Spending the winter in Florida, Arizona, Texas or California should not mean a $260 phone bill. Canadian carriers charge $13 to $18 per day for U.S. roaming, and a 30-day pass costs $80, so a three-month stay can add hundreds of dollars to your bill. The better move is a plan that already covers both countries. This guide compares the best Canada-US phone plans for snowbirds and frequent U.S. travellers in 2026, with real prices, the fine print that matters on long stays, and a checklist to get set up before you leave.
Disclosure: Some links to Fizz on this page are affiliate links. PlanGenius may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no additional cost to you.
Quick answer: If you live in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia or Manitoba, a Fizz Canada+USA plan is the best value for snowbirds. U.S. coverage typically adds only $1 to $5 per month, there is no daily fee, no pass and no contract, and 100 GB plans with Canada-USA coverage have been listed at about $37 per month outside Quebec. Public Mobile (about $40 for roughly 75 GB) and Freedom Mobile (Canada-US-Mexico data from $35 per month) are strong alternatives. If you prefer a big carrier, Koodo has a $50, 60 GB Canada-US-Mexico plan, and Rogers, Bell and Telus start around $70 to $85 per month.
Last updated September 23, 2026. All prices are in Canadian dollars, before taxes, and are typical BYOD (bring your own device) prices after AutoPay discounts. Canadian plan prices change often, sometimes weekly, so confirm the live price with the carrier before you sign up.
Best snowbird phone plans at a glance (2026)
These plans let you use your data, calls and texts in the U.S. without daily roaming fees. Prices are typical BYOD prices and can vary by province and promotion.
| Plan | Typical price | Data | U.S. coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fizz Canada+USA | About $37 per month for 100 GB outside Quebec. U.S. coverage typically adds $1 to $5 per month | Build your own, from pay-as-you-go up to 100 GB or more | Included on Canada+USA tier, no daily fee | Best overall value, no contract, easy to switch on and off |
| Public Mobile | About $40 for roughly 75 GB, $45 for 125 GB, up to $50 for 200 GB | 75 to 200 GB | Canada-US-Mexico, no day limit | Low price on the Telus network, prepaid |
| Freedom Mobile | From $35 per month (10 GB). About $45 for 125 GB | 10 to 250 GB | Canada-US-Mexico data on every plan, plus Roam Beyond in 120+ destinations | Snowbirds who also travel overseas |
| Koodo | About $50 per month | 60 GB | Canada-US-Mexico | Telus network with phone and chat support |
| Rogers | About $70 (100 GB) to $85 (unlimited) | 100 GB or unlimited | Canada-US on $70 plan (Mexico removed in August 2026), Canada-US-Mexico-Caribbean on $85 plan. 24-month terms | Rural coverage and satellite backup |
| Bell | About $70 (100 GB) to $85 (unlimited) | 100 GB or unlimited | Canada-US on $70 plan, Canada-US-Mexico on $85 plan with a 5 GB per day roaming cap | Fast 5G+ network and bundles |
| Telus | About $85 (unlimited) | Unlimited high-speed data | Canada-US-Mexico with a 5 GB per day roaming cap | Heavy users and hotspot use |
Fido and Virgin Plus have also offered Canada-US-Mexico plans of around 60 GB at about $50 per month, but their terms changed several times in 2026, so confirm the current version before you buy. For a deeper look at all plan types, see our guides to the best cell phone plans in Canada, the best BYOD plans and the best unlimited data plans.
Why Fizz is our top pick for snowbirds
Snowbirds have a different problem from ordinary travellers: you need U.S. coverage for a few months, not all year. Fizz fits that pattern better than any other carrier we track. Its plans are built around a data slider, and each plan has three coverage tiers: your province, Canada-wide and Canada+USA. On Canada+USA coverage you use your plan's data, calls and texts in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with no daily fee and no pass to buy. U.S. coverage typically adds just $1 to $5 per month over a Canada-only plan, and one review reports that you can turn it on or off in the Fizz app so you only pay for it in the months you travel.
