Koodo Review

 

 

If you don’t want to read the details, skip straight to our Recommendation

While deciding which mobile carrier is right for you, it’s important to understand the offerings of each one along with the differences between them.

If you’ve been scouring around looking for Koodo reviews look no further as we’ll go through everything Koodo with you below.

Koodo Mobile is owned by Telus and operates on the same strong network as Telus.

The main difference however is the fact that they do not require any contracts which means you can change your plan at any time you want.

Phew! We’re getting really used to mobile carriers with contracts so that sounds like a relief!

They do however offer a ‘Tab’ system that allows you to purchase a phone at $0 or a low cost and pay it off monthly and offer a certain term – we’ll go in-depth into that a little later.

Koodo’s been around since 2008 so they have a good sense of their customers’ wants and needs and have a nationwide offering.

In terms of retails, you see kiosks in major malls around the country, they do not however have actual ‘stores’.

You can also sign up for Koodo services at major retailers such as Best Buy, Costco, Loblaw’s and a few more. Koodo Mobile has seen success with the younger demographic.

 

Koodo Coverage & Network

Since Koodo operates on the Telus network, they’re able to provide strong coverage across Canada.

Telus claims that they run on Canada’s largest and fastest 4G LTE network based on third-party testing and that doesn’t seem like a far fetch at all.

They operate on the following networks:

• HSPA: 850 MHz and 1900 MHz frequencies
• LTE: 1700/2100 MHz (AWS)
• LTE Advanced (LTE-a): 2600 MHz and 700 MHz

So if you’re bringing your own device, it must be able to run on one of the above-mentioned frequencies.

Let’s look at their coverage. As mentioned, Koodo has strong coverage across Canada, covering all provinces and territories to some extent with their 4G network.

You can get an in-depth look at coverage areas through the interactive map on the Koodo website here.

Look for the detailed coverage map dropdown.

 

Koodo Plans

Koodo does not have any term contracts to sign which is a great thing, so they’ve bucketed their plans based on if you want to take a ‘Tab’ to pay off a phone in 24 equal monthly payments or if you just want them to provide cellular service.

While Koodo’s plans may seem confusing at first, we’ve distilled it all down here and put ALL of them side by side for you to easily understand what’s available.

It’s quite simple – they offer the same plans for every Tab Size Plan, however depending on the amount of the ‘Tab’ you’re interested in taking (if any at all), only certain plans are available.

Moving into Tab Large, Tab Extra Large and the newly added Tab Extra Extra Large, the same plans become more expensive.

While we used to publish Koodo’s plans, we find it better that you view them on the Koodo website to get the most current pricing and offers.

Koodo also offers Koodo prepaid services.

Details are available here.

 

Koodo Roaming

Koodo now offers the same Easy Roam add-ons as Telus, which is great news!

If you’re roaming in the US, pay $7 per day for each 24-hour period and use your phone just as if you were at home.

You can call phone numbers in Canada and the US.

If you’re traveling internationally and your destination is on their list of 100+ countries, pay $12 per day, and voila!

Calls to Canada and the country you’re in are included.

Roaming couldn’t be simpler!

Keep in mind you’ll need to turn Easy Roam on.

If you’re just looking for a pay-per-use setup, Koodo also offers that however the difference in rates is night and day and you’re most probably better off just using Easy Roam, even if it’s for one day.

For example, pay-per-use rates in Greece are:

Voice: $1.50 per minute
Data Usage: $5 per MB
Outgoing text: $0.60 each

So, at $12/day, you can use everything your plan allows you to – it really comes down to what you want to use your phone for.

 

Koodo Phones

Koodo has a wide range of phones available, from the latest and greatest iPhones to much simpler, super affordable devices.

With their array of plans, you can choose what amount makes sense for you to pay upfront and what amount you want to add to your Koodo tab to pay off over 24 months.

It’s a great way for example to pay 50% or so for your device upfront today and pay off the remaining 50% or so over 24 months.

Be sure to pick the plan and tab combination that has the best value for you.

