Public Mobile and Videotron sit at opposite ends of the carrier spectrum. Public Mobile is a prepaid-only sub-brand of Telus, running entirely on the Telus network with nationwide reach and a compact lineup of 8 plans, no phone financing, and no in-store or phone support. Videotron is a full-service regional carrier, operating its own 4G LTE and 5G network and selling 6 postpaid no-contract plans in Ontario and Quebec, with device financing, a rate-lock guarantee on select plans, and in-store and phone support. Because Public Mobile runs on Telus, its coverage extends across all provinces and territories, while Videotron's own network is concentrated in Quebec, with a smaller footprint in Ontario.
Plans and pricing
Public Mobile offers 8 prepaid no-contract plans from $22 to $50 per month, all with unlimited talk and text, stepping into 5G tiers that bundle Canada-US-Mexico calling and 1,000 international long-distance minutes from $40/month. Videotron offers 6 postpaid no-contract plans from $30 to $75 per month, sold at the same price in both Ontario and Quebec, with data allowances from talk-and-text-only up to 200GB and up to $15/mo off when bundled with Videotron home internet.
Public Mobile reaches lower on price at the entry level, with a no-data unlimited talk & text plan at $22/mo versus Videotron's cheapest option at $30/mo (also no data). At $35/mo, Public Mobile's 50GB 5G plan is domestic-only, with no Canada-US-Mexico roaming at that price; the entry point for CAN/US/Mex calling and 1,000 international long-distance minutes is $40/mo (70GB). Videotron has no plan at that price point; its nearest equivalent is the 25GB Canada & U.S. plan at $49/mo on promotion. On the high end, Videotron pulls ahead: its 200GB Canada-US-Mexico plan at $70/mo (promo, was $75) and its 100GB Canada & International plan at $75/mo (110+ destinations included) both exceed Public Mobile's top tier of 150GB at $50/mo, and both now include a $50 credit on top of the plan price. Videotron also layers in ongoing bundle discounts of up to $15/mo when paired with Videotron home internet, a perk Public Mobile's prepaid lineup does not offer.
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 near-universal national 4G reach and strong 5G penetration across Canada. Videotron operates its own network, concentrated in Quebec with a smaller Ontario footprint, and does not currently sell consumer plans outside those two provinces.
Public Mobile on Telus holds a clear national coverage advantage, reaching 93.0% of Canadians on 4G and 76.3% on 5G across 16,007 towers, including 6,863 dedicated 5G sites. Videotron's own network reaches 65.9% of Canadians on 4G and 65.6% on 5G nationally from 1,826 towers, but this national figure understates its strength in its core market: within Quebec, Videotron's network reaches 96.7% of the population on 4G and 95.7% on 5G, a coverage level that rivals or exceeds Public Mobile's national average. Outside Quebec and Ontario, Videotron has no registered network presence, so customers in the rest of Canada are limited to Public Mobile (Telus) between these two carriers.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Public Mobile | Videotron |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $22/mo | $30/mo |
| Plan type | Prepaid only | Postpaid only |
| Plan count | 8 | 6 |
| Cheapest 5G plan with data | $35/mo (50GB, domestic only) | $49/mo (25GB, promo price, CAN/US) |
| Top-tier plan | $50/mo (150GB, CAN/US/Mex) | $75/mo (100GB, 110+ destinations) · $70/mo (200GB, CAN-US-Mexico) |
| Canada-US(-Mexico) included | From $40/mo (70GB 5G) | Standard on 5 of 6 plans, from $30/mo (no data at that tier) |
| Prepaid plans | Yes - all 8 plans | No |
| 4G population coverage | 93.0% national (34.4M) - Telus | 65.9% national (24.4M) · 96.7% in QC |
| 5G population coverage | 76.3% national (28.2M) - Telus | 65.6% national (24.3M) · 95.7% in QC |
| Total towers | 16,007 | 1,826 |
| Device financing | No - BYOD only | Simplified Payment - 24 months, 0% interest |
| Price lock guarantee | No | "Price for life" on selected plans |
| Roaming - USA | No daily rate - 15/30-day passes (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) | $13/day flat rate (Daily Traveller Pass) |
| Roaming - international beyond US | Not offered | $15/day flat rate, 100+ destinations |
| Sub-brands | None - Public Mobile is itself a Telus prepaid sub-brand | Freedom Mobile, Fizz (both Quebecor) |
| In-store support | No | Yes |
| Phone support | No | Yes |
| Customer rating | 4.5/5 | 0/5 (no reviews yet) |
Roaming rates compared
Public Mobile and Videotron both sell roaming as a standalone add-on available to any plan holder, but the shape of that add-on differs. Public Mobile bundles unlimited US talk, text, and 5GB of data into fixed 15-day and 30-day passes, aimed at travellers who know their trip length in advance. Videotron instead sells a single flat daily rate through its Daily Traveller Pass: $13/day in the US or $15/day across 100+ international destinations, with no confirmed 7, 14, or 30-day pass, so the daily rate applies for the full length of a trip. Public Mobile has no roaming option at all for destinations outside the United States.