See Fizz Canada+USA plans and build yours
Why snowbirds pick Fizz
- Low cost for U.S. coverage: About $1 to $5 per month more than a Canada-only plan, compared with $80 for a 30-day pass on the big carriers.
- Same plan on both sides of the border: Unlimited Canada-wide talk and text, plus your data bucket, work in both countries.
- U.S. partner networks: Fizz uses AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the United States.
- No contract, no credit check: Change or cancel any time, so you are never locked in for a winter you might cut short.
- Free eSIM activation: Switch in minutes and keep your number.
- Data rollover and data gifting: Unused data rolls over, which helps if you use less in Canada and more in the U.S.
- Everything in the app: Change your data, add coverage or update your plan without calling anyone.
What a Fizz winter costs
Fizz prices vary by province and coverage tier, so use these as a guide. At about $37 per month for a 100 GB Canada-USA plan outside Quebec (mid-August 2026 pricing), a six-month winter costs about $222 for your entire phone service in both countries. That is less than three 30-day U.S. passes on top of a regular plan. Confirm the exact price in the plan builder before you check out.
What to know before you switch
- Fizz service is sold in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. It is not available in Atlantic Canada, Saskatchewan or the territories.
- Support is online only, through chat and the app.
- Fizz is designed for travel, not for living abroad. Sustained heavy use outside your home coverage area can trigger an account review.
- Fizz does not include North American roaming by default. Choose the Canada+USA coverage tier when you build your plan.
- For unlimited data, hotspot-heavy use or global roaming, a Telus, Bell, Rogers or Freedom plan may fit better.
Read our complete guide to the best Fizz cell phone plans, the Fizz pricing, coverage and 5G guide, the Fizz reviews roundup or the Fizz carrier page, then build your Fizz plan.
Roaming pass or Canada-US plan?
If you already have a good Canadian plan, you can keep it and buy roaming. That works for short stays but gets expensive fast. Here is the extra cost of U.S. use on top of your normal monthly plan, based on each carrier's published rates.
| Option | 1 month | 3 months | 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day U.S. pass (Rogers, Fido, Bell, Virgin Plus) | $80 | $240 | $480 |
| Bell or Virgin Plus daily roaming ($13 per day, capped at 20 days per billing period) | Up to $260 | Up to $780 | Up to $1,560 |
| Fizz Canada+USA coverage (typically $1 to $5 per month) | $1 to $5 | $3 to $15 | $6 to $30 |
Telus and Koodo list U.S. travel passes only up to 14 days ($60 for 14 days), which works out to about $129 for 30 days, so they are not built for long stays. Rogers and Fido also charge $16 per day if you skip a pass, and Telus and Koodo charge $16 per day too. Public Mobile and Freedom Mobile plans include the U.S. in the monthly price, so there is no extra roaming line at all.
The rule of thumb: under about three weeks in the U.S., a travel pass is fine. For a month or more, a Canada-US plan almost always wins. For a full breakdown of every carrier's passes, see our guide to the cheapest roaming plans by carrier.
Best plan by where you live
- Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba: Fizz Canada+USA for the lowest cost, Freedom Mobile if you also travel overseas, Public Mobile if you want a big data bucket at a low price.
- Quebec: Fizz Canada+USA (U.S. coverage has been reported at about $4 per month in Quebec) or Videotron, which has offered a Canada-US plan of 75 GB at about $50 per month. Freedom Mobile is not sold in Quebec.
- Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan: Fizz and Freedom are not sold there, so look at Public Mobile, Koodo, or the Big Three. SaskTel customers should ask SaskTel about its Canada and U.S. options.
- Rural areas at home: Rogers, Bell or Telus, or a brand on their networks (Koodo, Public Mobile, Fido, Virgin Plus). See our guide to the carrier with the best cell service in Canada.
- Seniors: See our best seniors cell phone plans for low-data and simple options.