Alternatively, if you already have a phone or want to purchase a used phone, you can definitely do that and bring it along to use instead of purchasing one (as long as it’s compatible).

You can also check out Kijiji and other online marketplaces.

 

What is this Tab thing they offer and how does it work?

While Koodo does not lock you into a fixed-term contract, they offer you the ability to split a portion of the phone cost over 24 months, with no hidden fees.

Let’s look at the iPhone X as an example:

Pay $0 upfront and $40 per month for 24 months – Tab Extra Extra Large Plan
Pay $300 upfront and $30 per month for 24 months – Tab Extra Large Plan
Pay $500 upfront and $20 per month for 24 months – Tab Large Plan
Pay $650 upfront and $15 per month for 24 months – Tab Medium Plan

This per month amount is in addition to your monthly plan amount.

The maximum amount you can add to your tab varies by plan type:

Tab Small: Up to $240
Tab Medium: Up to $360
Tab Large: Up to $480
Tax Extra Large: Up to $720
Tab Extra Extra Large: Up to $960

 

So, while you have options, it’s important to note that you should pick the payment option and matching plan that makes most sense for you and affords you good value for your money.

And if you already have your own unlocked device, you can also bring your own phone to Koodo and take advantage of some fantastic rate plans without adding a tab cost to your monthly phone bill.

Freedom Mobile has taken a similar approach to have a monthly tab to pay off your device cost.

 

Recommendation

For the best value, choose a plan from either No Tab, Tab Small, or Tab Medium – Not because the amount of the tab is smaller but because the plans are actually CHEAPER.

The same No Tab/Tab Small/Tab Medium plans are available under Tab Large and Tab Extra Large but they cost $25 more per month.

Example: Under Tab Medium, the 7 GB Unlimited Canada Talk & Text plan is $75 – Under Tab Large and Tab Extra Large it’s $100 per month.

So to make your dollar go further, pay for more of the phone upfront and take a smaller tab which also means you are able to get a cheaper plan.

Connect online to ensure you save the $30 connection fee, it’s $0 if you do order your sim card online.

 

Any downsides?

Koodo is pushing the self-serve model and charges fees if you ask their customer service personnel over the phone to make the changes for you. But be sure you won’t regret it, because it is far from poor customer service, and you can get your questions answered anytime.

Make sure you’re comfortable with a self-serve carrier and making changes online yourself, otherwise the savings you get on plans are eaten back up through fees like this.

 

Other Mobile Carriers

Chatr

Chatr offers fast data speeds, reaching up to 3G speeds. This makes Chatr a great choice for anyone looking for a fast and reliable connection. Whether you’re browsing the internet, streaming music or videos, or just need to stay connected with friends and family, Chatr has you covered.

Public Mobile

Public Mobile is Canada’s newest wireless carrier, and it’s also the cheapest.  Public Mobile’s 3G speed is only 3mbps which may not sound very fast, but it’s still fast enough for most people to stream high-quality audio without any problems. Public Mobile isn’t as well-known as some major carriers, but with low prices, it’s sure to attract many new customers.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile Canada is a good cell phone service provider which offer a variety of plans that include talk, text, and data. Virgin Mobile also have a good selection of phones to choose from. They use the Sprint network, which is one of the largest in the country. This means that you should get good coverage pretty much anywhere.

Lucky Mobile

Lucky Mobile is a subsidiary of Bell Canada and operates on the Bell network. Lucky Mobile is good in Canada because it has low rates, good coverage, and the ability to bring your own phone. Lucky Mobile is a prepaid service, so there are no contracts and no surprises. You can buy a Lucky Mobile SIM card at most convenience stores or order one online.

Freedom Mobile

Since Freedom Mobile is a new entrant into the space and competing with the Big 3 Carriers is no easy task, it seems like they are using lower price points as a tactic to help increase the number of subscribers. The lower price does not relate to the quality of the network by any means, as Freedom Mobile is heavily investing in bettering its network.

 

Koodo FAQs