Last updated: October 2026: Plan prices verified against carrier websites.
The cheapest way to keep a phone number active in Canada costs as little as $100 per year. Whether you need a backup SIM, a rarely-used second line, or just want to hold on to a Canadian number for occasional calls, this page compares every low-cost prepaid option available in Canada in 2026 — sorted by what you actually spend over 12 months, with no promos included.
All Plans
Cheapest Plans to Keep a Number Active in Canada (2026)
Every plan below keeps your Canadian phone number active. Sorted by annualized cost so you can compare monthly and annual plans fairly. Regional plans are flagged — check coverage before signing up.
| CARRIER | PLAN | ANNUAL COST | BILLED | DATA | TALK | TEXT | NETWORK | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SaskTel SK only | noSTRINGS Talk + Text 100 Yearly | $100/yr | 365 days | — | 400 anytime minutes | 400 texts + unlimited international texts | SaskTel | View plan |
| Koodo Mobile | $100 4G 365 Day Plan | $100/yr | 365 days | — | 400 Canada-wide minutes | 400 Canada-wide texts | Telus | View plan |
| Chatr | Yearly Talk and Text Plan | $100/yr | 365 days | — | 400 Canada-wide minutes | 400 Canada-wide texts | Rogers | View plan |
| Ice Wireless North only | Prepaid 200 Minutes | $108/yr ($9/mo × 12) | Monthly | 524.288 MB (4G LTE) | 200 mins (Canada / US / Mexico) | Unlimited incoming text | Ice | View plan |
| Ice Wireless North only | Ice Share+ 200 Minutes | $108/yr ($9/mo × 12) | Monthly | 524.288 MB (4G LTE) | 200 mins (Canada / US / Mexico) | Unlimited incoming text | Ice | View plan |
| SaskTel SK only | noSTRINGS Talk + Text 10 | $120/yr ($10/mo × 12) | Monthly | — | 25 mins (Canada + up to 25 US/Intl) | 25 texts (Canada + up to 25 Intl) | SaskTel | View plan |
| SpeakOut (7-Eleven) | Annual Prepaid Plan | $125/yr | 360 days | — | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada + international outgoing | Telus | View plan |
| Freedom Mobile | Talk & Text Annual (20 GB) | $129/yr | 365 days | 20 GB (4G) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | Freedom | View plan |
| Koodo Mobile | $159 4G 365 Day Plan (40 GB) | $159/yr | 365 days | 40 GB (4G LTE) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | Telus | View plan |
| Chatr | Yearly Talk, Text & Data (40 GB) | $159/yr | 365 days | 40 GB (4G LTE) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | Rogers | View plan |
| Freedom Mobile | 40 GB Annual | $159/yr | 365 days | 40 GB (4G) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | Freedom | View plan |
| SaskTel SK only | Talk + Text + Data 15 | $180/yr ($15/mo × 12) | Monthly | 256 MB (3G) | 100 Canada-wide minutes | Unlimited (Canada + US to anywhere) | SaskTel | View plan |
| Koodo Mobile | 250MB Starter Mobile Plan | $180/yr ($15/mo × 12) | Monthly | 256 MB (3G) | 100 minutes | Unlimited | Telus | View plan |
| Kini Mobile AB,BC,MB,ON,QC,SK only | 250MB Basic | $180/yr ($15/mo × 12) | Monthly | 256 MB (3G) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | Telus | View plan |
| Fizz AB,BC,ON only | Unlimited Mobile Plan | $216/yr ($18/mo × 12) | Monthly | — | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | Videotron | View plan |
| Lucky Mobile | Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan | $228/yr ($19/mo × 12) | Monthly | 512 MB (4G) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | Bell | View plan |
| Koodo Mobile | $19 4G Base Plan | $228/yr ($19/mo × 12) | Monthly | 512 MB (4G LTE) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | Telus | View plan |
| Chatr | $19 Canada-Wide Talk and Text | $228/yr ($19/mo × 12) | Monthly | 512 MB (4G LTE) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | Rogers | View plan |
| Kini Mobile AB,BC,MB,ON,QC,SK only | 500MB Basic | $228/yr ($19/mo × 12) | Monthly | 512 MB (5G) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | Telus | View plan |
| SpeakOut (7-Eleven) | 500MB Prepaid Mobile Plan | $228/yr ($19/mo × 12) | Monthly | 512 MB (4G) | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | Telus | View plan |
* Annual cost for monthly plans is calculated as the stated monthly price multiplied by 12. Activation fees and one-time SIM charges are not included in the annual cost column. Regional plans (SK only, North only) may not be available outside their service area.
