A side-by-side comparison of Telus and Fido across plans, pricing, 5G coverage, roaming, perks, and customer support. Telus is one of Canada's three national premium carriers with coast-to-coast coverage. Fido is a Rogers-owned sub-brand that runs on the Rogers network and offers competitive pricing with broad national reach.
Plans and pricing
Both carriers offer postpaid no-contract plans across Canada. Telus also includes dedicated Mobility for Good plans for seniors. Fido runs on the Rogers network and offers competitive pricing with frequent promotions. Below are the key postpaid plan tiers for each carrier.
At the 5G data tier, Telus starts at $65/month for 60GB (5G+ Select) vs Fido at $45/month for 20GB. Telus offers a 5G+ Complete Unlimited plan at $85/month — unlimited data with Canada, US and Mexico included — and a premium Unlimited Explore tier at $100/month for roaming to 68 destinations. Fido's cross-border option is $55/month for 60GB 4G. Quebec residents get lower pricing from both carriers through province-specific plans.
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, running on the Rogers network, leads Telus significantly on both 4G and 5G population coverage, while Telus has more total towers and stronger reach in western Canada.
Despite having more total towers (16,007 vs 12,284), Telus trails the Rogers network significantly on population coverage. Fido, running on Rogers, reaches 98.3% of Canadians on 4G and 96.7% on 5G, while Telus reaches 93.0% on 4G and 76.3% on 5G. Telus excels in western Canada, reaching 99.9% of Alberta and 99.8% of British Columbia on 4G. Rogers leads in most other provinces.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Telus | Fido |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $25/mo (postpaid) | $19/mo (BYOP postpaid) |
| Cheapest 5G plan | $65/mo (60GB, 5G+ Select) | $45/mo (20GB, 5G) |
| Top-tier plan | $100/mo (unlimited, 68-destination roaming) | No unlimited tier |
| Canada-US-Mexico plan | $85/mo (unlimited data, 5G) | $55/mo (60GB, 4G) |
| Unlimited data plan | Yes ($85/mo) | No |
| 4G population coverage | 93.0% | 98.3% |
| 5G population coverage | 76.3% | 96.7% |
| Total towers | 16,007 | 12,284 |
| Western Canada (AB, BC) | Excellent (99.8%+ 4G) | Good |
| Device financing | 24 months | 24 months (Fido Payment Program) |
| Price lock guarantee | Yes, 5-year (select plans) | No |
| Roaming — USA daily | $16/day | $16/day |
| Roaming — Europe passes | $50 / 14 days · $60 / 30 days | $70 / 14 days · $80 / 30 days |
| Streaming perks | Stream+ from $10/mo for 3 months | No streaming perks |
| Sub-brands | Koodo Mobile, Public Mobile | Fido is Rogers sub-brand |
| Customer rating | 2.0/5 | 1.9/5 |
Roaming rates compared
Both Telus and Fido offer a mix of daily rates and multi-day passes, with each carrier having stronger options depending on the destination and trip length. Telus tends to win on 7-day passes and shorter European stays, while Fido has the edge on longer USA trips and extended international travel. Below is a region-by-region breakdown.
United States
| Option | Telus | Fido |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $16/day | $16/day |
| 7-day pass | $35 / 7 days | No 7-day pass |
| 14-day pass | No 14-day pass | $60 / 14 days |
| 30-day pass | No 30-day pass | $70 / 30 days |
Europe
| Option | Telus | Fido |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day | $18/day |
| 14-day pass | $50 / 14 days | $70 / 14 days |
| 30-day pass | $60 / 30 days | $80 / 30 days |
Caribbean and Mexico
| Option | Telus | Fido |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day | $18/day |
| 7-day pass | $49 / 7 days | $100 / 7 days (US-Mexico-Caribbean cruise) |
| 14-day pass | No 14-day pass | $70 / 14 days |
| 30-day pass | No 30-day pass | $80 / 30 days |
Asia
| Option | Telus | Fido |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day | $18/day |
| 14-day pass | $70 / 14 days | $70 / 14 days |
| 30-day pass | No 30-day pass | $80 / 30 days |
Latin America and other international destinations
| Option | Telus | Fido |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day | $18/day |
| 7-day pass | $60 / 7 days | No 7-day pass |
| 14-day pass | No 14-day pass | $100 / 14 days |
| 30-day pass | No 30-day pass | $110 / 30 days |
Australia and New Zealand
| Option | Telus | Fido |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $18/day | $18/day |
| 7-day pass | $50 / 7 days | No 7-day pass |
| 14-day pass | No 14-day pass | No 14-day pass |
| 30-day pass | No 30-day pass | No 30-day pass |
Daily rates are matched between the two carriers across most regions at $18/day. The real difference is in pass options. Telus wins on short trips with its 7-day passes: $35 for the USA, $49 for Caribbean and Mexico, $60 for Latin America, and $50 for Australia and New Zealand. Telus also beats Fido on European passes at $50 for 14 days and $60 for 30 days vs Fido's $70 and $80. Fido has the advantage for longer USA stays with 14-day ($60) and 30-day ($70) passes that Telus does not offer, and for extended trips to Latin America with 14-day ($100) and 30-day ($110) options. For Asia, both carriers match on the 14-day pass at $70, with Fido adding a 30-day option at $80.
