Best Phone Plans for Students in Canada: Cheap coverage starting at $22/month

Students need a lot of things during their time at university, but chief among them is a reliable phone plan. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find cell phone plans in Canada that are both reliable and affordable. That's where we come in.

We've been studying the cell phone market since 2008 and have learned how to evaluate great deals that will help you save money. Every year, we round up the best back-to-school deals and student phone plans, focusing on the options to help students stay connected and succeed without breaking the bank.

The best student phone plan in Canada is from Rogers, who's offering a limited-time back-to-school deal that provides 100GB for just $49/month. We've also got great options from Bell, Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile, and Koodo so you can find the option that best fits your needs.

Best student
phone plans

Rogers | Infinite 100GB Student Plan | $49/month

Why we like it:

• 5G coverage on the country's most reliable nationwide network
• Dozens of cheap phone options for financing
• 6 free months of Disney+

Canada's best student plan—with 100GB of 5G data for just $49/month—is back for another semester.

Rogers has trotted out this plan for several years now and we continue to name it as the best student phone plan in the country. Customers with valid student IDs will grab an enormous chunk of super-fast 5G, reliable coverage, and unlimited talk and text. 

Public Mobile | Unlimited Canada-Wide Talk + Text + 50GB | $35/month

Why we like it:

• Cheap 4G data on the Telus network
• Monthly rewards points
• Free eSIM

Public Mobile's premier plan offers students cheap, high-speed service and low monthly payments.

We haven't been shy about our affection for this plan, consistently ranking it among the best phone plans in Canada. What's good for the general population is also good for students: $35/month will get you high-speed coverage on the nationwide Telus network, a free eSIM at activation, and access to the Public Points rewards program, which allows you to accumulate points that can pay down your monthly costs.

Lucky Mobile | Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan | $27/month

Why we like it:

• Cheap 4G coverage on the nationwide Bell network
• Data bonus for students
• Several cheap phones available

This Bell MVNO offers solid 4G coverage and a free month for students who use auto-pay.

You don't need to pay the big bucks to get on the big networks. Need proof? Look no further than this student deal from Lucky, who operates on the nationwide Bell 4G LTE network. For $27/month, you'll get 25GB of 4G data, unlimited talk and text, and a free month of service if you enroll in auto-pay. Sure, the Rogers, Bell, and Public plans above offer more monthly data, but most Canadians don't need such large chunks. 25GB is more than enough for streaming, gaming, and keeping up with your classes. (The last one is optional.)

Cheapest student
phone plan

Koodo Mobile | Unlimited Canada-Wide Calling Plan | $22/month

Why we like it:

• Cheap 4G data on the Telus network
• 1GB auto-pay bonus
• No contract

Koodo allows students to keep costs down and, in the process, earn additional data.

There are cheaper plans in Canada, but this Koodo plan makes the most sense for students. You'll grab 4G speeds, unlimited talk and text, and a 1GB data bonus every month you use Koodo's automatic top-up. That totals 5GB per month, which is just below the average that Canadians use. If you're someone who handles most of their streaming and browsing while they're on Wi-Fi, this should be more than enough to get you through the semester.

How WhistleOut picks the best student phone plans

WhistleOut evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:

• Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it to other plans from the same carrier and similar plans from competitors in the market to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
• High-speed data: Also called “premium” data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you’ll generally have—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need. We ensure that you’re not overpaying for data that will go unused.
• Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
• Plan extras and perks: In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.

Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate the best student cell phone deals. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After performing hands-on testing and extensive research, including customer feedback, we picked the deals we feel meet the needs of most students. 

Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to evaluate a cell phone carrier or plan and find the one that best meets your specific needs.