Takeaway: The cheapest way to keep a number active nationally is the Koodo Mobile $100 4G 365 Day Plan plan at $100/year. If you are in the North, Ice Wireless at $9/month ($108/year annualized) is the lowest-cost monthly option. No plan on this page requires a contract.
By Network
Cheapest Plan to Keep a Number Active — By Network
Canada has five networks used by the carriers on this page. The table below shows the single cheapest way to keep a number active on each network based on annualized cost. If you already know which network covers your area best, use this to find the lowest-cost entry point for that network.
| NETWORK | CARRIERS | CHEAPEST KEEPALIVE PLAN | ANNUAL COST | BILLED | TALK | TEXT | DATA | AVAILABILITY | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Network | Freedom Mobile |
Freedom Mobile Talk & Text Annual (20 GB) |
$129/yr | 365 days | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | 20 GB | National | View plan |
| Telus Network | Koodo Mobile, SpeakOut (7-Eleven), Kini Mobile |
Koodo Mobile $100 4G 365 Day Plan |
$100/yr | 365 days | 400 Canada-wide minutes | 400 Canada-wide texts | — | National | View plan |
| Rogers Network | Rogers, Chatr |
Chatr Yearly Talk and Text Plan |
$100/yr | 365 days | 400 Canada-wide minutes | 400 Canada-wide texts | — | National | View plan |
| Bell Network | Lucky Mobile |
Lucky Mobile Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan |
$228/yr ($19/mo × 12) | Monthly | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | 512 MB | National | View plan |
| Videotron Network | Fizz |
Fizz Unlimited Mobile Plan |
$216/yr ($18/mo × 12) | Monthly | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada-wide | — | AB,BC,ON only | View plan |
| SaskTel Network | SaskTel |
SaskTel noSTRINGS Talk + Text 100 Yearly |
$100/yr | 365 days | 400 anytime minutes | 400 texts + unlimited international texts | — | SK only | View plan |
| Ice Wireless Network | Ice Wireless |
Ice Wireless Prepaid 200 Minutes |
$108/yr ($9/mo × 12) | Monthly | 200 mins (Canada / US / Mexico) | Unlimited incoming text | 524.288 MB | North only | View plan |
Takeaway: On the Freedom network, $129/year (with 20 GB of data included) is the cheapest keepalive entry point. On the Telus network, Koodo is the cheapest option — $15/month ($180/year, though talk is capped at 100 minutes) for unlimited-text keepalive, or $100/year with 400 minutes and 400 texts, the cheapest annual option on this page. SpeakOut (7-Eleven) also runs on Telus, offering a $19/month plan or a $125/360-day annual option for unlimited talk and text. Telus itself no longer offers a no-contract prepaid plan. On the Rogers network, Chatr matches the $100/year annual option and also offers a $19/month plan. SaskTel (SK only) and Ice Wireless (North only) are the cheapest regional options at $10/month and $9/month respectively.
Annual Plans
Annual Prepaid Plans: Pay Once, Active for a Full Year
Annual plans charge one upfront fee and keep your number active for 360 or 365 days. No monthly top-ups, no risk of forgetting to renew. 8 annual keepalive plans are currently available in Canada, starting at $100/year.
SaskTel SK only
$100 / year
noSTRINGS Talk + Text 100 Yearly
Talk: 400 anytime minutes
Text: 400 texts + unlimited international texts
Network: SaskTel
Free online activation. $60 in-store. $30.12/yr 911 fee.
View plan detailsKoodo Mobile
Cheapest annual$100 / year
$100 4G 365 Day Plan
Talk: 400 Canada-wide minutes
Text: 400 Canada-wide texts
Network: Telus
No connection fee online. $10 physical SIM fee if not eSIM.
View plan detailsChatr
$100 / year
Yearly Talk and Text Plan
Talk: 400 Canada-wide minutes
Text: 400 Canada-wide texts
Network: Rogers
No activation fee. Not available in NT, NU, or YT.
View plan detailsSpeakOut (7-Eleven)
$125 / 360 days
Annual Prepaid Plan
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited Canada + international outgoing
Network: Telus
$1.25/mo 911 Emergency Regulatory Cost Recovery fee.
View plan detailsFreedom Mobile
$129 / year
Talk & Text Annual (20 GB)
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited (+ international)
Data:
20 GB (4G)
Network: Freedom
$10 connection fee (prepaid).
