If you’re traveling outside of Canada, you’ll want a cell phone plan that allows you to stay connected while away from home. We know that sounds complicated. Carriers’ roaming rates are expensive, even in the U.S., and navigating a foreign country’s telecom market can be overwhelming.
We’ve got a simple fix: find a cell phone plan specifically designed for travelers. In short, that means one with both travel-friendly data and eSIM connectivity, which allows you to toggle between your Canadian plan and an international one with just the touch of a button. Not every smartphone or cell phone plan is eSIM compatible, but we’ve sifted through plans from every carrier in Canada to find the ones that do, along with those that offer great options for travelers to the US and Mexico.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best eSIM mobile plans for travel, provide a list of the best eSIM phones, and offer some pointers on how to save money while roaming.
Best eSIM plans for travel for May 2024
| Carrier | Plan | Best for | Shop this plan |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Infinite Premium Canada+US | North American travelers | $95/month |
|
5G Unlimited 50GB CA-US | Cheap unlimited data | $45/month |
|
Unlimited Canada-US Talk + Text + 50GB | Free eSIM | $45/month |
How we picked the best eSIM travel plans
- Price & value We ensured you’re getting the most bang for your buck without sacrificing on the essentials to keep you connected.
- High-speed data We looked at whether the amount of guaranteed “premium” data was reasonable for the plan price, and flagged if you’re being overcharged for data you likely don’t need.
- Coverage & network reliability We evaluated each carrier’s nationwide 4G LTE and 5G coverage to predict your service quality (no dropped calls allowed!).
- Plan extras and perks If you get free Netflix or a hefty hotspot, we factored those in relative to the cost of the plan.
You can read more about our detailed methodology below.
Best eSIM plans
for traveling
Rogers | Infinite Premium Canada+US—$95/month
- Large data chunk
- No roaming charges in U.S. and Mexico
- eSIM connectivity
- Expensive monthly payment
- Data limited to North America
This is, far-and-away, the best cell phone plan for Canadian travelers. You get unlimited talk and text plus 150GB of 5G data on the nationwide Rogers network when you’re in Canada. If you travel to the U.S. or Mexico, nothing changes: you can still talk, text, and use that large data chunk as if you were back at home.
If you’re traveling outside of North America, you can take advantage of Rogers’ Roam Like Home, though that will run you $15 a day. We recommend purchasing an eSIM in the country you’re visiting. As long as you’re using an eSIM compatible smartphone that’s been unlocked, it will only take a few basic steps.
View plan
Freedom Mobile | 5G Unlimited 50GB CA-US—$45/month
- Cheap 5G data for Canada and U.S.
- BYOD discount
- Limited 5G network
- Not available in Mexico
If the Rogers plan is too expensive for your budget, this plan from Freedom Mobile is a great alternative, offering unlimited talk and text and 50GB of full-speed 5G data in Canada and the United States. Unlike the Rogers plan, there’s no coverage in Mexico, but if you’re visiting family in the U.S. or living the snowbird life, then this is an excellent option.
If you’re headed to Mexico or the Caribbean, you can add on the Big Gig Roam Extra, South package for $8 a day. If you’re traveling elsewhere, you’ll be hit with rates up to $1/minute. We recommend finding a local carrier and buying a cheap prepaid plan that uses eSIM.
View planWhat is an eSIM?
An eSIM is an embedded SIM card that connects your phone to your carrier. Unlike a standard SIM card, there’s no physical card you’re able to remove from your phone.
If you want to better understand how an eSIM works and how it can make traveling easier, check out our video that explains everything you need to know.
Best prepaid
eSIM plan
Public Mobile | Unlimited Canada-US Talk + Text + 50GB—$45/month
- No contract
- Free eSIM
- Only available in Quebec, data throttled after 50GB
- Data throttled after 50GB
Public Mobile is a prepaid carrier operating on the nationwide Telus network. Public also recently began offering 5G service, along with Canada-U.S. plans, like this unlimited data plan. Although the data isn’t truly unlimited, it’s still a good deal: most Canadians average just 6GB of data per month, so it’s unlikely you’ll have your data throttled, even if you’re vacationing in the States.
Public Mobile also offers a number of perks, including enrollment in their rewards program and, most importantly, a free eSIM card. Unfortunately, this offer is only available for Quebec residents, though Public Mobile does offer other similar Canada-U.S. plans.
View planHow to use an eSIM for travel
If you’re traveling outside of North America, you can purchase a prepaid eSIM plan and activate it with just a few quick steps. After purchasing a plan, your carrier will provide a QR code or an activation number. You can input that number into your phone’s eSIM settings to begin using your new plan.
Want step-by-step instructions? Find your phone below and follow the directions to activate your new eSIM
On an iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Select Cellular or Mobile Data.
- Select Add Cellular Plan.
- Scan the QR code.
- Enter confirmation code provided by carrier (if applicable).
On a Pixel
- Go to Settings.
- Select Network & Internet.
- Select Mobile network.
- Select Carrier.
- Tap Add carrier.
- Scan QR code.
- Tap Start.
On a Samsung
- Go to Settings.
- Select Connections.
- Select SIM Card Manager.
- Select Add mobile plan.
- Select Other ways to add plans.
- Select Add using QR code and scan QR code.
- Follow additional on-screen prompts.
Best eSIM phones
Almost all new smartphones are eSIM compatible, though some still only allow standard SIM cards. Some of the best eSIM phones available are the iPhone 15 and the Google Pixel 8, though carriers often offer deals on older eSIM models, especially on their travel plans.
That’s certainly the case with Rogers and the Samsung Galaxy S23. You can pair the Infinite Premium Canada+US plan with the Samsung Galaxy S23, a powerful eSIM phone with an all-day battery and three high-definition cameras, making it perfect for a day of sightseeing.
There are also cheaper eSIM phones, including the Google Pixel 7a and the Samsung Galaxy A54. We think the best option, though, is on the iPhone 13. Now that the phone’s been on the market for a few years, its sticker price has started to drop despite its strengths, like long-lasting battery, fast A15 Bionic processor, and impressive front and rear HDR 4 cameras. If you pair the phone with Freedom Mobile’s 5G Unlimited 50GB CA-US plan, you’ll not only score a great plan for snowbirds, you’ll also pick up an excellent eSIM compatible phone.
Freedom Mobile $50 5G Unlimited 100GB CA-US plan
| Carrier | Freedom Mobile |
|---|---|
| Included Phone | iPhone 13 128GB |
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | Lease (24 mths) |
| Total Price |
$65 per month
with Digital Discount
+ $45 Upfront
|
| View Details |
iPhone 13 128GB
Methodology: How WhistleOut rates cell phone plans
WhistleOut evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:
- Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it both to other plans from the same carrier, as well as similar plans from competitors in the market, to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
- High-speed data: Also called “premium” data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you’ll generally have—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need, and we ensure that you’re not overpaying for data that will go unused.
- Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
- Plan extras and perks: In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.
Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate the best eSIM plans for travel. We compared the 19 of the most popular Canadian providers by analyzing their coverage, cost, and plan options. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After performing hands-on testing and extensive research, including customer feedback, we picked the carriers and plans we felt met the needs of most people.
Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to evaluate a cell phone carrier or plan and find the one that best meets your specific needs.
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