Best cell phone plans for newcomers to Canada (October 2026)

Our picks at a glance

Best plan if you have no Canadian credit history

Start with prepaid. You pay in advance, there is no credit check, and you can leave any time. On October 5, 2026:

• Public Mobile (Telus network): 35 GB for $30 or 50 GB on 5G for $35 per 30 days. eSIM is free. Account rewards called Public Points are added on top.
• Lucky Mobile (Bell network): 30 GB for $35 a month with automatic top-up (25 GB without). 4G LTE only. A physical SIM costs $10; eSIM is free.
• chatr (Rogers network): 30 GB plus a 5 GB Auto-Pay bonus for $35 a month. 4G.
• Koodo prepaid (Telus network): 75 GB with automatic top-up for $39 a month (70 GB without). 4G.

For most people who use maps, messaging and some video, 30 to 50 GB is plenty. Public Mobile was the only one of these four with 5G on its 50 GB plan.

Best postpaid plan for newcomers

Rogers runs a special page for newcomers. On October 5, 2026 it listed, after the Auto-Pay discount and bringing your own phone:

• 5G+ Essentials: $65 a month, 100 GB, with data, talk and text in the US for 24 months
• 5G+ Popular: $80 a month, unlimited data, roaming in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean, and unlimited calling to 27 countries
• 5G+ Ultimate: $95 a month, unlimited data, roaming in 64 destinations

The page shows higher regular prices ($85, $100 and $115) next to these offer prices. Ask how long the newcomer price lasts, what ID you need, and whether a deposit applies before you sign.

Bell, Telus, Fido, Koodo and Virgin Plus also sell postpaid plans to newcomers. Bell’s Select 60 GB plan was listed at $75 a month, or $50 with home internet, Autopay and promotional credits. Fido advertised 60 GB for $50, and Virgin Plus 20 GB for $45 ($40 in Ontario until October 13) with the Autopay credit included.

Best plan for families and couples

Multi-line discounts can cut the price per person a lot, especially if you also buy home internet from the same company.

• Rogers with internet or TV: 5G+ Essentials (100 GB) is $55 for the first and second lines, $45 for the third and $35 for each line after that, after Auto-Pay.
• Bell listed average prices per line that fall as you add lines, for example $47.50 a line with 4 lines on the 100 GB plan with US roaming, with internet and Autopay credits.
• Telus advertises a family discount of up to $15 off per line with 4 lines.

A family discount is only a saving if the total is lower than separate prepaid plans. Two people on Public Mobile 50 GB pay $70 before tax. Check the real totals with the bundle savings calculator.

Best plan for international students

Freedom Mobile offers $45 a month for 18 months on its 175 GB plan with Roam Beyond 10 GB, for new single-line accounts in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. You need proof of enrolment and a student email address. Telus advertised a student plan, 5G+ Select with 40 GB, from $55 a month with pre-authorized payment.

Many students do just as well on prepaid. More options in best phone plans for international students.

Best plan for calling home

Most newcomers call family with WhatsApp, Viber, FaceTime or similar apps. On Wi-Fi these calls use no mobile data. If you need to call landlines or family without internet, look for:

• Plans with international minutes. Rogers 5G+ Popular and Ultimate include unlimited calling to 27 countries. Public Mobile’s Canada-US-Mexico plans included 1,000 international minutes during a promotion that ended October 5.
• Small add-ons. chatr sold 300 minutes to China and Hong Kong for $5.

Compare these with the international calling cost calculator. To send money home rather than call, see sending money home.

How we chose

We looked at the plan pages of Bell, Rogers, Telus, Freedom Mobile and their lower-cost brands on October 5, 2026. We ranked plans by the total monthly price for the data a typical newcomer needs, how easy they are to get without a credit history, and network coverage. We did not include offers that need a phone purchase. We do not accept payment for placement. Prices exclude tax: see your real total with the mobile plan cost calculator.

What you need to sign up

For a prepaid plan you usually need only a payment method. Some stores ask for ID. For a postpaid plan, expect to show:

• Government photo ID, such as your passport, with your permanent resident card, confirmation of permanent residence (COPR), or study or work permit
• A Canadian address (a temporary address is often fine)
• A Canadian bank account or credit card for Autopay

A postpaid carrier may run a credit check. With no Canadian credit file you may be offered a lower spending limit or asked for a security deposit. You do not need to give your SIN. If a store insists on a SIN, ask for another way to verify your identity or choose another provider.

Keep your contract summary. Under the Wireless Code, your provider must give you a contract and a summary of the key terms, including the price, the data and any device balance.

Common questions

Sources

• CRTC: Telecom Regulatory Policy 2026-43, ban on fees that are a barrier to switching
• Public Mobile: plans
• Rogers: offers for newcomers to Canada
• Rogers: 5G+ plans
• Lucky Mobile: prepaid plans
• chatr: plans
• chatr: add-ons
• Koodo: prepaid plans
• Freedom Mobile: bring your own phone and student offer
• TELUS: home page offers (student plan, PureFibre)
• Bell: cell phone plans
• Fido: plans and offers
• Virgin Plus: offers

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.