View plan detailsKoodo Mobile
$159 / year
$159 4G 365 Day Plan (40 GB)
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited (+ international)
Data:
40 GB (4G LTE)
Network: Telus
No connection fee online. $10 physical SIM fee if not eSIM.
View plan detailsChatr
Best value / GB$159 / year
Yearly Talk, Text & Data (40 GB)
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited (+ international)
Data:
40 GB (4G LTE)
Network: Rogers
No activation fee. Data throttled to 128 kbps after 40 GB.
View plan detailsFreedom Mobile
$159 / year
40 GB Annual
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited (+ international)
Data:
40 GB (4G)
Network: Freedom
$10 connection fee (prepaid).
View plan detailsAnnual Plans: Side-by-Side
| CARRIER | PRICE | VALID | TALK | TEXT | DATA | NETWORK | ACTIVATION | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SaskTel SK only | $100 | 365 days | 400 anytime minutes | 400 texts + unlimited international texts | — | SaskTel | Free online. $60 in-store. $30.12/yr 911 fee applies. | View plan |
| Koodo Mobile | $100 | 365 days | 400 Canada-wide minutes | 400 Canada-wide texts | — | Telus | No connection fee online. $10 physical SIM fee. | View plan |
| Chatr | $100 | 365 days | 400 Canada-wide minutes | 400 Canada-wide texts | — | Rogers | No activation fee. | View plan |
| SpeakOut (7-Eleven) | $125 | 360 days | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited Canada + international outgoing | — | Telus | $1.25/mo 911 Emergency fee applies. | View plan |
| Freedom Mobile | $129 | 365 days | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | 20 GB | Freedom | $10 one-time connection fee (prepaid). Up to $45 for postpaid activations. | View plan |
| Koodo Mobile | $159 | 365 days | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | 40 GB | Telus | No connection fee online. $10 physical SIM fee. | View plan |
| Chatr | $159 | 365 days | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | 40 GB | Rogers | No activation fee. | View plan |
| Freedom Mobile | $159 | 365 days | Unlimited Canada-wide | Unlimited (+ international) | 40 GB | Freedom | $10 one-time connection fee (prepaid). Up to $45 for postpaid activations. | View plan |
Takeaway: At $100/year, Koodo and Chatr both include 400 minutes and 400 texts — the cheapest annual option to hold a number for most Canadians. SaskTel matches this price for Saskatchewan residents. Freedom Mobile's cheapest annual plan is now $129/year for 20 GB of data, a better fit if you want a data cushion included. Chatr and Freedom both offer 40 GB of annual data at $159/year for even more headroom.
Monthly Plans
Monthly Prepaid Plans: Cheapest Month-to-Month Options
Monthly prepaid plans offer flexibility but require renewal every 30 days. Forget to top up and your number may go inactive. The plans below annualize to between $108 and $228/year. Note that both Ice Wireless plans are restricted to northern Canada, and SaskTel plans are Saskatchewan-only.
Ice Wireless North only
Cheapest monthly$9 / month
$108/yr annualized
Prepaid 200 Minutes
Talk: 200 mins (Canada / US / Mexico)
Text: Unlimited incoming text
Data:
524.288 MB (4G LTE)
Network: Ice
$15 one-time SIM fee. Prepaid plan.
View plan detailsIce Wireless North only
$9 / month
$108/yr annualized
Ice Share+ 200 Minutes
Talk: 200 mins (Canada / US / Mexico)
Text: Unlimited incoming text
Data:
524.288 MB (4G LTE)
Network: Ice
$15 one-time SIM fee. Postpaid (Ice Share+) plan.
View plan detailsSaskTel SK only
$10 / month
$120/yr annualized
noSTRINGS Talk + Text 10
Talk: 25 mins (Canada + up to 25 US/Intl)
Text: 25 texts (Canada + up to 25 Intl)
Network: SaskTel
Free activation online. $60 in-store. $2.57/mo 911 fee applies.
View plan detailsSaskTel SK only
$15 / month
$180/yr annualized
Talk + Text + Data 15
Talk: 100 Canada-wide minutes
Text: Unlimited (Canada + US to anywhere)
Data:
256 MB (3G)
Network: SaskTel
Free activation online. $60 in-store. $2.57/mo 911 fee applies.
