Key takeaways
- Prepaid needs no credit check: Public Mobile 50 GB on 5G for $35 per 30 days
- Freedom student offer: $45 a month for 18 months on its 175 GB plan (Ontario, Alberta, B.C.)
- Telus student plan: 5G+ Select with 40 GB from $55 a month
- Your study permit and passport are enough ID; you do not need a SIN
- Avoid 24-month phone financing if your program is shorter
Student options compared
| Plan | Price before tax | Data | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Mobile 50 GB (prepaid) | $35 / 30 days | 50 GB, 5G | No credit check, low price |
| Public Mobile 35 GB (prepaid) | $30 / 30 days | 35 GB, 4G | Tighter budget |
| Freedom student offer | $45 / month for 18 months | 175 GB + Roam Beyond 10 GB | Heavy data, travel abroad (ON, AB, BC only) |
| Telus 5G+ Select (student) | from $55 / month | 40 GB | Telus network with stores and 5G+ |
| chatr yearly plan | $159 / year | 40 GB for the year | Students mostly on campus Wi-Fi |
Prices are a snapshot from each carrier’s own website on October 5, 2026, before tax. Many offers change every few weeks, and several promotions on this list were set to end on October 5. Always confirm the price, the data amount and the conditions on the carrier’s site before you sign up. We do not accept payment for rankings.
Freedom Mobile student offer: the details
Freedom’s terms say the $45 price is its $50 plan after the Digital Discount, minus a $5 monthly student credit for 18 months. To qualify you must:
- Activate a new line on an eligible plan (Total Freedom 175 GB + Roam Beyond 10 GB and up) in Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia
- Study at an eligible post-secondary school and show a student ID or enrolment letter
- Use your student email address on the account (each address only once)
- Open a new account with one line
The credit starts before your second full month and stops if you change to a plan that does not qualify or change your email away from the student address.
Why prepaid works well for many students
- No credit check and no deposit. You have no Canadian credit history yet.
- No contract. Your program, internships and summer plans may change.
- Easy to pause or leave. If you go home for the summer, you can stop paying. Ask about keeping your number first, as some prepaid accounts expire if not renewed.
- Free eSIM at Public Mobile, Koodo and Lucky, so you can set up quickly.
Prepaid brands use the same big networks. Compare them in flanker brands compared.
Getting a number when you arrive
- Unlock your phone with your home carrier before you leave. See phone unlocking.
- Use airport and campus Wi-Fi for your first messages home.
- Buy a prepaid SIM or eSIM in your first day or two. You need a Canadian number for your bank, landlord and school.
- Pay with a card from home if you do not have a Canadian account yet. Switch to Autopay from your Canadian account later for bonus data or discounts.
Plan the rest of your first week with the first 7 days planner.
Calling and paying family back home
On Wi-Fi, app calls (WhatsApp, Viber, FaceTime and others) are free. On mobile data they use part of your plan. If your family has no internet, an international add-on or a plan with international minutes may be cheaper. Work it out with the international calling cost calculator.
Budget your phone bill alongside tuition and rent with the cost of studying calculator. If family sends money for tuition, compare options in paying tuition from abroad.
What to avoid
- Long phone financing. A 24-month device plan can outlast a one-year program. If you leave early, you pay the rest of the phone balance.
- Plans with roaming you do not need, and the reverse: no roaming if you will visit the US often.
- Forgetting tax. A $35 plan is $39.55 in Ontario and $40.24 in Quebec. See the mobile plan cost calculator.
- Sharing your study permit or SIN with anyone who calls or messages you claiming to be from the government. Read about immigration scams.
How much data does a student need?
Most campuses, libraries and residences have free Wi-Fi, so many students use less mobile data than they expect. As a guide:
- Mostly on campus or at home: 5 to 15 GB a month
- Commuting daily with maps, music and social media: 20 to 50 GB
- Streaming video on the go, or no home internet: 75 GB or more
Start smaller. Since June 12, 2026, providers cannot charge you a fee to change plans, so you can move up after your first month if you need to.
Summer breaks, co-op terms and after graduation
- Going home for the summer: with prepaid, you can stop paying, but your account and number may expire after a set time. Ask your provider how long you can keep your number without service, or switch to the cheapest plan to hold it.
- Co-op or internship in another city: check coverage there before you go, especially with smaller brands.
- After graduation: student credits end if you lose your student email or change plans. If you stay to work on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, compare plans again. See the PGWP eligibility checker.
Other student offers
Student deals change during the back-to-school season (August to October). Public Mobile ran Canada-US-Mexico plans with 1,000 international minutes that ended October 5, 2026. Ask in store or check carrier websites for current student offers, and compare them with the regular prepaid prices in cheapest phone plans. A student offer is only a good deal if its total cost beats an ordinary prepaid plan with the data you need.
Staying connected for free on campus
Most Canadian colleges and universities give students free campus Wi-Fi, often through eduroam, which also works at many other schools and some public places. Set it up with your student login in your first week. Public libraries also offer free Wi-Fi and computers. With good Wi-Fi at home and on campus, a small mobile plan may be all you need.