Compare Plans for Mobile Phones in Alberta
Choosing the right cell phone plan can be confusing and overwhelming—after all, there is no one-size-fits-all plan. Thankfully, we’ve done the research for you so that you can make an informed decision. No matter what your wireless priorities are, you’ll be able to find some of the best and cheapest cell phone plans from every carrier across Alberta.
Which Carriers Offer Phone Plans in Alberta?
While all carriers in Alberta offer cell phone plans, the types of plans they offer differ depending on whether they’re a top-tier, mid-tier, or low-budget carrier.
Top-Tier Carriers
The top-tier carriers, Bell, Rogers, and TELUS, lead the telecommunications industry and are collectively known as the Big Three. They have the widest selection of smartphones and postpaid and prepaid phone plans, as well as the highest data allowances—as such, their plans tend to be the most expensive on the market. Additionally, they are the only carriers that offer family plans. All three carriers offer solid coverage in Alberta, with Bell and TELUS besting Rogers’ coverage by about 9%.
Popular Plans from Top-Tier Carriers
Mid-Tier Carriers
Mid-tier carriers in Alberta offer a variety of postpaid and prepaid plans, as well as new phones by prominent brands. These carriers, which include Fido, Freedom Mobile, Koodo Mobile, and Virgin Mobile, offer a decent amount of data for an affordable price. Every mid-tier carrier except Freedom Mobile is owned by a top-tier carrier and operates on its network, so you can rest assured you’ll have the same reliable coverage that you would on Bell, Rogers, or TELUS. Conversely, Freedom Mobile covers less than 1% of the province.
Popular Plans from Mid-Tier Carriers
Low-Budget Carriers
Low-budget carriers Chatr Mobile and PC Mobile offer the cheapest cell phone plans on the market. It’s important to note that they only offer prepaid plans and don’t sell the latest and greatest phones. They also exclusively run on 3G for the time being, which means that you’ll have slower data speeds than you would with top- or mid-tier carriers (which use LTE). Just like the mid-tier carriers, the low-budget carriers are owned by the top-tier players.
Popular Plans from Low-Budget Carriers
Best Cell Phone Plans in Alberta
The best cell phone plans in Alberta give you the most value for your money. These plans are the best for customers who rely heavily on their phones and want unlimited talk and text, plus a generous amount of data.
TELUS Peace of Mind Plan
TELUS’ Peace of Mind Plan includes unlimited talk, text, hotspot, and 10GB of data. While your speeds will be throttled after you exceed this limit, you’ll still have access to TELUS’ network without paying an overage fee. Since most Canadians use about 8.4GB per month, you’ll only be paying for what you’ll most likely need. TELUS’ network covers 99% of the population, with strong coverage in Alberta and elsewhere.
Rogers Infinite 20GB Plan
Rogers’ Infinite 20GB Plan features unlimited nationwide talk and text plus 20GB of full-speed data. Just like with TELUS’ Peace of Mind Plan, you won’t be charged extra if you use more than 20GB a month; you’ll experience reduced speeds, but you’ll still be able to use your data. Rogers offers reliable coverage in Alberta and other major provinces, covering 97% of the country’s population. Unlike the Peace of Mind plan, the Rogers Infinite 20GB plan enables you to share your data.
Rogers Infinite 10GB Canada + U.S. Plans
This plan includes unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of data, as well as the ability to use your phone in the United States exactly the way you’d use it at home. You’ll also be able to make calls from Canada to the United States without paying long distance rates. If you frequently travel to the United States or have family and friends you’d like to keep in contact with there, this plan is worth your consideration.
Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans in Alberta
Going with an economical cell phone plan doesn’t have to be restricting. In fact, there are plenty of carriers in Alberta that offer affordable options for students and budget-minded customers alike.
Virgin Mobile 1GB BYOP Plan
Virgin Mobile’s 1GB BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) plan includes unlimited text, pay-per-use minutes, and 1GB of data. If you don’t make a lot of calls and don’t want any restrictions on sending nationwide texts, it’ll be worth your time to check this plan out. Plus, Virgin Mobile operates on Bell’s robust network, so you’ll get the same great coverage.
