Public Mobile
$0
Pros
- Super affordable plans
- Great coverage
- Customer rewards
- No unexpected fees
- Ability to get plan to $0/month!
Cons
- Prepaid, bring your own phone only
- Customer support is online only
- Only available in Canada
Last Updated: December 2022
We save $2000 off our phone plans every year because of sharing Public Mobile’s referral code and taking advantage of their bonuses.
Let me show you how you can get major discounts on your phone plan too!
Start by using referral code O3KVQV when you sign up to get $10 credit!
Public Mobile is the most affordable cellphone plan in Canada.
They have top notch reception and coverage areas and they actually reward customers for staying with them over time, rather than jacking up prices!
In this Public Mobile review I go over Public Mobile plans, coverage area & reception, FAQ, pros and cons, as well as my personal experience with Public Mobile. I’ll also give you a referral code for Public Mobile which will save you money as soon as you sign up!
I’m also going over a brief comparison of Public Mobile to other lower cost Canadian phone plans like Freedom, Koodo, Lucky & Chatr with handy links to easily compare for yourself.
This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you use them, at no additional cost to you. See disclosure policy for details.
Honest Public Mobile Review & My Personal Experience
I signed on with Public Mobile in February 2020 and wanted to wait a few months of using them before writing a review.
As of the time of writing this, I am insanely pleased with them. Since then I’ve now got both my plan and my partner’s plan for FREE thanks to Public Mobile’s awesome referral program!
We save over $2000 per year now!
Keep reading to see how you can get your plan for cheap or free too!
My only regret is honestly not signing up a year earlier when I first heard about them!
I was hesitant to go with Public Mobile because I literally knew no one who used it. There were virtually no reviews online and I was skeptical as to whether it was crap or not.
Finally, in a money-saving Facebook group a fellow Canadian mentioned her experience with them which prompted me to get the ball rolling to look into it more.
It took me a couple hours of researching the company and trying to find Public Mobile reviews (there aren’t many!) before I decided to sign up.
Part of the reason I delayed was because I already felt my phone plan was pretty affordable at $60/month with Telus. For comparison, my partner’s plan was $105/month!
Once I decided to sign up to Public Mobile, I got my SIM card on Amazon. Once it arrived, it took me about 20 minutes to get it installed and switched over to my new plan!
So for just a few hours of research and 20 minutes of installation, I saved literally hundreds of dollars! Totally worth my time!
With a bit extra time telling my BF about it and getting him switched over, we have saved literally THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! 😲
I’ve done the research and compiled it here in this comprehensive Public Mobile review so you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars in even less time!
Public Mobile Referral Code
When you sign up, make sure to use a Public Mobile referral code O3KVQV to get your $10 sign up bonus!
Once you’ve signed up you can refer your friends to earn rewards that you can use to decrease your phone bill.
You could literally get your phone bill down to $0 with a few referrals!
As of July 2020, both mine and my BF’s phone bills are free from Public Mobile refer a friend bonuses!
To me, that is one of the hugest benefits of Public Mobile over other phone companies!
And the thing about Public Mobile is that it’s actually a great service, so it’s a win-win when you refer someone since you’re helping them save potentially hundreds of dollars!
When they sign up using your Public Mobile referral code, they will get $10. Plus you will get $1 worth of points for each month they are with Public Mobile.
While you might not have many people to refer, their plans are still super affordable and even just one or two referrals saves you real money!
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have that money to spend how I want rather than spending it on something boring like a phone plan!
Plus, keep reading to find out other ways to get more money off your bill:
$0 Phone Plan & Other Public Mobile Rewards:
The best thing about Public Mobile is that they reward loyal customers and allow you to get your phone plan down to $0!
As of January 2022, the Public Mobile rewards program was updated. Overall it’s very similar to what it was before, but a few things have changed.
I’ve highlighted the changes of Public Mobile points vs rewards below or read the reward rules here:
- changed rewards from dollars to points. 1 point = $1 so essentially only the name has changed
- SAME: friends you refer earn $10 for using your referral code, you get $1 for every month they’re active
- NEW: 5 points welcome present
- NEW: 5% points back for every dollar spent
- CHANGED: Public Mobile loyalty rewards previously got $1 off your bill for each year you are with them. Now you get 10 points for each year.
