Cell Phone Providers
- Last Updated on: September 15, 2025
Cell Phone Providers Landscape in Canada
The Canadian wireless market is dominated by a handful of major carriers, often referred to as the “Big Three”: Rogers, TELUS, and Bell.
Together, they control most of the country’s wireless infrastructure, including the majority of cell towers, spectrum licenses, and back-end network technology.
Big Three and Their Flanker Brands
To reach different customer segments, the Big Three also operate low-cost flanker brands:
Rogers owns Fido and Chatr
TELUS owns Koodo and Public Mobile
Bell owns Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile
These flanker brands typically offer cheaper prepaid or no-contract plans, but still use the same towers as their parent companies.
Quebecor, Videotron, Freedom, and Fizz
Outside of the Big Three, Quebecor is the fourth major player. They operate Videotron in Quebec and also acquired Freedom Mobile (formerly owned by Shaw) in 2023, giving them a strong presence in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Quebecor also owns Fizz, a fully digital low-cost brand that offers flexible prepaid plans with unique features like data rollover and data gifting.
MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators)
In addition to the major carriers and their flanker brands, there are MVNOs. These are smaller providers that do not own their own networks, but instead lease access to the infrastructure of the Big Three or Quebecor. MVNOs buy wholesale access at regulated rates and then resell mobile plans under their own branding.
Some popular MVNO-style providers include 7-Eleven SpeakOut Wireless, PhoneBox, and Good2Go Mobile. MVNOs often offer competitive prices, but features like roaming, 5G access, or premium customer service may be more limited compared to the Big Three or their flanker brands.
BELL
Bell is the largest telecom company in Canada, offering nationwide coverage with 5G and LTE. Their mobile plans are on the pricier side but include bundles with TV, internet, and home phone.
Many Canadians see Bell as the premium option, especially for families who want everything under one provider.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
CHATR MOBILE
Chatr is Rogers’ low-cost flanker brand. It focuses on simple prepaid plans with unlimited talk and text, plus data at 4G speeds.
No contracts, but no 5G access either. Chatr is popular among budget users who just want basic, no-frills service.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
EASTLINK
Based in Atlantic Canada, Eastlink offers affordable mobile plans with nationwide coverage through partner networks.
They also provide bundle discounts when paired with Eastlink internet or TV. Eastlink is best for customers in the Maritimes looking for local service.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island
FIDO
Owned by Rogers, Fido is a mid-tier brand targeting younger users. It offers 5G access, perks like Fido XTRA weekly deals, and flexible postpaid and prepaid plans. Fido is often seen as a balance between affordability and premium coverage.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
FIZZ
Fizz is Quebecor’s fully digital carrier. It runs on Freedom Mobile and partner networks, with customizable prepaid plans, data rollover, and data gifting.
Strong value in Quebec and Ontario. Fizz is a favourite for its flexibility and modern, online-first approach.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec
FONUS
Fonus is an independent MVNO that positions itself as a global mobile service. It offers unlimited data, talk, and text across Canada, the U.S., and more than 40 countries using partner networks. It appeals mostly to frequent travellers looking for one plan worldwide.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
FREEDOM MOBILE
Owned by Quebecor (Videotron), Freedom is Canada’s fourth-largest carrier. It offers competitive pricing and 5G in major urban areas like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, with LTE coverage elsewhere. Freedom is the strongest challenger to the Big Three.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario
GOOD2GO MOBILE
Good2Go is a smaller Canadian carrier offering prepaid plans. It uses larger networks for coverage and is known for competitive talk-and-text packages for budget-conscious users. It’s a niche option but works well for light mobile users.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
KOODO MOBILE
Koodo is TELUS’s mid-tier flanker brand. It offers 5G access, easy self-serve options, and good customer service.
Plans are more affordable than TELUS while still using the same reliable network. Koodo is one of the most recommended flanker brands in Canada.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
LUCKY MOBILE
Lucky Mobile is Bell’s budget brand. It offers prepaid plans with unlimited talk and text and low-cost data at 4G speeds.
It’s one of the cheapest options but lacks 5G and extras. Lucky Mobile is geared toward customers who want ultra-low prices above all else.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
PC MOBILE
PC Mobile runs on Bell’s network with access to 4G and 5G, so coverage is solid across most of Canada. Pricing is competitive and some plans look like great value, but the user experience can be hit or miss. Good on paper, but not the most reliable choice.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
PHONEBOX
PhoneBox is a smaller provider that caters to international students and newcomers to Canada.
It uses Rogers and TELUS networks, offering affordable prepaid and postpaid plans with flexible terms. It’s especially popular with students because of simple signup and no credit checks.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
PUBLIC MOBILE
Public Mobile is TELUS’s digital-only prepaid brand. It offers 5G access, competitive pricing, U.S. and Mexico roaming, and full self-service through its online portal.
No physical stores or device financing. Public Mobile is a strong alternative to Koodo for cost-conscious users.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
ROGERS
Rogers is one of Canada’s Big Three, with nationwide coverage and strong 5G availability.
They offer a wide range of postpaid and prepaid plans, though pricing is often higher than flanker brands. Rogers is widely available but usually not the cheapest choice.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
SASKTEL
SaskTel is a provincially owned telecom in Saskatchewan. It provides strong rural coverage within the province and offers bundle discounts with internet and TV services. SaskTel remains the go-to carrier for most people in Saskatchewan.
Plans available in: Saskatchewan
TELUS
TELUS is one of the Big Three with extensive 5G and LTE coverage, particularly strong in Western Canada.
Plans are premium-priced but come with bundles and perks like TELUS Health and Koodo cross-branding. TELUS is often praised for network quality but criticized for cost.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
VIDEOTRON
Videotron is Quebecor’s primary brand in Quebec, with affordable mobile plans, strong 5G coverage in the province, and competitive bundles with internet and TV. Videotron is one of the best-value choices for Quebec residents.
Plans available in: Quebec
VIRGIN PLUS
Virgin Plus, owned by Bell, targets younger users with flexible prepaid and postpaid plans, member perks, and bundle discounts.
Reliable network performance but pricing can be higher than some competitors. Virgin Plus markets itself with lifestyle perks and branding.
Plans available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon