The Public Mobile $45 plan is worth considering in August 2026 if you actually need a very large data bucket and Canada-US-Mexico usage. The live Public Mobile plans page currently shows a $45/month limited-time plan with 125GB of 5G-speed data, unlimited talk and text, 1,000 international minutes and 2% back in Public Points. That is a lot of data for $45, but it is not automatically the best value for everyone.
The real question is whether you will use what you are paying for. Public Mobile currently has a $40 tier with 75GB and a $50 tier with 175GB, both also shown as limited-time Canada-US-Mexico offers. If 75GB is already more than enough, the extra $5 for the $45 plan may buy data that spends the month sitting quietly in your account doing absolutely nothing.
What the Public Mobile $45 plan includes right now
Checked on August 7, 2026, the official Public Mobile plans page lists the $45 tier with:
- 125GB of data
- 5G-speed service
- Canada-US-Mexico usage
- unlimited talk and text
- 1,000 international minutes
- 2% back in Public Points
- limited-time offer status
Public Mobile changes plan allowances frequently. In fact, recent third-party plan listings were still showing a different $45 allowance shortly before this article was prepared. That is why the article title keeps the durable price tier instead of hardcoding 125GB into the headline.
If you are reading this later, use the live Public Mobile page as the source of truth. A telecom plan can age faster than a carton of berries in August.
The $45 plan sits in an unusually strong part of the lineup
The current Public Mobile lineup gives the $45 tier competition from both directions.
| Current tier | Data | Geography | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40/month | 75GB | Canada-US-Mexico | Lower cost if 75GB is enough |
| $45/month | 125GB | Canada-US-Mexico | 50GB more than the $40 tier for $5 more |
| $50/month | 175GB | Canada-US-Mexico | Another 50GB for another $5 |
All three were marked limited-time when checked, so do not assume the structure will stay exactly like this.
From a pure data-per-dollar perspective, the $45 plan looks strong. But mobile plans are not bags of rice. Buying more just because the unit price looks good does not create value if you never use it.
Who can actually use 125GB in a month?
This tier makes more sense for a heavy mobile-data user than for someone who spends most of the week on home and office Wi-Fi.
Examples of people who may benefit include:
- commuters who stream video or music for long periods
- people who tether a laptop or tablet regularly
- students who use mobile data between classes and work
- workers who spend much of the day away from reliable Wi-Fi
- people who travel frequently between Canada, the United States and Mexico
- households using a phone hotspot as temporary backup internet
If your current phone shows that you normally use 12GB a month, jumping to 125GB because it sounds impressive is not really an upgrade. It is more like renting a storage locker for one winter coat.
The $40 plan may be the smarter choice for many people
The current $40 plan includes 75GB, which is already generous for normal smartphone use. The $45 tier costs $60 more over a full year if the price remains unchanged.
That extra cost is reasonable if you often exceed 75GB, rely heavily on hotspot data or simply want a much larger buffer. It is harder to justify if you rarely cross 30GB.
Before switching, open your phone’s cellular-data settings and look at several months of actual use. Your own usage history is a better plan adviser than an advertisement.
You can also compare the site’s $40 plan review before deciding.
When the $50 plan becomes tempting
The current $50 tier gives you 175GB, another 50GB above the $45 plan for only $5 more. That sounds like an easy upsell, and that is exactly why you should stop and ask whether you need it.
If 125GB is already comfortably above your normal usage, the $50 plan does not become better simply because the data-per-dollar ratio improves. If you are consistently pushing past 120GB, however, the additional headroom can make sense.
The decision becomes:
- Under roughly 75GB most months: compare the $40 tier first.
- Frequently above 75GB: the $45 tier becomes much easier to justify.
- Frequently near or above 125GB: compare the $50 tier.
Those are usage guidelines, not carrier limits. Check your own data history and the live plan lineup.
