Key takeaways
- Prepaid “subscription” plans on the Telus network, run online and in an app
- As of November 2026: Canada-wide plans from $22 (1 GB) to $35 (50 GB on 5G) per 30 days
- Canada-US-Mexico plans from $40 (70 GB) include 1,000 international minutes for a limited time
- You earn Public Points with each payment and can use them to lower your bill
- No stores of its own: support is online, by chat and in a community forum
What is Public Mobile?
Public Mobile is a prepaid brand owned by Telus. It uses the Telus network. You pay before you use the service, so there is no credit check, no contract and no bill after the fact. Public Mobile calls its plans “subscriptions”: you pay the same amount every 30 days and the plan renews on its own.
Features that do not depend on a promotion:
- Telus network coverage across Canada. Some plans are 4G and some are 5G.
- eSIM set-up in minutes in the Public Mobile app, or a SIM card from a pickup location or by mail.
- Unlimited Canada-wide talk and text on every plan.
- Public Points rewards you can use on your bill.
- Online-only service: app, chat, help articles and a community forum.
No credit history yet? Prepaid is often the easiest start: see getting a phone plan with no credit history.
How much do Public Mobile plans cost?
On November 5, 2026, Public Mobile listed these plans. Prices are per 30 days, before tax.
| Price | Data | Speed | Where | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22 | 1 GB | 4G | Canada-wide | 2% back in Public Points |
| $24 | 5 GB | 4G | Canada-wide | 2% back |
| $28 | 10 GB | 4G | Canada-wide | 2% back |
| $30 | 35 GB | 4G | Canada-wide | 2% back |
| $35 | 50 GB | 5G | Canada-wide | 2% back |
| $40 | 70 GB | 5G | Canada, US and Mexico | 1,000 international minutes; 2% back |
| $45 | 125 GB | 5G | Canada, US and Mexico | 1,000 international minutes; 2% back |
| $50 | 175 GB | 5G | Canada, US and Mexico | 1,000 international minutes; 2% back |
You can change your plan any time in the app. A higher-data plan can make sense in your first weeks, when you use maps a lot and may not have home Wi-Fi yet. Later you can move to a smaller plan without a fee.
Why “30 days” is not the same as a month
A Public Mobile period is 30 days, not one calendar month. A year has 365 days, so you pay about 12.17 times a year, not 12.
Worked example
The $35 plan costs $35 × 365 ÷ 30 = about $425.83 a year before tax. A $35 monthly plan from another carrier would cost $420. The difference is small, but it matters when you compare prices closely. The prepaid vs postpaid calculator helps with this.
How do Public Points work?
Public Points are rewards for being a subscriber. On November 5, 2026, Public Mobile listed these ways to earn them:
- Points-back: 2% back on each payment, shown on every plan.
- Anniversary: 5 points for every 12 months you stay.
- Refer a friend: 1 point for every month your friend stays. The new customer can get a $10 bill credit with a referral code.
- Community help: up to 20 points for helping others in the forum.
You can use points to lower your monthly payment or buy add-ons. Public Mobile’s pages do not say how many dollars one point is worth, so check in your account before you count on it.
Is Public Mobile good for calling home?
The Canada-US-Mexico plans ($40 and up) include 1,000 international minutes a month for a limited time. The minutes are for calls from Canada to China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Unused minutes expire at the end of each billing cycle.
On the Canada-wide plans, long-distance rates apply to calls outside Canada. Many newcomers call home with WhatsApp or similar apps on Wi-Fi instead. Compare costs in calling India from Canada.
What are the downsides of Public Mobile?
- No stores of its own. If your SIM fails or you are locked out of your account, you fix it online. This can be hard in your first weeks.
- 4G on cheaper plans. The plans under $35 are 4G.
- No phone financing. You need your own unlocked phone. See phone unlocking in Canada.
- Roaming outside the included areas needs an add-on. Check prices in the app before you travel.
- No family discount was shown on the plans page. Each person pays for their own plan.
Are there any fees to join?
Activation fees are banned in Canada since June 12, 2026. See the activation fee ban. Public Mobile was not one of the carriers named in the CRTC’s later fee review. To keep your number from another carrier, start the transfer when you activate with Public Mobile, and do not cancel the old plan first. Public Mobile’s plan terms give the regular price of a SIM as $15 for a physical SIM card and $5 for an eSIM, before tax.
Who is Public Mobile a good fit for?
- Newcomers with no Canadian credit history who want a low price.
- People comfortable with apps and online help.
- Light users on Wi-Fi most of the day (the $22 to $28 plans).
- People who call China, India, Pakistan or the Philippines often (the Canada-US-Mexico plans, while the minutes offer lasts).
If you want a store and a person to help, Koodo uses the same Telus network. Compare the budget brands in flanker brands compared.
Current Public Mobile offer
Offer as of November 5, 2026. 1,000 international minutes a month on the Canada-US-Mexico plans ($40, $45 and $50), for calls to China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan and the UK. Public Mobile calls this a limited-time offer that can change or end without notice, and shows no end date. Referral: a $10 bill credit for a new customer with a referral code. Providers change offers often; confirm on the provider’s site.
How we handle offers. Prices and offers on this page come from the carrier’s own website and were checked on November 5, 2026. They are before tax. Carriers change offers often, so confirm the details on the carrier’s site before you sign up. No carrier pays to be included or reviewed here. If a link on this page ever earns us a commission, we will label it next to the link.