Last updated: 20 October 2026
Yes. Your Canadian phone connects to US networks as soon as you cross the border. The question is the bill: on most plans, Rogers, Fido, TELUS and Koodo charge C$16 a day in the US, and Bell and Virgin Plus C$13 a day. At the daily rate a week in New York or Orlando adds C$91 to C$112 per phone, or C$40 to C$60 with a travel pass, unless your plan already includes the US.
If it does not, a US eSIM gives you data for the whole trip at a fixed price: US$11.99 (about C$16.87) for 7 days with 1.5 GB a day, while your Canadian number stays on for calls, texts and bank codes.
What each Canadian carrier charges in the US
Prices in Canadian dollars, as published by each carrier in October 2026, before tax.
| Carrier | US daily rate | US travel passes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers Roam Like Home | C$16 a day | 3 days C$25, 7 days C$50, 14 days C$60, 30 days C$80 | Some 5G+ plans include data, talk and text in the US for 24 months. Rogers guide |
| Fido Roam | C$16 a day | 3 days C$25, 7 days C$50, 14 days C$60, 30 days C$80 | Fido guide |
| Bell Roam Better | C$13 a day | 3 days C$30, 14 days C$60, 30 days C$80 | Charged for at most 20 days per billing period; speeds drop to 512 kbps after 5 GB in a day. Bell guide |
| TELUS Easy Roam | C$16 a day | 3 days C$25, 7 days C$40, 14 days C$60 | TELUS guide |
| Koodo Easy Roam | C$16 a day | 3 days C$25, 7 days C$40, 14 days C$60 | Monthly plans only. Koodo guide |
| Virgin Plus Roam Sweet Roam | C$13 a day | Charged for at most 20 days per line per billing period in the US | |
| Freedom Mobile | Included | All current monthly plans include data in Canada, the US and Mexico. Freedom guide |
The daily rate is charged automatically the first time your phone uses the US network that day, even for a background app update. On Fido and Bell, the day runs to 11:59 p.m. Eastern time wherever you are.
What a trip costs: carrier or US eSIM
For one phone, with the carrier's cheapest option for each trip:
| Trip | Rogers or Fido | Bell | TELUS or Koodo | Our US eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A weekend (3 days) | C$25 pass | C$30 pass | C$25 pass | US$7.99 (about C$11.25), 1.5 GB a day |
| A week (7 days) | C$50 pass | C$60 (14-day pass) | C$40 pass | US$11.99 (about C$16.87), 1.5 GB a day |
| Two weeks (14 days) | C$60 pass | C$60 pass | C$60 pass | US$17.99 (about C$25.32), 15 days, 1.5 GB a day |
| A month (30 days) | C$80 pass | C$80 pass | Daily rate or a Global pass | US$23.99 (about C$33.76), 1.5 GB a day |
US dollar prices converted at the rate on 19 October 2026 (US$1 = C$1.4074); your card issuer's rate may differ.
One honest difference: a carrier pass also covers your calls and texts on your Canadian number, while our eSIM is data only. Most travellers call with WhatsApp, FaceTime or Wi-Fi calling, which run over the eSIM's data, so for them the eSIM does the job for a fraction of the price.
You may not need anything
Skip the eSIM if:
- Your plan already includes the US. Freedom Mobile's current monthly plans all include US data, and some Rogers 5G+ plans include the US for 24 months. Check your plan in your carrier's app before you pay for anything.
- You are crossing for a day. A one-day US eSIM costs US$2.99 (about C$4.21), but if you only need maps for a few hours, offline maps and Wi-Fi may be enough.
Snowbirds: a winter in Florida or Arizona
A month or more in Florida, Arizona or Texas changes the maths. A 30-day carrier pass costs C$80 a month; our 30-day US eSIM costs US$23.99 (about C$33.76), so a four-month winter comes to about C$135 instead of C$320.
For a whole season, two other options are worth comparing:
- A Canada-US plan from your carrier, if it includes enough US data, so you keep one line all winter.
- A US prepaid line with a US number, if you want local calls to US businesses and doctors.
Most carriers' fair-use rules assume you live in Canada, so a plan that includes the US is for trips, not for living south of the border year-round.
Keep your Canadian number working
With a US eSIM, your Canadian line stays on for calls and texts, so verification codes from your bank still reach you. To avoid the daily roaming charge:
- Turn data roaming off on your Canadian line and use the eSIM for data.
- Remember that a call or a sent text on your Canadian line can still start a day on your carrier's daily rate. Use Wi-Fi calling or WhatsApp for calls.
- Receiving a text usually costs nothing, but check your carrier's terms.
Before you cross the border
- Check your phone takes an eSIM and is unlocked: is my phone unlocked?
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi: iPhone or Android. The days start when it first connects in the US, not when you install it.
- When you cross, set the eSIM as your data line. If it shows No Service, see eSIM not working abroad?
FAQ
Will my Canadian phone work in the USA?
Yes. Every Canadian carrier roams on US networks. Most charge a daily rate, C$16 a day at Rogers, Fido, TELUS and Koodo and C$13 a day at Bell and Virgin Plus, unless your plan includes the US, as all of Freedom Mobile's current monthly plans do.
How much does it cost to use my phone in the US from Canada?
On a daily rate, C$13 to C$16 a day per phone. Week-long passes cost C$40 (TELUS, Koodo) to C$50 (Rogers, Fido). A US eSIM costs US$11.99, about C$16.87, for 7 days of data.
Which Canadian phone plans include the US?
All of Freedom Mobile's current monthly plans include US data, and some Rogers 5G+ plans include data, talk and text in the US for 24 months. Other carriers sell US coverage as a daily rate or a travel pass.
What is the cheapest way to use my phone in the US?
For data, a US eSIM: from US$7.99 for 3 days or US$11.99 for 7 days, about C$11.25 and C$16.87. Keep your Canadian line on for texts and use Wi-Fi calling or WhatsApp for calls.
Is a US eSIM worth it for snowbirds?
Usually. A 30-day US eSIM costs US$23.99, about C$33.76, against C$80 for a 30-day carrier pass. For a whole season, also compare a Canada-US plan or a US prepaid line if you need a local US number.
Facts checked on 20 October 2026: Rogers' travel page and plans page, Fido's roaming page, Bell's Roam Better FAQ and page, Koodo's Easy Roam page and Freedom Mobile's plans page, each read directly; TELUS rates from Telus retailer listings, matching Koodo's own page (TELUS blocks automated checks); Virgin Plus rates from its add-ons page as quoted in search results; our catalogue for US eSIM prices; exchange rate from the European Central Bank reference rate of 19 October 2026. Check your own carrier before you travel.