eSIM technology has gained popularity among travelers due to its simplicity, price, and flexibility. If you’re going to see Canada, a reliable Internet connection is a must and embedded SIMs remain the best connection option. They are much cheaper than local roaming fees, and the number of available providers gives a huge number of tariffs to choose from. 

While you pack your baggage and plan activities at a new destination, let this article guide you through the best eSIM for Canada among tourists, business visitors, and students.  

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Get the Basics: How Do You Choose a Canada eSIM?

Canada has a huge network of cell towers, connected to 5G Internet. You won’t struggle with connection time and coverage – which cannot be said about pricing. Roaming fees for tourists reach 10 USD per day just for calls. You would pay around $2 for one MB of data (for you to understand, one smartphone picture weighs 5–10 MB).  Hence, you need to choose a cost-effective eSIM provider with great coverage in Canada:

  1. Pay attention to pricing. Even the best travel eSIM for Canada won’t offer you a 1-dollar plan per GB. The Internet here is expensive, so expect around $2–$4 per 1 GB. 
  2. Ensure great coverage. Canadian nature attracts tourists, so you need great coverage in both cities and distant regions. Make sure you’ll be connected on the road, near nature reserves, and in the mountains. 
  3. Decide on duration. While standard SIM cards offer 30-day tariffs, virtual SIMs are more flexible. You can buy a connection for 1 day, a week, or a whole year at once. Long-lasting options are more beneficial, keep this in mind. 
  4. Check the number of providers. Canada is covered by various cell data providers, but around 86% of users prefer Rogers, Bell Mobility, and Telus Mobility. Make sure your eSIM uses one of them or, perfectly, connects to all three depending on the situation. 
  5. Prioritize in-app activation. You don’t want to spend hours in smartphone settings, right? Select providers with the best travel apps and in-app activation. This type of plan activation takes 5–10 minutes.

Finally, analyze your needs. Tourists often search for the best eSIM for USA and Canada, as many of them visit two countries at once. If you need only a little data to chat and use maps, don’t agree to costly plans with 20+ GB, as you won’t spend them. Focus on what you need while comparing the following providers. 

The Top 10 Providers with the Best eSIMs in Canada

Consider the following companies for staying online while traveling across Canada. 

Yesim for Tourists and Up-to-a-Month Visitors

Choose from 3 options: 3 GB at $16.50, 5 GB at 19.80, 10 GB at $34.10, or 20 GB at $48.40. Yesim focuses on weekly and monthly stays, which is rather suited for tourists immigrants, and students. 

The provider uses cell data from 4 local companies at the same time: Rogers, Bell, Telus, and SaksTel. All four offer 5G speed and coverage all over the country. No matter where you are, Yesim shows stable performance. 

Note, however, that this plan doesn’t include a phone number, calls, and SMS. You pay for the Internet and need to buy a number separately. At the same time, you don’t need to overpay for phone calls if you don’t need them. 

Advantages:

  • unlimited hotspot;
  • 4 cell data providers;
  • activation in an application or via QR codes; 
  • loyalty program for clients.

Disadvantages:

  • a phone number comes at a separate price;
  • top-ups are not available – if you run out of data, buy another tariff. 

Saily for Tourists and Business Visitors

Saily, an eSIM company by NordVPN, offers standard data plans with small data volumes. This is a great provider for tourists, business visitors, and users who don’t need much data. You won’t replace the Wi-Fi connection with Saily’s plans, but data is enough for completing basic tasks in Canada. 

Only one tariff offers a 7-day duration. This 1-GB offer is enough for chatting and using maps. Yet, you’ll need more data to download files and post on social media. 30-day tariffs are more flexible and offer either 3, 5, 10, or 20 GB. Saily doesn’t specify which cell data companies provide users with connections in Canada. 

Advantages:

  • small-volume plans for tourists;
  • highly beneficial 20-GB tariff (only $2.2 per GB);
  • in-app activation;
  • 24/4 support.

Disadvantages:

  • little data for digital nomads;
  • providers are not specified. 

Airalo for Students and Business Travelers 

Airalo positions itself as a budget-friendly provider, but it is not completely so for Canada. By purchasing only 1 GB, you pay $6, which is too much. This makes Airalo a poor option for tourists and travelers on a budget. 

If you stay for a longer period and use more Internet, buy a 10 GB or 20 GB tariff to pay only $3.5–$2.4 per GB. The company works with Rogers, Bell, and Telus, ensuring 5G in all parts of the destination. 