Canada-US-Mexico use is a bigger reason to choose it than the raw data number
The current $45 plan is not merely a big Canada-only data bucket. Public Mobile lists it as a Canada-US-Mexico plan.
That can be useful if you regularly cross the border for work, shopping, family visits or vacations. A person who travels several times a year may get more practical value from included cross-border use than from the difference between 75GB and 125GB.
Public Mobile’s coverage information explains that eligible Canada-US-Mexico plans are designed for use across those three countries. Always check the current plan terms before travelling because roaming arrangements and inclusions can change.
What does “5G speed” mean here?
The live plan card identifies the $45 tier as a 5G-speed plan. Public Mobile also explains that plan speed and network technology are related but not identical. Your real performance still depends on coverage, device capability, congestion and location.
Do not buy this plan because you expect one exact speed-test number everywhere. A 5G label does not turn a weak indoor signal into magic.
Public Points improve the value slightly
The $45 plan currently advertises 2% back in Public Points. Public Mobile’s rewards page says points can be earned through payments, anniversaries, referrals and Community participation, then redeemed toward payments, add-ons and other eligible rewards.
Points are useful, but they should not be the main reason you buy too much plan. Start with the service and data you need. Treat rewards as the extra, not the steering wheel.
New customer versus existing customer availability
The public plans page tells you what Public Mobile is advertising publicly. Existing subscribers can sometimes see different offers in My Account, including targeted plan changes or promotions.
That means an existing customer should check Change Subscription before assuming the public $45 offer is the only $45 option available. Likewise, do not assume a targeted account offer is available to every new customer.
Existing customers should think about timing, not just the new allowance
If you already have Public Mobile, compare the $45 offer in My Account with the plan you have now before making a change. A grandfathered plan, targeted discount or bonus can be more valuable than the public headline allowance.
Also check whether Public Mobile offers the change immediately or on your next renewal. With prepaid service, timing can affect the value of the subscription period you already paid for. If you still have plenty of data and several days left, there may be little reason to rush an immediate change just because a new plan appeared.
Take a screenshot of the offer details before confirming. Public Mobile’s plan catalogue can move quickly, and having a record of the price, data and included countries makes it easier to verify that the account changed the way you expected.
Reasons to skip the Public Mobile $45 plan
This tier is easy to overbuy. You may want a different option if:
- you use less than 50GB most months
- you never travel to the U.S. or Mexico
- you strongly prefer phone or in-store customer support
- you want to finance a new phone through your carrier
- you need a feature Public Mobile does not currently provide
Public Mobile is heavily self-serve, so the plan’s value depends partly on whether you are comfortable managing your account online.
So, is the Public Mobile $45 plan worth it?
Yes for the right heavy-data user. At the time of this review, 125GB with Canada-US-Mexico use for $45 is highly competitive inside Public Mobile’s own lineup. The biggest reason to choose it is not that 125GB sounds huge. It is that the $45 tier gives a meaningful jump over the $40 plan without requiring the $50 tier.
For moderate users, though, the current Public Mobile plans below $45 may already provide more than enough data.
Public Mobile $45 plan FAQ
How much data does the Public Mobile $45 plan include?
As checked on August 7, 2026, Public Mobile lists a limited-time $45 Canada-US-Mexico plan with 125GB of 5G-speed data. Check the live plan page because allowances change frequently.
Does the Public Mobile $45 plan work in the U.S. and Mexico?
The current $45 plan is listed as Canada-US-Mexico. Verify the live terms before travelling because cross-border plan details can change.
Is the $45 plan better than the $40 plan?
It is better for someone who needs more than the current 75GB offered at $40. If you use far less than 75GB, saving $5 per month may be more valuable than having another 50GB you rarely touch.
Does the $45 plan earn Public Points?
The current plan card advertises 2% back in Public Points. Public Mobile also offers other ways to earn points through its rewards program.
Can existing Public Mobile customers get the same $45 plan?
Do not assume the public offer and your account offers are identical. Existing customers should sign in and check their available plan-change options before switching.