Phone and internet: stop overpaying

Topic: Saving on Living Costs · Part 2 of 7 · 🟢 Basic

In one sentence

Phone and internet bills in Canada can be high, but knowing the types of providers, your rights and when to ask for a better price can lower them a lot.

Words to know

Carrier: a company that sells phone (wireless) service. Some own their networks; others use another company’s network.
Flanker brand: a lower-priced brand owned by a big carrier. It often uses the same network, with fewer extras.
Prepaid vs postpaid: with prepaid, you pay before you use the service. With postpaid, you get a bill after each month.
BYOD (bring your own device): using a phone you already own with a new plan.
Device financing: paying for a new phone in monthly parts over a set time, often 24 months, as part of your plan.
EPP (employee purchase program): a special phone or internet offer for people who work at, or belong to, a company or organization that has a deal with a carrier.

Step 1: Know the types of providers

There are three main types of phone providers in Canada. Prices and offers change often, so compare on the day you buy.

Big national carriers: Bell, Rogers and Telus. They have stores across Canada, many plan choices, phone financing and the most extras. They usually cost the most.
Flanker brands: Virgin Plus (owned by Bell), Fido (Rogers) and Koodo (Telus). They usually cost less, with simpler plans.
Budget and prepaid brands: for example Lucky Mobile (Bell), Chatr (Rogers) and Public Mobile (Telus). Often the lowest prices, but with fewer stores, more online-only support, and sometimes slower data speeds.

There are also regional carriers, such as Freedom Mobile, Vidéotron, SaskTel and Eastlink, depending on where you live. They can offer good prices. Check coverage maps for your home, work and travel routes before you choose.

For home internet, there are big providers and smaller independent ones. Many smaller providers rent the big networks and charge less. Ask about the speed, the data cap (if any), the price after any promotion, and equipment fees.

Step 2: Decide: bring your own phone or finance one

Bring your own device (BYOD) usually gives you a cheaper monthly plan. You can buy a phone outright, use a phone you already own (if it works on Canadian networks), or buy a used or refurbished phone.

Device financing spreads the phone cost over time, often 24 months. It can feel easier, but the total can be high. If you cancel early, you must pay the rest of the phone balance.

Good to know: under the CRTC Wireless Code, any phone a provider gives you must be unlocked. If a phone is locked, the provider must unlock it for free when you ask. An unlocked phone works with any compatible carrier.

Step 3: Know your rights under the CRTC codes

The CRTC is the government body that sets rules for phone and internet providers. Its Wireless Code and Internet Code give you these protections:

Trial period: if your contract has an early cancellation fee, you get at least 15 calendar days to try the service. You can cancel with no penalty if you used less than half of your monthly allowance and you return the device in near-new condition. People who say they have a disability get at least 30 days.
Data overage cap: extra data charges must stop at $50 in a month, unless you agree to pay more.
Data roaming cap: roaming data charges must stop at $100 in a month, unless you agree to pay more.
Cancelling: you can cancel at any time. If you did not get a discounted phone, there is no early cancellation fee on wireless service.
Complaints: if your provider does not fix a problem, you can complain to the CCTS (Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services). It is free.

Step 4: Ask for a better price

It is very common in Canada to ask your provider for a lower price. Many people pay less after one phone call or chat.

Check the current offers from two or three other providers, including the flanker and prepaid brands.
Contact your provider. Say you are thinking of leaving and ask for the “loyalty” or “retention” department.
Ask clearly: “Can you lower my bill, or give me more data for the same price?”
If they offer something, ask how long the new price lasts, and get it in writing (email or chat).
If the offer is not good, you can switch. You can usually keep your phone number when you change carriers.

Also ask about bundles, for example phone and home internet from one company. A bundle can save money, but compare it with buying each service from the cheapest provider. Bundles can make it harder to switch later.

Many providers also have newcomer and student plans. These can include a discount or extra data for a set time. Read when the offer ends and what the price will be after.

Check if your job gives you a better deal (EPP)

Many people in Canada never ask about this, but it can be one of the biggest savings. Many large employers, hospitals, schools, governments, unions and professional associations have deals with carriers. These are often called an employee purchase program (EPP) or a partner program. Bell, Rogers and Telus all have programs like this.

Who can use it: usually employees of the company or members of the group. Some programs also cover spouses or family members. Each organization’s deal is different.
How to check: ask your HR department, look on your company’s benefits or perks page, or ask a carrier store whether your employer has a program. You usually prove eligibility with your work email or an employee ID.
What you may get: a lower monthly price, more data for the same price, or a discount on a new phone. Some offers also cover home internet.
Before you sign: compare the EPP price with public offers and with flanker and prepaid brands. Ask what happens to your price if you leave the job, and whether you can move your current account and number to the EPP plan.

Step 5: Use Wi-Fi and avoid roaming charges

Wi-Fi calling: many phones and plans let you call and text over Wi-Fi. It can help where the signal is weak, at home or at work.
Calling family abroad: internet calling apps over Wi-Fi are often free. Some plans also include international calling or long distance.
Travelling: roaming means using your phone outside your provider’s network, often outside Canada. Daily roaming passes can add up fast. Before you travel, compare a roaming pass, a local SIM or eSIM in the country you visit, or using only Wi-Fi.
Turn off data roaming in your phone settings if you don’t plan to use it.

Example

Here is a simple comparison over two years, using round numbers. Check real prices before you decide.

Option A, financing: plan at $45 a month + phone at $40 a month for 24 months. Total: ($45 + $40) × 24 = $85 × 24 = $2,040.
Option B, BYOD: used phone for $400 + plan at $35 a month for 24 months. Total: $400 + ($35 × 24) = $400 + $840 = $1,240.
Difference: $2,040 − $1,240 = $800 over two years.

The financed phone may be newer, so the choice depends on what matters to you. The point is to compare the total cost, not only the monthly price.

Common mistakes

Signing up without checking coverage where you live and work.
Forgetting when a promotional price ends, so the bill goes up without notice.
Paying for more data than you use. Check your usage in your account for the last few months.
Travelling with data roaming on and getting a large bill.

✅ My checklist

☐ I compared a big carrier, a flanker brand and a prepaid brand.
☐ I worked out the total two-year cost of my phone and plan.
☐ I wrote down when my promotional price ends.
☐ I called my provider and asked for a better price.
☐ I asked HR whether my employer has a phone or internet program (EPP).
☐ I know how to turn off data roaming before I travel.

Next in this topic → Rent, home and utilities: lower your biggest bills

Back to the topic → Saving on Living Costs

There are no affiliate or referral links in this post. This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice; everyone’s situation is different. Figures were checked in October 2026 and can change.

Sources: CRTC: The Wireless Code, simplified · CRTC: Mobile service trial period · CRTC: The Internet Code, simplified