Last updated

Freedom Mobile is a wireless carrier offering 5G and 4G LTE service to 33% of Canadians. After the company was sold to Quebecor in the Rogers-Shaw merger, Freedom announced 5G service, which provides affordable, high-speed connectivity to 31% of the population, with most of the coverage located in the metropolitan areas of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Freedom Mobile coverage area, including detailed information about their 5G and 4G LTE service. We’ll also review how Freedom Mobile network coverage stacks up against the other major wireless carriers in the Big Three.

Freedom Mobile coverage at a glance

Freedom Mobile is an affordable alternative to the Big Three, providing coverage to 33% of Canadians. Thanks to their partnership with Videotron, Freedom Mobile now offers 5G service, which reaches 31% of residents. Freedom’s total network is primarily limited to metropolitan areas, though it does offer coverage through partner networks when customers venture outside the network.

What we love
  • Expanding 5G coverage
  • Affordable plans for metropolitan areas
  • Numerous options for snowbirds
What could be improved
  • 5G limited to urban areas
  • Unpredictable off-network coverage

Freedom Mobile coverage map


Freedom Mobile coverage map
The Freedom Mobile coverage map.
a href="https://www.freedommobile.ca/en-CA/network-coverage" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: line-through;">Freedom Mobile

Freedom Mobile operates on its own network, called the Freedom network. The Freedom Mobile coverage map reaches 33% of Canadians, with 31% receiving 5G service. That’s much smaller than their competitors in the Big Three: Bell and Telus’ respective networks reach 99% of the population, while Rogers’ is available to 97%. If you live in a rural area of the country, there’s a good chance Freedom Mobile service isn’t available: the Freedom network is concentrated in urban areas, especially along the southern border. Outside of that area, you'll still be connected through the Freedom Nationwide network, though coverage will be significantly slower.

Freedom also offers international roaming through its Roam Beyond packages. Several of its most popular plans, like the 5G Unlimited 75GB CA-US plan, include dedicated Roam Beyond data for over 92 countries.

Want to see if Freedom Mobile is available near you? Check out our interactive Freedom Mobile coverage map by zooming in on your neighborhood.

Freedom Mobile 5G coverage


Freedom Mobile 5G coverage map of Western Canada
Freedom Mobile 5G is available in a few urban centres through British Columbia and Alberta.
Image: Freedom Mobile.

Freedom Mobile launched its 5G service in July 2023, with service available to 31% of Canadians. In the western provinces, 5G is available in the urban centres of Vancouver, Calgary, and Sherwood Park.

Freedom Mobile 5G coverage map of Eastern Canada
Freedom Mobile 5G is widely available in the metropolitan areas of southern Ontario.
Image: Freedom Mobile.

In the east, 5G service is mostly concentrated in the cities of southern Ontario, including London, Barrie, Welland, Niagra Falls, and the greater Toronto area. 

Since launching their 5G network, Freedom has expanded their slate of 5G plans, offering some of the lowest rates for 5G in the country. We’re especially impressed with the cheap data in the 5G Unlimited 75GB CA-US plan and the huge data allotment of the 5G Unlimited 100GB CA-US plan. Even better: both of these plans offer bill credits when you bring your own phone.

#1
Freedom Mobile
Freedom Mobile

$50 5G Unlimited 75GB CA-US plan

  • Unlimited 85GB full-speed data at 5G
  • Deal: Black Friday Offer: Receive 10GB Roam Beyond data on this plan + Get $5/mo. off for 18 months + Receive $5/mo. off with Student Deal
$40/mth
+ $45 Upfront
#2
Freedom Mobile
Freedom Mobile

$60 5G Unlimited 100GB CA-US plan

  • Unlimited 120GB full-speed data at 5G
  • Deal: Black Friday Offer: Receive 20GB Roam Beyond data on this plan + Get $5/mo. off for 18 months when you activate on this plan
$55/mth
+ $45 Upfront

Quebec residents might be disappointed to hear that Freedom 5G is not available in the province, though they can take advantage of similarly priced plans offered by Freedom’s partner network, Videotron, including the 60GB All-Inclusive Canada-US plan.

Want to see those plans and more 5G options from Videotron? Check out some of their most popular 5G plans below.

