If you're looking for the best cell phone plan for Canadian snowbirds, we feel for you. It can be a serious struggle, especially if you aren't totally sure what to look for.

Finding the right solution can be confusing. There are an overwhelming number of options to choose from, and it's not very clear which will provide the best coverage and speeds.

As a snowbird, you probably want to spend your winters outside Canada purely to get away from the snow, ice, and cold - not necessarily to get away from your friends and family (but if that is your goal - then hey, no judgment!).

You likely want to be able to stay connected - and without the right cell phone plan, doing so will not only be expensive, but it might be downright impossible.

The good news is that there are many ways you can keep in touch - and most of them are quite affordable. Sure, you can always turn to a landline - but getting a cell phone plan that's designed specifically for Canadians visiting the United States is a much better choice.

Here's what you need to know.

Using Your Canadian Cell Phone Abroad

For the most part, most major carriers (like Telus) have affordable roaming plans that will let you receive calls locally in the United States and then again once you're back home in Canada. This lets you keep the same phone with the same number, and it also means you don't have to swap SIM cards, use an app, or buy a calling card.

However, it might mean that the friends you make in the United States have to call your Canadian number during the summer - which can cause them to incur serious long-distance charges.

Because of that, you may want to consider some of these specialized plans instead.

Rogers Roam Like Home Plan 

The Rogers Roam Like Home Plan is one of the best options to consider if you're a snowbird. It is available in more than 185 destinations, including the United States.

For the US Roam Like Home Plan, you'll pay just $12 per day for a maximum of twenty days in a billing cycle. The beauty of using Roam Like Home is that it's active only on days you use your phone while travelling. You will only be charged a maximum of 20 days, making this a great plan for longer trips.

Alternatively, you can buy a pay-per-use plan. A postpaid plan costs $1.45 per minute for a phone call or $0.75 per text. Data is $12 per 50 MB. 

All you have to do to access it is to turn on the data roaming feature on your device. If you're already a Rogers customer with an eligible postpaid wireless plan, you will be automatically enrolled in Roam Like Home, so there's little you need to do to set it up.

Just keep in mind that coverage rates still apply. If you go over your talk, text, and data allowance, you'll still get charged. And if you're making calls to other countries besides the US, Canada, or Mexico, long-distance charges still apply, too.

Total Cost for 3 Months in the US: $720

Rogers “Infinite” Plan 

If you're a frequent traveller, you can get calling, texting and data within Canada, the US and Mexico with the Rogers Infinite Premium plan.

With the Infinite Premium Plan, you'll pay between $75 to $110 per month depending on whether you set up automatic payments, pair your mobile plan with a Rogers home service, and have Rogers internet and TV services.

You'll get a variety of perks, including a free tablet or smartwatch plan for 24 months when you purchase either device on financing. Plus, you'll have 5G/5G+ network access anywhere you go. Roam Like Home is an included feature of this plan, and you can also get access to long-distance calling.

Of course, this isn't the cheapest plan you can buy in the long run, but if you want to be sure that you will be covered during your stay in the United States, it's a good solution. 

Total Cost for 3 Months in the US: $225-$330

Bell Roam Better Plan

The Bell Roam Better Plan is another great option. You'll get all the data you need while roaming, plus unlimited talk and text in the US and more than 200 other international destinations.

Roam Better is simply an add-on that you can tack on to your account with a one-time opt-in. You can choose from Roam Better with Home Data (which uses the data from your account while travelling) or pay-per-use costing $1.99 per minute for calling, $0.99 for outgoing texts, and $6.00 per MB for data.

For a US-only unlimited talk and text plan using data from your account, you'll pay $13 per day. It's valid every day when you are roaming, and you’ll only be charged for a maximum of 20 days per line in the same billing period.

Total Cost for 3 Months in the US: $780

Telus Travel and Roaming Plan

Telus Travel and Roaming has a variety of travel and roaming plans. Easy Roam will give you access to the data you already have in your monthly plan along with unlimited text and talk for $14 per day in the US. You only have to pay for the days you choose to use your phone, so it's a good option for occasional visitors (not so much for visitors who plan on staying for a long time).

