Looking for a cheap alternative to overpaying for your cell phone plan? You've come to the right place. We've been studying the telecom market since 2008 and have learned how to spot a cheap deal that will still provide excellent service.
The best cheap phone plan right now is Fizz’s 5GB plan, which gives you unlimited talk and text and 5GB of 5G data for $24/month, with excellent coverage in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.
We also like Lucky Mobile's Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan, which offers unlimited talk and text plus 5GB of data on the nationwide Bell network for $25/month.
Read on to learn all about the best cheap cell phone plans in Canada available now.
How we picked the best cheap 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 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 cheap phone plans in Canada right now
| Carrier | Plan | Data | Shop this plan |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Unlimited Canada Minutes & Text Messaging + 5GB Data | 5GB | View plan |
 |
Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan | 5GB | View plan |
 |
totalSHARE Data-Only Plan | 1GB | View plan |
 |
$19 Unlimited Canada-Wide Calling Plan | 500MB | View plan |
Best Cheap
Cell Phone Plans
Fizz | Unlimited Canada Minutes & Text Messaging + 5GB Data | $24/month
- Pros: 5G data, no overages, cheap smartphone options
- Cons: Only available in select provinces
Affordable plans are notoriously hard to find in Canada, but they do exist. If you're looking for a cheap plan to accompany a new phone deal, this offer from Fizz is perfect for you. The plan gives you 5GB of 5G data and unlimited Canada-wide talk and text for $24/month, with excellent coverage through Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. If you barely use data, Fizz also offers a 1GB version for $20/month.
Best Cheap Unlimited
Talk Plan
Lucky Mobile | Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan | $25/month
- Pros: Unlimited Canada-wide calling, unlimited international texts
- Cons: Only 5GB of data, $10 upfront
Lucky Mobile’s $25/month prepaid plan gives you unlimited Canada-wide calling on Bell's nationwide network, along with unlimited Canada-wide and international texting and 5GB of 4G data when you sign up for Automatic Top-Up. That makes it a great option for casual phone users looking for a cheap phone plan that will still keep them connected. If you need more data, Lucky's $35/month plan bumps you up to 30GB.
Best Cheap
Data-Only Plan
SaskTel | totalSHARE Data-Only Plan | $10/month
- Pros: Unlimited data after the 1GB cap for $10/month
- Cons: You have to live in Saskatchewan and be a SaskTel customer to get this deal
The cheapest data-only mobile plan in Saskatchewan is SaskTel's totalSHARE Data Only, which offers customers 1GB of shareable data for just $10/month. However, you must already have a SaskTel plan (totalSHARE Nationwide, totalSHARE Canada and U.S., or VIP 35), and the data-only plan has to be added to an existing shared data group. And since this plan is only available to customers in the Saskatchewan region, access to it is limited.
You get unlimited data after the 1GB of shareable data at reduced speeds. However, this deal is only available when you bring your own device, and it doesn’t include calling or texting either.
Best Cheap
Talk-and-Text Plan
Koodo Mobile | $19 Unlimited Canada-Wide Calling Plan | $19/month
- Pros: Unlimited Canada-wide calling, texting, and data; extra add-ons
- Cons: Lower data caps
Koodo Mobile operates on the nationwide Telus network and provides cheap, prepaid plans for basic phone users. This no-frills plan keeps you connected with 500MB of data, unlimited Canada-wide minutes, and unlimited text and picture messaging.
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 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 cell phone plans from 23 carriers. We compared the carriers' plans 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 plans we feel meet 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.
Kevin Kearney
Deputy Editor
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
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