Researching the best phone plans in Canada can be exhausting. While there seem to be new mobile phone companies popping up every day, though, the larger providers still have a monopoly.
With all of these companies, large and small, offering various plans with a range of features and prices, how are you supposed to choose the right one?
As with most service providers, not all cell phone plans are created equal. For example, some will offer more data than others, some are pay-as-you-go, some are for calling and texting only, and so on. Your first step to finding the best cell phone plan in Canada is to decide which features you need.
Then, to save time and energy, you can read through all the information we’ve gathered here to help make your decision a bit easier.
Comparing the best cell phone plans in Canada
We’ve compared some of the smaller startups who are building their own networks – Freedom and Eastlink – to The Big 3 (which we’ll discuss later).
But before we dive in, there are a few things you should consider when searching for a new plan.
Bring Your Own Device
What’s the deal if you already have your own phone? Do The Big 3 have anything better to offer than the smaller startups?
If you don’t already have a phone, then head over to Kijiji, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace and buy a used one. Getting a used phone can save you some serious cash and free you from a binding contract.
Of course, it’s important to be aware of stolen and illegal cell phones that often circulate on 3rd-party websites. So before purchasing any used phones, you should always input the IMEI at Device Check Canada. You can get the IMEI number by entering *#06# on most devices
If you’ve already been with one of The Big 3, you likely have a device and have spent 2 years on a plan. Now is the time to free yourself from a contract and pay a simple monthly fee. You can get better rates from The Big 3 this way or you might be able to find another company that’s just getting into the market.
Best phone plans in Canada: Sizing them up
Let’s take a look at 3 options: each company’s cheapest plan (including data), the middle ground for price and options, and the biggest plan they have.
Each of the offers listed are based on plans where you bring your own cell phone to the deal. Most of these are build-your-own plans and prices will vary depending on the features you’ve selected.
Also, these monthly plans can be made better by adding multiple phones to your account. Sharing your account with family members (vs. everyone having their own account) can actually reduce the individual monthly cost of each plan.
Economy
| Telecom | Price | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Bell | $80 | 20GB |
| Rogers | $80 | Unlimited |
| Telus | $80 | Unlimited |
| Virgin | $15 | 250MB |
| Koodo | $15 | 250MB |
| Fido | $15 | 250MB |
| Freedom | $15 | 250MB |
| Public Mobile | $15 | 250MB |
| Eastlink | $15 | 250MB |
Mid-range
| Telecom | Price | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Bell | $95 | 60GB |
| Rogers | $95 | 60GB |
| Telus | $90 | Unlimited |
| Virgin | $35 | 3GB |
| Koodo | $37.50 | 2GB |
| Fido | $35 | 3GB |
| Freedom | $50 | 20GB |
| Public Mobile | $35 | 2.5GB |
| Eastlink | $35 | 3GB |
Top end
| Telecom | Price | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Bell | $175 | 100GB |
| Rogers | $175 | Unlimited |
| Telus | $100 | Unlimited |
| Virgin | $60 | 15GB |
| Koodo | $60 | 15GB |
| Fido | $60 | 15GB |
| Freedom | $115 | 50GB |
| Public Mobile | $60 | 15GB |
| Eastlink | $80 | 60GB |
It should be noted that the government of Canada has something to say about affordable wireless service. As of July 14, 2021, the government requires Bell, Rogers, Telus, and SaskTel to “offer and promote low-cost and occasional-use plans” and lists specifics on the plans that must be offered.
Best Phone Plans in Canada: The Big 3
Let’s start with the largest companies on the market: Bell, Rogers, and Telus.
We’ve done our best to break things down here, but each provider has a different way of building each plan, which makes things a bit confusing.
To keep this simple, we’ve compared the cost for a premium smartphone purchase:
While older model phones from Mortorola and LG are usually the cheapest option you’ll find, we’ve chosen to look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. It’s still one of the least expensive phones you can get, but it’s not the ultimate cheapest.
We’re looking at purchasing this phone on a 2-year contract.
| Big 3 companies | Up-front phone cost | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|
| Bell | $0 | $70 plus eligible monthly plan (starts at $80) |
| Rogers | $0 | $22.50 after bill credit |
| Telus | $0 | $27.38 (includes one-time bill credit of $50) |
Bell is the odd one out here, requiring a monthly price that’s more than double Rogers or Telus. And it’s the only provider that requires an eligible plan to go with the phone purchase.
Consider the smaller cell phone companies
While Bell, Rogers, and Telus don’t offer much variation when it comes to competitive pricing, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find an alternative among some of the smaller cell phone companies.
But which company is worth committing to?
Freedom Mobile
The drawback with Freedom Mobile is that they’re not exactly available nationwide. Their individual coverage area includes the big city areas of:
- Ontario,
- Alberta, and
- BC.
They also have variable and nationwide coverage throughout:
- most of Alberta and Saskatchewan,
- southern Ontario and Quebec,
- most of the Maritime provinces, and
- certain areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.
If you aren’t located in these areas – the big cities in particular – then these plans aren’t much good to you. You’ll be able to access their partner networks, but you may be charged to get access as the network is still quite small.