- NEW: ways to redeem rewards. Previously just automatically took rewards off your bill, now you can choose whether to take it off your bill, use it to get add-ons, or enter for the chance to win prizes
Referral Code
Use your Public Mobile friend referral code when you recommend Public Mobile to friends and family. They’ll get a $10 bonus credit when they sign up with your code, plus you earn 1 point each month for as long as they are with Public Mobile!
So for each person you refer, you get 12 points which can be used to get $12 off your phone bill every year! After referring a few people, that really adds up and can even help you get your phone plan for free!
When you sign up to Public Mobile for the first time, make sure you use referral code O3KVQV to get your $10 sign up bonus!
Customer Loyalty Reward (updated)
Unlike other companies who jack up prices the longer you’ve been with them, Public Mobile actually rewards long term customers by REDUCING your monthly bill!
They give you 10 points (equivalent to $10 credit) for each year you’re with them!
Community
You can earn points to get up to $20 off your bill per month by being active in the Public Mobile community forums and answering people’s questions.
To be honest, I haven’t tried this. I think it could be fun if you’re a techy person and enjoy that kind of thing. You’d basically be answering people’s tech and customer service questions via a forum.
Learn more about the Public Mobile community here.
Low Priced Plans
These rewards plus the low priced Public Mobile plans make it easy to decrease your bill to $0 or close to it!
See their plans here.
Even if you just got your 5 bonus points for signing up, you refer 5 friends, and stick with Public Mobile for 5 years, you would save $365.
It’s not a ton, but I don’t know of any other phone companies who take money off your bill over time!
Plus that’s only counting the amount you’d save from the rewards they offer.
That’s not counting the amount you saved from switching to the lower priced plan from a high priced plan with another mobile company!
Public Mobile Promos
Public Mobile has certain promotions on their monthly plans that don’t require any special promotion codes as they’re just applied automatically.
Public Mobile also occasionally offers promos like 500GB free data or free Public Mobile SIM card when you activate in store.
When you go to sign up, definitely do a quick search to see if they currently have any promos like that, but I wouldn’t wait around for a promo.
You will likely save more on your phone bill by switching now than waiting to try and save the small price of a SIM card. It’s usually about $10 but if you can get it for less than that, buy it right away!
You don’t need a Public Mobile promo code to get special offers or deals on their plans, but you should definitely use a referral code when signing up because it’ll give you a $10 sign up bonus!
Since my boyfriend & my plans are already free, use my senior father-in-law’s code O3KVQV and help him get his plan for free too!
Public Mobile Plans
Public Mobile has several low-cost plans to choose from starting from $15 per month! See Public Mobile’s plans here.
Public Mobile offers prepaid plans with bring your own device.
Public Mobile also sells certified pre-owned phones. Learn more about that here.
Even if you have payment left on your phone with your current plan, it may be worth switching over to Public Mobile and paying the difference.
The annual savings can be quite high so it’s worth doing the math to see how many months it would take to pay for itself!
For example, my BF had $180 left on his contract. His original plan was $105/month, and he chose the $25/month plan with Public Mobile.
Each month he was saving $82 off his phone bill.
In just over 2 months, the difference was paid off and he was into pure savings!
Update: Both our plans are now free each month because I was able to refer people! Woohoo!
When you sign up, make sure to use Public Mobile referral code O3KVQV to get your $10 sign up bonus! This is my father-in-law’s code and we’re helping him get his plan for free!
Public Mobile Coverage Area & Map
Not only does Public Mobile have great coverage in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec, etc, they have solid coverage for rural areas as well!
They use Telus towers so have excellent coverage! Check Public Mobile’s coverage map here to see the coverage in your area.
Public Mobile Reception
I’ve been using Public Mobile for several years now and have had excellent reception! Since they use Telus network, the reception is top notch.
To give a few examples, I live in a basement apartment with thick walls and always have full reception.
