A side-by-side comparison of plans, pricing, 5G coverage, roaming, perks, and customer support to help you pick the right carrier.
Plans and pricing
Both carriers are no-contract on postpaid plans. Below are the key plan tiers for each carrier, including regional pricing and data differences in Quebec.
Telus' top-tier Complete Unlimited Explore plan is $100/month with unlimited data ($80/month in Quebec). Bell's top-tier International Roaming Ultra plan matches it exactly at $100/month ($80/month in Quebec), adding Crave Standard With Ads, hotspot (50GB/mo), and Aeroplan points on top of unlimited data. Both carriers include truly unlimited data starting as low as $60/month in Quebec (Bell's US/France Ultra, Telus' Complete Unlimited). Bell's cheapest 5G plan is $50/month in Quebec (Select 100GB) or $65/month elsewhere (Select 60GB), while Telus starts 5G from $50/month in Quebec too ($65/month elsewhere) and has a senior-focused Mobility for Good program with 5G plans from $25/month.
5G and network coverage
Coverage data is based on registered tower locations from the ISED tower registry and Statistics Canada 2021 census boundaries, updated March 2026. Bell and Telus are closely matched nationally but each leads in different regions.
Nationally, Bell and Telus are almost identical in population coverage — Bell at 92.8% 4G and 76.5% 5G, Telus at 93.0% 4G and 76.3% 5G. However they are strong in very different regions. Telus dominates in western Canada, reaching 99.8% of Alberta and 99.8% of British Columbia on 4G. Bell leads in eastern Canada and the north, covering 99.8% of Ontario, 100% of Nova Scotia and PEI on 4G, and reaching 96.5% of Yukon and 99.8% of the Northwest Territories where Telus has no coverage at all.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Bell | Telus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $30/mo | $20/mo (QC) · $25/mo |
| Cheapest 5G plan | $50/mo (QC) · $65 elsewhere | $50/mo (QC) · $65 elsewhere |
| Top-tier plan | $100/mo · $80/mo (QC) (unlimited data) | $100/mo · $80/mo (QC) (unlimited data) |
| Unlimited data | Yes, from $60/mo (QC) · $85/mo elsewhere | Yes, from $60/mo (QC) · $85/mo elsewhere |
| Prepaid plans | No | No |
| 4G population coverage | 92.8% | 93.0% |
| 5G population coverage | 76.5% | 76.3% |
| Total towers | 9,986 | 16,007 |
| Western Canada (AB, BC) | Good | Excellent (99.8%+ 4G) |
| Northern Canada (YT, NWT) | Yes, strong coverage | No coverage |
| Device financing | 24 months | 24 months |
| Roaming (Europe) | From $2.67/day | From $2/day |
| Monthly roaming pass | Yes | Yes |
| Price lock guarantee | No | 5-year lock (select plans) |
| Senior plans | No | Yes (Mobility for Good) |
| Student plans | No | No |
| Unique perk | Aeroplan points (up to 10,000 on Ultra plans) | Stream+ discount |
| Sub-brands | Virgin Plus | Koodo Mobile, Public Mobile |
| Customer rating | 4.0/5 | 2.0/5 |
Roaming rates compared
Both carriers offer destination-specific daily roaming rates and multi-day passes. Bell breaks its roaming into four regional zones with dedicated pass options, making it a practical choice for longer trips. Telus charges a flat daily rate that varies by destination with no listed multi-day passes.
Bell roaming pass options by destination:
- USA: $60 for 14 days or $70 for 30 days
- Europe: $70 for 14 days or $80 for 30 days
- Caribbean and Mexico: $70 for 14 days
- Asia: $75 for 14 days or $80 for 30 days
- International (all other destinations): $100 for 14 days or $110 for 30 days
| Destination | Bell | Telus |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | From $2.67/day | From $2/day |
| USA | From $2.33/day | From $5/day |
| Asia | From $2.67/day | From $5/day |
| Caribbean & Mexico | From $5/day | From $7/day |
| Latin America | From $3.67/day | From $8.57/day |
| Australia & New Zealand | From $3.67/day | From $7.14/day |
| Monthly pass | Yes | Yes |
The picture is more balanced than it first appears. Telus wins on European travel at $2/day vs Bell's $2.67/day. Bell wins on USA, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, and Australia destinations, where its rates are consistently lower than Telus. Both carriers offer a monthly pass option for extended trips abroad.
Device financing
Both Bell and Telus offer 24-month device financing, letting you spread the cost of a new phone over two years. Your monthly bill combines your plan price and the device payment. Once the 24 months are complete, the device portion drops off your bill, or you can upgrade and start a new financing term.
Perks and add-ons
Bell now splits its unlimited tier into four Ultra plans by roaming region: US/France roaming from $60/mo (QC) or US/Mexico roaming from $85/mo elsewhere, up to full International roaming (83 countries and territories) from $80/mo (QC) or $100/mo elsewhere. All Ultra tiers include unlimited data, Crave Standard With Ads, and hotspot (50GB/mo), with the two International Roaming and US/Mexico tiers also earning up to 10,000 Aeroplan points and a free tablet or watch plan. The Select plan starts from $50/mo in Quebec (100GB) or $65/mo elsewhere (60GB). Bell no longer offers a discounted student plan or its former Lite tier.
Telus stands out with its 5-Year Rate Plan Price Lock on select plans, offering long-term price certainty that Bell does not provide. Existing Telus home services customers receive a $15 monthly bill credit for 24 months. Telus also offers Stream+ from $10/month for 3 months. The Mobility for Good senior program offers 5G plans starting at $25/month, including a Google Pixel 7 for $0 and a $75 phone purchase discount.
Both carriers have budget sub-brands on their networks: Virgin Plus runs on Bell's network, while Koodo Mobile and Public Mobile run on Telus, often offering lower monthly prices on the same underlying infrastructure.
Customer support
Bell scores considerably higher in customer satisfaction at 4.0/5 vs Telus at 2.0/5. Bell's main criticism is pricing, with customers describing it as reliable but expensive. Common Telus complaints include billing transparency issues and unexpected charges after contracts end. Notably, Telus does not list phone support as a channel, relying instead on chat, community forum, and Facebook Messenger.
Who should choose which?
- You live or travel in Yukon or the Northwest Territories
- You want to earn Aeroplan points on your phone bill (up to 10,000 on Ultra plans)
- You need unlimited calls to 27 or 83 international countries (Ultra tiers)
- You live in Ontario, Nova Scotia, or Atlantic Canada
- You're in Quebec and want the cheapest 100GB 5G plan (Select QC: $50/mo)
- You value higher customer satisfaction scores
- You live in Alberta or British Columbia
- You want fully unlimited data with no high-speed cap at all
- You want a 5-year price lock for long-term certainty (select plans)
- You travel internationally, especially to Europe ($2/day)
- You are a senior wanting the Mobility for Good program
- You're in Quebec and want more data for less (5G+ Select QC: 100GB for $50)
Bell and Telus are more closely matched than most people expect, with nearly identical national 5G coverage. The real differences come down to region and lifestyle. Telus is the stronger choice in western Canada, for international travellers, and for anyone wanting unlimited data or long-term price certainty. Bell holds its own in eastern and northern Canada, offers better customer satisfaction, and includes unique perks like Aeroplan points and international calling on higher tiers.
Before choosing, check coverage at your home and workplace using the maps below.
