Keep me connected in Canada!
July 11, 2017 7:54 AM   Subscribe

So, I'm going to Canada. I'd like to have my own internet access in Canada rather than relying on finding WiFi, free or otherwise. Making phone calls and texts would be nice, but I can probably get away with just data. My phone plan doesn't have roaming, and if it did, it would be ridiculously expensive. What are my options?

Further info in case it helps:
I'm only there for a month so can't commit to an ongoing plan.
I have an unlocked LG G2. I can switch sim cards, as long as it's a micro sim.
If necessary, I can buy a new phone before leaving (which would replace my current phone) or a new cheap phone there.
Also open to getting a tablet but would prefer internet on my phone.
It won't be the end of the world if I don't have internet access every day, so I don't want to pay heaps more for the best coverage.
I'm coming from Australia and not going through the US at all (in case your advice was to buy a cheap phone or sim in the US).
I'll be flying into Vancouver, and travelling around BC, Alberta, and making a stop in White Horse as per recommendations received in my previous question.
As you may gather from the question and the age of my phone, I'm not up on the latest tech.

Thanks AskMe!
posted by pianissimo to Travel & Transportation around Canada (8 answers total)
 
There are three major cell-data providers in Canada - Rogers, Telus and Bell. All smaller brands (for the most part, some exceptions) are just subsidiaries of the Big 3. I'd start by looking at pay as you go data plans provided by each of those 3 brands.

For example - this appears to be Rogers' current offering. Looks like you can get a gig for $65? I have no experience with Rogers pay-as-you-go, just that Rogers is my monthly plan provider. Not really an endorsement of them, just who I'm most familiar. All three are generally equally crappy. (Also, in case you haven't noticed yet, we get horribly ripped off on data here in Canada.) Bell and Telus probably have similar plans. You can find kiosks for all of them in any mall.

Sites like redflagdeals may be good sources to find out what the best current deal available now is, i can't really help there.
posted by cgg at 8:41 AM on July 11, 2017


Here are some options from the Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki. They aren't great values compared to what I'm used to in other countries.
posted by grouse at 8:44 AM on July 11, 2017


Some of the small data providers are Freedom Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Koodoo, Fido, 7-11 Mobile

This www.whistleout.ca might be helpful
posted by Ftsqg at 9:29 AM on July 11, 2017


Best answer: Yeah, data is a huge ripoff here.

Be careful about freedom mobile - they have the cheapest deals but terrible, terrible coverage in many areas. As in, my friends often literally cannot load webpages on data, downtown in my medium-size city. Anywhere remote, forget it. Try to find info about coverage in your area before buying a plan with them.

I know you don't want to rely on free wifi but as a backup, fyi, Im pretty sure every tim hortons coffee shop in Canada has free wifi (someone correct me if Im wrong) and there's one on every other block in even very small towns. Starbucks and mcdonalds also have unlimited free wifi and again are everywhere. So it's very very easy to find free wifi, at least in cities/highway stops that are big enough to have a mcdonalds.
posted by randomnity at 10:38 AM on July 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Telus pay as you go is what I'd use (it is what I use). Besides cellular data Telus operates a lot of WiFi hotspots for cellular customers in places like dentist offices and service stations. They have the best coverage in BC IMO and you can get a bare data only plan (which gives you a discount on voice minutes) but it's cheaper to buy a text only plan and add data on top. Top up cards are widely available in drug stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and many gas stations (though Petro Canada is generally their house brand only).
posted by Mitheral at 11:06 AM on July 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


Canada is a nice country, but Canada is a kinda shitty country when it comes to data charges. If you're in the habit of casually using you're phone to surf the web while you're waiting at a bus stop or something like that, please try to get out if that habit while you're visiting. You can get free wifi at many coffee shops & stops, as randomnity says, and ask for the codes when you order your snacks.
posted by ovvl at 7:50 PM on July 11, 2017


A wifi hotspot device for times when you don't have access to free wifi? You buy the device but then can use it on future trips all over the world by topping up the data.
posted by Joleta at 8:07 PM on July 11, 2017


Response by poster: Thank you everyone. I thought data charges couldn't be any worse than in Oz, but I was wrong. I'll try to keep data usage to a minimum and go for the free wifi where possible.
posted by pianissimo at 5:36 AM on July 19, 2017


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