Also, I went on a hike West of Toronto near some cliffs. At the bottom of the cliff I had full reception, while my friend who was with another company only had 2 bars.
I also got perfectly good reception in central Saskatchewan.
The lowest priced Public Mobile plans use 3G connection, so download speed might be a bit slower than other plans, but if you don’t mind waiting a few milliseconds to save literally hundreds or thousands of dollars a year, I think it’s worth it 😉
I honestly have never had a speed issue and even used FaceTime on data with no issues.
But if you want faster speeds, they also have 4G plans available too.
Public Mobile FAQ
You can buy Public Mobile SIM cards on Amazon.ca, which is great because you’ll get free shipping with Amazon Prime! Click here to get 30 days free trial of Amazon Prime if you don’t already have it.
The SIM card should be about $10 or less. Click here to check the current price on Amazon. If it’s less than $10 definitely get it right away because it’s a good deal!
You can also get a SIM card directly from Public Mobile, here.
Public Mobile SIM cards are also available in most stores that sell SIM cards like mobile outlet retailers, WOW! Mobile Boutique, K Mobile, London Drugs, The Mobile Shop, Public Mobile Kiosks, & Walmart.
See the map of store locations that sell Public Mobile SIM cards here.
See the Public Mobile community forum for updates on these locations.
Public Mobile vouchers are prepaid credits that you buy in-store and add to your account.
You can purchase Public Mobile payment vouchers at select stores that carry them (see the locations here). Here are the instructions on how to add the voucher to your account.
The Public Mobile community is a customer support forum where you can go to find out the answer to any of your general questions about Public Mobile.
If you participate in the community and help answer questions, you can get points to use towards money off your phone bill!
Learn more about that here.
There is not currently a Public Mobile app. Everything you need to access your account is done via the website which has a mobile friendly version.
You can see the discussion about a Public Mobile app on the community forum here.
Plans:
Freedom has bring your own phone plans starting at $40/month, while Public Mobile has plans starting at $15 per month (or lower with rewards). Please see Freedom Mobile plans and Public Mobile plans for the most up-to-date plan offers.
Public Mobile plans start lower and they offer rewards that allow you to get your plan down to $0, whereas Freedom Mobile plans start significantly higher and don’t have rewards.
Coverage:
Freedom has a much spottier coverage area than Public Mobile. See Freedom vs Public Mobile coverage maps here & here to compare.
Parent Company:
Freedom is owned by Shaw, while Public Mobile is owned by Telus.
Phones:
Freedom sells a variety of phones or allows you to bring your own. Public Mobile allows you to bring your own or purchase certified pre-owned phones.
Customer Service:
Freedom has a variety of support options including phone, chat, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Apple iMessage, & Twitter DM while Public Mobile uses a chat and community forum to answer support questions.
Plans:
Koodo has bring your own phone plans starting at $30/month, while Public Mobile has plans starting as low as $15 per month. Please see Koodo plans and Public Mobile plans for the most up-to-date plan offers.
Public Mobile plans start lower and they offer rewards that allow you to get your plan down to $0. Koodo plans start significantly higher and don’t have rewards.
Coverage:
Koodo and Public Mobile have the same coverage areas as they both use Telus towers. Compare Koodo vs Public Mobile coverage maps here & here.
Parent Company:
Koodo & Public Mobile are both owned by Telus.
Phones:
Koodo sells a variety of phones or allows you to bring your own. Public Mobile allows you to bring your own or purchase certified pre-owned phones.
Customer Service:
Koodo encourages you to use their self serve options online and may charge fees to have someone help you make changes to your account over the phone! Public Mobile uses a free chat and community forum to answer support questions.
Plans:
Telus has bring your own phone plans starting at $35/month, while Public Mobile has plans starting as low as $15 per month. Please see Telus plans and Public Mobile plans for the most up-to-date plan offers.
Public Mobile plans start lower and they offer rewards that allow you to get your plan down to $0. Telus plans start significantly higher and don’t have rewards.
Coverage:
Telus and Public Mobile have the same coverage areas as they both use Telus towers. See Public Mobile vs Telus coverage maps here & here to compare.