View plan detailsKoodo Mobile
Cheapest national monthly$15 / month
$180/yr annualized
250MB Starter Mobile Plan
Talk: 100 minutes
Text: Unlimited
Data:
256 MB (3G)
Network: Telus
No connection fee online. $10 physical SIM fee if not eSIM. Talk is limited to 100 minutes/month, not unlimited.
View plan detailsKini Mobile AB,BC,MB,ON,QC,SK only
$15 / month
$180/yr annualized
250MB Basic
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited Canada-wide
Data:
256 MB (3G)
Network: Telus
No activation fee. Bonus data increases the longer you stay. Available in AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, and SK only.
View plan detailsFizz AB,BC,ON only
$18 / month
$216/yr annualized
Unlimited Mobile Plan
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited Canada-wide
Network: Videotron
No activation fee. Available in AB, BC, and ON only.
View plan detailsLucky Mobile
$19 / month
$228/yr annualized
Unlimited Canada-wide Calling Plan
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited Canada-wide
Data:
512 MB (4G)
Network: Bell
No activation fee.
View plan detailsKoodo Mobile
$19 / month
$228/yr annualized
$19 4G Base Plan
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited (+ international)
Data:
512 MB (4G LTE)
Network: Telus
No connection fee online. $10 physical SIM fee if not eSIM.
View plan detailsChatr
$19 / month
$228/yr annualized
$19 Canada-Wide Talk and Text
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited Canada-wide
Data:
512 MB (4G LTE)
Network: Rogers
No activation fee. Not available in NT, NU, or YT.
View plan detailsKini Mobile AB,BC,MB,ON,QC,SK only
$19 / month
$228/yr annualized
500MB Basic
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited Canada-wide
Data:
512 MB (5G)
Network: Telus
No activation fee. Available in AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, and SK only.
View plan detailsSpeakOut (7-Eleven)
$19 / month
$228/yr annualized
500MB Prepaid Mobile Plan
Talk: Unlimited Canada-wide
Text: Unlimited Canada-wide
Data:
512 MB (4G)
Network: Telus
$1.25/mo 911 Emergency Regulatory Cost Recovery fee.
View plan detailsNote: Monthly plans require active renewal each month. If you miss a payment, your number may be suspended or reclaimed by the carrier. If your goal is purely to keep a number active with no effort, an annual plan is more reliable. Monthly plans make sense if you need the flexibility to cancel or upgrade at any time.
Coverage
Which Network Does Each Carrier Use?
Your coverage depends on the underlying network. Here is a summary of the networks used by the carriers on this page.
Freedom
Freedom Network
Freedom Mobile runs its own 5G/LTE network in major cities across BC, AB, ON, and QC. Coverage outside urban centres is limited.
Check coverageTelus
Telus Network
One of Canada's three largest national networks. Strong 5G and LTE coverage coast to coast including many rural areas. Koodo, SpeakOut (7-Eleven), and Kini Mobile use the Telus network.
Check coverageRogers
Rogers Network
One of Canada's three largest national networks. 5G in major cities; broad LTE coverage nationally. Chatr runs on the Rogers network.
Check coverageBell
Bell Network
One of Canada's three largest national networks. Strong 5G in cities and broad LTE coverage nationally. Lucky Mobile runs on the Bell network.
Check coverageVideotron
Videotron Network
A regional network with coverage across several provinces. Fizz runs on the Videotron network.
SaskTel
SaskTel Network
Saskatchewan-focused. Excellent province-wide coverage including rural SK. SaskTel monthly and annual prepaid plans are only available to customers with a Saskatchewan address.
Check coverageIce
Ice Wireless Network
Ice Wireless provides 4G LTE coverage in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Northern Quebec. Both Ice Wireless plans on this page also include 512 MB of extended network data usable across Canada, the US, and Mexico.
Who Should Pick What
Which Plan Is Right for You?
You want the absolute cheapest, nationally
Koodo or Chatr — $100/yr
Both include 400 minutes and 400 texts on national networks. Koodo uses the Telus network; Chatr uses Rogers. No outgoing text fee. Koodo offers eSIM activation. Pay once, active for the year.
You want unlimited talk & text annually
SpeakOut (7-Eleven) — $125/360 days
Unlimited calls and unlimited texts including international outgoing. Runs on the Telus network. Good if you make occasional calls but do not want to track minute balances.
You are in Saskatchewan
SaskTel $10/mo or $100/yr
SaskTel monthly plans start at $10/month ($120/year) for 25 minutes and 25 texts. The yearly plan at $100 includes 400 minutes and 400 texts. Both require a Saskatchewan address.
