Most Canadian phone plans are built around large data buckets — 20GB, 30GB and up. But if you spend most of your day on Wi-Fi at home, school or work, you may not come close to using that much. "I need a phone number, but only a little data" — if that sounds like you, here's an approach: keep your number on a low-cost plan and top up data with an eSIM only as you need it.
- If you're mostly on Wi-Fi, 1–10GB a month is often enough, and big-bucket plans can be overkill
- Keeping your number plus adding a data eSIM can lower your monthly cost
- Freedom's annual plan (around $99/year) is a cheap way to keep a number
- If you reliably use 20GB+ a month, a local monthly plan is usually cheaper
- Bloomy is data-only — no phone number, SMS or voice calls, but app calls (e.g., WhatsApp) work over data
- If you're mostly on Wi-Fi, 1–10GB a month is plenty for many people. Instead of paying for a big plan every month, keeping your number plus a right-sized data eSIM can be a better fit.
- Keep your number on a low-cost annual plan (like Freedom), and add the data amount you actually need with an eSIM — this combination makes it easier to keep your monthly cost down.
- That said, if you reliably use 20GB or more every month, a local carrier's monthly plan may be cheaper. Choose based on how much you actually use.
The information here is a general guide as of June 2026. Prices, plans and rates change, so please check each provider's official site before signing up.
Canadian plans tend to be data-heavy
Canadian mobile plans usually lead with large data and high speeds, and it's not unusual to see them run $40–$50+ a month. That suits heavy data users, but if your life is mostly on Wi-Fi, you can end up paying every month for data you never finish.
How much do you really use?
If your usage is mostly maps, messaging, browsing and social media, and you're on Wi-Fi at home, school or work, your on-the-go data might add up to just a few GB a month. Start by checking your own data usage — that's the easiest way to see how much you actually need.
| Data | Good for |
|---|---|
| 1GB | SMS verification plus minimal maps and messaging |
| 3GB | Short stays, mostly on Wi-Fi |
| 5GB | A little use while out and about |
| 10GB | Comfortable for social media, maps and messaging |
| 20GB | Lots of headroom for everything except video |
Keep the number, add the data
Use a number-keep plan (a low-cost plan whose job is simply to keep a phone number active) to hold onto your Canadian number, and add the data you need with a data-only eSIM (an eSIM that handles internet only). With this split, you don't have to carry a big-bucket plan every month. For example, you might use Freedom's annual plan (around $99/year, roughly $8.25/month) to keep your number, and pick your data with an eSIM. A rough monthly picture looks like this (amounts are approximate — confirm current pricing at purchase).
| Setup | Approx. monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Freedom number-keep only | $8.25 |
| + Data eSIM 1GB | $10.77 |
| + Data eSIM 3GB | $14.78 |
| + Data eSIM 5GB | $18.26 |
| + Data eSIM 10GB | $25.64 |
| + Data eSIM 20GB | $37.82 |
Note: the figures above are approximate examples and can change — please confirm current Bloomy eSIM pricing at the time of purchase. Bloomy is a data-only eSIM and does not provide a phone number or SMS. Please check coverage for your area. Actual connection quality can vary by local network, device and location.
It's easy to assume a big plan means peace of mind, but if your life is mostly on Wi-Fi you may not even use 5GB a month. Take one look at your actual data usage and you might realize that a number-keep plan plus a smaller data eSIM is all you need. On the other hand, if you use a lot every month, a local monthly plan is the better fit — so let your real usage be the deciding factor.
Heavy monthly users are better off on a local plan
On the flip side, if you reliably use 20GB or more a month, or you tether a lot, a local carrier's monthly plan can work out cheaper. Think of it as a split: light data users go with number-keep plus eSIM, while heavy data users go with a local monthly plan.
| Type | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Light data user (up to ~10GB, mostly Wi-Fi) | Number-keep plan + data eSIM |
| Heavy data user (20GB+ every month) | Local carrier monthly plan |
Who this approach suits — and who it doesn't
A good fit if you…
- Don't use anywhere near 30GB a month in Canada
- Are mostly on Wi-Fi at home, school or work
- Need a phone number but only a little data
- Want to lower your monthly phone bill
Not a great fit if you…
- Reliably use 20GB or more every month
- Tether a lot
- Want number, calls and data all bundled with one provider
What you'll need
To use a data eSIM, you need a device that supports eSIM and can run dual SIM. Check in advance that your current phone is compatible.
If you just want to "hold" a number, SpeakOut is also an option
If your only goal is to keep a phone number cheaply, SpeakOut (sold at 7-Eleven, on the Rogers network) is a prepaid option you can buy in store. Top-ups are valid for 365 days and incoming SMS is free within Canada, which makes it well suited to keeping a number plus occasionally receiving calls and texts (outgoing calls are pay-per-use as of writing). Rates and conditions can change, so check the latest on the official SpeakOut site. For a comparison of different number-keep plans, see Which Canadian number-keep option is cheapest?. Handling data separately with an eSIM makes it easier to keep the roles clear: one thing keeps your number, the other handles data.
Common mistakes (easy to avoid if you check first)
- Paying every month for data you don't use: check your usage and right-size your data.
- Signing up for a big plan when you're a light user: number-keep plus an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Getting a device that doesn't support eSIM: confirm compatibility in advance.
What to do next
- Check your own monthly data usage
- Review the latest terms of a number-keep plan (such as Freedom's annual option)
- Decide how much data you need and calculate your monthly cost assuming you add it via eSIM
- Confirm your device supports eSIM and dual SIM
Summary
If you don't use anywhere near 30GB in Canada, keeping your number plus a right-sized data eSIM can beat carrying a big-bucket plan every month. Keep your number cheaply on an annual option like Freedom, and add data by choosing the amount you need. If you're a heavy monthly user, consider a local monthly plan instead — the key is to choose based on how much you actually use.
This article is for general information only. Prices, plans and rates change over time. If you use 20GB or more every month, a local carrier may be cheaper. Bloomy is a data-only eSIM and does not provide a phone number or SMS, and use is subject to a fair use policy. A data eSIM requires an eSIM-compatible, dual-SIM device, and connection quality can vary by local network, device and location. Please confirm actual pricing on each provider's official site.
