Public Mobile and Freedom Mobile are both budget-oriented alternatives to Canada's Big Three, but they take very different approaches. Public Mobile is a Telus-owned prepaid-only carrier with a fully self-serve online model, running on the Telus network for nationwide coverage. Freedom Mobile is an independent carrier operating its own network, concentrated in major urban centres across BC, Ontario, and Alberta, offering postpaid and annual prepaid plans with Canada-US-Mexico roaming included as standard. The two carriers overlap closely on price, but differ significantly on coverage reach, plan structure, roaming, and support model.
Plans and pricing
Public Mobile offers 8 prepaid no-contract plans from $22 to $50 per month, ranging from a data-free talk and text plan up to 150GB on 5G with Canada-US-Mexico included. Freedom Mobile offers 8 plans including 5 main postpaid no-contract options and 3 annual prepaid tiers, with all main postpaid plans including Canada-US-Mexico roaming as standard. The plans below show the most representative options from each carrier.
At $35 per month, Public Mobile offers 50GB on 5G for Canada-only use while Freedom includes 25GB with Canada-US-Mexico roaming, making the tier a split depending on whether domestic data volume or North American coverage matters more. At $40 per month, both carriers offer CAN/US/Mex plans with Freedom providing 60GB and Public Mobile providing 70GB, a slight edge for Public Mobile on data but Freedom adds Roam Beyond. At $45 per month, Public Mobile offers 100GB with CAN/US/Mex and Freedom offers 100GB with CAN/US/Mex plus Roam Beyond, giving Freedom the edge at that tier. At $50 per month, Public Mobile offers 150GB and Freedom offers 175GB with Roam Beyond, favouring Freedom on both data and roaming. Public Mobile reaches lower with a $22 plan that Freedom does not match, and also offers 2% back in Public Points on most plans. Freedom offers annual prepaid options at $99, $129, and $159 per year for light users, plus postpaid billing and device financing that Public Mobile does not provide.
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. Public Mobile runs on the Telus network, which provides nationwide coverage including rural areas, Atlantic Canada, and all provinces and territories. Freedom Mobile operates its own independent network focused on major urban centres in BC, Ontario, and Alberta. On 5G population reach, the Telus network covers 76.3% of Canadians compared to Freedom's 48.0%.
Public Mobile on the Telus network holds a decisive coverage advantage nationally, covering 93.0% of Canadians on 4G and 76.3% on 5G, with over 16,000 towers and 6,863 dedicated 5G sites. Freedom's coverage is concentrated in BC (91.1% 4G), Ontario (84.2% 4G), and Alberta (81.4% 4G), but drops sharply outside those provinces, with Quebec at just 1.3% 4G and most other provinces and territories at 0%. For anyone outside Freedom's urban footprint, Public Mobile's Telus-network access is a clear advantage. Within Freedom's coverage zones, however, both carriers deliver solid urban 5G performance.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Public Mobile | Freedom Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $22/mo (prepaid) | $35/mo (or $99/yr prepaid) |
| Plan type | Prepaid only | Postpaid and prepaid |
| Cheapest 5G plan | $35/mo (50GB Canada only) | $35/mo (25GB + CAN/US/Mex) |
| Data at $40/mo | 70GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex | 60GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex + 5GB Roam Beyond |
| Data at $45/mo | 100GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex | 100GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex + 5GB Roam Beyond |
| Data at $50/mo | 150GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex | 175GB 5G + CAN/US/Mex + 10GB Roam Beyond |
| Top-tier plan | $50/mo (150GB) | $60/mo (250GB + 20GB Roam Beyond) |
| Canada-US-Mexico included | From $40/mo | From $35/mo |
| International long-distance minutes | 1,000 intl mins (5G plans) | Not listed |
| International messages | Included on all plans | Included on postpaid plans |
| International roaming (120+ destinations) | No | Yes (Roam Beyond, 1GB-20GB depending on plan) |
| Annual prepaid option | No | Yes ($99/yr, $129/yr, $159/yr) |
| Rewards program | 2% back in Public Points | No |
| 4G population coverage | 93.0% (34.4M) - Telus | 54.4% (20.1M) |
| 5G population coverage | 76.3% (28.2M) - Telus | 48.0% (17.8M) |
| Total towers | 16,007 (Telus network) | 2,166 |
| Dedicated 5G towers | 6,863 | 728 |
| Rural and national coverage | Yes, nationwide (Telus network) | No, urban only |
| Device financing | No - BYOD only | Yes, 24 months (MyTab/TradeUp) |
| Price lock guarantee | No | Yes (selected plans) |
| US roaming - included on plan | From $40/mo | All main postpaid plans |
| US roaming - add-on pass | $15 talk & text / $30 15-day / $40 30-day | No add-on pass (included on plan) |
| International roaming beyond US | No pass available | Roam Beyond included + add-on passes ($30/$50) |
| In-store support | No | Yes |
| Phone support | No | Yes |
| Sub-brands / parent | Telus-owned | Independent |
| Customer rating | 4.5/5 | 3.3/5 |
Roaming rates compared
Freedom Mobile includes Canada-US-Mexico on all main postpaid plans starting at $35 per month. Public Mobile includes Canada-US-Mexico starting at $40 per month on its CAN/US/Mex 5G plans, so domestic North American travel is covered on both carriers for most users. The difference emerges beyond North America: Freedom Mobile offers Roam Beyond data for 120+ international destinations built into its $40 and above postpaid plans, plus purchasable 30-day passes for additional Roam Beyond data. Public Mobile offers standalone US roaming bundles for customers whose plan does not already include US access, but has no roaming option for any destination outside the United States. Freedom holds a clear advantage for international travellers.
