The Plans
Fido and Virgin Plus no longer offer prepaid plans, and neither of them provides new customers access to the 5G network. When comparing their postpaid plans, they have almost the same prices and benefits, except for the 100-minute basic plan and the 3GB basic plan, where Fido offers a cheaper price. On the other hand, Fido provides more options for long-term prepaid plans, catering to those seeking additional savings.
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$19
100 mins
Minutes
250 MB
Data
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- N/A
$15
100 mins
Minutes
250 MB
Data
Koodo vs. Virgin Plus: the plans
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$19
100 mins
Minutes
250 MB
Data
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$15
100 mins
Minutes
250 MB
Data
Virgin Plus and Koodo’s Larger Plans
Koodo’s Starter Plan includes 250MB of data, making it unsuitable for streaming music or videos. It’s best to limit updates and downloads to WiFi when using this plan. For those who stream music and occasionally download content, a 20GB plan – offered by both Koodo Mobile and Virgin Plus in Quebec – is a better option. For frequent internet users who stream videos and download regularly, a minimum of 50GB is recommended. Most carriers provide similar pricing, around $40/month. Spending slightly more can often double your data allowance. Additionally, postpaid plans from both Koodo and Virgin Plus generally offer more data at a lower cost compared to prepaid plans.
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$40
Unlimited
Minutes
50 GB
Data
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$40
$45Unlimited
Minutes
50 GB
Data
Opting for a Smaller Plan
If you don’t intend to extensively use the internet on your phone, opting for a smaller plan might be suitable. Even basic phone operations such as web app notifications and GPS require some data.
Essentially, Koodo includes 500MB of data, and Virgin Plus includes 250MB in their cheapest plans, but these plans do not come with unlimited calls. For those seeking unlimited calls and some data, Koodo offers a cheaper and more valuable plan that includes 3GB of data at a lower price compared to Virgin Plus.
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$35
Unlimited
Minutes
3 GB
Data
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$39
Unlimited
Minutes
3 GB
Data
Virgin and Fido’s Bigger Plans
If you frequently browse the internet on your phone without heavy music or video streaming, the 3GB Starter Plan could be a great fit. Virgin Plus offers a similar plan at a slightly higher price but provides more data. For heavy data users, the 50GB plan is an excellent choice. Virgin Plus also offers the same data allowance at a slightly higher cost. However, Fido provides an additional discount if you enable auto top-up.
Regardless of whether you’re an occasional or frequent internet user, both Virgin Mobile and Fido provide larger data plans at cost-effective rates.
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$40
Unlimited
Minutes
50 GB
Data
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$40
$55Unlimited
Minutes
50 GB
Data
Smaller Plans
Compact plans cater to individuals with modest internet usage on their mobile phones. Despite limited usage, having a small data plan remains essential, as your phone continuously consumes data for background operations, app notifications, and GPS functionality.
The most budget-friendly plans offered by both companies are slightly different; Fido offers a cheaper postpaid plan with the same data. If you are in search of an unlimited calling and messaging plan without data, both providers offer it at the same price.
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- Unlimited Messages
$19
100 mins
Minutes
250 MB
Data
- No Contract
- Postpaid
- N/A
$15
100 mins
Minutes
250 MB
Data
How Do You Choose the Best Plan?
Choosing the best plan involves considering both pricing and coverage aspects. If affordability and generous data allowances are a priority, exploring Virgin Plus plans is recommended. However, for those emphasizing network coverage, it’s crucial to understand the mobile networks each company utilizes – Virgin Plus on Bell Mobility, Koodo on Telus, and Fido Mobile on Rogers. Referring to the Canadian Cellular Towers Map for Bell, Telus, and Rogers can optimize signal strength based on tower proximity.
Once the right plan size is determined, evaluating service coverage is essential. Virgin Plus (Bell) and Koodo (Telus) operate on different networks. Check coverage maps for both networks and gather insights from friends and family. If one carrier offers superior coverage in your area, it may be the optimal choice. However, if both carriers have excellent coverage, the decision can be based on the best plan for your needs.
Crucially, Fido, Koodo, and Virgin all provide Bring Your Own (BYO) phone plans on a monthly basis without long-term contracts, offering the flexibility to switch providers if dissatisfied. Be mindful of potential activation fees when considering a switch. Ultimately, your decision should align with your budget, data needs, and the network coverage that best fits your specific locations of use.
