Cell phones in Canada

[jen1722terry]

We're Yanks who live in Canada 6 months each year (Nova Scotia). Yes, cell coverage there is pricey. We use Telus and we had to have the account for three months before we could call internationally ($1.20 per min.) A pain, for our other home is in the US. Your cheapest option may be to see if you can get a plan with your existing phone that will work in Canada.

Fortunately, we have a land-line at our Canadian home and the cross-border calls are cheap.

Sorry we couldn't be more helpful. Canada is a wonderful country and trip destination. Well worth the trip even with pricey cell phones.

[taxwizz]

I live in Toronto and pay $100 per month for 6gb data plus unlimited Canada wide voice.
The prices here are criminal,
Just grab your ankles and grit your teeth.

[Max Nankervis]

Yes, in my experience cell phones(or mobiles as we call them here) rates in Canada are a tad expensive for a visitor. But then so is Australia. But for years I've been using an "international" SIM card which has cheap rates for most countries. There are various brands, mine is Ekit. It has phone/SMS/Data and you load it with credit (can be done on the phone itself). Check on-line to see what is available. I think Ekit is a UK company as my number has a 44 prefix.

[KrazySailing]

There are two main networks in Canada the telcos (Bell, Alberta Tel, Telus, Koodo, MTS. Aliant, etc.) and Rogers. Some providers may have their own networks but only in some metropolitan areas. Other provides ride on one of the two trans Canada networks.


The telco have the best coverage while Rogers has Extended Coverage (roaming at additional cost) to cover some areas.

https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Our_network
https://www.rogers.com/consumer/wire...twork-coverage




https://www.comparemyrates.ca/cell-p...-coverage-map/

[hamburking]

Cell phone service is Canada is really expensive.
If your phone is "unlocked", you should have no trouble.

I use Petro-Can mobile: https://mobility.petro-canada.ca/monthly-plan.aspx

Yup, its a gas station chain that's also a service provider. Until I read this thread, I thought they were the only provider left that offered pay-as-you-go. Just like others have said, I put down $100 towards my minutes and get a year's service. The data prices on this plan are something like $150/Gb. They call it 15 cents/Mb, which sounds cute, right? Needless to say, I turn off data.

However, I believe you could get a plan for one month for $35 (plus $10 for the sim) that would give you some minutes and 2Gb of data. OR you could use their "build your own" plan and get some minutes, unlimited texting, and 3Gb of data for I think $70 total (plus tax, of course).

Don't expect any tech support. But I've been with them for years with no trouble. To be clear, I pay $100 a year. I know people who pay that each month!!!!

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Restlessone

I live in Ontario and use Freedom Mobile. I flew a small plane from Alberta to Ontario and had no issues at all and the cost was minimal. I used it for weather and flight planning so it had to be reliable. There cost has increased since they stopped being Wind and became Freedom but still far cheaper than the big three.

I'm also with wind/freedom mobile. They stopped offering pay-as-you-go. Their monthly plans are good though, maybe cheapest around.

[Oceandeep]

Make sure you have a good roaming plan. Might help on the expense until you have the Canadian market figured out

[finding41]

I just came across a pay as you go company that I haven't heard of before.

https://publicmobile.ca/en They run on the Rogers network and that seems to be the only one that works in the North Channel of Georgian Bay. (I can upload video's to YouTube at anchor from my phone.) Takes a while but it works.

I'm going to try them for my Phablet (Android tablet that works as a phone too.) that I'm using foe navigation and everything else on the boat this season.

Has anyone any experience with Public Mobile? I'd love to hear how good or bad there service is.
Marty

[deblen]

Not sure how current this info is./ Len


https://www.cellphones.ca/cell-plans...-canada-10086/

[edsailing]

Thanks for all the information so far. This is a road trip from Calgary but we do have one week unallocated in Vancouver (Island maybe) area.

[Emouchet]

Canada = About the same area size as US, with about 10% of the population.

So huge investment for phone companies that needs to split the bill within much less customer = high price...

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by deblen

Not sure how current this info is./ Len


https://www.cellphones.ca/cell-plans...-canada-10086/

This appears to be excellent and spot on. Since you're traveling exclusively in western Canada you might want to go with Koodo (a subsidiary of Telus who have the best rural coverage - including the highways from Calgary to Vancouver).


It doesn't sound like you are going to have time for much sailing - if any. But if you do you might want to charter from Desolation Sound Yacht Charters in Comox, BC. Chartering out of Vancouver is a waste of time as it just takes too long to get to any decent cruising grounds - plus the ferry rides (go Vancouver to Victoria then drive north) and driving to Comox are beautiful. Enjoy!

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Emouchet

Canada = About the same area size as US, with about 10% of the population.

So huge investment for phone companies that needs to split the bill within much less customer = high price...

Considerably bigger than the US!

[rsn48]

If this is your first trip to Canada, my experience with UK types is that even though intellectually they know Canada is enormous, it isn't until they get here and travel that they realize how much bigger it is.

If you are driving from Calgary, then I highly, highly, highly recommend you deviate a bit and do the Jasper Banff highway, I'll give you a link. The first sentence on the web page is "It has to be one of the most beautiful drives in the world, Banff to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway." https://www.banff.com/banff-helpers/banff-to-jasper/

[smac999]

The avg Canadian cell phone bill is $100 a month.
It's not cheap here. So much area to cover with towers.