What to Check Before You Change
Check more than price
A cheaper mobile plan can be a good reason to switch, but price alone does not tell you whether the new service will work better for you. Coverage, data rules, device financing, roaming, bundled discounts and number transfer can all change the real value of the move.
The useful comparison is between your current arrangement and the complete new one. That includes what you pay after promotions, whether you still owe money on a device, what happens to other bundled services and whether the new network works in the places where you actually spend time.
What to check at a glance
- Best for: Consumers considering changing wireless plans or providers.
- What this covers: Coverage, recurring cost, device obligations, data, roaming, number transfer, bundles and switching records.
- What this does not cover: A ranking of specific wireless providers or a guarantee of coverage at a particular location.
- Main caution: A lower advertised price can be offset by weaker coverage, lost discounts or an outstanding device obligation.
- When to get professional help: Contact your provider first when billing, cancellation or contract terms are unclear. If the issue remains unresolved, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services may be able to help.
Start with coverage where you use your phone
A national coverage map is useful, but your actual experience happens in specific places.
Check service where you regularly use your phone:
- home;
- workplace;
- school;
- commute;
- frequent travel routes;
- underground parking;
- apartment elevators and hallways;
- rural destinations;
- cottage or recreation areas.
Two networks can both cover a city while performing differently inside one building or along one highway.
Ask people close to the location
A review from another province may tell you little about your neighbourhood.
More useful evidence can come from:
- people in your building;
- coworkers in the same office;
- neighbours;
- family members who travel the same routes.
Coverage maps describe predicted service areas. Local experience helps reveal how the network behaves where you actually use it.
Compare the regular price after promotions
Do not compare only the introductory rate.
Record:
- promotional monthly price;
- regular monthly price;
- promotion length;
- data allowance;
- device payment;
- add-ons;
- multi-line discounts;
- bundle discounts.
Use one table.
| Cost factor | Current plan | New plan |
|---|---|---|
| Promotional price | C$_____ | C$_____ |
| Regular service price | C$_____ | C$_____ |
| Device payment | C$_____ | C$_____ |
| Add-ons | C$_____ | C$_____ |
| Bundle discount | -C$_____ | -C$_____ |
| Other recurring charges | C$_____ | C$_____ |
| Ongoing monthly total | C$_____ | C$_____ |
New activation fees are now restricted
CRTC rules that took effect June 12, 2026 prohibit activation and plan-modification fees for retail cellphone plans covered by the Wireless Code.
That does not mean every optional product is free. Charges for additional products or services that you explicitly choose can still apply.
If a switching quote contains a fee you do not understand, ask what the fee is for and whether it is optional.
Check what you still owe on your current device
Your wireless service and your phone are related, but they are not the same obligation.
Before switching providers, find out whether your current account has:
- a remaining device balance;
- a device subsidy;
- a financing balance;
- a rental or return-style arrangement;
- a final amount required to keep the device.
Do not assume that transferring your number erases what you owe on the phone.
Ask for today’s amount
Contact your provider or review your account and ask:
What amount would become due if I transferred my wireless service today?
That number belongs in the switching calculation.
For example, saving C$20 per month on a new plan may look attractive, but a large immediate device obligation can change the timing of the decision.
Current cancellation rules depend on the device arrangement
As of June 12, 2026, a wireless provider cannot charge an early cancellation fee where there is no subsidized device.
Where a subsidized device is part of the contract, the Wireless Code still allows the outstanding device subsidy to determine the cancellation amount, subject to the Code’s limits.
Read the actual contract rather than assuming all device arrangements work the same way.
Make sure your phone can move with you
Phones supplied by Canadian wireless providers have been required to be provided unlocked since December 1, 2017.
If a device tied to an ongoing wireless contract is locked, the Wireless Code requires the provider to unlock it on request without charge.
That removes one common switching barrier, but an unlocked phone is not automatically compatible with every network.
Check compatibility
Verify:
- device model;
- supported network bands;
- LTE and 5G support;
- eSIM compatibility;
- physical SIM support;
- VoLTE support;
- Wi-Fi calling support where important.
A provider’s compatibility checker can be useful, but confirm the exact model rather than only the product family.
Older devices deserve extra attention
A phone can be unlocked and still have limited compatibility with newer network features.
If your device is several years old, check whether important calling and data features are supported before cancelling your existing service.
Compare data based on actual use
More data is useful only if you need it.
