Canada cell phone plans

[GreenQueen]

I've read the older posts on this topic and I'm seeking more current advice on VOIP and pay as you go options. We are finally ready to ditch our over-priced, under-utilized Videotron plans. I'm wondering if anyone has good alternative recommendations. We both have unlocked iPhones that we would keep using, and we work from home, so would be online for 90% of calls and texts. I'm leaning toward Fongo or Petro cell but reviews are pretty mixed. Also, I live in Montreal, and not all the cheap options are available here, because Quebec is a special flower. Thanks!

[The Fake Cheap]

I've been with Pertro Canada Mobil for 3 years now.  No issues.  Rogers provides the coverage for them, so if Rogers covers your area, it won't be an issue for you. 

[GreenQueen]

Thanks for the advice! I just ready your blog post on the subject. Definitely worth a try.

[fullpampers]

I have Fongo with a tablet plan from bell.

From my experience Fongo works really well with Iphone, and it's a coin toss on android (for me at least)...

Number transfer to fongo was 30$ if i remember right (one time)
Tablet plan is 5$ for 10mb and goes up incrementally. (I'm with bell only because I have a discount)
Text packages for Fongo is 9,99$ for 6 months unlimited canada texts

All in all it costs me 5$ a month and 20$ a year for texts.

I keep data closed on my phone so as not to bust the 10mb and turn it on only when I need it and can't find free wifi. You could basically go without the data plan.

I'm on wifi 90% of the time and accept the fact that I'm not reachable when not at home or work; or that my data isn't turned on.

Fongo has it's little ups and downs. like voice messages coming in later that sooner sometimes, and IOS won't let you answer from locked screen, so you need to setup more rings before it goes to answering machine or else you won't be able to answer in time.

All in all, I'm happy with it. It doesn't cost me much and fills it's function.

J-S

[sparkshooter]

My husband and I both use Speakout from 7-11. We both have smartphones, but we haven't enabled data. It is truly for people who almost never use their phones for calls/texts/data, which makes it perfect for us. We obviously do those things over wifi instead. Rogers provides the coverage.

You only have to top-up every 365 days, and assuming you top up within that period, the money never expires. We now spend sub-$25/year for the very little bit of calling/texting that we do.

We rely on google voice/hangouts when we do want to make longer calls (like to family). This works particularly well for us because our googlevoice number is a local number for our family.

Edit: You will have to cut down the SIM card to fit into an iPhone/modern smartphone. I successfully cut a fullsize speakout sim all the way down to nano SIM size using just a pair of scissors. It's pretty hard to mess up.

[GreenQueen]

Thanks so much! Definitely ready to switch to something fair more affordable.

[elaine amj]

My husband and I both use Speakout from 7-11. We both have smartphones, but we haven't enabled data. It is truly for people who almost never use their phones for calls/texts/data, which makes it perfect for us. We obviously do those things over wifi instead. Rogers provides the coverage.

You only have to top-up every 365 days, and assuming you top up within that period, the money never expires. We now spend sub-$25/year for the very little bit of calling/texting that we do.

We rely on google voice/hangouts when we do want to make longer calls (like to family). This works particularly well for us because our googlevoice number is a local number for our family.

Edit: You will have to cut down the SIM card to fit into an iPhone/modern smartphone. I successfully cut a fullsize speakout sim all the way down to nano SIM size using just a pair of scissors. It's pretty hard to mess up.

How much is the minimum top-up per year? I have always heard good things about this plan.

My husband just switched from Rogers (at steal for $60/mo - but completely underutilized for his needs) to tBaytel prepaid data-only plan. 25GB a year for $125/year. He is using the Fongo app. Took a while for the number to port and there are a couple of complications. Paid ~$30 to port his number. Paid ~$2-3 for unlimited texting. Then discovered that while most local numbers are part of the free calling cities, a new local area code is not. He can text those numbers for no extra cost but has to pay with Fongo credits to call. Discovered that when the phone wouldn't let him call a friend with a new phone number. I don't see him making a lot of calls to that particular area code, but it will inevitably come up. You can pay for credits (min $5). He only needs about 30c - $1 of credits at a time so for now, I am watching stupid 30 second commercials, playing games, and taking surveys. If I get irritated with doing that, we'll shell out the $5, which should last him for a while.

Also, calling on the Fongo app can sometimes result in choppy conversations (depends on your data/wifi connection). Texting is smooth and easy so far though.

Overall well worth it for the cost savings though!

[ptgearguy]

I use the Koodo prepaid plan. 15 bucks a month for unlimited texting. I think it is 500 mins for 20 bucks or so. 1gig of data is 30 bucks. I got a gig of data and only use it when very important. I dont make too many calls so expect that that amount of time will last a year. Cell coverage is by Telus and is very good in my area. It also includes voicemail and caller display which I like. It is a little more than some of the plans mentioned but I find my phone works basically the same as an expensive plan many people use. Well worth the cost for my needs.

[djkelly]

I'm a power user of my iPhone and so wasn't a fan of the idea of not having data or only having data when in wifi (no free wifi at work). I'm happy with what I'm paying at Fido:
$57 for unlimited minutes, text and long distance and 3GB of data

This is the ONE monthly extravagance I allow, so I'm happy it's WAY less than I used to pay. ;)

[elaine amj]

For new plans - looks like prices are going up. http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/telcos-rate-hikes-1.3410425

A little worried. We negotiated a killer deal for our internet with Bell - something like $35/month for enough data for us to stream TV shows and movies. It only lasts for 6 months though and then we will have to renegotiate. We'll see how it pans out.

