Currently, I can see places where you can compare:

1. In the northeast corner of Constoga Mall (where I got my phone plan)
2. The southernmost point of Kitchener at Fairway Station
3. The Broadwalk Station in the west (seems to have limited options)
4. Costco for mobile plan activations (not sure if there are many choices)

In fact, numbers 3 and 4 are not shown on Google Maps. I noticed them when passing by, maybe they are authorized dealers. Official stores should only be numbers 1 and 2.

Constoga Mall is obviously the most ideal place, so I went to check it out on the first day and grabbed a bunch of flyers. The next day, I went with my documents to get the plan directly.

Details of My Plan

Due to different promotions offered by each company at different times, when I got mine during the Boxing Day sale, I chose Fido. Original price of the plan: $50/month

• 12GB data
• Unlimited calling and international long distance
• *5 extra hours of data per month

Contract duration: 24 months *During the contract period, $10 credit per month Additional $5 credit for the first 12 months *Activation fee of $50 *Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), cannot purchase a subsidized device

Fido offers 5 opportunities for Extra Data per month, which basically means that after each use, you can use unlimited data for one hour. The credit received each month can be used to pay the bill directly in the following month. It works like the “full price in the first month” practice in China. Whenever opening a new line or purchasing a new subsidized device from the carrier (Activations or Hardware upgrades), an activation fee is charged. This fee seems to be applicable to all carriers, and Koodo also charges $50. (Note: Changing SIM card to a different phone does not count as Hardware Upgrade) Details on BYOD and subsidized devices are explained below.

Subsidized Devices vs. BYOD

As I happened to need a new phone, I specifically paid attention to the subsidized device plans. However, in the end, it was more cost-effective for me to buy the phone separately as my plan was already very worthwhile.

What is BYOD, and what is a subsidized device

BYOD: Bring your own device, which means bringing your own cellphone and not purchasing a subsidized device from the carrier Subsidized Device: A Contract Phone, some carriers refer to it as “Finance a phone over plan” or “Payment Program,” etc. Essentially, it involves bundling a two-year plan, where you pay for both the plan and the phone in installments. Carriers usually significantly reduce the price of the phone and then offer it on installment payments. Therefore, subsidized devices might also be a good choice at times.

Prepaid vs. Postpaid

Postpaid, as the name suggests, involves using the service first and paying later. This requires a credit check; I provided my passport and visa, which were sufficient. However, it seems that some carriers might require a credit card or deposit records. So, make sure to inquire about this. Prepaid does not require a credit check, but the cost-effectiveness might be lower. Overall, it is not recommended to purchase prepaid plans.

Which Carrier to Choose?

In reality, there are only three major carriers in Canada, and many other companies are either subsidiaries of these three or use the networks of these three.

Note: PhoneBox is a rather special company that uses Rogers’ network. I got a plan from them through my school isolation package for a month, but the experience was not good because although it was on the Rogers network, I could not port my number. Changing a phone number is actually quite troublesome. Fortunately, I only used it for half a month before changing plans.

Tier 1

These three companies can basically be disregarded. The starting prices for all plans are $80 per month, offering 20GB data + unlimited throttled data. They provide family plans, but even with a family plan, the price per person is still above $50/month. Therefore, as a student, you can simply ignore these three. When it comes to subsidized devices from these three carriers, they are generally the cheapest, but each subsidized device needs to be tied to a plan, and the starting price of $80 for the plan is once again discouraging.

Awkward moment: When I walked into a Bell store, the salesperson must have figured out that I was a university student and said to me, “only $80 and plus,” so I just walked away.

Tier 2

The services provided by these three companies are decent, and the plans are quite suitable. I chose Fido out of these three. They also offer subsidized devices, so if you are in a hurry to get a plan, consider one of these three. In my opinion, the price ranking goes as follows: Fido < Koodo < Virgin Mobile (Bell, why are you the most expensive again?)

Tier 3

To be honest, the stores of these three companies feel like some dodgy phone repair shops, with dim lighting or even closed. They do not offer subsidized devices, and their plans are mediocre. In short, it is not recommended to go with any of these.

Other Notes

I visited almost all carriers and found that none offered a Student Discount, so there is no need to ask for it when applying in the future. Make sure to inquire clearly whether the prices of some plans are after applying credits or the original prices before credits. Most carriers tend to mention the prices after using credits, like my plan at the time was directly quoted at $35 a month. So, make sure to understand how the plan is paid for to avoid issues when comparing prices later.

References: https://moving2canada.com/cell-phone-providers-in-canada/