Advantages:

  • cheap long-term tariffs;
  • top-ups are available;
  • installation via QR code or official applications;
  • Connection by 3 data providers.

Disadvantages:

  • an expensive 1-GB offer;
  • according to reviews, 5G is rarely available.

Nomad eSIM for Tourists and Digital Nomads

Nomad eSIM offers the most versatile prepaid offers, while unlimited Internet is totally absent. You can choose data volumes from 1 to 50 GB – yet, be ready that even the largest plan lasts for only 30 days.

Another great feature is an opportunity to choose connection quality. Nomad offers two eSIM providers – BICS and eSIMgo. Both provide users with 5G, but eSIMgo is overall faster and covers more regions. By choosing BICS, meanwhile, you can save up to $2 on each GB in your plan. 

Advantages:

  • both local eSIM for Canada and regional offers;
  • up to 50 GB within one tariff;
  • top-up options are available;
  • unlimited hotspot.

Disadvantages:

  • no unlimited Internet option;
  • many users complain about slow and complicated activation.

AloSIM for Active Travelers and Tourists

Among other companies, aloSIM collaborates with the largest number of local SIM providers:  Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility, Koodo Mobile, Public Mobile, and SaskTel. With such an approach, the carrier potential covers the largest area in Canada. You will be connected on a road, far from cities, and outside tourist destinations. If you’re an active traveler, think about this option, but be ready to pay for convenience.

1 GB of data costs $6, but larger volumes come at a better price. Within the largest 20-GB pack, you give $2.45 per GB. Each tariff comes with an international phone number, so you’ll be able to make calls across Canada without paying roaming charges. 

Advantages:

  • phone calls and SMS are included in the price;
  • 5 cell data providers ensure a stable connection;
  • available hotspot;
  • 24/7 support.

Disadvantages:

  • An expensive provider.

Jetpac for Canada and US Visitors

All Canadian tariffs by Jetpac cover the USA as well. You will be automatically switched by cell data providers depending on your location: Verizon in the US and Bell, Rogers, and TELUS in Canada. At the same time, some tariffs (20 and 40 GB) cost even less than one-country offers from other carriers. 

Jetpac sometimes receives negative reviews at Trustpilot. Users are not content with connection speed and quality, especially outside the biggest cities. If you’re ready for a slight risk, consider this cheap provider. 

Advantages:

  • one of the cheapest carriers;
  • tariffs cover both Canada and the USA;
  • new users can buy 1 GB at $1 (active for 2 days).

Disadvantages:

  • poor connection according to reviews;
  • no phone calls or SMS;
  • no unlimited Internet options. 

Maya Mobile for Experienced eSIM Users

Maya is a reliable provider with a 5G connection and highly positive reviews from Canadian visitors. The company uses 2 local carriers (Telus and Bell) and offers 5 GB, 10 GB, 3 GB, and unlimited mobile data in the destination. 

The only possible problem is a lack of support and complicated activation. According to Trustpilot reviews, everything goes well until you need a real human manager to help. In most cases, support is a chatbot with autogenerated answers. If you already know how to use and activate embedded SIMs, choose this provider without a doubt. Beginners should pay attention to carriers with 24/7 support. 

Advantages:

  • 5G speed across the country;
  • 2 cell data providers;
  • unlimited Internet sharing;
  • stable connection according to reviews. 

Disadvantages:

  • slow support;
  • possible issues with activation. 

Roamless for Short-Term Visitors and Nomads

Roamless service offers a “pay as you go” format. Instead of buying a certain amount of data, you top up your phone balance and receive the Internet at the current price. For example, a $5 deposit ensures around 1.1 gigabytes of data. Pay $100 and receive 20 GB. You will be connected to Rogers provider with 5G speed, but phone calls and SMS are not available. 

This is a great format if you don’t want to spend time choosing a proper tariff. Simply top up and use the given data. At the same time, such a format is not beneficial for long-term visitors. No matter how much you pay, the Internet doesn’t get cheaper. Every time, you give $5 for 1–1.1 GB of data. 

Advantages:

  • 5G speed;
  • flexible plans without limits;
  • installation and top-ups within an official application.

Disadvantages:

  • price per GB is capped at $5;
  • no phone calls or SMS.

