We are going to be in the US for an extended visit and would like cell phone coverage (i.e. calling, data and text.) Does anyone know of the cheapest way to have coverage? We are currently with Koodo and their cheapest plan is $100 + our monthly regular charge. There has to be a cheaper way to go. We're driving so we'd like coverage from the US border.

Bell......we have this plan it costs us $95/month

I don’t know about the US, but when we were in Europe we’d buy a SIM card for each specific country. It was dirt cheap.

Buy a burner phone when you cross the boarder.

J.C. what is a burner phone and where do you buy?

Jan a phone you throw away after your trip. Can pick up anywhere really, most convenient stores or gas station would have them.

Rogers has a canada+US infinity plan. I am paying $100 month for this. No additional roaming charges. You can use your data, calling, text with no extra costs. Way cheaper than their roaming plan for longer term.

We buy US SIM cards on Amazon.

Deanna us too. I think it was $50 off of Amazon when we went just before covid hit. Unlimited data.

Jenny who is the carrier? Can you please share a link? Thank you!

Suezie sorry…looks like they’re not in stock

Jenny Thank you!!

Suezie no problem! It was actually $42 and although we had 4 phones, only 1 had the SIM card and the other 3 tethered off it for internet.

This sounds like the way to go.

Buy a roam mobility sim and swap it as you cross the border

Amanda Unfortunately Roam went out of business over a year ago due to Covid. We used their packages anytime we went to the States and was one of the best prices available too. Have yet to find anything that even comes close to value.

Simon Well. I guess that just shows how long it's been since I've travelled! How unfortunate!

Amanda FYI: https://twitter.com/roammobility?lang=en
TWITTER.COM
roam mobility USA (@roammobility) | Twitter

Go to Walmart and buy a at&t SIM card-pay as you go! Just need an unlocked phone!

Tracey yes, Smarttalk from Walmart. Buy a cheap phone there or bring an unlocked or Verizon phone. $30 per month on up to $55 depending on how much data you need.

Drop your Komodo to Talk/text $35/month.
Get Koodo on an eSIM.
Once you get across the border. Go to Walmart. Get a an AT&T SIM card for $5 (or go to a AT&T store)
Use your “physical slot cause Koodo is eSIM ans put it in your physical slot. Get a Pre-paid plan that is good for CAN/US/MX. I have unlimited for US$60/month. Even use it here in canada. Roams on Rogers.

Get a sim card for sure

If you’re in wifi range a lot whatsapp is free- messages and phone calls. Just spent a month in the uk doing this.

If you have a newer phone that can do esim t mobile has an app that can get you set up with a phone plan without going into a store. $30-$50

Verizon or at&t prepaid

Spectrum is $30.00/ month & that’s for unlimited data & talk.(Canada & USA).

Has anyone used Public Mobile. Cheap plans but don’t know too much about it. Thx

Maureen public is great gave had it for about 4 years. The US plan has to be done online every 10 days, I believe. But no one can beat their monthly fees.

Debra thx. I live in a rural area. Do you have good reception everywhere?

Maureen yes, reception has never been a problem anywhere we have traveled.

I currently have a plan for $35 per month and have more data than I use.

Debra We just got Public Mobile’s Canada-US plan thinking it would be comparable to Telus’s Canada-US plan but we neglected to read the fine print. We still had to buy an “Add-on” US Roaming Talk/text/data pkg that costs $20 every 10 days. That wouldn’t be terrible compared to the cost of the Telus plan BUT we only get 250 MB of data with the add-on.
Public Mobile is still great if you’re not travelling out of country though!

Stop in Great Falls & go to the closest AT&T and get a pay as you go plan. We paid 50$ month w/ unlimited data & unlimited talk & text to canada. Swap out your Sim card. Pm me I you have questions.

Shaw mobility has a great plan that includes U.S and Mexico

We have taken an old phone (unlocked) and then as soon as we get ovee the border stop & get a phone plan at a dealer. Last year we purchased AT&T

We got a sim card like that the last time we were there. No plans or monthly fees. Unlimited data was the key.
North America Mobile Travel Plan(USA Travel sim Card): Flexible Days(5 Days Included), Unlimited Data/Calls/Texts, T-Mobile SIM https://www.amazon.ca/.../ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i...
AMAZON.CA
North America Mobile Travel Plan(USA Travel sim Card): Flexible Days(5 Days Included), Unlimited Data/Calls/Texts, T-Mobile SIM

I’d change to Virgin! That’s who I’m with. I drove to Oregon in August and their roaming plan was/is $40 in addition to my regular plan.