The US Easy Roam plan also has a cap of $350 per bill cycle. This means if you reach the cap during your bill cycle, you can continue to use Easy Roam without incurring extra fees.

That said, it's easy to add to your plan, and since you are only charged for the days you use the plan, you can avoid unwanted surprises on your plan.

If you are only planning on using your cell phone for emergencies while in the United States, you can opt for the pay-per-use variation. This charges $5 per MB of data, $1.60 per minute of calls, and $0.75 per text.

Total Cost for 3 Months in the US: $1050

Telus Canada-US-Mexico Plan

Telus also has a special Canada-US-Mexico plan. This covers all of your usage while in the United States and Mexico, so the Easy Roam rate does not apply.

You will have unlimited data roaming in Canada, the US, and Mexico, and calling and texting at 5G+ speeds.

The plan is somewhat confusing in that it does not include calls or texts to:

• Sanger, California (559-726-XXXX)
• Carroll, Iowa (712-775-XXXX)
• Lake Park, Iowa (712-432-XXXX)
• Oglala, South Dakota (605-562-XXXX)
• Redfield, South Dakota (605-475-XXXX)

These are not included and are charged in the roaming pay-per-use rate. That can be hard to keep track of if you plan on travelling to these destinations!

You can save money by having more people on your Unlimited plan. For the Unlimited Canada-US-Mexico plan, you’ll pay between $90 and $105 per line per month, depending on how many people join your account. You need at least two people to access the TELUS Family Discount.

Total Cost for 3 Months in the US: $270-$315

Fido Roam Plan

Fido Roam is available in more than 185 destinations, including the United States. All you have to do is turn on your device's roaming. You'll only be charged on the calendar days you use data, receive or make a call, or send a text.

It costs $12 on the US Plan per day for you to use what’s included in your current Fido plan. Fido Roam isn’t available with postpaid Basic plans or prepaid plans.

You can use your plan for a maximum of 20 days per billing cycle. Pay-per-use is only available in certain circumstances, e.g., if you’re travelling to a country without Fido Roam coverage or you opt of Fido Roam. However, the downside of these is that they can be cost-prohibitive at up to $3 per minute for a phone call!

Total Cost for 3 Months in the US: $720 

Koodo Easy Roam Plan

Koodo's Easy Roam program allows you to use your existing phone plan when you're travelling abroad. It costs $14 per day in the United States (it's more expensive in other countries). As with similar plans you will only be charged when you use your minutes, texts, or data.

The benefit of this service is that you can add it before you head out on your trip, and it will remain on your account for future trips - there isn't any activation you need to do. You're only charged for the days you use your phone. Plus, all incoming texts are free. Additionally, the $14 per day fee is capped at $350 per billing cycle, so you don't have to worry about astronomical fees.

This plan is one of the more expensive options on the list. It also ties into your data, so it might not be the best option if you're sharing a line with someone who is remaining in-country while you travel.

Total Cost for 3 Months in the US: $1050

Koodo Seasonal Hold Plan

The Koodo Seasonal Hold Plan isn't necessarily a cell phone plan you can take advantage of while you're travelling in the United States - it's really just something for you if you don't want to pay a cell phone bill while you're out of the country. You can connect to Wifi and make 911 calls with this plan, but otherwise, you won't be able to use your Koodo services.

You'll be charged a flat rate of $15-$30 per month instead of your regular rate plan, depending on whether you have a monthly Tab or not.

Buying a Travel SIM Card in Canada

You can also purchase a travel SIM card. These are generally offered at affordable rates, but you need to do some serious research to make sure you’re buying from a reputable source. Plus, you will likely have to get a new phone number - this can be frustrating for some people, but there are still benefits of using SIM cards to consider. Here are some of the best options.

