Public Mobile and 7-Eleven SpeakOut Wireless are both prepaid, no-contract carriers available nationwide on the Telus network. Public Mobile is a self-serve, online-only carrier with monthly plans that scale up to 175GB on 5G, Canada-US-Mexico plans from $40/month, and 2% back in Public Points. 7-Eleven SpeakOut keeps things simpler with 4G plans on 30-day terms, an annual talk and text plan, a limited selection of phones for sale, and in-store support. Because both carriers use the same Telus network, the differences between them come down to plan structure, data value, 5G access, roaming, phones, and support.
Plans and pricing
Public Mobile offers 8 prepaid plans from $22 to $50 per month. Every plan includes unlimited international messaging, and from the $24 tier upward, 2% back in Public Points. Its 5G plans start at $35/month, and Canada-US-Mexico calling, texting, and data are included from $40/month. 7-Eleven SpeakOut offers 6 prepaid plans: five 30-day plans from $22 to $39 with 0.5GB to 75GB of 4G data, plus an annual talk and text plan at $125 for 360 days. Below are representative plans from each carrier across comparable price points.
Both carriers start at $22, but Public Mobile includes 1GB at that price versus 0.5GB on SpeakOut. In the low tiers, Public Mobile's 5GB plan is $24/month against SpeakOut's 5GB plan at $25. At $30, Public Mobile includes 35GB compared with SpeakOut's 15GB. At $35, Public Mobile moves to 50GB on 5G while SpeakOut offers 30GB on 4G. SpeakOut's top plan, 75GB for $39, gives slightly more data than Public Mobile's 70GB plan at $40, but SpeakOut stays on 4G and does not include Canada-US-Mexico service, which the Public Mobile plan does. Public Mobile also goes higher, with 125GB at $45 and 175GB at $50. SpeakOut renews every 30 days rather than monthly, so its plans run slightly higher over a year -- for example, $268/year for the $22 SpeakOut plan versus $264/year for Public Mobile's $22 plan. For light users, SpeakOut's annual plan at $125 for 360 days covers unlimited talk and text with no data, an option Public Mobile does not offer.
5G and network coverage
Because Public Mobile and 7-Eleven SpeakOut both operate on the Telus network, they reach the same towers and the same areas. Coverage data is based on registered tower locations from the ISED tower registry and Statistics Canada 2021 census boundaries, updated March 2026. The Telus network reaches 93.0% of Canadians on 4G and 76.3% on 5G, with particular strength in western Canada and service in northern territories.
Network reach is the same on both carriers, but network speed is not. All 7-Eleven SpeakOut plans are sold at 4G speeds, so SpeakOut customers use the Telus 4G LTE network even where Telus 5G is available. Public Mobile includes 5G access on its plans from $35/month. If 5G matters to you, only Public Mobile offers it in this comparison. If 4G is enough, coverage at your address will be the same on both.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Public Mobile | 7-Eleven SpeakOut |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $22/mo | $22/30 days |
| Data at starting price | 1GB | 0.5GB |
| Plan types | Prepaid only | Prepaid only |
| Billing cycle | Monthly | Every 30 days |
| 5G plans | Yes, from $35/mo (50GB) | No - 4G only |
| Data at $30 | 35GB (4G) | 15GB (4G) |
| Data at $35 | 50GB (5G) | 30GB (4G) |
| Top data tier | 175GB - $50/mo | 75GB - $39/30 days |
| Canada-US-Mexico included | From $40/mo (70GB) | Not included |
| International long-distance minutes | 1,000 mins (CAN/US/Mex plans) | Not listed |
| Unlimited international messages | All plans | Select plans |
| Annual plan option | No | Yes ($125/360 days) |
| Rewards program | 2% back in Public Points | Not listed |
| 4G population coverage | 93.0% (Telus network) | 93.0% (Telus network) |
| 5G population coverage | 76.3% (Telus network) | No 5G plans |
| Total towers (parent network) | 16,007 | 16,007 |
| Phones for sale | No - BYOD only | Yes (limited brands and models) |
| Device financing | No | Not listed - confirm with provider |
| US roaming - talk & text bundle | $15 (unlimited talk & text) | No published bundle |
| US roaming - data pass | $30 (15-day, 5GB) / $40 (30-day, 5GB) | No published pass |
| International roaming (beyond US) | No pass available | No published pass |
| Add-ons | US roaming bundles | None published - confirm with provider |
| In-store support | No | Yes |
| Customer rating | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
Roaming rates compared
Public Mobile includes Canada-US-Mexico calling, texting, and data on its plans from $40/month. For customers on lower tiers, it offers fixed-price US roaming bundles: unlimited talk and text for $15, and two data-included options covering 15 or 30 days. 7-Eleven SpeakOut does not include roaming on any plan, and we did not find published roaming packages on its official website. Contact 7-Eleven SpeakOut directly to check roaming availability and rates before you travel.