We've already switched to a prepaid plan for our phone so we are good for a year. But if things change and next year we have to hunt for a new provider, higher prices would be a concern.

[Daley]

A little worried. We negotiated a killer deal for our internet with Bell - something like $35/month for enough data for us to stream TV shows and movies. It only lasts for 6 months though and then we will have to renegotiate. We'll see how it pans out.

We've already switched to a prepaid plan for our phone so we are good for a year. But if things change and next year we have to hunt for a new provider, higher prices would be a concern.

Check out TekSavvy on the internet end.

Unfortunately, rate increases trickle down to everyone, even third party providers.

Just remember, home phones/VoIP lines are great at relieving mobile phone usage levels. VOIP.ms and/or Localphone might be especially useful for you up there in Canuckistan depending on how you want to use it.

[AngryOcean]

Search for public mobile, works off of telus network.

And one I read about today, sugar mobile. Seems to be a similar concept to Google fi and republic in the us

[daverobev]

A little worried. We negotiated a killer deal for our internet with Bell - something like $35/month for enough data for us to stream TV shows and movies. It only lasts for 6 months though and then we will have to renegotiate. We'll see how it pans out.

We've already switched to a prepaid plan for our phone so we are good for a year. But if things change and next year we have to hunt for a new provider, higher prices would be a concern.

Check out TekSavvy on the internet end.

Unfortunately, rate increases trickle down to everyone, even third party providers.

Just remember, home phones/VoIP lines are great at relieving mobile phone usage levels. VOIP.ms and/or Localphone might be especially useful for you up there in Canuckistan depending on how you want to use it.

Teksavvy, e(lectronic)-box, start.ca - there are a few, and Teksavvy is not necessarily cheapest (I was looking last night, actually, after our internet was going up and down every 5 minutes for a couple of hours - eBox was cheapest with dry, $33 I think for 15/1 150Gb).

[daverobev]

How much is the minimum top-up per year? I have always heard good things about this plan.

The smallest top up gives you 365 days.

[elaine amj]

How much is the minimum top-up per year? I have always heard good things about this plan.

The smallest top up gives you 365 days.

Thanks - that's good. How much is the smallest top up?


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[daverobev]

How much is the minimum top-up per year? I have always heard good things about this plan.

The smallest top up gives you 365 days.

Thanks - that's good. How much is the smallest top up?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

http://www.speakout7eleven.ca/prepaid-cell-phone-rates#talk-rates

[elaine amj]

Hmm..$25/ year with a $1.25 deducted every month for 911


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[moustacheverte]

If you need data, keep an eye out for Koodo plans. I got a deal on Black Friday: 2GB data, unlimited calls (LD) and texts (intl too) for 35$ per month. In the meantime, and because you are not in a contract anymore, just take the cheapest plan available today and switch when something better comes along. You basically want to watch Fido, Koodo, Virgin Mobile (maybe others but I'm in QC). Rogers, Telus and Bell are the more expensive versions of those. Same network but different names and prices. Videotron is getting more and more expensive.

[daverobev]

If you need data, keep an eye out for Koodo plans. I got a deal on Black Friday: 2GB data, unlimited calls (LD) and texts (intl too) for 35$ per month. In the meantime, and because you are not in a contract anymore, just take the cheapest plan available today and switch when something better comes along. You basically want to watch Fido, Koodo, Virgin Mobile (maybe others but I'm in QC). Rogers, Telus and Bell are the more expensive versions of those. Same network but different names and prices. Videotron is getting more and more expensive.

QC gets the good cell deals, for some unknown reason. And Thunder Bay. Nowhere except QC gets that $35/month plan.

[moustacheverte]

If you need data, keep an eye out for Koodo plans. I got a deal on Black Friday: 2GB data, unlimited calls (LD) and texts (intl too) for 35$ per month. In the meantime, and because you are not in a contract anymore, just take the cheapest plan available today and switch when something better comes along. You basically want to watch Fido, Koodo, Virgin Mobile (maybe others but I'm in QC). Rogers, Telus and Bell are the more expensive versions of those. Same network but different names and prices. Videotron is getting more and more expensive.

QC gets the good cell deals, for some unknown reason. And Thunder Bay. Nowhere except QC gets that $35/month plan.

There are tricks to get them without being in QC. Anyway, even if QC has cheaper plans, this MO still works: get a plan without a phone/contract so you can switch whenever something better comes along and keep doing it. You'll always get the best deal that way.

[Le Poisson]

Our daughter went on WIND for around $30/month unlimited text and talk, I think. Not sure. But I think the $30 mark is pretty normal now.

I have a work phone. Momma's phone is paid out of Momma's mad money - none of my business.

For TV - try a rooftop digital antenna. On this bad boy I get around 20 channels, including TVO, CBC, CTV, Global, and a bunch of US channels - your results will be highly dependant on line of sight to towers nearby.

With internet, we found the cheapest we could get was with... ROGERS!!! When we called in to cancel the TV (see antenna above) and the kids cell phone (see item 1 above) we let them know that home phone and internet were going next. Guess what... they found us an amazing rate on internet that was even cheaper than Techsavvy, and the rate is locked for 2 years.

I'm still cancelling the home phone though. We only get calls from telemarketers and my parents.