Carrier by carrier notes for snowbirds
Fizz
Best overall value for the provinces it serves. Canada+USA coverage adds a small monthly cost, and you keep your no-contract flexibility. Build your Fizz plan.
Public Mobile
Canada-US-Mexico plans run on the Telus network in Canada and are not limited to a certain number of days in the U.S. or Mexico. Public Mobile roaming is limited to those countries. It is prepaid, so keep a valid payment method on file while you are away, and note that making calls in the U.S. requires a VoLTE-compatible phone. See our Public Mobile review and Freedom vs Public Mobile comparison.
Freedom Mobile
Every Total Freedom plan includes Canada-US-Mexico data, unlimited talk and text in Canada and Roam Beyond destinations, and a monthly Roam Beyond data allotment for 120+ destinations, which helps if you also fly to Europe or Asia. Plans start at $35 per month after the Digital Discount, and Freedom requires a minimum three-month subscription on Total Freedom plans. Freedom is sold in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. See the best Freedom Mobile cell phone plans and our Freedom Mobile review.
Koodo
Koodo's Canada-US-Mexico plan of 60 GB at about $50 per month runs on the Telus network and comes with phone and chat support. See the best Koodo cell phone plans.
Rogers and Fido
Rogers Canada-US plans start around $70 for 100 GB, but the 24-month terms and the removal of Mexico from that plan in August 2026 make it worth reading the fine print. If you stay on a Rogers or Fido plan and roam, a 30-day U.S. pass is $80, and Rogers roaming in the U.S. now includes satellite-to-mobile coverage for areas without towers. See the best Rogers cell phone plans and best Fido cell phone plans.
Bell and Virgin Plus
Bell offers Canada-US plans starting around $70 for 100 GB and unlimited Canada-US-Mexico at about $85, with a 5 GB per day roaming cap on the unlimited plan. If you roam instead, Bell and Virgin Plus have the lowest daily U.S. rate ($13), a 30-day U.S. pass for $80, and a cap of 20 chargeable days per billing period. See the Bell carrier page and Virgin Plus carrier page.
Telus
Telus Unlimited Canada-US-Mexico plans start around $85 per month with a 5 GB per day roaming cap, and Telus 5G+ Complete Explore plans include data, talk and text in Canada and 68 international destinations, including the U.S. Other Telus 5G+ Complete plans get Easy Roam from $5 per day. See the best Telus cell phone plans.
Fine print for long stays
- Daily roaming is not meant for months. Bell and Virgin Plus state their roaming is not to be used permanently or semi-permanently in a roaming destination, and both cap the daily fee at 20 days per billing period. If you will be gone for months, use a Canada-US plan or a 30-day pass.
- Prepaid plans need a payment method that works while you are away. Prepaid plans like Public Mobile and Fizz renew monthly, so keep a valid card or AutoPay on file.
- Roaming data caps. Bell and Telus unlimited plans cap roaming data at 5 GB per day. If you stream a lot, check the limit before you buy.
- Contract terms. Some Rogers Canada-US plans require a 24-month term, which is a long commitment for a winter habit. No-contract plans give you more flexibility.
- Text verification codes. Some short-code messages, such as bank verification codes, may not be delivered while roaming. Set up an app-based or email-based login before you leave.
- Calls in the U.S. Some plans, such as Public Mobile's, need a VoLTE-compatible phone to make calls in the U.S.
- Roaming off means big pay-per-use rates. Telus lists U.S. pay-per-use data at $5 per MB. Turn on the right plan before you cross the border, not after.
Snowbird phone checklist
- Pick your plan at home. Choose a Canada-US plan or buy a pass before you leave.
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports your plan. Most modern phones do. If you finance a phone, see our note on the CRTC ruling on locked phones.
- Turn on roaming in your phone settings. Even on a Canada-US plan, roaming needs to be on so your phone connects to U.S. partner networks.
- Test your connection before you go. Confirm data works, then restart your phone if it does not.
- Update your sign-ins. Make sure banking and email do not depend only on SMS codes.
