Koodo offers customers the option to switch to Telus and save money through Tab Carryover. For many, it's a great deal to consider, so we decided to dig into the details to see whether switching makes sense for you. We put our two decades in the wireless industry to use, comparing coverage, pricing, and perks from both carriers.
Koodo is a cell phone carrier owned by Telus that operates on its nationwide network. The key difference between the two brands is their plans: Koodo primarily offers cheap and prepaid 4G LTE plans, while Telus offers premium 5G options. Both carriers provide outstanding service and excellent plans—the better choice depends on what you need from your cell phone plan.
In this guide, we'll break down the new Tab Carryover offer, detail your potential savings with Telus, and analyze whether you should switch from Koodo to Telus.
What is Tab Carryover?
Tab Carryover allows Koodo customers to switch to Telus and convert their Koodo Tab and Tab Bonus balances to a Telus Easy Payment balance. Typically, switching carriers requires you to pay off any remaining balances before being released from your contract. Tab Carryover lets you transfer your balance from Koodo to Telus at no extra cost.
To sweeten the deal, Telus is also offering customers who switch from Koodo to a Telus Unlimited plan a $10/month rebate for 24 months, saving them $240 over two years. Tab Carryover, however, is not available for prepaid or BYOD plans. If you currently have one of those Koodo plan types, you can still switch to Telus, but you won't score that $10/month discount.
Koodo vs. Telus: Should you switch?
Although Telus owns Koodo, the two brands have some important distinctions. Before deciding whether to switch from Koodo to Telus, let’s break down those differences.
Koodo
- Cheap prepaid plans
- Internet and wireless bundling
- Limited phone deals
- No 5G+
Koodo is Telus’ budget brand, aimed at cell phone users who don’t need unlimited data or 5G coverage. It's many prepaid options allow customers to grab reliable service and limited-time perks like data bonuses and bill rebates. Deal hunters are especially fond of The Happy Stack, which allows users to save up to $21/month when they bundle Koodo’s wireless, internet, and streaming services.
We’re always tracking the best Koodo phone plans and deals on iPhones and Androids. You can find the carrier’s cheapest plans below.
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Koodo Mobile
$15 - No Tab/BYO Plan with 250MB Data
$15.00/mth
+ $10 Upfront
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Koodo Mobile
$19 Unlimited Canada-Wide Calling Plan
$19.00
Per 30 Day Top-up
+ $10 Upfront
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Koodo Mobile
$21 Unlimited Canada-Wide Calling Plan
$21.00
Per 30 Day Top-up
+ $10 Upfront
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Koodo Mobile
$25 Unlimited Canada-Wide Calling Plan
$25.00
Per 30 Day Top-up
+ $10 Upfront
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Koodo Mobile
$25 - Happy Tab Lite Plan with PPU Data
$25.00/mth
(after Auto-pay discount)
+ $10 Upfront
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Telus
- 5G+ coverage
- Unlimited data
- Expensive monthly payments
- Enormous data allotments
Telus is a premium brand, targeting heavy data users and tech-obsessed customers. The carrier offers plans with high-speed 5G+ service, unlimited data, and over 100 phones for financing. All that comes at a cost, of course: Telus’ plans are, on the whole, more expensive than Koodo’s, though the carrier still provides over a dozen more affordable prepaid options.
We’ve ranked the best Telus phone plans and their best deals on cell phones from Apple, Google, Samsung, and more. You can find a list of the cheapest Telus plans below.
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#1
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Telus
Nationwide Talk, Text & Data 35
$35.00
Per 30 Day Top-up
+ $15 Upfront
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#2
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Telus
Nationwide Talk, Text & Data 45
$45.00
Per 30 Day Top-up
+ $15 Upfront
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#3
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Telus
Select 100 5G+ Can-US
$50.00/mth
(after $10/mo. credit)
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#4
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Telus
Select 100 5G+ Can-US
$50.00/mth
(after $10/mo. credit)
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#5
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Telus
Nationwide Talk, Text & Data 55
$55.00
Per 30 Day Top-up
+ $15 Upfront
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Should you switch from Koodo to Telus?
- $10/month discount
- Unlimited 5G+ data
- Expensive monthly payment
- More data than you need
If you’re considering moving from Koodo to Telus, the biggest difference in 2026 is access to 5G+. Koodo customers already benefit from Telus’ nationwide network. However, its plans typically offer only base 5G service. By switching, you'll unlock faster speeds and a premium experience. Telus offers faster 5G+ networking, larger data buckets, better international roaming options, and additional perks, but you’ll also pay significantly more each month.
After testing both carriers, the difference is clear: Telus is designed for heavy data users, frequent travellers, and customers who want the best possible mobile performance, while Koodo remains the better choice for most Canadians looking for strong coverage without the premium price.
During my month of testing Telus’ 5G+ Complete Explore plan, the carrier lived up to its reputation as one of Canada’s strongest networks. I tested connectivity across downtown Toronto, the GTA, and rural Ontario, pushing the network to its limits with streaming, cloud gaming, video calls, hotspotting, and large-file uploads. Telus consistently delivered excellent performance, with 5G+ speeds often reaching 250–500Mbps in Toronto and maintaining reliable connectivity even during more demanding tasks.
Telus' speeds are optimal for hotspotting
The biggest advantage was consistency, whether I was working from a coffee shop, streaming high-quality video, or using my phone as a laptop hotspot, Telus rarely struggled. The downside is that this premium experience comes at a premium cost, and many users simply won’t take advantage of the extra speed.
Koodo, meanwhile, surprised me with how close it came to Telus’ overall experience while costing less. Testing Koodo’s 50GB Talk & Text BYOP plan showed that the carrier still delivers a strong balance of affordability, coverage, and performance. Across Toronto and Western Ontario, Koodo handled everyday tasks like streaming, video calls, navigation, gaming, and social media without issue. The main difference compared to Telus was performance headroom. While Koodo’s 5G speeds are more than enough for normal smartphone use, Telus pulls ahead for power users who frequently upload large files, rely on hotspotting, work remotely, or use their phone as a primary internet connection. For everyone else, the speed difference is difficult to justify paying extra for.
Ultimately, whether you should switch depends on how you use your phone. Telus is worth considering if you travel often, need the fastest possible connection, consume large amounts of data, or want premium perks like improved roaming options and bundled services. If you’re a typical smartphone user who streams, browses, messages, and occasionally uses hotspot data, staying with Koodo is likely the smarter move. You’re still getting access to Telus’ reliable nationwide network while saving hundreds of dollars per year. Telus is the premium upgrade, but Koodo remains the value pick.
How to switch from Koodo to Telus
If you decide to switch from Koodo to Telus, you’ll only need to follow a few basic steps.
- Find a new Telus plan. If you don’t already have one in mind, we recommend checking out our guide to the carrier’s best plans. You can also use our search engine to find the best plan for your needs.
- Find your phone’s IMEI number. This is a unique identifier for your device, like your phone’s fingerprint. You’ll need to provide it to the Telus representative when switching. You can find it by typing *#06# into your phone’s dialer app.
- Locate your Koodo account number. This will be on your most recent billing statement, which can be found in Koodo Self Serve.
- Call Telus’ sales division at +1-855-778-6054. The Telus representative will then take over. You can keep your phone number when you switch from Koodo to Telus, but be sure to make that desire clear when speaking to the representative.
If you’re bringing the same phone from Koodo to Telus, the representative will activate the device. If you’re bringing a new phone to Telus, be sure to unlock it before calling Telus to switch.
Kevin Kearney
Deputy Editor
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