If you are planning a trip to Toronto, Canada and wondering where to buy a SIM card at Toronto airport for tourists, this guide is exactly for you. Here, you learn which SIM card to get, up-to-date price and whether you should buy it at the airport or city center or anywhere else. Also, you can find our recommendation on the best plans to buy for a rewarding trip in Canada.
In this article
Good to know: Though Canada is a developed country, buying a SIM card in Canada is rather awful.
There are many options for keeping connected in Toronto, Canada such as free Wifi, pocket Wifi, international roaming, prepaid local SIM card, etc.
Of all these ways, a local SIM card may be the most convenient and budget-friendly option. With just a few dollars for multiple GB valid used in many days, you can access mobile data and call/text plans at any time, anywhere even in outlying areas. Besides, you do not need to search for free Wifi or worry about pocket Wifi rental or high charges of international roaming.
► Our recommendation:
You will appreciate the flexibility, convenience, and cost-effectiveness a Toronto SIM card offers over other costly options.
If you want to access the Internet for map navigation, transport, and information search while also keeping in touch with family and friends via chat apps, get a traditional SIM card in Canada with data.
However, if your phone is supported with eSIM feature, consider using eSIM because it is the simplest way to have data on your phone during your trip in Toronto, Canada. You order it online, receive a QR code and instructions via email and you are ready to go.
Pro Tip: Many tourists traveling to Toronto, Canada use VPN services for personal data protection.
Below are 03 ways to get a local SIM card in Toronto.
Toronto SIM cards can be ordered online and delivered to your address before the trip. This way, you will get the Internet right when you reach Toronto. eSIM is even more time-saving as you can buy and activate it online within just several minutes.
Where to buy: websites of reliable third-party SIM providers
What to prepare: email, payment method (cash/ card), delivery address, eSIM-compatible device (if you buy eSIM)
Price: affordable, varies by carrier and plan
► Check if your phone is supported with eSIM technology by vising our eSIM compatible device list.
Getting a SIM card at Toronto airport – Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is a convenient way for tourists who want immediate Internet upon arrival. However, you will have fewer plan options and have to pay more than buying in phone stores in Toronto City.
Navigating Toronto Airport is easy because it is rather small. There is only one exit into the arrival hall.
After customs in the international arrival areas, you will see booths and kiosks selling SIM cards for tourists (Chatr booth, Currency Exchange booth, etc). See in-depth details in the next part.
Where to buy: booths selling Canada SIM cards at the International Arrival area.
What to prepare: passport for ID proof, cash/ credit card
Getting a Canada SIM card in Toronto center always offers better deals compared to buying at Pearson International Airport. There are a variety of plans with the best prices offered.
Where to buy: official stores of main operators (Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility, etc.), convenience stores (7-Eleven, Walmart), gas stations (Petro-Canada)
What to prepare: passport, hotel address
Good to know: Toronto airport is pretty chaotic and not modern at all.
There are 02 places selling tourist SIM card for travelers to Canada.
As soon as you walk out of the arrival areas, you will see the Currency Exchange booth which sells prepaid SIM cards with 4G connections from Telus Mobility (one of the four major carriers in Canada) on your left-hand side.
You also find Chart’s booth right in this area. However, Chart only offers 3G connection speeds.
Advice: The plan options sold at this airport are limited and the prices are much higher than in city stores or through online orders. Therefore, you had better consider carefully before deciding to buy an eSIM card at Toronto airport.
It is time to explore the steps to get a SIM card at Toronto Airport as a tourist.
► Our recommendation:
If you want immediate Internet upon arrival or have limited time, you can get a Canada SIM card at Toronto Airport. However, you may have to deal with limited choices, old technology, extremely high prices, and inconvenient activation.
It is worth considering cheaper and better options by purchasing eSIM online or buying in the city center for a range of plans and better deals.
The price of a Canada SIM card at Toronto airport is generally more expensive than the similar sold in the city center. Depending the network carrier, the plan, SIM cards’ price can vary. It cost from $25 CAD to $5- CAD for 1GB to 8GB of data plus with call and text in Canada.
Note: The price is updated at the time of writing this guide. For the most updated information, contact the provider.
Below we will introduce details on Canada SIM card plans you can find at Toronto Airport.
Good to know: $1 CAD = $0.73 USD, $1 USD = $1.37 CAD (as of November 2023)
There are some SIM Card options for tourists at Toronto Airport:
Chatr operates on the Roger Canada network.
Some plans sold at Chatr Toronto Airport are:
This kiosk sells 4 different Canada prepaid SIM cards for tourists and all of them are from Telus Mobility Canada:
► Our recommendation: The options available at Toronto Airport seem to be limited and the prices are very expensive. You had better consider buying SIM cards in the city center, getting an eSIM online, or buying a SIM card online before departure.
