Will My Phone Work in Canada?

One of the most important things you need to know before you move to or visit Canada is whether or not your cell phone will work with Canadian mobile networks, as our networks are different than the rest of the world in some cases.

To prevent you from becoming out of touch with your family, friends or coworkers, we have put together this guide on the frequency bands Canadian carriers use. This will help you prepare for your trip and decide whether to bring your own phone and get a SIM card while in Canada or buy a new phone.

Will my phone work with Canadian networks?

To work in Canada, your phone:

• Must be unlocked (if it is locked, see: How to Unlock Your Phone in Canada)
• Must be compatible with the protocols and frequency bands used by Canadian carriers (see below)
• Must have a SIM card from a Canadian carrier that has been activated
• Must not be reported lost or stolen. If you’re concerned, you can check the status here.

For a quick compatibility check, check out Will My Phone Work:

Some providers also provide their own compatibility checking tools:

• Telus/Koodo
• Virgin Mobile
• Public Mobile
• Freedom Mobile
• Qiniq
• Videotron

For a more in-depth, precise confirmation that your phone is compatible, here’s how to find exactly what protocols and frequencies your phone supports:

1. Find the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number

You should be to track down the model number and IMEI from your phone’s settings or owner’s manual:

• Android: Settings > Wireless & Networks > More > Cellullar networks or Settings > About phone > Status
• Apple: Settings > General and tap About
• Dial *#06# on your phone
• From the manufacturer’s website: Apple, Samsung

2. Use the IMEI to get the frequency bands

Visit www.imei.info and enter the IMEI of your phone. The results should show the frequency bands it supports.

3. Compare to Canadian carriers

Compare the bands your phone is compatible with to those supported by Canadian carriers listed in the tables below.

Mobile phone network technologies in Canada

The compatibility with a mobile network is determined by the phone’s operating frequency bands and protocols/standards, the frequencies and standards supported by the provider and your proximity to the provider’s service territory. These factors determine the accessibility of a mobile network and greatly affect the speed at which data is sent and received.

For example, to access the LTE network, you’ll need an LTE-compatible device, a LTE SIM card from a service provider that supports LTE and be in a region where they provide LTE coverage.

Standard & protocols in use in Canada

Protocols used by each network operator in Canada

In Canada, 2G and 3G phone technologies using GSM and CDMA frequency bands are being phased out. All carriers serving the provinces have shut down support for GSM, with the exception of Rogers Wireless which will end support effective December 31, 2020. Major mobile network carriers such as Telus and Bell discontinued their support of CDMA networks in 2017 and 2019 respectively. 

Frequencies used by Canadian carriers

The following are the frequency bands used by each mobile network operator:

Definitions

• Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
• Code-division multiple access (CDMA)
• Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)
• Advanced Wireless Services (AWS)
• Personal Communications Service (PCS)

Where to bring your own phone (BYOP) and buy a SIM card in Canada

SIM cards can be purchased at the airport (at inflated prices), at carrier kiosks in malls and shopping centers as well as online directly from carriers. The major carriers are Bell, Rogers and Telus, but cheaper options are often available through their discount brands such as Public Mobile, Koodo, Chatr, Fido and Freedom Mobile.

With your unlocked device, simply purchase a SIM card from one of the carriers above. You should be able to get one for around CAD $10 and setting it up should be straightforward.

You may want to consider ordering a SIM card online before you leave and have it delivered to a Canadian address. While this may seem convenient, this option can quickly become inconvenient if the delivery time doesn’t line up well with when you arrive in Canada.

To activate the SIM card, contact the carrier you purchased it from or visit one of their stores. Once activated, insert it into your phone and follow the carrier’s activation instructions.

Pricing

A SIM card from Telus costs CAD $20, CAD $10 from Rogers, Lucky Mobile and Chatr and $0 from Virgin Mobile and Koodo. The cost of the SIM card itself is consistent and not a good indication of the value of the plans offered by the provider.

Canada is known to have some of the highest phone plan prices in the world. Based on our comparison of the best prepaid cell phone plans in Canada, a BYOP phone plan from a discount provider with 5GB of data and unlimited Canada-wide minutes and texting costs between CAD $40 and $50.

Pay-per-use and calls to the US range from $0.40 to $0.60 per minute.

Postpaid or prepaid?

In Canada, you can choose between prepaid and postpaid service. The service provided by both options is the same, the only differences are when you pay and the rates you pay. For prepaid service also known as pay-per-use, payment is made up front for a specific amount of service ie. number of minutes, texts or GB of data. When you run out, you must top-up your account. 

For postpaid services, customers sign up for a plan that has a specific package of services that renew monthly. They get a bill with the same charges (unless they incur overage charges by exceeding the allotted limits) at the end of each month, whether or not they used all the minutes/data available to them.

What to read next

• List of All Canadian Cell Phone Carriers
• Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans in Canada
• Canadian cell towers map
• 5G Availability in Canada

Over to you

What phone do you have? Where are you coming from and where in Canada are you planning to travel to? Let us know in the comments below!