What To Consider When Choosing A Prepaid Mobile Plan In Canada
Why do some Canadians choose prepaid mobile plans for their smartphone? Often, it is about financial control: mobile prepaids can be recharged only via a purchase online, in-store, or set though auto-renewal. This option gives more financial control than postpaid carriers with contracts and expensive monthly bills. Whether you're a Canadian resident or tourist looking to purchase a prepaid mobile plan through Canada's telecommunication carriers, there are several key factors to consider. These include network data costs, bringing your own device, customer service, and more.
Factors to Consider When Picking a Prepaid Plan
This section will outline some fundamental concepts critical to understanding the benefits of shoping for a prepaid mobile plan in Canada. These include the cost of a phone plan, customer service, extra charges, and compatibility with your current mobile device.
1. Cost of a Prepaid Cell Phone Plan
It's important to note that internet access doesn't come cheap in Canada, as by some measures, Canada has the fifth most expensive telecommunication plans in the world! This cost is primarily due to the absence of competition, and Canada's communication market is dominated by the big three, Bell, Rogers, and Telus. Therefore, if you want enough data to binge your favourite Netflix series, you should prepare for a significant bill. According to a recent government report, acquiring a 5GB plan may range from $57 to $101 monthly. However, this also means that the cost of phone plans in Canada varies greatly depending on the carrier or type of prepaid plan you're getting. Therefore, we recommend reviewing different prepaid brands and their cost before buying your new SIM card.
2. Bringing Your Own Device or Buying From a Provider
Moving to Canada and getting a prepaid mobile plan presents you with another complication of whether to Bring Your Own Device (BYO) or buy through a Provider. The latter option is often encouraged, but it usually requires you to get a Canadian credit check, and that requires a history, which most newcomers don't have. On the other hand, bringing your own device means that you already own a phone before purchasing a SIM card from your prepaid provider. However, this method can come with compatibility issues. Your phone must be unlocked and not restricted to a particular carrier to work correctly with Canada's telecom services. Additionally, the device should be compatible with the frequencies of these networks; otherwise, you run into signal errors. If your device can work with Canada's networks, you can enjoy cheaper plans than contracts since BYO services are more affordable. Additionally, you can change carriers or Sims without complications, unlike buying a phone from a page that requires you to change your device.
3. Additional Charges
Like bag fees at the airport, Canada's telecommunication companies charge activation and SIM fees as part of the standard cost of registering for a phone service. These amounts aren't mentioned in the base cost but affect the overall price you need to pay. Most telecom brands in Canada claim that the activation fees are for creating an account, configuring your phone to communicate with the service, and setting up additional features. Fortunately, this extra expense isn't universal and can vary between providers, with some not charging them. We recommend avoiding this charge, but it depends on your requirements. Therefore, it's best to compare services between carriers offering payment and those that don't; this comparison lets you determine whether paying is worth it. When subscribing to a prepaid mobile plan in Canada, you will also pay for a SIM card. Unlike activation costs, these are unavoidable, and companies state that payment helps to provide and set up a SIM card for your phone.
4. 911 Emergency Service Fees
Unlike in the USA, dialling 911 for an emergency isn't free in Canada. While provincial taxes help the Canadian Government fund the 911 system, telecommunication companies also collect their own fees for 911 calls. Experts estimate that Canada's telecom companies collect up to $ 157 million yearly from 911 fees since Canadians make around 12 million 911 calls annually. Therefore, you must also consider this factor when choosing a prepaid carrier in Canada. The fee per call isn't overwhelming, as Canadian carriers typically charge between $0.4 to $2 per emergency contact. Nevertheless, you must assess how much these carriers charge per call to determine whether they fit your requirements. However, the cost of $0.4 to $2 may not be significant enough to be a deterrent from the excellent services many of these prepaid carriers provide. Nevertheless, it's worth inspecting.
5. Customer Support
Like every other subscription, customer support plays a crucial role in determining whether you'll choose the service since it significantly impacts your overall experience and scarification. Whether setting up your phone or troubleshooting issues, technical support is invaluable because experts can guide you through configuring your device or addressing network-related problems. It's also essential in saving you time and frustration, especially when you require a reliable connection for work. Besides helping you solve network-related complications, customer support can protect your account and suspend service if your phone is lost or stolen. These experts can also guide you through the appropriate action during such an event. Therefore, before subscribing to a prepaid service in Canada, seek reviews on your desired brands about their customer service. Do they reply fast, are their prompts satisfactory, and are they reachable? Answering these questions is crucial since technical support is your saving grace during times of poor signal or network failure.
Prepaid vs. Contract: Which is Best?
Now that you understand the fundamental factors needed to determine whether a prepaid carrier is worth your resources, clarifying why prepaid is a better option than contracts is essential. Prepaid services require you to pay for your talk, text, and data before using them, and this involves either paying online, using a recharge code, or subscribing to an auto-renewal plan. Ultimately, you can't surf the web send a text message or make calls without topping up your account first. On the other hand, contract services allow you to call, text, and browse the internet, with payment at the end of the scheduled period. Furthermore, these wireless activities will be based on your chosen plan, and exceeding them will attract additional fees for the excess. Most Canadians opt for the prepaid option since users have more financial control over their plan, especially since there's zero chance of exceeding your plan. Furthermore, the absence of a contract allows for more flexibility to switch to a new carrier or cancel your services quickly.
Ultimately, it's an excellent option for newcomers in Canada since prepaid plans allow them to perform basic text, call, and internet surfing without additional restrictions. As time progresses, users can check the premium contracts and determine whether their perks exceed what prepaid carriers offer.
Saving Money on Prepaid Plans
As mentioned, Canada has some of the world's most expensive plans, taking fifth place globally. This high cost is primarily due to low competition amongst the big three, making it challenging to find significantly cheaper alternatives. Fortunately, Telco Rewards presents a great way to subsidize these bundles and save money on your phone bills. Our services work based on your shopping routine as you purchase electronics, groceries, and other items via local and international vendors on our platform. These vendors include eBay, Crocs, Dyson, Hatley, Staples, and more, and each purchase made attracts a cash back percentage. This credit is accumulated in your account and is redeemable to pay or subsidize your prepaid plans. Shopping at your favourite online store through Telco Rewards is Canada's most effective way to save money on phone bills. All that's required is creating an account, setting up your profile, shopping, and accumulating cash back rewards.
Conclusion
Whether you're a resident seeking a cost-effective alternative or a newcomer navigating the complexities of Canadian telecommunications, you must consider additional fees, bundle costs, customer service, and more before subscribing to a carrier. You may also have to bring your own device or buy one from the Telecom company, and while both have their benefits, bringing your own device opens you to more affordable plans. Nevertheless, consider Telco Rewards if you genuinely want to save money on phone bills. Telco Rewards introduces an innovative way to handle Canada's relatively higher telecommunication costs. This is possible through a cash back-reward program if you shop for groceries, electronics, fashion, and other services through the platform. Hopefully, this post has provided the basic information needed to pick the best-prepaid service in Canada. Also, ensure to register on Telco Rewards and start accumulating credit towards subsidizing or completely covering your phone bills.