How much mobile data you really need, and how to check

Data is usually the biggest variable in the price of a phone plan. Buy too little and you'll ration your maps and music. Buy too much and you pay every month for gigabytes that simply expire.

The good news is that your phone already knows how much you use. A few minutes in your settings and a look at your last few bills will tell you more than any sales pitch. Then you can weigh prepaid against postpaid, decide what to do about your phone, and plan for trips south of the border.

Check your real usage first

Look at two or three months if you can. One unusual month, like a trip, a move or a week without home internet, can skew the picture.

• iPhone: go to Settings, then Cellular (called Mobile Data on some devices). You'll see usage for the current period and a list of apps ranked by how much data they use. The counter doesn't reset by itself each month, so check the last reset date at the bottom of the screen.
• Android: open Settings and look for Network & internet or Connections, then Data usage. The exact path varies by manufacturer. Many Android phones let you set your billing cycle start date and a warning as you approach a limit.
• Your provider's app or online account: this is the most reliable number, because it's what you're actually billed for. Most providers can also send alerts as you get close to your limit.

Typical usage patterns

Everyone's habits differ, so treat these as rough starting points rather than rules. The biggest factor by far is video: streaming on mobile data can use a gigabyte or more per hour at higher quality, while messaging and email barely register.

Whatever your profile, choose a plan a little above your typical month, not your worst month. Some headroom avoids stress. Paying for double what you use rarely makes sense.

A word on unlimited plans: in Canada, many plans sold as unlimited include a set amount of full-speed data, after which speeds are reduced for the rest of the billing cycle instead of triggering overage charges. Ask how much full-speed data you get and how slow the reduced speed is.

Prepaid, postpaid and your phone

Prepaid plans are paid in advance, generally with no credit check and no long-term commitment. They suit people who want tight control over spending, a teen's first phone, or newcomers to Canada without a credit history. The trade-off can be fewer perks, and sometimes less data for the price.

Postpaid plans bill you monthly and often come with larger data buckets, multi-line discounts and phone financing. They may require a credit check.

Then decide on the phone itself. Bringing your own phone means a lower monthly bill and the freedom to switch providers whenever you like. Financing spreads the cost of a new phone over a set number of months, but if you leave early you'll usually owe the remaining balance on the device.

Under the CRTC's Wireless Code, new phones must be sold unlocked, and providers must unlock older devices for free on request. That makes bringing your own phone to a new provider much easier.

Travelling to the US and sharing a plan

If you cross the border often, compare a Canada-US plan with your provider's roaming options. A plan that includes US usage costs more every month, but may work out cheaper than buying roaming passes several times a year. If you travel only now and then, a daily or trip-based add-on may be the better deal.

Before any trip, check what your plan includes, turn off data roaming if you don't intend to use it, and download maps and playlists over Wi-Fi. Some travellers use a travel eSIM instead; make sure your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM first.

Family and multi-line plans can lower the cost per line. Ask whether each person gets their own data or everyone draws from one shared pool, since one heavy user can drain a shared bucket quickly. The account holder is responsible for every line's charges, so agree on the ground rules before you sign up together.

Your rights under the Wireless Code

The CRTC's Wireless Code sets out basic rights for individual and small-business customers of mobile services across Canada, on both prepaid and postpaid plans. In broad terms, it includes these protections:

• A trial period. If you're not satisfied with a new contract, you can generally cancel within 15 days and return the phone in near-new condition without early cancellation fees, as long as you've used less than half of your plan's monthly limits. People with disabilities get a longer trial period.
• Limits on cancellation fees. You can cancel at any time. If your phone was subsidized, any fee is tied to the remaining device balance, and after 24 months there are no early cancellation fees.
• Caps on surprise charges. By default, your provider must suspend extra data charges once they reach $50 in a monthly billing cycle, and data roaming charges once they reach $100, unless you agree to pay more.
• Unlocked phones. New devices are sold unlocked, and older ones can be unlocked for free.
• A clear contract. You're entitled to a permanent copy of your contract and a critical information summary of its key terms.

These are summaries, not legal advice, and Québec's consumer protection law also applies to many mobile contracts. For the exact rules, see the CRTC website. If you can't resolve a problem with your provider, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) handles complaints free of charge.

Questions to ask before you sign

• How much full-speed data is included, and what happens when I reach it?
• Are there overage charges, or are speeds reduced instead?
• Is this a promotional price? What will I pay once it ends?
• Does the plan include US or international usage, and what do roaming add-ons cost?
• If I finance a phone, what is the monthly device payment, and what would I owe if I leave early?
• Can I bring my own unlocked phone, and is there a connection or SIM card fee?
• On a multi-line plan, is data shared or separate for each line?
• Are hotspot use, Wi-Fi calling and eSIM included?