Fido and Public Mobile sit on opposite ends of the sub-brand spectrum. Fido is a Rogers-owned postpaid carrier running on the Rogers network, offering no-contract plans with device financing, in-store support, and a lineup that spans basic voice to 5G Canada-US-Mexico options. Public Mobile is a Telus-owned prepaid-only carrier with a fully self-serve, online model, no device financing, and some of the most data-generous prepaid plans in Canada. Because the two carriers run on different parent networks, coverage also differs, particularly in western Canada where Rogers holds a stronger 5G footprint, and in Alberta and BC where both networks perform well but Rogers leads on 5G reach nationally.
Plans and pricing
Fido offers 11 postpaid no-contract plans ranging from $19 to $55 per month, covering everything from a 250MB basic voice plan to a 60GB Canada-US-Mexico 5G option. Public Mobile offers 8 prepaid no-contract plans from $22 to $50 per month, all with unlimited talk and text, and a lineup that steps up quickly to high-data 5G tiers. The plans below show the most representative options from each carrier across comparable price points.
The pricing contrast between these two carriers is sharpest at the mid-to-upper tiers. At $45 per month, Fido offers 20GB on 5G with hotspot and unlimited long distance (outside Quebec), while Public Mobile offers 50GB 5G domestic for just $35 — more data for $10 less. At $50, Fido provides 60GB on 5G domestic, while Public Mobile provides 150GB on 5G with North American roaming already included. At $55, Fido's top plan adds Canada-US-Mexico to 60GB, while Public Mobile's CAN/US/Mex plans start at $40. However, Fido reaches lower on the ladder with a $19 basic plan and a $25 talk-and-text option (promo), and offers postpaid billing, device financing, and in-store support that Public Mobile does not.
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. Fido runs on the Rogers network, which leads nationally with 96.7% 5G population coverage. Public Mobile runs on the Telus network, which reaches 76.3% of Canadians on 5G with particularly strong coverage in Alberta and BC. Rogers holds the national edge on 5G reach, while Telus leads in western provinces on 4G rural coverage.
Fido on the Rogers network holds a significant national lead in 5G reach, covering 96.7% of Canadians versus 76.3% on the Telus network. Rogers also operates more dedicated 5G towers (9,080 versus 6,863) despite having fewer total towers overall. Telus compensates with more total tower sites (16,007) and dominant coverage in Alberta and BC, where both networks perform near-identically on 4G. For 5G specifically, Rogers has a wider national footprint, while Telus is the stronger rural 4G network in western Canada and the north.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Fido | Public Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19/mo | $22/mo |
| Plan type | Postpaid | Prepaid only |
| Talk & text only plan | $25/mo (promo) | $22/mo |
| Cheapest 5G plan | $40/mo (20GB, QC only) / $45/mo (20GB, ROC) | $35/mo (50GB domestic) |
| Data at $45/mo | 20GB 5G (ROC) | 50GB 5G domestic ($35); 70GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex ($40) |
| Data at $50/mo | 60GB 5G (ROC domestic) | 150GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex |
| Canada-US-Mexico included | $55/mo (60GB, ROC) / $50/mo (60GB, QC) | From $40/mo (70GB) |
| International long-distance minutes | Unlimited LD calling (select plans) | 1,000 intl mins (5G plans) |
| International messages | Not listed | Included on all plans |
| Rewards program | No | 2% back in Public Points |
| 4G population coverage | 98.3% (36.4M) - Rogers | 93.0% (34.4M) - Telus |
| 5G population coverage | 96.7% (35.8M) - Rogers | 76.3% (28.2M) - Telus |
| Total towers (parent network) | 12,284 | 16,007 |
| Dedicated 5G towers | 9,080 | 6,863 |
| Device financing | Yes (Fido Payment Program, 24 months) | No - BYOD only |
| Price lock guarantee | Not stated | No |
| US roaming - daily rate | $16/day | No daily rate |
| US roaming - talk & text bundle | No bundle | $15 (unlimited talk & text) |
| US roaming - data pass | $60 (14-day) | $30 (15-day, 5GB) / $40 (30-day, 5GB) |
| Europe roaming | 14-day $70, 30-day $80 | No pass available |
| International roaming (beyond US) | Multiple destinations with passes | No pass available |
| In-store support | Yes (Rogers/Fido locations) | No |
| Phone support | Yes | No |
| Sub-brands / parent | Rogers-owned | Telus-owned |
| Customer rating | 1.9/5 | 4.5/5 |
Roaming rates compared
Roaming is a clear differentiator between these two carriers. Fido uses a daily rate model for US travel at $16 per day, plus a range of multi-day passes for the US and international destinations including Europe, Asia, Caribbean, and Latin America. Public Mobile does not use a daily rate structure at all — instead it offers fixed-price US roaming bundles: an unlimited talk-and-text bundle for $15 and data-included passes for 15 or 30 days. For any destination outside the United States, Fido holds an unchallenged advantage as Public Mobile has no published international roaming passes beyond its US bundles.