Cell Phone Plans

With at least 100MB+ data | Filters
#1
Videotron
Videotron

25GB Canada Plan

  • 25GB data
  • Deal: Get $5/mo. off when you bring your own device
$45/mth
+ $50 Upfront
#2
Videotron
Videotron

25GB Canada Plan

  • 25GB data
  • Contract (24 mths)
  • Deal: Get $5/mo. off when you bring your own device
$45/mth
+ $50 Upfront
#3
Videotron
Videotron

100GB All-Inclusive Cell Phone Plan

  • Unlimited data
$70/mth
+ $50 Upfront
#4
Videotron
Videotron

100GB All-Inclusive Cell Phone Plan

  • Unlimited data
  • Contract (24 mths)
$70/mth
+ $50 Upfront
#5
Videotron
Videotron

45GB All-Inclusive Canada-US Cell Phone Plan

  • 45GB data
  • Deal: Get $5/mo. off when you bring your own device
$60/mth
+ $50 Upfront

Compare Freedom Mobile coverage: Bell, Rogers, and Telus


We’ve broken down the particulars of the Freedom Mobile coverage map. Now, let’s see how it compares with the other major wireless networks of Bell, Rogers, and Telus.

5G and 4G LTE network coverage in Canada
Carrier 5G coverage 4G LTE coverage Total network coverage
Bell 70% 99% 36%
Rogers 70% 97% 28%
Telus 70% 99% 37%
Freedom 31% 33% 1.34%

Bell vs. Freedom coverage

Bell coverage map
The Bell coverage map.
Image: Bell.

Bell has one of Canada’s largest wireless networks, with service that reaches over 99% of the country’s residents. The footprint for the Bell network is the second largest in Canada, covering 36% of the map. Bell’s network is much more extensive than Freedom Mobile’s, with a reach nearly three times as wide.

Bell’s 5G network is similarly robust, reaching 70% of Canadians. Recently, the carrier has begun rolling out 5G+ coverage in the country’s major metropolitan areas, promising better coverage for crowded areas like stadiums, concert venues, and shopping malls.

If you want to get an even more detailed picture of the Bell network, you can do that below with our interactive coverage map and learn if Bell’s 5G and 4G LTE service is available near you.

Rogers vs. Freedom coverage

Rogers coverage map
The Rogers coverage map.
Image: Rogers.

The Rogers network covers 28% of the map and reaches 97% of the population, numbers that make Freedom Mobile’s network look especially small. Rogers’ coverage in the rural areas of the northern provinces is limited to pockets of the Yukon and Northwest Territories, though the carrier does offer the temporary Rogers’ Extended Coverage if you’re traveling outside their large network.

Like Bell and Telus, Rogers offers 5G service to 70% of Canadians, including 5G+ service in select areas of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Want to see the exact locations where Rogers 5G and 4G LTE service is available? Check out our interactive coverage map below.

Telus vs. Freedom coverage

Telus coverage map
The Telus coverage map.
Image: Telus.

Telus operates the largest wireless network in Canada, with a footprint that covers 37% of the country’s landmass and offers service to over 99% of the population. One reason behind the carrier’s dominance is collaboration: Telus shares cell towers with Bell, an arrangement that’s allowed both carriers to build massive networks while retaining their independence. Another reason is the company’s willingness to expand to remote areas of northern Canada–including the Yukon, Northwestern Territories, and Nunavut–where other carriers, like Freedom Mobile, have not.

Telus’ 5G network is also one of the largest in the country, with service reaching 70% of the population. Like Freedom Mobile, Telus doesn’t offer 5G to more remote areas. Unlike Freedom Mobile, Telus’ 5G is available outside urban centres, with service available in vast swaths of British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, among other areas.

Want to see if Telus’ 5G and 4G LTE service is available where you live? Use the interactive coverage map below.

Freedom Mobile network reliability


Freedom Mobile network reliability has received mixed marks. A 2021 J.D. Power study ranked the carrier’s network quality behind the Big Three, yet that same year the J.D. Power Wireless Customer Care Study ranked Freedom fifth for customer satisfaction, several spots ahead of Bell and Rogers.

As we noted in our Freedom Mobile coverage review, the carrier’s relatively limited coverage area can lead to frustration for customers traveling outside of the Freedom network who receive sometimes spotty service through partner brands.

Want to see how reliable Freedom Mobile’s network is near you? Check out our guides to cell phone coverage in Canada’s provinces and major cities below.

Compare cell phone coverage by province:

Compare cell phone coverage by city:

Regional carriers vs. MVNOs


Regional carriers–like Freedom Mobile, Eastlink, Fizz, SaskTel, and Videotron–offer affordable alternatives to the high prices of Bell, Rogers, and Telus. This does come at a cost: regional carriers, as you might’ve guessed, operate on regional networks with limited availability.

Regional carrier coverage in Canada
Carrier 5G availability 4G LTE availability
Freedom Mobile Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec
Eastlink New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island
Fizz None Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec
SaskTel Saskatchewan Saskatchewan
Videotron Quebec Quebec

While service is available in the above provinces, it doesn’t mean it’s available everywhere in those provinces. There’s no guarantee that a regional carrier will be able to offer coverage in your particular neck of the woods, which is why we suggest using our Coverage Check, which allows you to see if a carrier offers service to your address.