Check several months of current usage.
Ask:
- How much data do I normally use?
- What was my highest-use month?
- Do I regularly use mobile hotspot?
- Do I stream video away from Wi-Fi?
- Does anyone share data on the account?
- Do I travel outside Canada?
Then compare the new plan.
Look beyond the headline allowance
Check:
- full-speed data amount;
- what happens after the allowance is used;
- overage charges;
- reduced-speed policies;
- hotspot restrictions;
- shared-data rules;
- roaming treatment.
“Unlimited” does not always mean unlimited use at the same speed.
Read the plan description.
Do not pay for unused capacity automatically
A plan with dramatically more data may look like better value.
If you consistently use only a small fraction of your current allowance, the extra data may have little practical value unless your usage is expected to change.
Check calling, texting and roaming
Plans can differ in areas that are less visible than the data allowance.
Check whether the plan includes what you use:
- Canada-wide calling;
- Canada-wide texting;
- international texting;
- U.S. calling;
- U.S. roaming;
- international roaming;
- voicemail;
- visual voicemail;
- Wi-Fi calling;
- mobile hotspot.
Do not assume similar monthly prices include identical features.
Roaming deserves special attention
If you travel regularly, compare roaming separately from domestic service.
A cheaper domestic plan can become more expensive overall if your travel pattern triggers higher roaming costs.
Compare:
- daily roaming options;
- destination coverage;
- pay-per-use rates;
- travel add-ons.
Use current provider terms because roaming prices can change.
Look for bundle and multi-line impacts
Switching one mobile line can affect other services.
Possible impacts include:
- home internet bundle discount;
- television discount;
- family or multi-line pricing;
- employer discount;
- student pricing;
- device promotion.
Calculate the household effect rather than only the line you are moving.
Example
Suppose the new mobile plan saves C$15 per month.
If removing the old mobile line also causes a C$10 internet bundle discount to disappear, the household improvement is only C$5 per month before considering other differences.
Those figures are illustrative.
The important calculation is the combined change across all affected services.
Keep your phone number the right way
If you want to keep your current number, do not cancel the old mobile service first.
The CRTC advises customers to ask the new provider to transfer the existing number while the current service is still active.
The new provider handles the transfer process.
What usually happens
You provide the new provider with the information it needs to request the transfer.
Your old service remains active until the port is processed.
Once the transfer is completed, the old mobile service associated with that number is cancelled.
Mobile number transfers can take a few hours, although delays are possible.
A short interruption can happen
The CRTC notes that service disruption can occur during a number transfer, including possible temporary disruption to 9-1-1 access.
Do not schedule the switch at a time when uninterrupted mobile service is essential if you can avoid it.
Choose the timing of the switch carefully
There is no universal “best day of the month” to switch.
Consider:
- device payoff date;
- promotion expiry;
- billing cycle;
- upcoming travel;
- work obligations;
- expected number-porting time;
- delivery of a new SIM;
- eSIM setup.
You do not need 30 days’ notice
The CRTC states that customers do not have to provide 30 days’ notice when cancelling mobile service.
Billing stops when service is cancelled.
You may still owe legitimate device or contract amounts, so this does not eliminate the need to review the agreement.
Do not create an avoidable gap
If you depend heavily on the number for work or family communication, avoid cancelling first and then trying to activate the replacement later.
Complete the transfer as one coordinated process.
Protect account access during the transfer
Your mobile number may be connected to more than calls and texts.
It may be used for:
- banking verification;
- government accounts;
- work systems;
- password recovery;
- two-factor authentication;
- messaging apps;
- delivery services;
- health portals.
If you are keeping the same number, most of those accounts will continue to recognize the number after a successful port.
Still, temporary service interruption can prevent codes from arriving during the transfer.
Prepare before switching
Before beginning:
- confirm important passwords;
- check backup authentication methods;
- make sure recovery email addresses are current;
- avoid changing several security settings at the same time;
- keep access to Wi-Fi where possible.
If you are changing the phone number as well as the provider, update critical accounts deliberately.
Test the new service
After the transfer completes, test the features that matter to you.
Check:
- outgoing call;
- incoming call;
- text messaging;
- mobile data;
- voicemail;
- hotspot;
- Wi-Fi calling if you use it;
- eSIM or physical SIM stability.
Then test coverage in the places that motivated the switch.
