Article Summary
Just after Virgin Mobile launches Canada's cheapest 1GB LTE data-only plan for mobile phones, two more carriers join in with cheaper data-only options starting at $15/month.
Mobile carriers have started rolling out low-cost data-only plans. Chatr and Lucky Mobile are the two newest to join with plans as low as $15/month.
Canada has some of the best mobile networks in the world, but also the most expensive. Canada's federal governing body, the CRTC, mandated that national carriers should offer low-cost data-only options. Those have started to roll out but the cost-per-megabyte is still high.
Data-only Plans on Chatr Wireless
Chatr Wireless offers 500MB for $25/month using the Rogers 3G network. Download speeds will only be about 2-3Mbps compared to 100+Mbps you'll find on the 4G LTE networks. That's still good enough for some music streaming and browsing, but streaming will use up that data quicly. The plan includes unlimited text, picture and video messaging and unlimited incoming calls while anywhere in Canada you find coverage. Outgoing calls are $0.40/minute.
All plans on Chatr are prepaid, but if you set up Auto-Pay (where your credit card is automatically charged each month) then Chatr will double the data to 1GB. That technically makes it the cheapest 1GB plan on a national network in Canada, but unlike Virgin's $28 plan you're stuck on the older (and slower) Rogers 3G network.
Signing up for Auto-Pay also unlocks an even cheaper plan; $15/month gets you 250MB per month. 100 minutes of Canada-wide talk are included with this option. You also get unlimited text and a voice mailbox.
Data-only Plans on Lucky Mobile
While on Lucky Mobile you have access to Bell's large 4G LTE network covering 99% of Canadians, but your download speeds are throttled to 3Mbps. You can still enjoy streaming music and basic browsing at those speeds, and for only $15/month you have 500MB to do it with.
Make sure everyone on your contact list is good with alternative means of communication, because calling and texting are not available with this deal. You can't add more features with Lucky Mobile add-ons either. If you have a dual-SIM phone then this might be a good, cheap option to give you mobile data when you need it.
Data-only Plans in Canada
While very popular elsewhere in the world, only a handful of carriers in Canada offer data-only plans for smartphones. Data-only plans enable modern iPhones and Android smartphones to use VoiP apps to talk and video chat without having to pay for talk. Voicemail and call display might be included, but talk time can be expensive. You could find yourself paying up to $0.60/minute just to call down the street.
How Much Data Will You Need?
500MB sounds like a lot but if you stream music then you can burn through it in just a few days! WhistleOut Canada has a handful of guides to help you find out what you need from a data plan. The mobile data usage guide gives you a general understanding of how your current use will affect how much data you need.
You'll only need a bit of data for using Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze. Music apps like Apple Music or Spotify can use a lot of data each month, and streaming YouTube or Netflix will require several gigabytes of data. If you plan to use your smartphone as a wireless hotspot for your tablet or laptop, be prepared with our detailed guide on how much data you'll use.
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