How to get a free Canadian phone number

Canada has some of the highest telecommunication prices in the world. When you’re new here, the costs may surprise you. However, what if there was a way to use new technology to get a free Canadian phone number while also paying a lot less monthly to stay in touch with loved ones?

Whether you find yourself paying for data you don’t always use, or you want a way to save money, then this post is for you. There is a way to get a free phone number along with a cheap or even free phone plan using a new technology called VoIP.

Read on to explore more.

What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice-Over Internet Protocol. This new technology allows you to initiate and receive calls and text messages over the internet or through using data. Regular phone lines are no longer essential.

This dramatically cuts costs down for those looking to stay connected. Now you may be wondering which services offer this new technology along with a free phone number. We’ll have a look at three main services you can consider:

• TextNow
• Fongo
• DotMobile

TextNow review

offers a free and reliable way to call through WiFi. It offers unlimited calls and texts. You might be wondering, “what’s the catch?” And you’re right. There is a catch. The app still has to make money somehow, and that they do through ads. So if you’re willing to put up with ads to save a lot of money, then TextNow is a good option for you.

Here are some more factors to consider:

Pros

• Free phone number
• Unlimited free calls + SMS + MMS within Canada and USA when you have a reliable WiFi signal or data connection
• Free texting to over 100 eligible countries
• You can upgrade to have ads removed (only $9.99/ month + free 14-day trial)
• WiFi/ Cell data handover (your call won’t drop when it switches between WiFi and data)
• Relatively good sound quality vs. other VoIP services
• Supports short-code (when a company sends you a code for various reasons, including two-factor authentication).
• Cheap international calls

Cons

• No call forwarding
• Ads
• Consumes lots of data
• You need a good Wi-fi connection or data, otherwise call will suffer

Fongo review

is another service that offers a free phone number and uses VoIP to allow you to be connected. Fongo tends to be popular among forums and has over 1.8 million people who have registered for its service.

Here are some additional factors to consider:

Pros:

• Free phone number
• Free call forwarding
• Calls are unlimited and free when it’s to any Fongo number and to any city around Canada, excluding territories (even while you’re abroad).
• Unlimited SMS + MMS with any Fongo user
• Free services include: Visual Voicemail, Caller ID, Conference Calling, 911 Service, call waiting
• Fongo prices to text domestically to non-Fongo users start at $2.79 for one month or $9.99 for 6 months
• Fongo charges really good rates for international calls

Cons:

• Does not do WiFi/ Cell Data handover (calls get dropped when your phone switches between the two)
• You need to pay for the data you’re using to make phone calls outside of Wi-FI areas
• No free calls to territories
• No free calling and texting with non-users
• Quality of the calls vary depending on WiFI or data network strength
• Does not support short-code which is when a company sends you a code for various reasons including two-factor authentication.
• Ads (you can remove for only $6.99 one-time fee)

DotMobile review

is the newer of the three and has not fully launched yet at this writing time. If you join before March 1, 2021, you get free lifetime access to their full subscription service, which allows you to have unlimited talk and text. (Data always sold separately).

DotMobile values its customer’s feedback and encourages its users to be a part of building the app. The founders hosted an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit and even sought advice from the participants. They are transparent about the number of members they currently have—which now sits at 14,290.

DotMobile is yet to launch fully, but here are the prices they’ve suggested:

Full service: This allows you to have unlimited talk and text. Data is always sold separately (Data on Tap)

365 days $120 (free for lifetime if you sign up before March 1) 30 days $14

Basic service: Data on Tap plus a phone number so that you can use messaging apps and voicemail. Data-only text messaging. No voice.

365 days $60 30 days $7

Though some things are still tentative because they haven’t officially launched yet, here are some factors to take into consideration.

• At launch, they plan to work in the USA just like in Canada
• For first users (sign up by March 1, 2021), you’ll get lifetime access to the $14/month plan for free. It doesn't include data.
• Data on tap (Pay for each gigabyte as you need it)
• Data rollover will last forever
• You’ll save when you don’t use your phone as much in a particular month (there big reason behind data on tap)
• Free to join and free to leave anytime.

Final thoughts

We’re seeing new technology dramatically cut down costs in many aspects of life. It’s no surprise that the telecom industry is now being influenced. Just how financial technology has offered a way to send money to loved ones using dramatically lower costs compared to traditional institutions like banks, VoIP is helping to disrupt traditional telecom companies like Bell and Telus.

Take advantage of the exciting times!