In Canada, cheap cell phone plans with data typically cost $25/month or more. However, you can make a phone call with messaging apps and services using data these days. So why pay extra for “unlimited nationwide minutes” you’ll never use?
A data-only plan gives your cell phone, tablet, smartwatch, or laptop the freedom to use it anywhere without the expense of paying for a plan that includes talk time and text messages. Our favourite data-only phone plan is Sasktel's shareMORE Data Only option, starting at just $15/month and scaling up depending on just how much data you need. We also love Fido's 4GB plan for tablet users.
Read on to learn about our favourite cheap data-only plans available now.
Best data-only plans 2023
| Carrier | Plan | Best for | Features | Shop this plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SaskTel | shareMORE Data Only | Most mobile users | Share data with other plans | Go to plan |
| Fido | 4GB Tablet Plan | Tablets | Data overage protection | Go to plan |
Best Data-only Mobile Plan
Nearly every carrier offers data-only plans for tablets, smartwatches, and hotspots, but few offer them for cell phones. Our best recommendation is to get a pure data plan on your phone.
SaskTel | shareMORE Data Only | $10+/month—Nationwide data for cell phones
We looked at every wireless carrier in Canada and couldn’t find a data-only cell phone plan better than this. SaskTel shareMORE plans start at $15/month and include 1GB of 4G LTE data anywhere in Canada. That’s enough for basic browsing, photo uploads, and a few hours of Spotify music streaming.
This plan scales up with your needs—pay $30/month for 5GB, $40/month for 10GB, and so on. Even better, all shareMORE plans on the same account can share the data from other plans.
There’s one critical flaw with this plan; it’s only available to residents of Saskatchewan due to government restrictions on regional wireless providers. If you live elsewhere in Canada, look at our cheapest data-only plan recommendation, which includes unlimited data for $15/month.
- Pros: Cheap entry price, highly customizable rates, Canada-wide coverage, shareable data
- Cons: Only available to Saskatchewan residents, pay-per-use talk time is expensive
It’s a good idea to unlock and use an old cell phone with a data-only plan to reduce monthly costs. However, you’ll want to avoid making phone calls because those fees add up fast.
Best Tablet Plan
Sharing your cell phone data with a tablet can heat your phone and drain your battery. Buy a tablet with 4G LTE service and hook it up with its own data to burn through each month.
Fido | 4GB Tablet Plan | $15/month—Work and play on the go
Fido offers two data-only plans for tablets with cellular network access. We recommend the 4GB plan because it’s enough for some online gaming, video conferencing, and watching a few movies. If you want a smaller dent in your wallet, choose the $10/month plan with 2GB of data.
Like Fido’s regular cell phone plans, every tablet plan includes Fido XTRA perks like exclusive contests and discounts. There’s also no worry about unexpected end-of-month fees as Data Overage Protection pauses downloads when the tablet reaches its data allotment. If you find that your tablet doesn’t have room for a SIM card, you can buy a different tablet outright or on a two-year plan from Fido. This carrier sells Apple iPad and Android tablets to suit any budget.
Sadly, you need an active monthly cell phone plan with Fido to subscribe to a tablet plan. If you don’t want to hook up with a carrier beyond a cheap tablet deal, contact a Virgin Plus representative who will sign you up without needing an active cell phone plan.
- Pros: Lots of data for a tablet, 4G LTE speeds, Data Overage Protection, cheaper plan available
- Cons: Requires existing monthly cell plan, no larger plans or data add-ons available.
You might think that scrolling through your social media feed doesn’t use much data, but downloading images, TikTok videos, and Spotify music add up quickly. Find out which data plan you should get and protect yourself from overage charges.
Methodology: Picking Canada’s best data-only plans
WhistleOut Canada compared all data-only plans available in all markets across Canada. We analyzed prices, features, performance, and popularity when ranking plans. Carriers are not required to advertise with WhistleOut Canada to have their plans listed on our site or considered for “Best of” titles. Our experts regularly audit cell phone plans and costs buried in the fine print to provide the most accurate information. We will change these ratings as necessary.
Data-only Plans: FAQs
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