The provinces listed aren’t the full extent of these regional carriers’ coverage maps, though they do represent the full extent of their high-quality service. Although many of these carriers (including Freedom) offer extended coverage through partner networks, the speed and connectivity can be unpredictable and sometimes substandard.

If you’re interested in seeing what your local regional carrier has to offer, we’ve got the most popular plans from regional carriers below.

Cell Phone Plans

With at least 100MB+ data | Filters
#1
Freedom Mobile
Freedom Mobile

$60 5G Unlimited 100GB CA-US plan

  • Unlimited 120GB full-speed data at 5G
  • Deal: Black Friday Offer: Receive 20GB Roam Beyond data on this plan + Get $5/mo. off for 18 months when you activate on this plan
$55/mth
+ $45 Upfront
#2
SaskTel
SaskTel

totalSHARE Nationwide

  • Unlimited Full speed data
  • Deal: Black Friday Offer: Get 25GB/mo. bonus for 24 months with this plan + Get $20/mo. off when you bring your own phone or buy a phone at full price + Get Student Promo up to $20/mo. off
$70/mth
+ $50 Upfront
#3
Fizz
Fizz

Unlimited Minutes & Text Messaging + 3GB Data

  • 3GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
$17/mth
+ $5 Upfront
#4
Videotron
Videotron

25GB Canada Plan

  • 25GB data
  • Deal: Get $5/mo. off when you bring your own device
$45/mth
+ $50 Upfront
#5
Eastlink
Eastlink

$50 Rollover Data 65GB Plan

  • 65GB at 5G speeds
  • Deal: Online Only: Get $60 Welcome Credit + FREE Shipping when you purchase this plan
$50/mth
+ $60 Upfront

If you’re looking for reliable nationwide coverage but can’t stomach the high prices of the Big Three, we recommend MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), which are smaller brands that provide discounted access to the country’s larger wireless networks. 

In Canada, there are relatively few true independently owned MVNOs, but there is an abundance of flankers, which are brands owned by the Big Three that operate on their respective networks. Flankers are geared toward specific demographics and offer cheaper monthly payments than their parent companies.

Interested in checking out popular plans from MVNOs? You can find options on the Bell, Rogers, and Telus networks below.

Cell Phone Plans

With at least 100MB+ data | Filters
#1
Public Mobile
Public Mobile

$35 Unlimited Canada-US Talk + Text + 50GB

  • 50GB at 5G full speeds up to 250Mbps
  • Deal: Receive $1.80/mo. in points value with Public Points + Get a FREE eSIM or $5 off on a physical SIM with new activation on this plan
$36
+ $5 Upfront
#2
Fido
Fido

$39 Data, Talk & Text Plan with 60GB

  • 60GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
$39/mth
#3
Chatr Wireless
Chatr Wireless

$15 Nationwide Talk & Text plan

  • 500MB data
  • Deal: Get 500MB bonus data when you sign up with Auto-Pay
$15
Per 1 Month Top-up
+ $10 Upfront
#4
Koodo Mobile
Koodo Mobile

$40 Prepaid Base Plan

  • 75GB at 4G speed up to 100Mbps
  • Deal: Black Friday Offer: Get FREE third month of service with new activation on this plan
$40
Per 30 Day Top-up
+ $10 Upfront
#5
Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile)
Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile)

$35 Plan with 50GB Data and Unlimited Minutes

  • 50GB at 4G speeds up to 150Mbps
$35/mth

Find Better Phones and Plans

Hundreds of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.

Search 17 Carriers

Compare phones and plans from the following carriers...

  • Koodo Mobile
    Advertisement
  • Fido
    AdvertisementAdvertisement
  • Public Mobile
    Advertisement
  • Rogers
    Advertisement
  • Freedom Mobile
    AdvertisementAdvertisement
  • Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile)
    AdvertisementAdvertisement
  • Telus
    AdvertisementAdvertisement
  • Chatr Wireless
    AdvertisementAdvertisement
  • Fizz
    AdvertisementAdvertisement
  • SaskTel
  • Bell
  • 7-Eleven SpeakOut
  • PC Mobile
  • Lucky Mobile
  • Videotron
  • Good2Go Mobile (previously Petro Canada)
  • Eastlink

Latest Cell Phone Deals

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra from Telus for $41.46/mo for 24 months

Apple iPhone 12 Mini for $0 down and $88.34/month from Fido

iPhone 13 (128GB) for $0 and $26.20/mo for 24 moths from Bell

Google Pixel 6 for $28.29/mo for 24 months on any Rogers Infinite plan

Motorola G Power for $6/mo for 24 months from Koodo

Compare iPhone plans from all major carriers