Parent Company:
Public Mobile is owned by Telus.
Phones:
Telus sells a variety of phones or allows you to bring your own. Public Mobile allows you to bring your own or purchase certified pre-owned phones.
Customer Service:
Telus offers support in store, over the phone, via online chat, or in your MyTelus account. Public Mobile uses a free chat and community forum to answer support questions.
Plans:
Both have very similar plan offerings starting as low as $15 per month. Please see Lucky Mobile plans and Public Mobile plans for the most up-to-date plan offers.
The main difference is that Public Mobile offers rewards that allow you to get your plan down to $0, whereas Lucky Mobile doesn’t.
Coverage:
Both have great coverage that is very similar. Lucky uses Bell towers, so coverage may vary by area. Compare Lucky Mobile vs Public Mobile coverage maps here & here.
Parent Company:
Lucky Mobile is owned by Bell, while Public Mobile is owned by Telus.
Phones:
Lucky Mobile sells a variety of entry level phones or allows you to bring your own. Public Mobile allows you to bring your own or purchase certified pre-owned phones.
Customer Service:
Lucky has phone support, while Public Mobile uses a chat and community forum to answer support questions.
Plans:
Both have very similar plan offerings starting as low as $15 per month. Please see Chatr plans and Public Mobile plans for the most up-to-date plan offers.
The main difference is that Public Mobile offers rewards that allow you to get your plan down to $0, whereas Chatr doesn’t.
Coverage:
Chatr has good coverage, but it’s definitely spottier than Public Mobile’s coverage area. They use the Rogers’ towers, so coverage may vary by area. Compare Chatr vs Public Mobile coverage maps here & here.
Parent Company:
Chatr is owned by Rogers, while Public Mobile is owned by Telus
Phones:
Chatr sells a variety of entry level phones or allows you to bring your own. Public Mobile allows you to bring your own or purchase certified pre-owned phones.
Customer Service:
Chatr has phone support that may add extra processing fees, while Public Mobile uses free chat and a community forum to answer support questions.
Public Mobile allows you to bring your own device or purchase certified pre-owned phones.
Generally any regular manufacturer’s phone is compatible, but to be sure, you can easily check your phone compatibility with Public Mobile by entering the brand and model here.
Public Mobile uses 3G speed on it’s regular plans but gives you the option to purchase a 4G data package if you’d like.
3G seems to work perfectly for me. I’ve watched videos, downloaded podcasts, uploaded photos, used GPS, and even FaceTimed using the 3G network with no issues at all.
If you’re a heavy data user or super techy, you might not like 3G, but it seems to work great for a regular user.
You can also get 4G plans if that works better for you.
You will never get charged hidden data overage fees with Public Mobile.
Since they are prepaid only, if you use up your data, they’ll send you a message telling you you’ve reached your limit and offer you to add on more data. They will actually send you a notice that you’ve reach 75% of your data limit so you can be conscious and prevent running out of data completely.
If you choose not to add on data you just won’t have any data until your next billing cycle stops. This is no big deal as you can find wifi everywhere!
To prevent using up your data before your next billing cycle, I recommend choosing a plan that meets your data use needs. Check with your current provider to see what your average usage has been over the past few months to get an idea.
It’s also a good idea to turn off data to all apps that you don’t need to be accessing with data. Sometimes they use data when you’re not even using the app which is a total waste!
No need to wonder “is Public Mobile good?” any longer. I hope by reading my Public Mobile review you’ve realized that, yes, it is good! I’d even say Public Mobile is great!
I’m honestly so happy with them because they provide great value; the service is good and the price is low!
I’m definitely a value shopper but I’m not going to settle for crappy quality just to save a few dollars.
With Public Mobile, I’m getting literally the exact same plan (same number, same coverage, same data & talk, etc) for less than 1/2 the price!
| Public Mobile is for you if: | Public Mobile is not for you if: |
|---|---|
| You’re looking for the most affordable phone plan in Canada | You just got a new phone and can’t afford to buy it outright or don’t want to sell it |
| You use a low to moderate amount of data | You are a heavy data user and don’t want to compromise on that |
| You live in Canada | You only want to use tech support over the phone |
| You have your own device or don’t mind purchasing a pre-owned | You live outside of Canada |
| You prefer to deal with tech issues online | You only want to solve tech issues over the phone |
Now that you’ve read my Public Mobile review, you should be easily able to decide if it’s right for you!