This question is asked 2-3 times a week these days as we are all anxiously waiting to head south. I would suggest doing a search as there is a lot of information on these posts. Make sure you ask all the questions, how much data, can you tether your phone etc.
I did a lot of research and have decided to try out Mint Mobile. I used ROAM for years and like others will really miss them. Loved that we could keep our number from year to year.

Buy a burner....easiest solution.

I have a Telus plan that's gives me full use of my data, phone and text when across the border. It's called unlimited can-us. I have family there, it also gives no cost calls and texting to the US when I'm in Canada

Albert Beattie me too and I’ve never had a huge cell bill. Also contacted TELUS before I went to Europe and they set up a super plan for me.

Albert Beattie how is the cell coverage in the us?

Christine Catherall
Albert Beattie it’s I think $9 a day though. Capped at $130 I believe. I’m heading to the US soon and looked it up. Unless you have a US Canada plan all the time.

Christine Catherall it's not a daily charge, you pay extra up front for the plan, about 10$ or so more a month than a regular plan. When I cross the border, I just use my phone regularly, no additional or daily charges.

Henry Yu The one I have is called a peace of mind plan, they've since renamed it unlimited can-us plan. Their website is terrible for explaining it but found this which breaks it down: https://www.whistleout.ca/.../Telus-Peace-of-Mind-Connect...
WHISTLEOUT.CA
Telus Unlimited 40 Can-US | WhistleOut

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Check out the dollar store in USA ! In Canada I got a SIM card for $4 and the monthly plans start at $15

The easiest and cheapest thing to do if you are going to be in the US more than a few days is to buy a cheap pay as you go SIM card once you are over the border and switch it out with your regular phone card. Most convenience stores once you cross the border will have them. Or you can get them in Canada. The last time I drove to the US, I bought a US SIM card at London Drugs before I left home.

I have always called my provider and had them give me the access to the region I was travelling too.

Probably no way with Koodo to avoid roaming charges...but I use What's App. You can call family and friends all over the world at no charge if they have What's App as well.

what’s app is great. It’s how I stayed in touch with friends and family when I spent a year overseas. But it needs either a data plan or a wifi connection to work

Vicky koodo has a package you can purchase for like 8 or 9 dollars a day

Vicky

$9 x 30 (days in a month)=$270 on top of my regular monthly bill is what I am trying to avoid.

When we go to the states we turn everything off and only use wifi. If we are going out for the day we turn our phones on and can use our exact same plan we have with Telus in Canada for $7 per day there. Works well for us. Then we only use it when we need it

I bought a us SIM card…..

Aerin same

The telus plan has been our saviour after a few bad burns of getting huge roaming charges. An additional $10 on our monthly bill and we have all the same use of our phone and data US/Canada. It is seamless.

Peter Schonekess
Yes, buy a US SIM FOR An older unlocked phone...

We have a place in AZ and I have always used t mobile pay as you go. If you add x $$$ you can usually get a free phone.

Hubby just added US Roaming to his Koodo plan 2 days ago, and it's an additional $45 per month. I think he had to call them to get it though.

See update below...

We just bought a phone at Walmart down there and bought minutes. It worked well for us. The what’s up app might be free too for messages.

Lykke definitely use what’s app, FB messenger, or Signal on wifi….works great!

Aerin yup

You folks are all so incredibly helpful!!! Thank you!

I buy a sim card in the country I am in, then make calls with whatsapp. Works most places globally.

Has anyone tried Visible?

UPDATE: I had replied a couple of days ago that hubby got a Koodo deal for $45 over the phone.... Apparently he was mislead (they started charging him roaming rates) and spent 1.5 hours on the phone today sorting it out. The best deal with Koodo is the $9 per day to a maximum of $100 per month, PLUS the regular plan rate.
Sorry for the confusion.

Thora thank you for the update. They also told me that the $9/day was their best offer. They didn't mention the $100/max.

Suezie They seem to be lax on providing details
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