Suggestions for inexpensive cell phone in QC

[Dude824]

I live in the US, not far from the border. I found out from a recent trip to Montreal that I cannot get phone service with my cell phone in Canada. It turns out my service provider does not allow for international roaming; like, I can't even pay extra to get it. I can still use the Internet with my cell phone if there's WiFi, but otherwise my cell phone becomes pretty useless.

I'm wondering if anyone might have some recommendations for an inexpensive option for a prepaid cell phone that I could use during my brief and infrequent visits to Quebec. I'd prefer not to swap out SIM cards, and I'd happily settle for a simple phone just for calls and texts. What's the simplest solution you know of?

 

[alca]

what you can do is to go to loblaw, buy à prepaid card of 100.00, or go to Web site : fizz.ca, it;'s à New player in cell phone company.Go to the Web site and you create à plan of what you need., or you can choose international call.
Go to fizz, that worst it.
I hope that will help you.
Google fizz

 

[IamNY]

This was more of a problem 5-10 years ago when most cell phone providers didn't have international plans. Nowadays it's not as common. Curious to know who your provider is. Your problem is similar to someone looking for a burner phone to keep their conversations private. Try searching for that, you may have better luck. I know I've seen the threads here on MERB.

I'd recommend bringing an un locked phone from the states and buy a sim card once in Canada. Another way would be to use an app like Line2 that can be used like a cell phone as long as your connected to the internet. So if your at your hotel looking to schedule some fun you should have no issues. Only drawback is that if your not connected you can miss a call.

 

[neverbored]

Petro-Canada has a fairly cheap PayAsYouGo offers. But you'll have to use your credit card for online activation. I wouldn't recomment for regular use. But for hobbying its perfect.

The US has some pretty amazing unlimited data and phone plans that cover all of North America... that might be something to look into as well.

 

[CaptRenault]

I have a prepaid plan with AT&T on my iPhone (purchased unlocked from Apple). My monthly prepaid plan costs $40+/month and it includes service in Canada. Once I am in Montreal, the phone automatically connects to the Rogers network and it works fine for what I need to use it for, i.e., some calls, texting, email and web use. My plan includes 6 GB of data per month and unused amounts carry over for 1 month--I never run out of data because I just don't use much data when connected to the cell network.

 

[Dude824]

This was more of a problem 5-10 years ago when most cell phone providers didn't have international plans. Nowadays it's not as common. Curious to know who your provider is. Your problem is similar to someone looking for a burner phone to keep their conversations private. Try searching for that, you may have better luck. I know I've seen the threads here on MERB.

I'd recommend bringing an un locked phone from the states and buy a sim card once in Canada. Another way would be to use an app like Line2 that can be used like a cell phone as long as your connected to the internet. So if your at your hotel looking to schedule some fun you should have no issues. Only drawback is that if your not connected you can miss a call.

Thanks. Yeah, I actually have an unlocked phone and use pay-as-you-go TracFone for service in the US since I don't tend to use my cell phone all that much anyway. The more I look into it, the more it seems like your suggestion is the way for me to go. Is it possible to walk into a place like Petro Canada and buy a sim card right off the shelf?

 

[jmioffe]

I want to keep my hobbying life separate, so I bought an old phone off eBay and got a SIM card from PC mobile off eBay. It was like $3. For service, I pay for $15 in credit, which expires in a month. The SIM deactivates if you don't use it for 9 months.

 

[Julia Sky]

I talked about it before on here and will say it again : Chatr.

I use a chatr sim card (buy it at Best Buy), costs me 50$ a month only if I want to use it (there are also cheaper plans), and you can top-up at gas station... for 50 a month I have :

Unlimited Canada/US Talk
Unlimited Text to Canada, US & International
8 GB at 3G speed & continue using data at a reduced speed until your next payment (so basically, unlimited data as well)

Not bad right?

Oh also, you can literally tell the employee when activating the card at best buy, ''Put whatever name on the plan'' and they will. You don't need to use your name. My name on my phone plan with them is daenerys targaryen LOL

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

I bought a Pay-as-you-go phone for the hobby. There is not much difference from one provider as another.

 

[Numerati]

I use a dual SIM card phone. Recently purchased an awesome Huawei phone that allows me to use two SIM cards.

 

[strongguy]

I used roammobility.ca in Toronto. $30 USD delivered for a 7 day sim. Unlimited Canada talk and global text, plus 500mb data. Just need an unlocked phone that takes sim cards. I think you can verify your phone will work on their site before ordering. I don't know how good the coverage in Montreal will be, but it's in their coverage map. I'll probably get another one before heading up to Montreal later this summer.

I'm grandfathered into a pretty good mobile plan, but to get Canadian coverage I have to pick up the plan that's basically the same as what I have, but for double the cost. Cheaper to get a sim the few times I cross the border, which also kind of works as a burner. I think if you ordered it with a pre-paid credit card it would work better as a burner, but you do have to have it shipped somewhere, and you have to activate it (I think you could activate with a fake name, but there's always the IP you did it from, VPN and other masking notwithstanding). I found for 3 days with my phone on data saver mode I didn't come anywhere near that 500mb, but I used the internet to search for things and maps for navigation.

 

[Joe young]

Moi je suis avec Fizz, et je suis très heureux. Mais on entre dans un monde différent, pas de service à la clientèle, pas de boutique. Mais des prix alléchants, avec possibilité de transférer ses données inutilisées au mois suivant, etc... Bref j'ai transféré mes services de cellulaire (Fizz)*+ Internet (Carrytel) et j'économise près de $70/mois, ce qui paie quasiment mon voyage annuel dans les Caraibes.