United States and Mexico
| Option | Public Mobile | Freedom Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Included on plan | From $40/mo (70GB CAN/US/Mex 5G plan and above) | All main postpaid plans from $35/mo |
| Daily rate | No daily rate | No daily rate |
| Talk & text add-on bundle | $15 (unlimited talk & text) | No add-on (included on plan) |
| 15-day data pass | $30 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) | No 15-day pass |
| 30-day data pass | $40 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) | No 30-day US-only pass |
International destinations (120+ countries) - Roam Beyond
| Option | Public Mobile | Freedom Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Included Roam Beyond data | Not available | 1GB - 20GB depending on plan tier |
| 30-day pass (5GB) | Not available | $30 (includes unlimited talk & text) |
| 30-day pass (10GB) | Not available | $50 (includes unlimited talk & text) |
For US-bound travellers whose plan does not already include US roaming, Public Mobile's standalone bundles offer solid value - the $30 15-day and $40 30-day passes are practical options for short trips. For anyone already on a Public Mobile CAN/US/Mex 5G plan from $40/month, or a Freedom 5G plan from $35/month, US and Mexico are included. For travel beyond North America, Freedom is the only viable choice of the two, with Roam Beyond data included on $40+ plans and additional passes available for purchase.
Device financing
Public Mobile does not sell devices and does not offer financing — all customers must bring their own unlocked phone. Freedom Mobile offers 24-month device financing through its MyTab/TradeUp Payment Program, spreading the cost of a new phone across two years on the monthly bill. Customers who need to purchase a new device as part of switching will find Freedom the only option of the two for financing.
Perks and add-ons
Public Mobile offers 2% back in Public Points on most plans, redeemable for bill credits or plan upgrades. All plans include unlimited international messages, and CAN/US/Mex 5G plans from $40 per month include Canada-US-Mexico calling and texting plus 1,000 international long-distance minutes. 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.
Freedom Mobile includes Canada-US-Mexico roaming as standard on all main postpaid plans. Plans from the $40 tier and above include Roam Beyond data for 120+ international destinations, ranging from 5GB to 20GB depending on the tier. Select plans carry a Price Freeze Promise, guaranteeing the monthly rate will not increase. Annual prepaid options at $99, $129, and $159 per year are available for light or backup users. Freedom supports eSIM and offers 24-month device financing. Freedom has no sub-brands.
Customer support
Freedom Mobile offers significantly more support channels than Public Mobile, including phone support, in-store assistance, and messaging-based options via Apple Messages, WhatsApp, and RCS. Public Mobile is limited to online chat, a self-serve portal, and a community forum with no phone or in-store channel. Despite this, Public Mobile scores higher in customer satisfaction at 4.5/5 versus Freedom's 3.3/5 on Topicks.ca, continuing a pattern where streamlined self-serve carriers tend to score better on satisfaction than carriers with broader but inconsistent support infrastructure.
Who should choose which?
- You want a low-cost plan starting at $22/month with no contract and no commitment
- You live outside BC, Ontario, or Alberta and need reliable national coverage on the Telus network
- You travel or live in rural, northern, or Atlantic Canada where Freedom has no coverage
- You want 2% back in Public Points on your monthly bill
- You want more data per dollar at the $40 tier -- 70GB with CAN/US/Mex versus Freedom's 60GB with Roam Beyond
- You already have an unlocked phone and do not need device financing
- You are comfortable managing your account entirely online or through an app
- You live in a major city in BC, Ontario, or Alberta where Freedom's network performs well
- You want postpaid billing rather than prepaid top-up
- You travel internationally beyond the US and want Roam Beyond data in 120+ destinations included on your plan
- You want a Price Freeze Promise locking in your monthly rate
- You need 24-month device financing to spread the cost of a new phone
- You want annual prepaid options at $99, $129, or $159 per year for light or backup use
- You prefer in-store or phone support rather than a self-serve-only model
Public Mobile wins on entry-level pricing, national coverage, rewards, and customer satisfaction -- its Telus-network reach covers rural and non-urban Canada that Freedom cannot, its $22 starting price beats Freedom's $35, and its 4.5/5 customer rating leads Freedom's 3.3/5. At the $40 tier, Public Mobile edges Freedom on raw data volume with 70GB versus 60GB, though Freedom includes Roam Beyond at that price. Freedom Mobile wins on postpaid flexibility, international roaming, data volume at $45 and $50, device financing, price lock guarantee, and support channel breadth -- at $45 Freedom matches PM's 100GB while adding Roam Beyond, and at $50 Freedom offers 175GB versus PM's 150GB plus Roam Beyond. Freedom is the stronger choice for urban Canadians in its coverage area who travel internationally, need a new phone, or want a locked-in rate.
The deciding factors are where you live, whether Freedom's network covers your area, and whether you need device financing or international roaming beyond the United States.
