Two of Canada's most price-competitive carriers going head to head. The key difference: TELUS coverage vs urban-only pricing. Here is everything you need to know.
If you live or travel outside major urban centres, Public Mobile on TELUS is the clear winner for coverage. If you are in a major city and mainly care about data volume at the lowest price, Freedom's flash sales can be competitive.
| Feature | Public Mobile | Freedom Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Network | TELUS | Freedom (Shaw/Quebecor) |
| National coverage | ✓ Excellent | Limited — urban only |
| 5G availability | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes (urban) |
| $40/month data | 150GB | 250GB (flash sale) |
| Roaming | ✓ Canada-US-Mexico | ✓ Canada-US-Mexico |
| Rural coverage | ✓ Strong | ✗ Very limited |
| Reliability | ✓ TELUS infrastructure | Varies by location |
This is the most important factor in this comparison. Public Mobile runs on the TELUS network — one of the largest in Canada with strong coverage in cities, rural areas, highways, and remote regions. Freedom Mobile operates primarily in major urban centres. If you drive between cities, travel to cottage country, or live outside a major metro, Public Mobile is the significantly safer choice.
Both carriers compete aggressively on data volume. As of March 2026, Freedom Mobile's flash sales have matched or exceeded Public Mobile's data for comparable prices. However, flash sale pricing is temporary — always compare what is currently available before signing up.