You are in Canada\'s North
Ice Wireless — $9/mo
The cheapest monthly keepalive plan in Canada. $9/month covers 200 minutes and unlimited incoming text on the Ice home network, plus 512 MB of data usable across Canada, US, and Mexico on the extended network. Available as prepaid or postpaid (Ice Share+).
You are in AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, or SK
Kini Mobile — $15/mo or $19/mo
Unlimited talk and text with 250 MB (3G) of data for $15/month, or 500 MB (5G) for $19/month. Bonus data grows over time on the 250MB plan, and eSIM is supported. Not available outside these six provinces.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions: Cheapest Plans to Keep a Number Active in Canada
What is the cheapest way to keep a phone number active in Canada?
The cheapest way to keep a Canadian phone number active is the SaskTel noSTRINGS Talk + Text 100 Yearly at $100 per year. However, this plan is only available in SK only. For Canadians anywhere in the country, the cheapest option is the Koodo Mobile $100 4G 365 Day Plan at $100/year.
How much does it cost per year to keep a number active in Canada?
Keeping a Canadian phone number active costs between $100 and $228 per year depending on the plan and carrier. Regional options like Ice Wireless ($9/month, annualized at $108/year in the North) and SaskTel ($10/month in Saskatchewan) are the cheapest monthly options. Nationally, Koodo and Chatr both offer $100/year annual plans with 400 minutes and 400 texts. Freedom Mobile's cheapest annual plan is $129/year and includes 20 GB of data.
Which carriers offer the cheapest plans just to keep a number active?
Freedom Mobile, Koodo and SpeakOut (7-Eleven, both Telus network), Chatr (Rogers network), SaskTel, Ice Wireless, and Kini Mobile all offer low-cost prepaid plans to keep a number active. Koodo and Chatr each offer the cheapest annual plan nationally at $100/year. Chatr and SpeakOut each offer a $19/month monthly plan, while Koodo undercuts them at $15/month (with talk limited to 100 minutes). Ice Wireless ($9/month) and SaskTel ($10/month) are the cheapest monthly options but are regionally restricted to northern Canada and Saskatchewan respectively.
Can I keep a prepaid number active without using it?
Yes. All plans on this page keep your Canadian phone number active for as long as the plan is paid. You do not need to make calls or send texts. The number simply needs an active plan to avoid being reclaimed by the carrier. Annual plans are the most hands-off option since you only need to renew once per year.
What is the cheapest annual plan to keep a number active?
The cheapest annual plan to keep a number active in Canada is the Koodo Mobile $100 4G 365 Day Plan at $100 for 365 days. It includes unlimited incoming calls and unlimited incoming texts, with outgoing texts billed at $0.05 each. A $45 one-time connection fee applies for new activations. Coverage is primarily in major urban centres.
Are there monthly plans cheaper than annual plans for keeping a number active?
Yes, in some regions. Ice Wireless offers a $9/month plan (annualized: $108/year) in northern Canada, and SaskTel offers a $10/month plan (annualized: $120/year) in Saskatchewan. Both are regionally restricted. For most Canadians, Koodo and Chatr both offer $100/year annual plans, which are cheaper than any nationally available monthly option. In AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, and SK, Kini Mobile at $15/month ($180/year annualized) is a cheap flexible monthly option.
What is Ice Wireless and who can use it?
Ice Wireless is a regional carrier providing 4G LTE service in Canada's northern territories, including Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Northern Quebec. Their $9/month plans are the cheapest way to keep a number active in Canada if you live in or near these areas. Customers outside the Ice Wireless home network can still use 512 MB of data and 200 minutes on the extended network across Canada, the US, and Mexico.
Does Freedom Mobile have a plan just to keep a number active?
Freedom Mobile's data-free Talk Annual plan ($99/year) has been discontinued. Its cheapest keepalive-style option now is the Talk & Text Annual (20 GB) at $129/year, which includes 20 GB of data along with unlimited Canada-wide talk and text. A one-time $10 connection fee applies for new prepaid activations (up to $45 for postpaid). Koodo and Chatr now offer cheaper $100/year annual plans nationally.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general reference purposes only. While we make every effort to keep pricing, plan details, and availability current, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information listed here. Rates, terms, and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. Regional restrictions apply to SaskTel and Ice Wireless plans. Always verify plan details, pricing, and eligibility directly with the carrier before purchasing. Topicks.ca is not responsible for any loss, cost, or inconvenience arising from reliance on the information provided on this page.