Device financing
Both Telus and Fido offer 24-month device financing. With Telus, you can spread the cost of a new device over 24 months, with the device portion dropping off your bill once paid off or when you upgrade. Fido's equivalent is the Fido Payment Program, also over 24 months, with the same structure: your bill combines the plan price plus the monthly device payment, and the device cost clears at the end of the term.
Perks and add-ons
Telus is the only one of the two offering unlimited data plans — the 5G+ Complete Unlimited at $85/mo includes Canada, US and Mexico, while the 5G+ Complete Unlimited Explore at $100/mo adds roaming to 68 international destinations. Both include a 5-year rate plan price lock. Select plans include Stream+ from $10/mo for 3 months. Koodo Mobile and Public Mobile operate as Telus sub-brands for budget-minded customers who still want access to the Telus network. Auto-payment discounts of up to $10/mo are available on select plans.
Fido benefits from running on Rogers' network, one of Canada's largest, while offering prices below Rogers' own branded plans. The Fido Payment Program gives customers access to the latest devices without a large upfront cost. Ordering online saves up to $105 — Fido covers shipping and waives the $80 setup service fee. Customers with a Rogers Red credit card get 3% cash back on selected plans. Fido's 14-day and 30-day roaming passes offer better value for longer USA trips and extended international stays. Fido frequently runs promotional pricing, with some plans discounted off regular pricing.
Customer support
Telus scores 2.0/5 on customer satisfaction on Topicks.ca, narrowly ahead of Fido at 1.9/5. Telus keeps most support interactions digital through live chat, a community forum, and Facebook Messenger. Fido provides a broader set of channels including phone support, email, and in-person help at local stores, but customer reviews point to recurring issues with service quality.
Who should choose which?
- You want unlimited data with Canada, US and Mexico included ($85/mo, 5-yr price lock)
- You want premium roaming to 68 destinations ($100/mo, Unlimited Explore)
- You want access to Telus' own independent network
- You travel short-term and prefer 7-day roaming passes (USA, Caribbean, Latin America, Australia)
- You travel to Europe and want cheaper 14/30-day pass pricing
- You want a higher customer satisfaction rating (2.0/5 vs 1.9/5)
- You live in BC or Alberta where Telus has historically strongest coverage
- You want competitive pricing on the Rogers national network
- You want a 5G plan starting from $45/mo (20GB) without paying Rogers prices directly
- You want a 60GB Canada-US-Mexico plan at $55/mo
- You want to save $105 by ordering online (shipping covered, setup fee waived)
- You have a Rogers Red credit card and want 3% cash back on your plan
- You prefer in-store customer support at a local Fido location
- You want phone or email support options alongside live chat
Telus and Fido serve different priorities. Telus wins on unlimited data, 5-year price lock, European roaming passes, and customer satisfaction, with a 2.0/5 rating vs Fido's 1.9/5, unlimited data with Canada-US-Mexico at $85/mo, and 7-day roaming passes across most regions. Fido wins on entry-level 5G pricing and cross-border value, with 5G plans from $45/mo and a 60GB Canada-US-Mexico plan at $55/mo that undercuts Telus on data cost, plus up to $105 in savings when ordering online.
For everyday Canadian usage, both carriers deliver strong 5G access through their respective networks. The deciding factors are most likely plan price, data needs, travel habits, and customer service expectations.
