SIM carD in Canada
SIM CarD in Canada
Here you can find a quick summary of questions and answers about the organization of your trip.
Which is the best SIM card for travellers in Canada?
The question of which provider you should choose for a SIM card is difficult to answer because of the size of Canada and the network coverage. It depends on which part of Canada you are in. The mobile operators often focus on certain regional areas.
The largest network operators are:
-Telus (this includes e.g. Koodoo, Public Mobile etc.)
-Bell (this includes e.g. Virgin, Lucky Mobile etc.)
-Rogers (this includes e.g. Fido, Chatr etc.)
These providers offer additional tariffs through third-party companies, which are usually a little bit cheaper.
The fourth largest network operator in Canada is called Freedom Mobile and often has the cheapest rates. Unfortunately, Freedom Mobile cannot keep up with the competition in terms of network coverage and only covers 1% geographically of Canada.
The corresponding network coverage can be seen on the websites of the providers. There you can check in what area which provider is recommended. This is for example the coverage of Public Mobile.
When I was in Canada I chose this provider because Public Mobile covers the city Whistler. So I knew that after my time in Vancouver, I can use my SIM card without any further effort in the next city (no new SIM card purchase or change of phone number necessary).
In addition to the desired place of residence in Canada, of course your personal preference is also important for choosing a provider, for example a large data volume or an inexpensive variant.
Time-independent / year-round prepaid cards like the ones in Europe are considered rather unusual in Canada. In the Seven-Eleven Stores there is an option called “SpeakOut”, you can load credit onto the SIM card and use it up within a year. However, this option is only suitable for passive users, in order to be able to use the cell phone in case of emergency and to be reachable just in case. At least CAD 25 have to be loaded on the SIM card and the fees are relatively high (even incoming calls cost money!).
A monthly package is often a more reasonable alternative. To activate this, a certain amount of credit must be loaded onto a SIM card. This can be done flexibly every month and does not need to be terminated (like a contract). If you load 40 CAD a month onto your card from for example Public Mobile, the company provides you with 4.5 GB of data volume as well as unlimited calls and SMS in Canada. At this point, this example serves as a rough guide for a popular tariff, which could also be more expensive and cheaper. For 25 CAD a month, for example, you get 500 MB of data under the same conditions. You can easily top up your SIM card online by specifying your Canadian bank card or credit card as payment method.
The number of different providers in Canada is huge and a comparison is very extensive, depending on personal preference and corresponding location. However, a general overview should be given at this point through recommendations.
If you prefer that…
– the tariff itself is as cheap as possible, it is recommended:
- SpeakOut by Seven-Eleven (25 CAD minimum charge, 10 cents per MB Internet, 30 cents minute / incoming and outgoing calls, 15 cents per SMS)
- Virgin (7 CAD per month, 15 minutes for calls included, then 60 cents per SMS / minute calls, 15 cents per MB Internet)
– a minimum of 1 GB of data is available per month:
- Koodoo 30 CAD (1 GB, unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS)
- Public Mobile 35 CAD (1.5 GB, unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS)
- Virgin 28 CAD (1 GB, but “pay per use” for more like calls and SMS)
– at least 2 GB of data is available monthly, it is recommended:
- Public Mobile 40 CAD (4.5 GB, unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS)
- Lucky 40 CAD (4.5 GB, unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS)
- ChatR 40 CAD (4 GB, unlimited minutes, unlimited SMS)
Since the offers can change from time to time, it is advisable to inform yourself online (links are provided above) or personally about the best possible provider at the current time. I have had very good experiences both with network coverage and with the ease of service at Public Mobile.
What needs to be considered when buying SIM cards in Canada?
In general, you should check whether your cell phone is unlocked (without a SIM lock), otherwise it is possible that it does not accept a Canadian SIM card. On the Kimovil website you can also test whether your mobile phone in Canada would work with the corresponding network.
For backpackers it is recommended to choose monthly tariffs. In this way you can stay flexible and do not bind yourself over a long period like with a contract. In addition, the price-performance ratio is often better for monthly plans than for year-round prepaid cards.
If you choose a specific tariff, you should also consider what happens if you exceed the number of data provided in a month (the internet is slower / turned off / costs extra). Alternatively, if you are unsure, it is advisable to load only enough credit on the SIM card that it is sufficient for the tariff in one month. This will ensure that you can no longer withdraw money if you continue surfing.
You can find SIM card providers in cities almost everywhere, in kiosks, electronics stores, drug stores and often as a pop-up stand in shopping centers. No identification is required to buy or activate a SIM card, so you don’t need to take your passport with you.
Free wifi is very common in Canada, so you can consider whether you always need a SIM card. Well-known chains such as Starbucks or Burger King are often represented and even supermarkets or shopping malls have free wifi. In addition, e.g. the city of Vancouver offers free and public wifi “VanWifi”, there are also city wifi in Toronto and Montreal.
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