Canada is huge and spread out: long drives between cities, national parks with patchy signal, and transit apps, ride-hailing and mobile tickets in the cities. Mobile data costs more here than in most of Europe or Asia, so the plan you pick matters. Here's what a Canada eSIM actually costs.
How much data do you need in Canada?
Fixed-data plan prices
Holafly only sells unlimited plans here, so fixed data is Saily against Airalo. Validity matters as much as price: a plan that expires after 7 days is only cheap if your trip is 7 days. Highlighted: the cheaper 30-day option.
| Data | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $5.297 days | $7.003 days |
| 3 GB | $12.9930 days | $8.003 days$9.007 days |
| 5 GB | $17.9930 days | $14.007 days$15.0015 days$18.0030 days |
| 10 GB | $30.9930 days | $18.007 days$20.0015 days$23.0030 days |
| 20 GB | $43.9930 days | $34.0015 days$37.0030 days |
| 50 GB | — | $84.0030 days |
Prices in USD from saily.com and airalo.com, checked 9 October 2026.
What that means: small plans are close, but from 10 GB up Airalo is much cheaper in Canada — $23.00 for 10 GB over 30 days against $30.99 at Saily, and $18.00 if your trip fits a 7-day window. Saily is cheaper for 1 GB, and its 3 GB plan lasts 30 days instead of 3 or 7.
Unlimited plan prices
| Days | Saily | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | — | $19.00 | $19.90 |
| 5 | $19.99 | $27.00 | $28.90 |
| 7 | $28.99 | $32.00 | $36.50 |
| 10 | $33.99 | $35.00 | $39.50 |
| 15 | $43.99 | $45.00 | $50.50 |
| 30 | $85.99 | $86.00 | $95.90 |
Prices in USD from each provider's Canada page, checked 9 October 2026. Highlighted: cheapest for that length. — = not sold at that length.
Saily was the cheapest unlimited option from 5 to 30 days — by $7 for 5 days and $3 for a week — and also sells 20- and 25-day plans ($56.99 and $72.99). Airalo was cheapest for 3 days. Holafly costs the most here, but names two networks, Bell and Telus.
"Unlimited" rarely means unlimited full speed. Saily states 3 GB per day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps, with no hotspot restrictions. Holafly states a fair-usage policy that can slow speeds for up to a day, and lets you share 1 GB per day as a hotspot. Airalo's page didn't list its unlimited limits, so check the plan details before buying.
Which one to pick
- Trips of 5 days to a month: Saily unlimited — the cheapest from 5 to 30 days, and 5 days of unlimited costs about the same as 5 GB.
- A month with moderate use: Airalo's 30-day 10 GB ($23.00) or 20 GB ($37.00).
- A short city break with light use: Saily's 1 GB for 7 days ($5.29), or Airalo's 3 GB for 7 days ($9.00).
- Canada and the US on one trip: a Canada-only plan won't work across the border. Saily and Airalo both sell North America regional plans that include Canada — compare one against two separate country plans.
- Road trips through national parks: coverage depends on the network outside the cities, so Holafly's two named networks (Bell and Telus) may be worth the premium.
Networks and coverage
Canada's three national networks are Bell, Rogers and Telus. Travel eSIMs roam on one or more of them:
- Saily: didn't name its Canadian networks on its plan page; it lists 3G/4G/LTE/5G depending on the local network.
- Airalo: Bell.
- Holafly: Bell and Telus, with 5G where available.
None of the three includes a local phone number — they're data-only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling.
Canada tips
- Coverage is strong in cities and along major highways, but large parts of the north, many back roads and much of the national parks have no signal at all. Download offline maps before long drives and hikes.
- Mobile data is expensive in Canada, so lean on hotel, café and airport WiFi — with a VPN on shared networks. See the best VPN for hotel and airport WiFi.
- Visiting the US too? Check that your plan covers both countries before you cross. See the USA eSIM guide for US-only prices.
- Keep your home SIM active for bank texts with its data roaming turned off.
How much data you need
Using the rates from the trip data calculator — three hours a day of maps, messaging and browsing, an hour of social media and an hour of music, with 40% of your time on WiFi:
- 7 days: about 3.6 GB → a 5 GB plan
- 14 days: about 7.2 GB → a 10 GB plan
- 21 days: about 10.9 GB → a 20 GB plan, or 10 GB plus another small plan
Streaming video or tethering a laptop changes the picture fast — use Find your plan above or the full calculator.
Setting up before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. A phone locked to your home carrier won't accept another provider's eSIM.
- Install the eSIM at home over WiFi. Installation needs a connection; activation can wait. Saily plans can be activated any time within 180 days of purchase and switch on automatically when you arrive.
- On landing, set the eSIM as your data line and turn on data roaming for it. That's normal for travel eSIMs and doesn't cost extra.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM so it can still receive calls and texts without running up charges.
More country guides: Japan · Thailand · USA · Turkey · Italy · Spain · Europe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Canada?
On 9 October 2026, Saily had the cheapest unlimited plans from 5 to 30 days (for example $28.99 for 7 days), while Airalo was clearly cheaper for 30-day plans of 10 GB or more, with 10 GB for $23.00 against $30.99 at Saily.
How much is an eSIM for Canada?
Prices started at $5.29 for 1 GB (Saily, 7 days). A 10 GB plan cost $23.00 for 30 days at Airalo, and unlimited data cost from $19.99 for 5 days or $28.99 for a week at Saily.
Is unlimited data worth it in Canada?
Often, yes. Because Canadian data is expensive, Saily's 5-day unlimited plan ($19.99) cost about the same as a 5 GB plan ($17.99 at Saily, $18.00 at Airalo). Saily's Canada unlimited plan gives 3 GB a day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps.
Which network do Canada travel eSIMs use?
Airalo lists Bell, and Holafly lists Bell and Telus. Saily doesn't name its Canadian partners on its plan page. Bell, Rogers and Telus are Canada's three national networks.
Does a Canada eSIM work in the USA?
A Canada-only plan doesn't. If you're visiting both, compare a North America regional plan, which Saily and Airalo both sell, against buying a separate US plan.
Do Canada eSIMs include a phone number?
These are data-only eSIMs, so use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling. Saily also offers an optional phone number with a call and text plan as an add-on in its app.