You can see the table below that list down plans of the four major operators in Canada. The plans here are rather different in compared with the ones sold at Toronto airport.
| Operator | Data/ Validity | Price (CAD/USD) |
| Rogers Wireless | 4.5GB/ 30 days(Unlimited local calls + local/ international SMS) | $45/$33.38 |
| Rogers Wireless | 8GB/ 30 days(Unlimited local calls + local/ international SMS) | $55/$40.85 |
| Telus Mobility | 5GB/ 30 days(unlimited local calls + local/ international SMS) | $45/$33.38 |
| Telus Mobility | 10GB/ 30 days(unlimited local calls + local/ international SMS) | $55/$40.85 |
| Bell Mobility | 4.5GB/ 30 days(unlimited local calls + local/ international SMS) | $45/$33.38 |
| Bell Mobility | 8GB/ 30 days(unlimited local calls + local/ international SMS) | $55/$40.85 |
| Freedom Mobile | 20GB/ 30 days(unlimited talk & text in Canada) | $34/ $24.82 |
| Freedom Mobile | 30GB/ 30 days(unlimited talk & text in Canada) | $40/$29.20 |
Note: Plan prices and details are subject to change.
Canada has 04 major mobile network carriers:
Let’s have a look at the coverage and speed of the four major network providers in Toronto, Canada to see which one is the best.
Rogers, Bell, and Telus have extensive coverage across Toronto City and its surrounding suburbs with strong 4G/ 5G networks.
Freedom has less coverage compared to the big three.
Overall, tourists to Toronto will achieve reliable coverage with Rogers, Bell, or Telus while Freedom remains a budget option but with more limited performance.
We can see that Bell has the fastest download speed and Telus has the 2nd fastest download speed, 75.2Mbps and 73.9Mbps respectively. Rogers has an upload speed of 11.6 Mbps – 0.9-1.2 Mbps faster than Telus and Bell.
► Our recommendation:
Getting an eSIM instead of a prepaid physical SIM card when visiting Toronto may be an excellent choice. This is why:
Canada eSIM from Gigago offers tourists a wide selection of both data-only plans and data + voice plans, 24/7 support, and diverse packages with large data allowances so they can travel and access the Internet hassle-free.
Gigago offers multiple data plan options for Canada, starting from a 5-day plan with 1GB per day for $14 with $18.50 . They also have 7-day, 15-day, and 30-day plans ranging from 1GB to 20GB of total data, or 1GB to 2GB per day, with prices from $14 up to $141.50.
► See more details about Gigago eSIM plans for Canada.
Definitely! Free Wifi is accessible throughout the entire airport terminals – both pre-security and post-security areas at Toronto Pearson International Airport. This includes gates, shops, restaurants, and common areas.
Identification is needed when purchasing a Canadian SIM card at Toronto Airport. As a tourist, you need a passport for ID proof.
We recommend getting a SIM card at Toronto airport if you have a tight schedule on arrival. Otherwise, buy a SIM card in the city center for various options and better prices.
To sum up, buying a Canadian SIM card at Toronto airport is a convenient way for you to stay connected soon after reaching Toronto. It is advisable to get a SIM card for Toronto from the official stores of big network providers in the city for the best deals. We recommend purchasing SIM cards from Telus, Bell, or Rogers. Their extensive coverage will ensure you stay online wherever you go in Canada. An eSIM is also an excellent choice if you prioritize flexibility and value.
. Data roaming in Canada is one of the ways to get online, and it is quite expensive. But do not worry! In this article, we will share everything about roaming services in Canada and other alternatives that you can use to be always connected while exploring this stunning country.
As one of Canada’s largest carriers, Rogers Wireless a variety of attractive SIM cards and eSIM plans for tourists. This guide will find out how tourists can buy and set up Rogers SIM cards and eSIM for reliable data, call, and text service during trips around Canada.
For tourists looking to visit Canada, Freedom Mobile SIM cards and eSIM are a handy solution for staying in touch. In this article, we will explore how visitors can get and activate Freedom SIM cards and eSIM for secure cellular data, call, and message services during their trips around this stunning country.
The portable Wifi hotspot fits in your pocket for unlimited browsing, texting, maps, and much more wherever you go in Canada.
Bell Mobility is one of Canada’s leading mobile network carriers due to its extensive coverage across the nation.
Telus Mobility offers one of Canada’s largest 4G/LTE networks and provides prepaid SIM cards and eSIM plans tailored specifically for tourists.