Global YO for Tourists who Don’t need Phone Calls

Global YO offers a wide range of plans – from 500 MB to 50 GB. On average, 1 GB of data will cost you $1–3, which is not a lot for this destination. The connection speed is capped at 4G, so digital nomads and business visitors will hardly like this provider. 

Tourists, however, get a stable 4G connection with unlimited tethering, but without SMS and calls. According to previous users, Global YO works quite well outdoors, but connections in cafĂ©s, hotels, and other buildings may be lost. Be ready to switch to Wi-Fi sometimes. 

Advantages:

  • cheap connection;
  • unlimited hotspot;
  • loyalty program for clients.

Disadvantages:

  • 5G is not available;
  • no phone calls and SMS.

Sparks for Students and Work Visa Owners

Sparks is popular for its long-term plans. For instance, a 50-GB offer is active for 120 days with a top-up opportunity. If you’re visiting Canada for a long period, this is a good provider. Yet, long-term plans are too expensive, as 1 GB costs $3–$4. The carrier doesn’t give many details about cell data providers and speed, but you can specify it individually. 

Advantages:

  • long-term plans at a good price;
  • 8 tariffs for Canada to choose from.

Disadvantages:

  • no phone calls and SMS;
  • few details about connection quality;
  • no regional plans with Canada.

The Cheapest Plans: Price Analysis

The best eSIMs Canada should not be the most expensive ones. If you don’t seek a 4G/5G connection and large volumes, consider Saily and Global YO. Among their plans, you can find options with only $1 for a gigabyte of mobile data. 

Note that unlimited Internet plans are even more beneficial. Although they cost more, you are not limited to the amount of data. If you download a lot of files and post online content, this is the best decision. Unlimited connection in Canada is available at Yesim. By paying for 30 days straight, you give only $3 for a whole day of unlimited mobile Internet. Alternatively, consider Holafly, where unlimited plans reach up to 90 days (you will pay $3 per day). 

The Best eSIM Plans for Tourists

As a tourist, focus on short-term offers that don’t make you overpay. Yesim, for instance, offers a prepaid plan with 3 GB for a week at only $16.50.

If you think that 3 GB is too much (it is so, if you need Internet for chatting only), consider a 1-GB offer by Saily. This tariff lasts for a week, which is a standard stay duration for tourists. 

As Canada and the US are widespread tourist destinations, you may want a regional plan to cover both locations. The “North America” offer is available at Nomad eSIM. It covers Canada, the USA, and Mexico. At the same time, the tariff is quite cheap for regional and international SIM cards.

How do You Get an eSIM to Visit Canada?

The activation process depends on your device, OS, and carrier. Here’s a general guide, but you need to specify the details from your carrier:

  1. Buy an eSIM online before arriving. You can choose and purchase a tariff from the comfort of your home. Select a preferred provider from this guide, visit its official website/application, and buy a plan. 
  2. Receive activation details. This can be a QR code, data for manual installation, or in-app installation. 
  3. Activate your new virtual SIM in settings. Open your device’s settings, find “Cellular” or “Network Settings”, and choose to add a new SIM tariff. By using the carrier’s data (QR code, text data, or app), initiate the installation. 
  4. Activate the plan when needed. Once you arrive in Canada, open settings and set the Canadian eSIM as a default option for phone calls, SMS, and mobile Internet. 

eSIM providers offer detailed instructions on installing and activating their tariffs. Focus on companies with the easiest installation methods. 

Conclusion

Prepaid eSIM data remains the best way to use mobile Internet during trips to Canada. As local data roaming fees are extremely high, embedded SIMs save you money and time buying local SIM cards. Among providers, choose Yesim and Nomad for the best connection quality, while Jetpac and Airlalo are the cheapest options. Try suggested tariffs on your own, and feel free to share your experience with readers!

Buy your eSIM from Yesim!

Skip the high roaming fees in the Canada with Yesim!
Get unlimited mobile data in minutes and save 10% with code

TRAVELBIZ10
Which eSIM tariffs for Canada are the cheapest?

Currently, the cheapest option is a 50-GB tariff by Global YO. Within it, you pay only $1 per 1 GB. 

Can I refund my plan if I am not satisfied?

Usually, companies don’t offer refunds. Yet, if your tariff is not working, and support cannot fix it, you will be offered a refund, compensation, or points for further purchases. 

How long can I use the same tariff?

It depends on the initial duration and top-up availability. The tariff will be active for 1, 7, 30, 90, or even 365 days depending on its characteristics. Some providers offer you to prolong the same tariff by just buying more data. 

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