Fido and Koodo are two of the best mobile networks in Canada. They both are subsidiaries of parent companies Rogers and Telus. Fido and Koodo both are MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) – which means you’ll get the exact cellular reception and network as one would get on Roger’s network (Fido’s parent company). The same rule applied to Koodo as well.

In this article let’s take a look at why you should probably consider switching to either Fido or Koodo, what the benefits are, and how you can save money by this decision. Whatever gets you the data you need at the best monthly price, please go for it. Like most of you, I’m on Wifi 95% of the time so data doesn’t really matter to me but it might to you.

Crunch the numbers and see. Sometimes a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) option makes sense, and sometimes not. It all depends on how long you want to keep your phone and how well the monthly payment fits your budget. I’d assume a brand-new iPhone won’t have any promos on it so again, the cheapest overall monthly option is best if you’re subsidizing the device.

Since they’re all basically the big 3 (Rogers owns Fido and Telus owns Koodo), coverage is fine unless you frequent a cottage somewhere remote. I recently switched to Fido from Bell and the service is just fine.

Funny how this stuff has changed, it was always about the cost of monthly service. The phone used to be a cheap/free throw-in to get you hooked. Not anymore with how devices cost. In this article, first, let’s talk about Fido and then Koodo, and finally compare Fido with Koodo. Let’s begin.

Fido

As I said in the introductory paragraph, Fido is a subsidiary of Rogers’s communication. Now, Rogers is one of the three best and top telecommunication companies in Canada in terms of cellular signal quality, network coverage, and the latest phone availability.

Also, you can find Rogers/Fido stores/kiosks in almost every mall across Canada. Fido is widely present and their customer care support is excellent too. Fido’s Black Friday and loyalty deals are great too. They almost have all the latest phones and good deals year round. Do check out Fido’s website for the latest offers and deals going on.

With that said, what is Fido or why switch to Fido? Does it have the same network coverage as Rogers? How do you benefit by switching to Fido; from the big three telecom companies – Rogers, Bell, and Telus?

Why Fido When You have Rogers?

Fido was created by Rogers Communications, a Canadian telecommunications company, as a way to expand its mobile services offerings and target a specific market segment.

Fido was launched in 1996 as a subsidiary of Rogers Communications, with the goal of providing affordable and flexible mobile services to a younger, more budget-conscious demographic. At the time, Rogers was primarily focused on providing high-end, premium services to a more affluent customer base, and saw an opportunity to reach a new market by offering lower-cost, no-contract options.

Fido’s unique selling point was its focus on providing low-cost, no-term contract plans, which was a new concept in the Canadian mobile services market at the time. In addition, Fido plans were designed to be more flexible and affordable than traditional postpaid plans, which helped it to attract a younger, more budget-conscious demographic.

Fido’s success in the Canadian mobile services market allowed Rogers Communications to expand its customer base and increase its market share. Today, Fido continues to be a popular option for customers looking for affordable and flexible mobile services, and it is considered one of the most popular and competitive options in the Canadian mobile services market.

Fido Benefits

Let’s get this straight out of the bat – Fido is an MVNO of Rogers. Now, what do I mean by MVNO MVNO stands for Mobile Virtua l Network Operator. In layman’s terms, Fido does not own any of the network towers but will share the signal quality and strength from Rogers towers. You will pretty much get the same network quality and internet speeds but for a much lesser price plan when compared to Rogers.

Now, what’s the catch here? Why not directly subscribe to Rogers? Here’s the thing rite – Rogers will usually charge a premium fee as it usually has the better brand name and the latest premium phones available as soon launched. Fido does that too. Also, with Fido, you don’t hav e to worry about the network. You can pretty much get at least 95%+ network coverage (Canada-wide) or where Rogers is available.

What Is Fido XTRA?

Fido XTRA is a loyalty program offered by Fido, a Canadian telecommunications company. It is designed to reward customers for their long-term service with the company. The program offers a variety of perks and discounts on things like food, entertainment, and travel.

Customers can access Fido XTRA by signing into their Fido account online or through the Fido mobile app. Once enrolled, customers will receive free perks every week such as free data, free international calling, and discounts on other Fido products and services.