- Download offline maps and set up Wi-Fi calling. They cut data use and keep you connected at the condo or park.
- Track your data. Learn how to check your mobile data usage so you do not run out mid-winter.
- Drop back when you get home. If your plan has no contract, remove the U.S. coverage or switch back to a Canada-only plan to save money.
Should you buy a U.S. SIM instead?
A U.S. prepaid plan can be cheap for heavy use, but it usually means a different phone number, so your family and your bank need a new number for the winter. You also need an unlocked phone that supports the plan, and you will have two numbers to manage. For most snowbirds, a Canada-US plan is simpler and keeps your one Canadian number. A data-only travel eSIM is a good backup if you want extra data without changing your main plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cell phone plan for snowbirds?
For most snowbirds who live in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia or Manitoba, a Fizz Canada+USA plan is the best value, because U.S. coverage typically adds only $1 to $5 per month and there is no daily fee, contract or pass to buy. Public Mobile and Freedom Mobile are strong alternatives with Canada-US-Mexico data included.
How much does it cost to use a Canadian phone in the U.S. for three months?
On a big carrier, a 30-day U.S. travel pass costs $80, so about $240 for three months on top of your monthly plan. Bell and Virgin Plus daily roaming can cost up to $260 per billing period. A Fizz Canada+USA plan typically adds only $1 to $5 per month, which is $3 to $15 over three months.
Can I keep my Canadian number while I am in the U.S.?
Yes. Roaming passes, daily roaming rates and Canada-US plans all use your regular Canadian number, so banking codes, family calls and texts keep working. Some short-code text messages, such as verification codes, may not arrive while roaming, so check your bank's other sign-in options before you go.
Is there a limit on how long I can roam in the U.S. on a Canadian plan?
Yes on daily roaming add-ons. Bell and Virgin Plus say their daily roaming is not meant for permanent or semi-permanent use and cap the daily fee at 20 days per billing period. Public Mobile says its Canada-US-Mexico plans are not limited to a certain number of days. Check your carrier's terms for long stays.
Is Public Mobile good for snowbirds?
Yes, if you want a low monthly price and Canada-US-Mexico coverage with no daily fees. Its plans run on the Telus network in Canada, are prepaid, and are not limited to a set number of days abroad. You will need a VoLTE-compatible phone to make calls in the U.S., and support is online only.
Does Fizz work in the U.S.?
Yes, on Canada+USA coverage. You can use your plan's data, calls and texts in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with no daily fee. Fizz uses AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon partner networks in the U.S. Fizz is sold in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. Build your Fizz Canada+USA plan.
Do I need a U.S. phone number for the winter?
Not usually. A Canada-US plan keeps your Canadian number working in both countries. A separate U.S. prepaid plan can be cheap for heavy use, but it gives you a different number, and your unlocked phone must support the plan.
Should I switch plans before I leave or after I arrive?
Before you leave. Add your roaming pass or switch to a Canada-US plan at home so it is active when you land, and confirm your phone is unlocked and has roaming enabled. If your plan has no contract, you can switch back to a Canada-only plan when you return.
Bottom line
For most snowbirds, the smartest move is to stop paying for roaming and switch to a plan that covers both countries. If you live in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia or Manitoba, a Fizz Canada+USA plan gives you U.S. coverage for a few dollars a month, with no contract and free eSIM activation. Public Mobile and Freedom Mobile are strong alternatives, and Koodo, Rogers, Bell and Telus suit people who want a big carrier. Whatever you choose, set it up before you leave and confirm the price in the carrier's app.
Get your Fizz plan now, or compare more options in our best Canadian cell phone plans for international travel guide and our cheapest roaming plans by carrier article.
Sources: carrier pages from Rogers, Fido, Bell, Virgin Plus, Telus, Koodo, Freedom Mobile and Public Mobile, plus PlanGenius plan research verified in August and September 2026. Fizz details change often. Prices and terms are subject to change without notice. Fizz links are affiliate links.
