Public Mobile Plans in 2026: How the Lineup Actually Works

Updated 2026-07-14 · fact-checked against official Public Mobile sources

Lineup as of July 2026. Public Mobile changes its plan lineup near-monthly and labels most plans 'limited time'. Always confirm the current lineup at checkout — the referral credit applies regardless of which plan you pick.

Public Mobile pricing in one line: everything is “limited time”

Public Mobile doesn’t keep a permanent price list. Every plan in the lineup carries a “limited time” label, and the lineup really does change — near-monthly through 2026. That sounds stressful, but the label means less than it seems. It only applies to new signups: once you activate a plan, you keep that plan at that price until you decide to change it. Plenty of customers on the community forum are still riding promo plans that disappeared from the lineup long ago.

So here’s the honest way to read it:

• The table above is what’s available today. Next month’s lineup may be better or worse — nobody outside TELUS knows which.
• There’s no reliable way to time it. The April 2026 revamp improved 5G value, but lineups have moved in both directions since. Waiting sometimes wins and sometimes loses.
• Plan screenshots on month-old blog posts are almost always expired. Check the live lineup before you commit.

What happened in April 2026

April 2026 brought the biggest shake-up of the year. Public Mobile revamped its 5G plans to match Freedom Mobile’s pricing head-on — $40 for 100GB and $45 for 175GB — then trimmed and reshuffled through May and June. The mid-2026 result is a lineup that runs from a $22 talk-and-text plan up through 4G data tiers to 5G tiers topping out around $40 for 100GB. The exact numbers move; the shape of the lineup (cheap talk-and-text, mid-priced 4G, premium 5G) has stayed put.

4G vs 5G: what you’re actually paying for

The lineup splits into two groups. The 4G tiers are the budget plans — Canada-wide talk, text and data at lower speeds. The 5G tiers cost more and run at faster speeds on the TELUS 5G network. In 2026, the 5G tiers are also where the extras live, such as Canada-US coverage in some months. Those inclusions change with the lineup too, so read the plan card on the day you sign up.

A plain rule of thumb: if you’re on Wi-Fi at home and work and you mostly message, browse and stream music, a 4G tier is usually plenty — the 2026 data buckets (up to 35GB on 4G) are bigger than most people ever use. If you stream video on data, hotspot a laptop, or just want the fastest speeds, look at the 5G tiers.

Canada-US options

Public Mobile doesn’t sell a separate roaming lineup. In recent 2026 lineups, cross-border use is built into the 5G tiers: your talk, text and data work in Canada and the US. If you cross the border even a few times a year, that’s usually cheaper than buying roaming add-ons each trip. As always, confirm the coverage line on the plan card, because it can differ between tiers and between months.

What stays true no matter which lineup you hit

The lineup churns. These don’t:

• The $10 referral credit applies on any plan. No minimum. Enter a code in the “Referral Code” field at Step 4 (Payment) of activation — the referral code on this page works, and so does anyone else’s, for the identical $10. The credit lands within 72 hours. Here’s the step-by-step guide.
• Referral codes and promo codes stack. They’re two separate fields on the same payment step, and you can use both. See current promo codes.
• Public Points run on top of any plan. You earn 2% back on payments, redeem 15 points for $15 off your bill, and if you later refer friends yourself you earn 1 point per 30 days per active referral. Details in how Public Points work and refer a friend.
• It’s prepaid with no contract. Change plans at renewal or leave whenever you want.
• You’re on the TELUS network, whichever tier you pick.

One caveat for completeness: when Public Mobile runs a bonus referral promo, it’s usually plan-restricted (the 2025 bonuses required $29+ or $35+ plans). No bonus promo is active as of July 2026, so the flat $10-on-any-plan rule is what applies — the current offer page tracks the live state.

How to choose

• Talk and text only — a basic phone, a kid’s first phone, a glovebox backup: take the cheapest tier and stop there.
• Normal use, mostly on Wi-Fi: the entry 4G data tier covers almost everyone.
• Heavy data, little Wi-Fi: the top 4G tier or entry 5G tier.
• Regular trips to the US: a 5G tier with cross-border coverage.
• Not sure? Start low. It’s prepaid — if you run short, move up a tier at your next renewal with no penalty. The $10 referral credit and your points carry on regardless.

You need your own phone

Public Mobile sells plans only: no stores, no phone financing, no device deals. You bring an unlocked phone that works on the TELUS network, and the activation flow checks compatibility for you. For the SIM, you can use an eSIM — advertised at $0 with $0 activation in 2026, covered in our eSIM guide — or a physical SIM for about $10 at Walmart or Amazon. Keeping your current number is straightforward too; the switching guide walks through porting.

One warning before checkout

TELUS runs “Fast Switch” ads for its Koodo brand inside the Public Mobile signup and login flow, and some referred customers have clicked through and accidentally activated on Koodo — where referral codes don’t work and there’s no $10 credit. Stay on publicmobile.ca from plan pick to payment. And if you get to the end and realize you missed the code field, a support agent can add it after activation.

Ready to look? Open the current plan lineup with the referral code pre-applied — the $10 credit works on whichever plan you pick.

Frequently asked questions