The program also offers discounts on a variety of popular brands and partners, such as food delivery, ride-sharing, and streaming services. Additionally, Fido XTRA also offers exclusive deals on devices, accessories, and more.

Overall, Fido XTRA is a great way for Fido customers to save money and get more out of their service by taking advantage of the various discounts and perks offered by the program.

What Is Fido Refer-A-Friend?

Fido Refer-A-Friend is a referral program offered by Fido, a Canadian telecommunications company. It allows current customers to refer their friends and family to the company and earn rewards for doing so.

When a current customer refers a friend to Fido and their friend signs up for a new Fido service, both the current customer and the new customer will receive a reward. The reward typically consists of a credit on their next bill or a discount on a new device. The specific rewards and terms of the program can vary depending on the time of the year or the promotions that Fido is running.

To participate in the Fido Refer-A-Friend program, current customers will need to log in to their account on the Fido website or use the Fido mobile app. They will then be able to generate a referral link, which they can share with their friends and family via email, text message, or social media.

The Fido Refer-A-Friend program is a great way for current customers to earn rewards for spreading the word about Fido’s services and for new customers to save money on their new service.

Fido Plans and Benefits

Fido is a popular mobile service provider in Canada, it offers a variety of plans that cater to different needs and budgets, including prepaid and postpaid options. The company’s postpaid plans include various options for data, minutes, and texts, as well as additional features such as roaming and international calling. Fido also offers a variety of devices such as smartphones and tablets from different manufacturers, and customers can choose from a range of financing and leasing options.

Fido also offers home internet and home phone services, which can be bundled with their mobile services for added convenience and savings.

Furthermore, Fido also has a loyalty program called Fido XTRA, which rewards customers with perks and discounts on things like food, entertainment, and travel. It also offers free perks every week for subscribed customers, such as free data, free international calling, and discounts on other Fido products and services.

Fido’s customer service is available 24/7 by phone, email, live chat, or social media, and they offer various self-service options on their website, such as account management and online bill payments.

In summary, Fido offers various mobile services, internet, and home phone services, a wide range of devices, a loyalty program, and good customer service. These are the Fido plans right now in GTA Toronto and let’s compare them with Rogers.

As you can see, Fido plans to charge less, you’ll get more value for the buck, yet enjoy the same network coverage as Rogers.

Fido Prepaid Plans

Fido, a Canadian telecommunications company, offers a variety of prepaid plans for customers who want more control over their monthly spending and do not want to commit to a long-term contract.

Here are a few examples of Fido’s prepaid plans:

Pay-As-You-Go: This plan does not require a monthly fee, and customers will only pay for the calls, texts, and data they use. This plan is best for customers who only use their phones occasionally.
Daily Plans: These plans include a set amount of data, minutes, and texts, and are valid for 24 hours. They start at $3 per day.
Weekly Plans: These plans include a set amount of data, minutes, and texts, and are valid for 7 days. They start at $15 per week.
Monthly Plans: These plans include a set amount of data, minutes, and texts, and are valid for 30 days. They start at $25 per month.

Fido’s prepaid plans allow customers to pay for only what they use and avoid any long-term commitment. These plans also include Canada-wide calling and text, and international calling and roaming options at an additional cost.

It’s worth noting that these plans are subject to change, and Fido may offer different prepaid plans or promotions at different times. It is always best to check their website or contact their customer service for the most up-to-date information.

Overall, Fido’s prepaid plans provide customers with more control over their monthly spending and an alternative to traditional postpaid plans. They are a good option for customers who want to avoid a long-term commitment or for customers who just need a phone for occasional use.

Fido Loyalty Program

If you are looking for a brand new phone or probably a hardware upgrade, Fido offers a very good loyalty program.

You can expect discounts on the device down payment costs and a much better monthly plan compared to what Rogers will offer for a similar device and LTE data.

In case the device you are looking for doesn’t have a down payment, you can contact the Fido customer care loyalty team and get a much better price plan for being a new or loyal customer. In fact, even without the call, you’ll end up getting a good price plan at the Fido store.

To get the best of the loyalty offers, all you have to do is be with Fido for 6 plus months as a postpaid customer.

