Whether you just moved to Toronto or have recently changed Canadian cities, you might need to hunt for a new cell phone plan that works for you.
Toronto is among the cities where lightning-fast Internet is essential owing to the fact that it is a fast-paced city and data plays an indispensable role in day-to-day activities. This is true for both companies, individuals, and families.
However, as many of us can admit, finding a well-priced cell phone plan that satisfies on all fronts, from call and voice quality to signal strength and reliable Internet, can be an overwhelming task because of the many options available.
Besides, we are all unique and no plan can satisfy everyone. All of these reasons inspired us to round up the best cell phone plans in Toronto that you may want to give a try. But first, how do you arrive at such a plan?
How To Choose The Best Cell Phone Plan
Naturally, choosing a cell phone plan should be a fairly straightforward task when you have 3-5 companies to choose from. It, however, becomes a different ball game altogether when you have a dozen plus options to work with, as is the case in Toronto, Canada.
The upside is the competition for cell phone plans is rife in Canada, with each cell phone company trying to outsmart the other to win your subscription, and this is thus, creating an array of viable options for you to choose from.
Free Internet tools such as Celagora can be very helpful in assisting you in zeroing in on what plan would be suitable for you. It requires entries on your anticipated usage of text, calling time, data and whether you need additional services such as caller ID and voice mail or unlimited text and talk time.
This helps save time and the headache of sifting through all service providers unnecessarily.
Celagora, unfortunately, does not take into account your location. This is a drawback as you would then still need to find out whether the recommended service provider has coverage in Toronto or your place of interest. That’s where we come in. If what you arrive at features on this list, that’s probably an option you may want to consider.
Other factors to take note of before committing to a plan include:
- Rates for local phone services. What does the rate include?
- Are there any up-front fees involved, service charges, or one-time costs?
- If you have an existing service or intend to have one, such as wireless or TV, it is worth finding out whether the cell phone plan you want to settle for will affect your existing service in any way.
- It is important to ask whether it is possible to change features in your plan and what charge, if any, is associated with such changes.
- Double check the map area of a service provider to ensure that it covers Toronto, as some cell phone plans may look like a bargain but do not cover your area.
- coverage
Now that you have an inkling of what might be involved in settling for the best cell phone plan that suits your budget and lifestyle, as promised, we have taken the trouble of rounding up some of the best phone plans in Toronto and beyond.
N/B: All rates are in US dollars.
5 Of The Best Mobile Phone Plans In Toronto
1. Chatr
There are those instances where you might be in Toronto for a short spell, either as a tourist, a new immigrant, or on a work assignment, and you are in need of a prepaid cell phone plan option.
Chatr becomes a great option as it runs on the Rogers network, which covers 94% of Canada, including Toronto. With a bring-your-own-phone option and no contracts required, you can take advantage of their $10 prepaid cell phone plan that includes 50 minutes of talk Canada-wide and 50 texts incoming and outgoing to Canada, the US, and internationally.
You can also make unlimited calls nationwide at no charge, provided you are located on Chatr wireless network. if you’d like to add data, there’s an additional charge. At the same time, Chatr does have other cell phone plans that do incorporate data.
2. Fido’s $70 Prepaid Plan
Fido is a subsidiary of Rogers’s wireless communication but operates with autonomy; it has its own independent cell phone plans as well as management thereof. It has a great appeal to millennials because of its signal strength, good area coverage, and value-added mobile plans.
Of their multiple prepaid plans and services, the $70 prepaid plan is one of the best cell phone data plans you can find in Toronto if you need unlimited talk time and text. In addition to unlimited calls and text Canada-wide, you get 2GB of data. Like all their premium plans, it also includes 5 hours’ worth of free data per month.
They give a $10 discount if you bring your own phone, making the offer come down to $60.
Bell has extensive coverage across Canada and is one of the major cell phone plan providers with strong signal strength. Their sharing package is great for a group or family looking to share their cell phone plan.
You can either bring your own device or get one from them. Voice share plans begin from $55 if you already have a phone and include access to over 4,000 Wi-Fi Hotspots across Canada and a call display. As for data, the plans start at $10/month.
In addition to sharing your data with family members, you can share it across multiple devices, saving money in the process.
4. Rogers Smartphone Plans, Basic Phone Plans, & ‘Share Everything’ Data Plan
Headquartered in Toronto, Rogers has one of the strongest signal strengths in Canada. They have a variety of plans to take care of your different needs. For example, smartphone plans would be a suitable option if you want to talk, text, and data. For $80/month, you can access the most basic plan (if you bring your own device).
If your preference is talk and text only, the basic phone plans are a perfect fit. With $25, you can access the starter plan, which includes 150 Canada-wide minutes.
If sharing a plan is what would work for you best, their ‘Share Everything’ Data Plan is another viable option that won’t disappoint. $80 is the minimum you need to access a share everything plan, and it includes 3GB, unlimited local calling, and text.
5. Fido’s Talk and Text
If you don’t have a big use for data or you, find your data needs are taken care of by the free connection at your workplace, local library or coffee shops with Wi-Fi, then opt for a cell phone plan that does not include data might be sensible.
Fido’s Talk and Text is among the best mobile phone plans in Toronto. A small non-contract plan goes for $45 and you receive a discount of $10 per month if you use your own phone to bring the total cost to $35 per month.
This package includes unlimited texts and unlimited calling on evenings and weekends as of 5 pm but includes no data.
Conclusion
You are probably aware of Rogers, Bell, and Telus. All are popular cell phone plans in Toronto, but as the guide has shown, Fido and Chatr, too, offer a myriad of cell phone plans covering different areas of Canada. It’s important that you use a cell phone plan with excellent signal strength in your location. If possible, talk to your neighbours, colleagues, or friends to find out what they are using.
Also, remember that what is considered the best cell phone plan will vary from one person to another, based on their lifestyle and communication needs. The best cell phone plans in Toronto featured in this guide are based on various scenarios applicable to several different common situations. So, let it guide you in finding a plan that meets your expectations and needs.