United States
| Option | Fido | Public Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $16/day | No daily rate |
| Talk & text bundle | No bundle | $15 (unlimited talk & text) |
| 7-day pass | No 7-day US-only pass | No 7-day pass |
| 14-day pass | $60 | No 14-day pass |
| 15-day data pass | No 15-day pass | $30 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) |
| 30-day pass | $70 | $40 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) |
Europe
| Option | Fido | Public Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day (international) | No pass available |
| 14-day pass | $70 | No pass available |
| 30-day pass | $80 | No pass available |
Caribbean and Mexico
| Option | Fido | Public Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day (international) | No pass available |
| 7-day pass (US, MX, Caribbean, Cruises) | $100 | No pass available |
| 14-day pass | $70 | No pass available |
| 30-day pass | $80 | No pass available |
Asia
| Option | Fido | Public Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day (international) | No pass available |
| 14-day pass | $70 | No pass available |
| 30-day pass | $80 | No pass available |
Latin America and other international destinations
| Option | Fido | Public Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day | No pass available |
| 14-day pass | $100 | No pass available |
| 30-day pass | $110 | No pass available |
For US travel, Public Mobile offers strong value for longer stays — its $30 15-day data bundle and $40 30-day bundle undercut Fido's $60 14-day and $70 30-day passes significantly, and the $15 talk-and-text bundle is a practical short-trip option. Fido's $16/day daily rate is better for very short US visits of a day or two. For any destination outside the United States, Fido is the only option of the two, covering Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Latin America, and more with a range of passes and a flat $18/day international daily rate.
Device financing
Fido offers device financing through the Fido Payment Program, spreading the cost of a new phone across 24 monthly installments on a single bill. Once the 24-month term ends the device is fully paid off, or customers can start a new term with an upgraded phone. Public Mobile does not offer device financing or sell phones — all customers must bring their own unlocked device. Customers who need to purchase a new phone as part of switching should factor this into their decision, as Public Mobile requires a separately sourced device.
Perks and add-ons
Fido includes hotspot access and unlimited long distance calling on 20GB and higher plans. The top-tier Canada-US-Mexico plan adds unlimited international calls to 27 countries. Customers who order online save $105 — Fido waives the $80 Setup Service fee and covers shipping. Eligible plan holders with a Rogers Red credit card earn 3% cash back value on select plans. Fido is a Rogers subsidiary and does not operate sub-brands of its own.
Public Mobile offers 2% back in Public Points on most plans, redeemable for bill credits or plan upgrades. All plans include unlimited international messages. The CAN/US/Mex 5G plans (from $40/month with 70GB) include Canada-US-Mexico calling and texting plus 1,000 international long-distance minutes at no extra cost — the domestic 50GB 5G plan at $35 does not include North American roaming. The self-serve model keeps costs low, with account management entirely through the online portal or app. Public Mobile is a Telus subsidiary and does not operate sub-brands of its own.
Customer support
Fido offers more formal support options including phone support, in-store assistance at Rogers and Fido retail locations, live chat, and mail — but scores 1.9/5 on Topicks.ca. Public Mobile's support is limited to online chat, a self-serve portal, and a community forum with no phone or in-store channel, yet scores significantly higher at 4.5/5. The gap in customer satisfaction is notable given Fido's broader support infrastructure, and reflects a pattern seen across Rogers-owned brands where support volume and consistency appear to be ongoing pain points for customers.
Who should choose which?
- You need device financing to spread the cost of a new phone over 24 months on a single bill
- You want the broadest 5G network in Canada, with Rogers covering 96.7% of the population
- You travel internationally outside the US and need roaming passes for Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, or Latin America
- You prefer postpaid billing rather than prepaid top-up
- You want in-store or phone support rather than a self-serve-only model
- You travel to Mexico or the Caribbean frequently and want a 7-day combo roaming pass option
- You order online and want to save $105 in setup and shipping fees
- You want significantly more data per dollar — 50GB 5G for $35 and 150GB with CAN/US/Mex for $50 are well ahead of Fido at those price points
- You want Canada-US-Mexico calling and data included from as low as $40/month on 5G (70GB)
- You want 1,000 international long-distance minutes included at no extra cost on every 5G plan
- You travel to the US frequently and want a fixed-price 15-day or 30-day data bundle that costs less than Fido's equivalent passes
- You already have an unlocked phone and do not need device financing
- You want 2% back in Public Points on your monthly bill
- You are comfortable managing your account entirely online or through an app
Public Mobile wins on data volume, North American plan value, US roaming value, and customer satisfaction — its prepaid 5G plans offer more data per dollar than Fido at every comparable tier, Canada-US-Mexico is included from $40/month (70GB) versus $55/month on Fido outside Quebec, and its fixed-price US roaming bundles undercut Fido's passes by a significant margin. Fido wins on postpaid flexibility, international roaming coverage, device financing, 5G network reach, and formal support channels, making it the better fit for customers who need a new phone, travel internationally beyond the US, or prefer in-person or phone support over a self-serve model.
The deciding factors are whether you need device financing, how much you value raw data volume versus postpaid billing, and whether your travel takes you beyond the United States where only Fido offers roaming passes.