Although they have less-than-stellar reviews, unfortunately, their plans seem to be competitive and the data is good. So if you’re in the above mentioned areas, then Freedom Mobile is worth a look.
Public Mobile
Public Mobile operates on the Telus Network. You’ll pay a $10 SIM card fee and $15 per month for their cheapest plan and $40 for 4.5GB of data, which isn’t bad. The $15 plan doesn’t initially come with data, but once you add the autopay feature, you’re given 250MB as a bonus.
And there are some perks:
- Refer a friend. For every friend you refer who stays with Public Mobile, you get $1 off every 30 days and a one-time $10 credit. That could stack up!
- Auto-pay. When you pre-authorize payments, you save $2 every 30 days. Plus you’ll get up to 500MB more data with some plans.
- Helping others. When you answer questions in the Public Mobile Community forums, you earn points that can add up to $20 off every 30 days.
- Loyalty. Save $1 every 30 days after your first year, $2 every 30 days after your second year, and so on.
With all of these loyalty rewards, you could work yourself down to a free phone plan. But we use the word “work” for a reason – there’s a lot of effort involved.
Eastlink
The cool thing about Eastlink is that they’re building their own infrastructure. Out of all the companies offering discounted plans, they’re the ones who have their own towers.
They also offer extended coverage through their partnerships with major networks across the country.
Their roaming packages are pretty competitive, too. They offer $9/day when travelling to the U.S. and $13/day to more than 90 other international countries.
Cell phone coverage map
The best phone coverage comes from Bell, with Rogers providing the next best coverage.
Just check out the maps below:
Bell phone coverage map
Rogers phone coverage map
Telus phone coverage map
The best way to see if you’ll have coverage when purchasing a plan is by going to the actual source. Check the company’s website and see what their coverage is like.
You can also cross-reference this information at Compare Cellular’s coverage map.
Which companies use the others’ networks?
Telus shares towers with Bell, but operates independently. Koodo and Public Mobile are the only 2 of the providers we’ve mentioned that operate on the Telus network.
Eastlink has partnerships with various networks across the country, but doesn’t disclose which ones. They do claim to have one of “the largest partner networks in the country,” though, so we can assume they have more than just 1 or 2 partners.
Fido is the only one operating on Rogers’ network.
Which network is the biggest?
Out of all these companies, Bell and Telus have the largest networks, though Rogers is a close 2nd.
According to Whistleout.ca, the coverage is as follows:
- Telus + Bell: 28.8% 4G coverage
- Rogers: 19.9% 4G coverage
- Freedom: 0.46% 4G coverage
Are the best phone plans in Canada international ones?
According to an article from Narcity, people are signing up for cell phone plans from France.
Yes, people are actually doing this, so we had to check it out.
Can you get a phone plan from another country?
If you go to Free Mobile, you can see that €19.99 ($29.05) will get you 150GB data in France plus 25GB of roaming in more than 70 locations, including Canada and the US. This plan also features unlimited calls, SMS, and MMS from:
- Europe,
- DOM,
- USA,
- Canada,
- Israel,
- Australia,
- South Africa, and
- New Zealand.
Those who subscribe to this plan also get unlimited calls from mainland France to other mobile phones in mainland France, Canada, USA, China, and landlines in 100 different areas.
According to this, a person could just sign up for just under $30 and have 25GB of data.
Be careful…
The catch is that it violates the fair use policy under the EU regulations. Apparently your provider can charge you extra or even terminate the policy.
If you choose to do this, know that you are only buying yourself a few months. But if you think you can make it work, try it out and let us know your results.
Which do you think is the best phone plan in Canada?
Are you with one of The Big 3 but considering a switch to a smaller company like Eastlink or Public Mobile? What have your experiences been with researching and trying out various phone plans and companies?
Let us know in the comments below!
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$25 GeniusCash + Delicious meal choices with fresh ingredients + Front-door delivery.FAQ
Which phone provider is the best in Canada?
It’s hard to say which provider is the best as it really depends on the type of phone and services you’re looking for. The biggest companies that offer the most features and services are Bell, Rogers, and Telus. And Bell and Telus have the largest networks.
Where can I get cheap phone plans in Canada?
Many of the smaller service providers offer inexpensive plans for those who want only the bare bones for features. Eastlink, Public Mobile, Fido, Koodo, and Virgin all have $15 plans, and Freedom Mobile has a $25 plan.
Are the best prepaid phone plans in Canada only from the big providers?
Using a prepaid phone plan can be an easy way to save money, and there are some really economical plans available from smaller providers. Koodo has prepaid plans for as low as $15, and SpeakOut Wireless (from 7/11) has basic rates for only $10. There’s also handy options from – surprisingly – Petro Canada Mobility that allow you to pay for between 30 days and 1 year in advance, depending on your needs.
What are the best family cell phone plans in Canada?
All of The Big 3 (Bell, Rogers, and Telus) Canadian mobile service providers have plans with data that can be shared between account members. Bell and Rogers customers save $15 for each member added to the plan. An especially good plan for families is Rogers’ Unlimited Share 40 – it’s made for 2 phone lines and includes 40GB of shareable data.
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