If you’re ready to sign up, follow the easy steps below:
How to Activate Public Mobile
- Get a Public Mobile SIM card from Public Mobile, on Amazon, or in-store.
- Make sure your phone is unlocked.
- Once you get your SIM card go to activate.publicmobile.ca & fill out all the info including referral code O3KVQV
- Wait a few minutes and it’ll be activated! They will cancel your plan with your old provider and you don’t have to do anything else! So easy!
I hope you found my Public Mobile review helpful! Please share with a friend and help them get a super affordable phone plan too!
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131 Comments on Public Mobile Review & Referral Code (We Save $2000 a Year!)
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Thanks for the review! I signed up for my son who needs to take public transport at 12 yo and I wanted to make sure we could reach each other in case he gets lost. I really didn’t want an expensive plan so this is perfect!
Here’s our reference Code to get 10$ off: X4E3PN
Thanks!!
Thanks for the review!
Just change for public mobile. Did everything from home. Only had problem when I tried to transfer my number: I kept having an error message again and again. Changed browser and it work well.
Here is my code you can use during activation to receive a 10$ credit: P04XEP
I have just signed up with Public Mobile. I was able to transfer my home landline number, previously Telus, over to my cell phone number, which I was very pleased about. Bonus – a lower Telus bill as well! I don’t have a lot of IT experience, but I was able to do this easily by following the steps outlined in the Public Mobile sign up process. We have two more cell phones in our home, and we are changing them over too.
Please use my referral code for a $10 discount when you sign up if you found this information helpful. Referral Code is P0RPPX.
Great information! We have been with public mobile for a year and have a great experience so far. We have saved so much money. My referral code is R3MMWE. Feel free to use it to save more money when you sign up!
Thanks for the great information. I have signed up my self and daughter. The only way this could be better is if someone uses my activation code.
Enjoy $10 bonus credit when you enter this code during activation: 0EQNW4
Awesome review Bri!
I used to have Rogers mobile a long time ago and have noticed reception problems especially in the middle of larger buildings. Now that I’ve had a PM for a while, reception is definitely better since they are on the Telus network (Well out here in Western Canada anyways) I love it!
I’d like to include my referral code for anyone that wants to sign up with a $10 credit. Please use code: W2P7Y0
Thanks for sharing your experience with Public Mobile compared to Rogers in Western Canada!
My 72 year old dad is a huge fan of Public Mobile. He’s been a long time customer and is pretty excited to be getting his bill lowered every year for continuing to be a customer. I’d love to help him achieve his goal of $0 so if anyone would like to use his referral code I’d be grateful! OJR4VE. He will be over the moon! Thank you!
So glad to hear about older adults loving this too!
Thank you for the detailed review Bri. It was most helpful.
I joined PM this week and used a referral code, after purchasing a SIM card for $2.99 from Canadian Cell Supplies.
A little research and shopping around online can pay off.
As others have done, I’ll offer my $10 bonus code for anyone thinking of signing up. 7PNPN8
Thank you.
Hi Bri,
Thank you for this thorough review! Public is seriously a hidden gem – why the heck was I paying $55/month for 2GB with Fido, I have no idea! Before tax, if I get 2GB with Public I would pay $30 with all my accumulated discounts! That’s (25*12)= $300/year saved!
If you would like to enjoy these same benefits and get $10 off your first month, please use my code: MY4WQQ
Thanks for sharing your savings calculations! It’s so interesting to see how much people have saved!
Hi Bri,
Thank you for your thorough review! I found it very informative and helpful.
Just found out Public Mobile is now offering a 2 GB plan for $30. With autopay, it’s unbeatable at $28.
I got my SIM card for $3 from Canadian Cell Supplies, free shipping included.
Also some stores (like Walmart, London Drugs) will include the SIM card at no charge when you activate your account in store. Since there’s no activation fee, the only upfront cost is your plan package fee for the first 30 days.