Use the trial period when applicable
The Wireless Code provides a trial period for contracts that include an early cancellation fee.
Under the current Code, eligible customers can cancel within 15 calendar days and return the device in near-new condition if they stay within the applicable usage limit.
People with disabilities receive an extended 30-day trial period with higher permitted usage.
Read the exact eligibility and device-return terms before relying on the trial period.
Keep your agreement and first bill
Save:
- order confirmation;
- service agreement;
- Critical Information Summary;
- promotion details;
- device financing terms;
- number-transfer confirmation;
- chat or email records;
- cancellation information.
Then review the first bill.
Check the first bill for
- expected monthly rate;
- promotion;
- data plan;
- device payment;
- taxes;
- optional services;
- unexpected charges.
Do the same again when a promotion ends.
If there is a problem
Start with the provider.
If a billing, contract or service-quality problem remains unresolved after you have given the provider a reasonable opportunity to fix it, the CCTS can handle eligible wireless complaints.
Keep your contract, bills and correspondence because they make the dispute easier to explain.
Build a final comparison scorecard
Compare the current service with the realistic new option.
| Decision factor | Current plan | New plan |
|---|---|---|
| Home coverage | ___ | ___ |
| Work coverage | ___ | ___ |
| Travel-route coverage | ___ | ___ |
| Regular monthly cost | C$___ | C$___ |
| Data fit | ___ | ___ |
| Roaming fit | ___ | ___ |
| Device obligation | C$___ | C$___ |
| Bundle impact | ___ | ___ |
| Contract flexibility | ___ | ___ |
| Phone compatibility | ___ | ___ |
| Number-transfer plan | ___ | ___ |
| Overall fit | ___ | ___ |
The cheapest plan does not automatically win.
Coverage can deserve more weight than price if the phone is critical for work.
A frequent traveller may weight roaming more heavily.
A household with several bundled services may care most about the combined monthly total.
Before you switch
Run through this final checklist:
- Does the new network work where I actually use my phone?
- What is the regular monthly price after promotions?
- What data amount do I actually need?
- What happens after the high-speed data allowance is used?
- Do I owe money on my current phone?
- Is the device financed, subsidized or part of a return program?
- Is my phone compatible with the new network?
- Will I lose a bundle or multi-line discount?
- Does the new plan include the roaming and calling features I use?
- Do I want to keep my existing number?
- Have I left the old service active until the number transfer starts?
- Are my important authentication methods ready for a short service interruption?
- Have I saved the new contract and promotion details?
- Will I check the first bill against what I was promised?
Switching mobile providers can be worthwhile when the new service gives you a better combination of coverage, price and terms.
The strongest comparison is not between two advertisements. It is between the complete service you have now and the complete service you will actually receive after the switch.
Frequently asked questions
Should I cancel my old mobile plan before switching?
Not if you want to keep your current phone number. The CRTC advises customers to leave the existing service active and ask the new provider to transfer the number.
Can I keep my mobile number when changing providers?
Usually, yes, when the existing service remains active and the number can be transferred in the applicable area. Ask the new provider to handle the port.
How long does a mobile number transfer take?
The CRTC says mobile transfers can take a few hours. Delays can occur, and a temporary interruption of service is possible.
Are Canadian phones still locked to one carrier?
Wireless providers have been required to provide unlocked devices since December 1, 2017. Devices tied to an ongoing contract that are locked must be unlocked by the provider on request without charge.
Can a provider charge an activation fee when I switch?
As of June 12, 2026, CRTC rules prohibit activation and modification fees for retail wireless plans covered by the Wireless Code. Charges for optional products or services you explicitly choose can still apply.
What happens if I still owe money on my phone?
Switching service does not automatically eliminate a device obligation. Depending on the contract, an outstanding device balance, subsidy or return-program amount may become due. Ask your current provider for the amount that would apply if you switched today.
Where can I complain about an unresolved wireless billing problem?
Start by asking your provider to resolve it. If the problem remains unresolved, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services handles eligible wireless and telephone complaints.
By: Yocahu Canada
Last updated: 2026-10-15
Disclosure: This article provides independent consumer information. No affiliate or sponsored relationship is identified for this article.
Important scope note
This article provides general consumer information, not individualized legal, financial or telecommunications advice. Wireless coverage, prices, promotions, device obligations and plan features differ by provider and location. Review the current service agreement and device terms before switching.
References
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What to Check Before You Change