United States
| Option | Public Mobile | Videotron |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | No standalone daily rate - pass based | $13/day (Daily Traveller Pass) |
| Talk & text bundle | $15 (unlimited talk & text) | No standalone bundle - covered under Daily Traveller Pass |
| 15-day pass | $30 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) | No confirmed multi-day pass - daily rate applies |
| 30-day pass | $40 (unlimited talk, text & 5GB data) | No confirmed multi-day pass - daily rate applies |
International (beyond the US)
| Option | Public Mobile | Videotron |
|---|---|---|
| Included on plan | No | 100GB Canada & International plan, $75/mo (110+ destinations) |
| Daily rate | No pass available | $15/day flat rate (100+ destinations) |
| Permanent inclusion | No | Mexico included standard on the 200GB CAN-US-Mexico plan, $70/mo |
For US travel with a known trip length, Public Mobile's fixed-price 15-day ($30) and 30-day ($40) passes are simple to budget and cover unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data regardless of what plan you're on. Videotron's $13/day rate can work out cheaper for very short US trips but has no capped multi-day option, so costs scale with trip length. For any destination outside the United States, Videotron is the only option of the two: its $15/day flat rate covers 100+ destinations, and its top-tier plans permanently bundle in Mexico or 110+ destinations for customers who travel internationally often enough to justify the higher monthly price. Public Mobile customers travelling outside the US and Canada have no roaming option on this carrier.
Device financing
Public Mobile does not sell phones or offer device financing - it is a BYOD-only service requiring customers to bring an unlocked or compatible device. Videotron offers its Simplified Payment option, dividing the cost of a new device into 24 interest-free (0%) monthly payments based on your usage plan. Customers who need a financed device have a clear path with Videotron that Public Mobile does not offer.
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. The 5G CAN/US/Mex plans (from $40/month) include Canada-US-Mexico calling and texting plus 1,000 international long-distance minutes at no additional cost. Account management is handled entirely through the self-serve portal or app.
Videotron includes Canada-US roaming on 5 of its 6 plans as standard, and Canada-US-Mexico on its top 200GB tier. The 150GB, 200GB, and 100GB Canada & International plans also include a $50 credit. Select plans carry a "Price for life" rate-lock guarantee. Customers who also subscribe to Videotron home internet save up to $15/mo on their mobile plan depending on tier. All plans include unlimited international messages and unlimited long-distance calling. Its sub-brands, Freedom Mobile and Fizz, are also both Quebecor properties.
Customer support
Public Mobile holds a 4.5/5 rating on Topicks.ca despite operating a self-serve-only model with no phone or in-store support. Videotron has not yet received any reviews on the site, so its 0/5 shouldn't be read as a quality signal in either direction. On channel breadth, Videotron offers the wider spread, including a local store, phone support, and bilingual (English and French) support articles, none of which Public Mobile currently offers.
Who should choose which?
- You want nationwide coverage across all provinces and territories on the Telus network, including areas Videotron does not serve at all
- You want Canada-US-Mexico calling and 1,000 international long-distance minutes included from as low as $40/month (70GB 5G)
- You want the lowest possible entry price at $22/mo, undercutting Videotron's $30/mo minimum
- You already have an unlocked compatible device and don't need financing or want to avoid a financed device tied to your plan
- You travel to the US for 15 or 30 days and want a bundled, fixed-price data pass rather than a per-day rate
- You want prepaid flexibility with no contract and the ability to change plans month to month
- You live in Quebec and want a network that reaches 96.7% 4G and 95.7% 5G of the province, rivalling Public Mobile's national average
- You want the highest data ceiling available between these two carriers: 200GB with Canada-US-Mexico, or 100GB with 110+ destinations included
- You travel internationally beyond the US and want a flat daily rate ($15/day, 100+ destinations) rather than no roaming option at all
- You want financed device options through Simplified Payment (24 months, 0% interest), which Public Mobile does not offer
- You want a "Price for life" rate-lock guarantee on select plans, which Public Mobile does not currently offer
- You also have or plan to get Videotron home internet and want to save up to $15/mo by bundling
- You want in-store or phone support, which Public Mobile does not offer
Public Mobile wins on nationwide coverage, entry-level pricing, included North American roaming, and prepaid flexibility - its Telus network reaches all provinces and territories, and Canada-US-Mexico calling is built into its 5G plans from $40/month without add-ons. Videotron wins on top-tier data ceilings, device financing, a rate-lock guarantee, international roaming beyond the US, and support channel breadth, making it the stronger pick for Quebec and Ontario residents who want a financed device, broader international travel coverage, or in-person support.
The deciding factors are your province of residence, whether Videotron's Quebec/Ontario footprint actually covers you, and whether you'd rather pay less with a prepaid plan or get financing and a rate-lock guarantee with a postpaid one.