Koodo Mobile Prepaid $25 Base Plan
Koodo Mobile’s $25 Base Plan gives you unlimited domestic and international texting, 500 minutes of province-wide calling, and 500MB of data, all backed by TELUS’ powerful network. While the data allowance may seem a bit low, it isn’t something you’ll need to worry about if you mostly use your phone on WiFi. Since this plan is prepaid, you also get to skip the credit check.
Chatr Mobile $40 Nationwide Talk, Text & Data Plan
Many budget-friendly phone plans include limited data, if any. If you’re looking for a nice allotment of data but don’t want to pay upwards of $100/month for it, you may want to consider Chatr Mobile’s $40 Nationwide Talk, Text & Data Plan. This prepaid plan includes unlimited talk and text, as well as 4.5GB of 3G data. While 3G data speeds aren’t ideal for heavy streaming, they should suffice for other activities like web browsing, social media, and email. The autopay option, which saves you $5/month, is perfect if you don’t want to worry about manually renewing your plan every month.
Bell Monthly $35 Prepaid Voice
Bell’s Monthly $35 Prepaid Voice Plan is a great way to benefit from Bell’s top network while avoiding a credit check. This prepaid plan includes unlimited Canada-wide calling and unlimited domestic and international text, plus 100MB of high-speed data. This is one of the most affordable plans offered by a top-tier carrier.
Best Alberta Family Plans
Bell, Rogers, and TELUS all offer family plans with unlimited talk and text in Alberta. Which shareable plan works best for you, however, depends on your family’s monthly budget and data needs. A shareable plan is an affordable option for families looking to stay connected, since you’ll be given a discount for every line you add to your account—because of this, it’s thriftier than putting every family member on an individual unlimited plan.
For Equal Data: Rogers Infinite 10GB Family Plan
Rogers guarantees that everyone in the family is allotted a certain amount of data. With the 10GB Plan, each line gets unlimited talk and text and 10GB of high-speed data, and you save $10 for every additional line you add. For instance, a four-line family plan will save you $40/month and include 40GB of data, with no data overages—your data speeds slow for the remainder of the billing cycle. If you need even more data, the family discounts are available on all Rogers Infinite Plans, such as the 20GB or 50GB Plans.
For Big Families: TELUS’ Peace of Mind Connect Plan
TELUS’ Peace of Mind Connect Plan costs $85/month per line and includes unlimited talk and text plus 20GB of shareable data per line. While it’s initially a bit more expensive than a Bell or Rogers family plan, TELUS’ Peace of Mind Connect Plan will save you more money in the long run if you have large family. Adding four or more lines to your plan will result in savings of $15/line, which is currently the largest discount you can receive from any carrier. You’ll continue to save $15 for every line you add afterwards. As such, the four-line TELUS Peace of Mind Connect Plan, which includes a whopping 80GB of shareable data, costs just $240/month, saving you $60/month.
Which Carrier Has the Best Coverage in Alberta?
Bell, TELUS, Koodo Mobile, and Virgin Mobile have the best coverage in Alberta, with their networks blanketing nearly 70% of the province. Rogers and Fido’s networks are also excellent, covering almost 61% of Alberta’s area, while Freedom Mobile covers just .78% of the province.
What to Consider When Choosing a Phone Plan
In addition to coverage, there are many other things you’ll want to consider before choosing an Alberta cell phone plan. These factors include:
- The price of the plan
- Type of plan you want (prepaid, postpaid, shareable)
- Whether you want to BYOP or buy a new phone
- What device payment method works best for you
- How much talk, text, and data you or your family needs
In short, if you know you need a lot of data, you’ll probably want to check out TELUS, Bell, or Rogers, since they offer the highest data allowances. If you want an affordable plan with a decent amount of data, you’ll want to consider Virgin Mobile, Koodo, or Fido, and if you want to save even more money, go with a low-budget carrier or a mid-tier prepaid or BYOP plan.