Article Summary
Bell Mobility prepaid cell phone plans are surprisingly competitive when compared to discount brands. All plans let you pay upfront, empowering you to know exactly how much you will spend that month. There are no surprise overage charges, and add-ons let you control how much extra data and minutes you need each month. There are also no two-year contracts, so you need to bring your own phone or purchase one of Bell’s affordable options for under $200. You’re never stuck with a cell phone plan that’s too small because add-on features let you pay-as-you-go when you need a bit more data or talk time.
Bell Mobility is better known for premium mobile postpaid plans with unlimited data, two-year contracts with the newest iPhone, and high monthly bills. However, the company has another side with prepaid plans under a dollar per day and smartphones that cost less than $200.
We watch for price changes at Bell Mobility and update our search tool regularly. Our experts help you figure out which Bell Mobility prepaid plan is right for you. We’ll also show you a few more options you might not have considered.
Bell Mobility Prepaid Plans
Bell Mobility’s premium monthly and two-year contract plans are some of the most expensive in Canada. Still, its prepaid business offers affordable plans that are surprisingly competitive with discount carriers. The selection is small but offers enough variety to suit most needs. All Bell Mobility prepaid plans renew on the same date each month and include nationwide roaming long-distance voice calling. There’s a one-time activation fee of $50, but Bell will usually offer to waive that fee.
The cheapest Bell prepaid plan costs less than a dollar per day and is an excellent option if your cell phone is just used as an emergency lifeline while you’re out. Most prepaid plans include some data, unlimited talk time, and unlimited text messaging. Make sure to watch your data use, as add-on data plans are expensive. If you need more data or talk time partway through the month, check out Bell Mobility add-ons below.
For a little extra data, sign up for automatic monthly top-ups. Just by authorizing regular payments, you can get an additional 100MB to 500MB of data.
Bell Mobility Prepaid Phones
One of the best reasons to go with a prepaid plan is the freedom of switching to a different phone plan (or even cellular provider) at any time. To do this, you need to supply your phone or buy a new one. While Bell Mobility offers a wide variety of midrange and premium smartphones on two-year contracts, its prepaid phone selection is limited to low-end devices that cost under $200.
While it’s one of the more expensive options, we recommend the Motorola Moto G Pure as the best prepaid smartphone choice. Motorola has a long history of producing low-end and midrange smartphones that perform well enough that you forget you only paid a couple of hundred dollars.
On the other hand, Bell prepaid plan customers who only need an emergency phone should grab the ZTE Blade A3 Plus. There are no apps, but you only need to charge it once or twice a week, so it will be ready for when you need it.
Of course, you can always save more by using an old cell phone. Most devices sold within the last five years should be compatible with the Bell Mobility network. However, you might have to check the IMEI with a Bell sales representative to be sure. Whether you pick up a new phone or supply your own, you will need to buy a SIM card for $10.
Bell Mobility Prepaid Plan Add-Ons
Since your needs can change from month to month, Bell Mobility prepaid plan add-ons offer extra data or talk time on demand. Add-ons come in two flavours: Data and Long Distance.
Data add-ons are expensive and not a good long-term alternative to upgrading your prepaid data plan. However, it is better than the expensive $0.15/MB pay-per-use rate, and the data doesn’t expire as long as you keep paying the base price of your Bell prepaid plan each month.
Voice add-ons provide unlimited long-distance calling options. One add-on provides unlimited talk time to any eligible Bell prepaid plan for the remainder of your billing period. The second add-on allows you to call the U.S. from anywhere in Canada for one flat fee.
Extra data or minutes can be added by calling Bell customer service for prepaid services at 1 888 537-9999, or call #369 from your mobile phone. However, making plan changes or buying add-ons costs at least $2 per transaction over the phone. For a quick and free way to purchase add-ons, we recommend using the My Bell app from your mobile device.
Cheap Alternatives to Bell Mobility Prepaid Plans
Many Canadians grew up with Bell as the de facto phone company. Today, you have far more options when it comes to who hosts your phone number. Thanks to consumer-friendly regulations, you can switch to a new phone company, keep your phone number, and even use your old cell phone! Changing carriers is fast and easy.
If you’re hesitant about switching carriers because you know that Bell is reliable and has cell phone coverage where you live, then consider Virgin Plus or Lucky Mobile. Both are flanker brands owned by Bell Mobility, so you still get the same quality of service and coverage. PC Mobile operates independently of Bell, yet it uses the same wireless network and offers competitive prepaid plans.
The Bell network offers Canada’s best cell phone coverage, but it accomplishes that lofty goal by partnering with Telus Mobility. As a result, you can get the same reliable Canada-wide coverage by Telus and its flanker brands, Koodo and Public Mobile. Residents of Saskatchewan may want to check out Sasktel plans too, as it uses the Bell/Telus cell network to provide its customers with service across Canada.
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