Public Mobile review
Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Public Mobile suits travelers crossing Canada, the US and Mexico who want a cheap prepaid line on a big network. It is a Canadian mobile virtual network operator founded in 2010, with plans from CAD 22 and coverage of 3 countries, so the trade-off is a tight footprint against fair monthly prices.
Key facts
- Best for
- Canada, US and Mexico trips on a budget, run on TELUS.
- Price from
- CA$22↗
- Countries covered
- 3↗
- Unlimited data
- No↗
- Reference plan prices
- US: 35 CAD/mo 25GB; Mexico: 35 CAD/mo 25GB (Canada-US-Mexico); Canada: 28 CAD/mo 10GB↗
- 5G
- Yes↗
- Networks
- TELUS↗
- Top-ups
- Yes↗
- Seller type
- Mvno↗
- Headquarters
- Canada↗
- Founded
- 2010↗
- Support channels
- Chat, Help-centre, Community↗
- Region
- Regional
- Features
- 5G, Instant activation, Carrier plan
- Pricing model
- Budget
- Official website
- publicmobile.ca
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App Store
Pros and cons
Pros
- Plans start at CAD 22 as a prepaid monthly line, with reference plan pricing in CAD
- Runs on TELUS, the network behind the coverage, and offers 5G
- Top-ups are available, so you can add data mid-trip without a new line
- Instant activation and carrier plans sit alongside the budget model
Cons
- Coverage is limited to 3 countries, far short of global eSIMs
- Unlimited data is not offered, so heavy streaming and maps drain the allowance
- Support runs on chat, help centre and community only, with no phone line listed
Who it suits
- Travelers moving between Canada, the US and Mexico on a prepaid budget line
- People who want 5G on a major host network without roaming fees across the region
- Longer stays where a monthly prepaid plan beats a short eSIM
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing a single worldwide line, where Zwitchy covers 200 countries
- Travellers buying a low-commitment data add-on, where eSIMGo.is starts at $0.99
- Those focused on one destination, where SimToIsrael starts at $25
Where it works
Coverage spans 3 countries in a regional footprint, centred on Canada with plans that reach the US and Mexico. The service runs on TELUS, so signal quality follows that host network rather than a partner set. 5G is offered, and the regional model suits a single Canada, US and Mexico itinerary. It is a narrow map compared with global eSIMs.
How it compares on our data
On countries covered, Public Mobile sits at position 250 of 303 brands, which is where the regional footprint shows. Price from ranks at 245 of 313. Read together, the picture is a budget line priced in the pack's range but covering only a small part of the world.
How Public Mobile compares
8.6 vs 9.3
8.6 vs 9.3
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8.6 vs 9.1- 8.6 vs 9.1
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8.6 vs 8.6
8.6 vs 8.6
Frequently asked questions
How much does Public Mobile cost?+
Plans start at CAD 22. Reference plan prices are quoted in Canadian dollars per month, with a generous allowance on the US plan and on the Canada, US and Mexico plan, and a smaller allowance on the Canada plan. Top-ups are available if you need extra data during the trip.
Which countries does Public Mobile cover?+
Coverage runs to 3 countries in a regional footprint, with reference plans for Canada, the US and Mexico. It is the narrowest kind of coverage on our list, so it works for a North American trip rather than a multi-continent one.
Is Public Mobile data unlimited?+
Unlimited data is not offered on these plans, so every plan carries a data allowance that counts down. The reference plans show a roomy allowance on the US and Canada, US and Mexico options, and a tighter one for the Canada plan. Heavy video use will eat into it.
Which network does Public Mobile use?+
Service runs on TELUS, listed as the network behind the coverage. That means signal quality follows a single well established host network across the covered region, and 5G is available on it. It is a mobile virtual network operator based in Canada, founded in 2010.
Can I top up while I am travelling?+
Yes, top-ups are available, so data can be added during a trip without setting up a new line. Activation is instant, and the budget model keeps the base price low. For travellers who need more data than the reference allowance on a long stay, that is the practical route.
How do I get help from Public Mobile?+
Support runs on chat, help centre and community, so you get live chat, a help centre and a community rather than a phone line. That suits most questions about plans and top-ups. Anything more complex, like a network fault, may take longer to sort out than a call would.
Is Public Mobile an eSIM or a physical SIM?+
Public Mobile is a Canadian prepaid mobile virtual network operator rather than a travel eSIM marketplace, with a carrier plan model and instant activation. It is positioned as a budget provider, which is why the monthly plan pricing is the main cost.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Mobile checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Seller type
“Founded: March 18, 2010”
- publicmobile.ca checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Start a Chat; Help Articles; Community”
- publicmobile.ca/en/coverage checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Countries covered, Features, 5G, Pricing model, Networks, Region
“One plan. Three countries. Travel seamlessly with a Canada-US-Mexico plan - no plan changes, no overage charges.”
- publicmobile.ca/en/plans checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Price from, Reference plan prices, Top-ups, Unlimited data
“Canada-wide $22 / mo. 1GB”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price per GB from, Hotspot sharing.