Travelling outside Canada - What should you do about your phone plan?

Travelling abroad for an extended period often raises an important question: what should you do about your phone plan? Canceling your Canadian phone number isn’t ideal—after all, you’ll likely need it for OTPs (One-Time Passwords), SMS verification, or staying in touch with people back home. Luckily, there are several budget-friendly options to keep your number active and even make calls while abroad.

Here’s a breakdown of the most practical solutions, along with personal recommendations:

1. Freedom Mobile’s $5 Plan

If you’re looking for a simple and effective option, Freedom Mobile’s $5 plan is hard to beat. It includes:

Unlimited incoming calls
Two hours of outgoing calls
Wi-Fi calling support

This plan works seamlessly abroad. For instance, it has been tested in India and provides reliable call clarity, making it an excellent choice for both receiving OTPs and making quick calls.

Rating:
✔️ Best option for ease of use, call clarity, and affordability.

2. Port Your Number to a VoIP Service (VoIP.ms)

VoIP.ms is another great alternative if you’re comfortable with a bit of setup. With this option, you port your Canadian number to a VoIP service for as little as $0.85/month. Calls are charged at just 1 cent per minute.

Advantages:

Extremely low cost
Flexibility to make and receive calls over the internet

Considerations:

Requires some technical setup
Call quality is decent but not as consistent as Freedom Mobile

Rating:
✔️ Affordable and practical for tech-savvy travelers.

3. MagicJack

MagicJack offers another viable solution. Available at Best Buy, the device and service cost around $60–$70 upfront, plus $10 for a Canadian number. This setup covers you for a full year of unlimited calls.

Options:

Use with hardware and a landline phone
Install the MagicJack app on your smartphone

Drawbacks:
While it’s convenient to set up, the call quality can be inconsistent.

Rating:
✔️ Easy to use, but call quality might be a hit-or-miss.

4. Fongo or TextNow

Fongo and TextNow are other options, but they come with caveats:

Fongo Landline: Costs $6/month and offers decent reliability, but it’s strictly for landline use.
Fongo or TextNow apps: These are inexpensive but less reliable, especially for international use.

Rating:
✔️ Consider Fongo Landline only if you need a landline abroad.

5. NumberBarn for Number Parking

If you don’t plan to use your phone while traveling but want to keep your Canadian number, NumberBarn is an excellent choice.

One-time transfer fee: $10
Monthly cost: $2

When you return to Canada, you can port your number back to any carrier of your choice.

Rating:
✔️ Best option for keeping your number active without using it.

Personal Recommendations

Based on personal experiences with all these services, here’s a ranked list of options:

Freedom Mobile’s $5 Plan: Ideal for reliable calling, receiving OTPs, and SMS, with minimal hassle.
VoIP.ms: A low-cost solution for tech-savvy users who don’t mind occasional setup challenges.
MagicJack: Convenient and easy, but call quality can be inconsistent.
Fongo Landline: Works well within Canada, but its use abroad is untested.
NumberBarn: Perfect for keeping your number parked if you don’t need active calling or SMS.

Conclusion

Whether you need an affordable way to stay connected or just want to keep your number active while you’re away, there’s a solution for every traveler. Consider your specific needs—such as call quality, technical setup, and cost—and choose the option that works best for you.

Safe travels!