I recently switched over and am loving the savings.
Thank you!
Dear readers, please use my referral code if you need one.
“PX6J44” Thanks!
Oh wow good to know about the less expensive or free SIM card options! Thanks!
Do you know if we can use a referral code when signing up in store at Walmart?
Hi Guylaine
Yes! You can use a referral code for any sign up including in store at Walmart.
If for some reason, it was missed during sign up, Public Mobile will let you add the referral to your account. You can submit a ticket to their Moderators.
To find out how, go on their community forum and search “how to add a referral code”.
I just signed up using a code from these comments! It was so easy. I was a bit worried about being without a phone for a couple hours while everything got set up (I’m on my phone a lot for work), but it was super quick! I read this article about 4 times before I switched over, so thank you for all of the helpful information.
Referral Code for $10 off: VNRVVM
Oh Awesome to hear that you found the post helpful and had a great set up experience. It really is quite easy!
Thanks Bri!
This review really sold me on switching to Public Mobile! Their prices and incentives are hard to beat and the sign up process was super easy! I was happy with my previous provider (Virgin Mobile), but when I realized how much I could save by switching it was an easy decision!
My referral code is P034OY to get $10 back when you sign up!
Hi Bri,
Really awesome post! I switched over from Fido to Public about 3 months ago and I’m super happy! Especially considering I don’t use really anything beyond 1GB (not even close to that during the pandemic) it made so much sense with Public’s reasonable plans. With Fido I had 6GB – and used no where near that amount *face palm*. With this switch I am saving over $500 annually in phone bill expenses!
For whoever wants to make the switch, you can get a $10 credit using my referral code: MY4WQQ
Thanks for the article, I just signed Up for the service. 25$ per month for data, Unlimited calls and text is really good. Here’s my referral code if somebody is interested on the 10$ bonus credit : KY4N4Y
I am also on the public Mobile Plan. If you will like to join, please use my code P0957O
I signed up last year ( X097O4 ) and I autopaid and received the $2 off each bill and then months later my husband switched so I am saving $1 from his sign up. I haven’t found anyone else to signup yet, but this blog post is great to send to my friends to help them understand how Public Mobile works. Thanks!!! 🇨🇦
Ya even those $3 savings per month add up, especially in addition to what you’re saving by having a lower priced plan! Plus you’ll get another $1 off per month each year you’re with them. I hope you are able to refer a few more people though 🙂
I’ve been using Public Mobile for almost a year now. It’s perfect for my wife and I. We get exactly the amount of data we need, the great coverage of the Telus network, and a very good value price. One complaint I have is that you can’t make calls over Wifi. PM if you’re listening, this is an option I would pay an extra couple dollars for.
Of course the excellent referral price reductions are a HUGE bonus too! You can eventually get your phone plan for free. Here is my code when you are ready to make the switch. https://activate.publicmobile.ca/?raf=NY5Z04
Oh ya that would be a helpful ad on! But I agree that the value for money is spot on
Great write up, Bri! My husband and I have been with Public Mobile for over a year now and we’re loving it. We’re racing one another down to the $0 bill, anyone who wants to help me keep my lead can use my code: 0XR2XX (That’s a zero) 🙂
So glad to hear you are also a fan!
I’ve had Public Mobile for over a year and both my wife and father in-law have switched over. When I speak with friends about it, they don’t believe it can be this cheap.
Don’t over think it, just sign up and I’d appreciate you using my referral code! 76NV72 “Account Setup” https://activate.publicmobile.ca?raf=76NV72
I’ve talked to some friends and family who aren’t frugal minded and they just don’t get it… Why not pay less for the exact same thing? You even get to keep your old number!
I started with Telus, then went to Koodo and then switched to Public Mobile and I have no complaints. They all use the Telus Network and the few questions I have had, have been answered by the community. My code is NR62Y4 and I would be happy to refer you.
Ya I love that Public Mobile has the same coverage as Telus. Such a no brainer to switch as I was also with Telus before. Now I’m getting the exact same plan for hundreds of dollars less per year!