United States
| Option | Public Mobile | 7-Eleven SpeakOut |
|---|---|---|
| Included on plan | From $40/mo (CAN/US/Mex plans) | Not included |
| Talk & text bundle | $15 (unlimited talk & text) | No published bundle |
| 15-day data pass | $30 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) | No published pass |
| 30-day data pass | $40 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) | No published pass |
International (beyond the US)
| Option | Public Mobile | 7-Eleven SpeakOut |
|---|---|---|
| Roaming passes | No pass available | No published pass - confirm with provider |
For US travel, Public Mobile has the clear advantage, either through its CAN/US/Mex plans from $40/month or through fixed-price bundles on lower tiers. Neither carrier publishes roaming passes for Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, or other destinations outside North America. Travellers heading overseas should confirm options with each carrier or consider a local SIM or eSIM at their destination.
Phones and device financing
Public Mobile does not sell phones or offer device financing. All customers must bring their own unlocked device (BYOD). 7-Eleven SpeakOut does sell phones, but the selection is limited to a small range of brands and models. Financing terms are not listed, so contact 7-Eleven SpeakOut to confirm current phone availability and payment options. Customers with an unlocked phone can use either carrier.
Perks and add-ons
Public Mobile offers 2% back in Public Points on plans from $24/month, redeemable for bill credits or plan upgrades. Every plan includes unlimited international messaging. The $22/month base plan includes 1GB on 4G, and the $35/month tier offers 50GB on 5G. From $40/month, plans include unlimited calling and texting to Canada, the US, and Mexico, US and Mexico roaming, and 1,000 international minutes -- 70GB at $40/month, 125GB at $45/month, and 175GB at $50/month. Accounts are managed entirely online or through the app.
7-Eleven SpeakOut includes unlimited talk and text on all plans, with unlimited international and US messaging on select plans. The $22 500MB plan is listed as Pay As You Go. The annual plan at $125 for 360 days suits users who only need talk and text. SpeakOut also sells phones, with a limited range of brands and models. We did not find add-ons or roaming packages on SpeakOut's official website, so contact the provider to check what is currently available.
Customer support
Both carriers score highly with customers on Topicks.ca: 7-Eleven SpeakOut rates 5/5 and Public Mobile rates 4.5/5. Public Mobile is online-only, with a self-serve portal, app, online chat, and community forum, and no in-store or phone support. 7-Eleven SpeakOut adds in-store support alongside a contact option and self-serve support articles, which may suit customers who prefer help in person.
Who should choose which?
- You want more data for your dollar -- 35GB for $30/month, 50GB on 5G for $35/month, and up to 175GB for $50/month
- You want 5G access, which SpeakOut plans do not include
- You want Canada-US-Mexico calling, texting, and data included from $40/month
- You want 1,000 international minutes included on CAN/US/Mex plans
- You travel to the US and want fixed-price talk, text, or data bundles
- You want 2% back in Public Points on your plan
- You already have an unlocked phone and are comfortable managing your account online
- You only need talk and text and want an annual plan at $125 for 360 days
- You want 75GB of 4G data for $39 per 30 days and do not need roaming or 5G
- You want to buy a phone from your carrier and the limited selection works for you
- You prefer in-store support over an online-only model
- You want a carrier with a 5/5 Topicks.ca customer rating
Public Mobile wins on data value, 5G access, and North American roaming -- it offers more data at most price points, 5G from $35/month, Canada-US-Mexico service from $40/month, US roaming bundles, and 2% back in Public Points. 7-Eleven SpeakOut wins on in-store support, phone purchases, and its annual talk and text plan, with a simple 4G lineup and a 5/5 customer rating on Topicks.ca.
The deciding factors are whether you need 5G or cross-border service, whether you want to buy a phone or get help in a store, and whether an annual talk-and-text plan fits your usage. Because both carriers run on the Telus network, coverage at your address will be the same, though SpeakOut plans stay on 4G.