AT&T North American SIM Card 30-Day Plan

AT&T Prepaid SIM Cards can be purchased in increments of 10, 15, or 30 days, with a 30-day card costing around $45-80, depending on where you buy it.

The biggest downside to buying a travel SIM card is that you won’t have access to any network-based support while you’re travelling. If you run into a problem, you’re on your own. However, you’ll get high speeds, free calls, and unlimited SMS. These cards are compatible with unlocked, no-contract smartphones.

Also, you can use these as-is in Canada, but your contacts have to call a US number which can cost more. Some reviews on Amazon have said that the support service is poor, and one cited the SIM didn’t work with their Samsung Galaxy S21. So that's something to keep in mind. However, most reviews cite that it is easy to use and works great as a hotspot.

T-Mobile 30-Day Prepaid Plan

With a T-Mobile 30-Day Prepaid Plan, you’ll get 30 days of unlimited use upon activation.

Most reviewers claim that the network speeds are fantastic and that these cards are a good way to save on roaming packages. However, you need to be careful to buy from a reputable shop.

As with other SIM cards, the support will be limited. The quality isn’t always top-notch either, with one reviewer on Amazon, J, writing in January 2024, “Lots of dropped calls, weak signals outside large metropolis’.”

Can a Canadian Get a US Cell Phone Plan?

As a Canadian, you can get a US cell phone plan. The drawback to this is that it will make you do a bit more running around to buy the phone and the plan when you get there. However, for longer visits, it makes sense.

Plus, after much research, it’s easy to see that getting a SIM card isn’t always the best option. Since you’ll be buying a SIM card through a third-party provider, you have to do extra investigating to make sure the provider is reputable and legitimate - otherwise, you could be out of some money.

AT&T, Verizon, Mint Mobile, and Google Fi are examples of providers that all offer good plans. However, T-Mobile's is one of the best - which is why we have included a few more details on it below.

T-Mobile Prepaid Plan

T-Mobile's prepaid unlimited plan includes talk, text, and data in the United States. You'll get up to 5GB at 4G LTE speeds. The unlimited plan costs $50 per month. It covers you in the United States but you can add on calling and texting to Canada and Mexico for an extra $5 a month. 

This is an option for short stays, however, it is not a plan intended for long periods of international use. 

Best Apps for Staying in Touch

As long as you have an Internet connection and some kind of device, you can use apps like Skype and Facebook Messenger to stay in touch with your loved ones.

Skype

Skype is one of the original apps for video calling. You can join a call as a guest - no need to create an account! - and do so from a desktop, mobile, tablet, phone, game console, or even Alexa.

This platform is easy to install and incredibly reliable. You don't have to worry about dropped calls and Skype subscriptions start as low as $3.40 per month. Of course, the sound quality will be based on bandwidth, so if you're on a 3G network instead of 4G or 5G, it might not be enough for a call to be placed.

Facebook Messenger

If you have a Facebook account, Facebook Messenger is a free service you can use as an alternative to a cell phone plan in the USA, too. It makes it faster to chat, allowing you to text without the cost. You can often make calls with the app, too, as long as the account is tied to a phone number.

Unfortunately, the service can be choppy - so it might not be the most reliable for important phone calls. It also takes up a lot of space on your device. For a free app, though, it's easy to overlook these minor hassles.

WhatsApp

Last (but certainly not least) is WhatsApp. This is considered the most popular international messaging app - and for good reason.

Like Facebook Messenger, it is free. It is available for iOS, Windows, and Android smartphones, and there is both a web version for Mac and for Windows available, too. It's a user-friendly program that lets you reduce your data usage for calls and engage in email chats.

Of course, you will need an Internet connection, and it isn't always easy to communicate - the recipient of your call has to have a Whatsapp account. Again, though, for a free service, it's not too shabby.

Conclusion

There are all kinds of snowbird plans out there to help you communicate even when you're jetting around the US.

You can purchase or download one of these options instead and chat text, and video call to your heart's content!