Attending university is a huge expense: between tuition, housing, textbooks, and some semblance of a social life, you’ll find your bank account dwindling by the hour. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way with your phone bill. Numerous carriers offer discounted plans ideal for students, including one so good it requires proper university identification.
In this guide, we’ll break down some of the best phone plans for college kids, including Rogers’ Infinite 60GB Student Plan, which gives you 60GB of full-speed 5G data for $50/month, and Virgin Plus' $45 Plan, which provides 60GB of 5G data, along with unlimited talk and text.
Read on to find everything you need to know about the best phone plans for students.
How we picked the best student phone plans
-
Price & value
We ensured you’re getting the most bang for your buck without sacrificing 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 phone plans for students for May 2024
| Carrier | Plan | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Infinite 60GB Student Plan | 60GB | $50/month |
 |
$45 Plan | 60GB | $45/month |
 |
5G Unlimited | 60GB | $40/month |
Best phone plans
for students
Rogers | Infinite 60GB Student Plan | $50/month—Best overall
- Unlimited data
- Nationwide coverage
- Valid student ID required
Rogers is one of the country’s largest wireless carriers, with a 5G network that reaches over 70% of Canadians. They’re also one of the few offering a mobility plan that’s exclusively for university students, one that’s especially strong at that, with unlimited talk and text and 60GB of full-speed 5G data for $50/month.
Technically, it’s an unlimited data plan, though there’s no such thing as truly unlimited data in Canada: if you exceed 60GB in a given month, you’ll still have service, though it’ll be significantly slower than your typical 5G speed. Still, the average Canadian uses around 6GB of data per month, so we don’t expect you to make a habit of going over your monthly allotment, even if you’re gaming, streaming, or, you know, doing homework.
Rogers also allows you to pair a new smartphone with this plan, including some of the hottest models on the market, like the iPhone 15 and the Pixel 8. They also have some solid budget models, like the Motorola Moto G Pure and the Samsung Galaxy A03s, both of which can be financed or purchased outright.
View plan
Virgin Plus | $45 Plan | $45/month—Runner-up
- 5G coverage
- Cheap monthly payment
- Unlimited minutes limited to Canada
Virgin Plus offers affordable 5G and 4G LTE plans on the nationwide Bell network. This plan is especially good for university students, with unlimited talk and text, a month-to-month contract, and 60GB of 5G data–a chunk that’s 10 times what the average Canadian uses. The plan also enrolls you in Virgin Plus’ Member Benefits, a rewards program that offers discounts on fashion, entertainment, food, and more, which is perfect for social students on a tight budget.
Virgin Plus’ plans are all BYOD, but if you’re on the hunt for a new device, they also have a wide selection of smartphones, including some relatively new options like the iPhone 14 and the Pixel 7a. If you’re looking to avoid financing, you can snag a number of cheaper phones outright, like the ZTE Blade A3 Plus or the Motorola Moto G Power.
View plan
Best unlimited plan
for students
Freedom Mobile | 5G Unlimited 60GB Plan | $40/month
- BYOD discount
- Free smartphones
- Unlimited 5G data
- Limited coverage area
While the Rogers Infinite 65GB Student Plan is an unlimited plan, we recognize the monthly payment might not be best for every student. If you’re looking for unlimited data but want something cheaper, we recommend this plan from Freedom Mobile, which gives you 60GB of full-speed 5G data and unlimited talk and text for $40/month after a BYOD discount. Freedom’s 5G network is significantly smaller than the Big Three carriers, but if you’re attending school in an urban centre, you should be able to take advantage of their solid coverage.
If you’re looking for a new phone, you’ll pay $45/month, but you’ll also have the opportunity to grab a number of basic smartphones–including the Motorola Moto G 5G and the TCL 303–for free. Freedom also offers the latest phones from Apple and Google, but who can say no to a free deal?
View planMethodology: 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 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 student cell phone plans. 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 meets the needs of most students.
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.
Best student phone plans: FAQs
If your parents are footing the whole bill, then we definitely recommend continue doing what you’re doing. Independence is overrated!
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