Will my phone work in Canada?

Maybe you want to catch a Toronto Maple Leafs game, visit Niagara Falls or just get some really good poutine, eh. Whatever the reason is that you’re visiting our neighbor to the north, you may be wondering, will my phone work in Canada? Let’s dive in below.

Can I use my phone in Canada? 

Yep. Virtually all modern smartphones can be used in Canada, as long as they use a GSM network, since that’s what Canada primarily uses. Most US-based carriers offer international roaming options you can buy before or during your trip. And some offer international roaming add-ons at super sweet prices… but we’ll get to that later.

If you’re worried about the cost, most carriers will alert you to the price of calling, texting and more once you land in the Great White North. We recommend researching your carrier’s roaming options and comparing them against local Canadian carriers’ options to see what works best for your budget before you leave. And some carriers even offer FREE roaming in Canada..hint hint.

Should I get a Canadian SIM card? 

Canadian SIM cards will work with most unlocked US phones. You can either buy a prepaid physical SIM card or an eSIM data plan once you arrive at your destination, if you don’t want to use your US phone plan in Canada.  

Installing a local Canadian SIM card can help you avoid roaming fees on calling, texts and data use, if your carrier doesn’t offer a good international roaming plan. However, people won’t be able to reach you at your regular number if you only have one SIM card slot. But this isn’t a problem if your phone is dual SIM-compatible, since you can use a local eSIM instead and have both SIM cards at once. eSIMs are also great because you can have your data plan all set before you even land.

One other thing to consider is using a Canadian SIM card may change the language on your phone. Canada is largely an English-speaking country, so this shouldn’t be an issue, unless you’re heading to Quebec. In which case, hopefully you retained all that high school French.

Read all that and think a local SIM card isn’t for you? No worries, just look into your carrier’s roaming offerings and see if you can go with your regular old SIM.

Tips for using a US cell phone in Canada 

Here’s how to make the most of your phone and minimize your data use as you take a spin around Vancouver, Toronto and…Saskatchewan.

• Connect to Wi-Fi when you can
  • Take advantage of the Wi-Fi at Tim Hortons, your hotel, or any restaurants you’re visiting. Wi-Fi is usually available in spots catering to tourists, so you should be able to find Wi-Fi to hop on to, but do be aware that there may be added risks of hacking or identity theft, so brush up on your phone security.

• Go airplane mode 
  • It’s like going beast mode for saving your data. Make airplane mode your default setting on a trip to avoid accidental data usage. Even while it’s on, you can still connect to Wi-Fi and use any other phone functions that don’t require data.
    
• Download content for offline use 
  • When connected to Wi-Fi, take the opportunity to download maps, guidebooks, and media that you can use later without it eating into your data.

• Use Wi-Fi calling 
  • Most phone plans include Wi-Fi Calling as a feature (including Mint). Wi-Fi Calling lets you make calls while connected to Wi-Fi at no additional cost, and can be easily turned on in your phone’s settings.
    
• Pause auto downloads and background app refresh
  • Make sure things like push notifications, auto updates and background app refresh are all turned off. These can slowly chip away at your data .

• Consider a portable battery
  • Ensure your phone stays charged on the go with a portable battery to avoid any mishaps.

Ready for that trip to Canada, eh?

Now you’ve got an answer to the question “will my phone work in Canada?” We’ve also got guides on Mexico, France, the U.K., Italy, Japan and more. #catchflightsnotfeelings

But if you’re ready to head to Canada, or internationally in general, just know Mint Mobile offers free calling to and free roaming in Canada and our Minternational Pass offers talk, text and high-speed data to over 180+ countries. Oh, and btw, we also operate on a GSM network. Just had to slip that in. 

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