer+, and I use the Freedom plan (pay by the month). I use it for about 5 months of the year.

Which plan you get depends on how often you will use it. If you only anticipate using it 3-5 times per year, I think the Freedom Plan is cheaper. If you want to be able to use it year-round, most months, get the Annual Plan,

Don't forget, they charge a yearly "Program Fee," of about $35 per year (just another way to squeeze more money out of you). Not sure if the activation fee is for the Freedom Plan only, or for both plans.

Edit: I got the Freedom Safety plan. Only for emergencies.

Edit #2: Just called Garmin, There is no activation fee for the Annual Plan, except one time when switching from Freedom to Annual. 

Edit #3: But their website isn't clear if it's a fee every year:

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/837461/pn/010-06003-SU

mark felber wrote:

I carry an InReach Mini 2 any time I expect to be out of cell phone coverage. I have the cheapest monthly plan ($11.95/month), and the InReach stays in my pack powered off. I only carry it for emergencies, and I don't message with it often enough to justify leaving it turned on or buying a more expensive plan. My iPhone SE with the CalTopo app is at least as good for navigating as any Garmin device I've seen or used. The messaging capability is useful, but there are limits to what a low power transmitter like the InReach can do. It doesn't work well in heavy tree cover, and apparently there are a few parts of the world that aren't well served by the Iridium satellite network. There are also a few countries where using satellite communicators is heavily regulated or flat out illegal.

I do pretty much exactly the same (even same phone for same use - w/Caltopo cached maps-$50/yr “Pro” subscription). I am in 100% agreement with Mark.

I paid an activation fee once a few years ago when I bought my 1st generation InReach, I don't think I've paid an activation fee since, but I do pay for the rescue insurance. I use the monthly plan with an annual contract. I'm not doing anything extreme, but I find myself in the backcountry and out of cellphone coverage frequently enough to justify keeping the coverage going. 

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/837461/pn/010-06003-SU

I've used the Safety, Recreation and Expedition plan over the years.  For a long time I'd just go with the Safety Plan and then bump it up to the Expedition plan if I was actually going on a multi month no phone service trip, then change it back the Safety plan once home.  I do a lot of messaging while on expeditions so it is worth the cost.  These days I don't go on that many expeditions where I won't have phone service for prolonged periods so it rarely makes sense to pay the additional cost of the Expediton plan and I just pay per message.  And now for the last 2 years I've been on the Recreation plan as I mostly use the Inreach for tracking purposes as I do about 75% of my backcountry skiing solo and like the piece of mind knowing someone has a general idea of where to come find me.

Here is a general breakdown of how I see the plans;

Safety -  just want access to the SOS and occasional messaging feature - probably best for most people

Recreation -  SOS, slightly more than occasional messaging and regular use of tracking - remote trips every few months and need to check in with family/work while away.

Expedition - Great for professional settings where you always need the tracking and lots of messaging - rarely makes sense to pay for this every month unless you actually go expedition to expedition...

I've had the $11ish dollar plan for years. For climbing I just put it in the pack powered off for emergency use. For big ski mountaineering days I turn it on and track my route with messages to two friends as a backup. Those days I pay per data point and it costs a few more bucks but never enough to worry about plussing up the service plan. I agree it doesn't work great in dense foliage or on heavy cloud days. If I was leaving the US I'd probably think about plussing up the plan if there was a really obvious break even point on communication.