Now Rogers offers the same loyalty plans but it’s definitely not as appealing as Fido, they are the premium brand and not the discounted brand that Fido is. Also, Rogers is always trying to push Fido for better offerings and discounts.

Fido Internet

As part of the bundle, another option (advantage) you get with Fido is the Fido internet. If you are a first-time user, signing up for a new account with Fido, they have some amazing offers right now.

From what I remember it is $32.50 for unlimited 75 Mbps home internet with Fido. If you are looking for a better and faster internet package, Fido charges $5 more at $37.50 for the 150 Mbps speed. That’s double the speed for $5 more.

You can also get the Fido Internet without cellular connectivity too. But it’s always better to be associated with one brand at the end of the day. It’s easier to maintain one bill for cell phone connection and the Internet. Lesser the monthly bills are easier to maintain.

Again, Fido Internet is from Rogers. So you can rest assured of great, reliable, fast, and good internet service from one of the premium brands in Canada. I’ve personally been using the Fido Internet services for over 2 years now and so far it’s been really good.

There’s absolutely no downtime and not even a single call to the Fido customer care of any outages or network/modem issues. For the cell phone and network, I’m with Bell right now, I mean to say no longer with Rogers, even then no troubles at all with the Fido Internet.

Fido Pulse Plans

Fido offers premium pulse plans, the advantage you get with the Fido pulse plans are, 5 hours of internet surfing hours, unlimited talk time minutes across Canada, and Data Overage protection every month.

The 5-hour browsing count will reset every billing cycle for your account whether you use it or not. How do you activate the Fido pulse? Once you signup for a Fido pulse plan; download the Fido mobile app and you’ll immediately see the 5 free hours of data available to browse and use the internet. And this is absolutely free internet time you’ll get every month with no terms and conditions attached.

The only drawback here is that, once you enable one of the five free slot hours, you should use it for the full term, I mean for a one-hour complete cycle. In case you end up using the internet for 30 minutes, for example, you will lose the remaining 30 minutes of browsing time. So make sure that you really need the internet for one full hour before tapping the icon in the Fido app.

Fido Data Overage Protection

Another thing to note with Fido is the Data Overage Protector. Now, what does this mean to the end user? Say you have the monthly postpaid $60, 6GB Fido plan. For whatever reason, you end up using all the 6GB of data by the 25th of the month.

What happens next? Do you want to pay overages for the data you use? The data overage charges in Canada are pretty high. We all know that. Here’s where data overages come into play.

With Fido, once you have consumed all of your monthly data, your internet speeds are reduced but, you can still browse the web and social media if not play youtube videos. Usually, the data speeds are reduced from LTE to 256 kbps. It’s much better than paying stupid for stupid overages or not having the internet at all.

Koodo Mobile

Koodo Mobile is a Canadian telecommunications company that provides mobile services, similar to Fido. It is a subsidiary of Telus Communications, one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies.

Koodo offers prepaid and postpaid mobile plans that include various options for data, minutes, and texts, as well as additional features such as roaming and international calling. They also offer a wide range of devices such as smartphones and tablets, which can be purchased outright or financed through a plan.

One of the key features of Koodo is its “Tab” system, which allows customers to finance the cost of a new device over time, and pay it off in monthly installments. This allows customers to upgrade their devices more frequently, without having to pay the full cost upfront.

Koodo also offers a loyalty program called “Elastic Plans” which allows customers to adjust their plan every month to suit their needs, by increasing or decreasing the amount of data, minutes, and texts they use. Koodo’s customer service is available 24/7 by phone, email, live chat, or social media, and they offer various self-service options on their website, such as account management and online bill payments.

In summary, Koodo is a Canadian mobile service provider that offers prepaid and postpaid plans, a wide range of devices, and a loyalty program that allows customers to adjust their plan every month to suit their needs.

Why Koodo And Why Not Telus?

Koodo and Telus are both Canadian telecommunications companies that offer similar products and services, such as mobile plans, internet services, and home phone services. However, there are a few key differences that may make one more appealing to certain customers than the other.

One of the main differences between Koodo and Telus is their pricing and plans. Koodo is generally considered to be more budget-friendly than Telus, with plans that are lower in cost and more flexible. Koodo also offers a wider range of prepaid plans, which can be more appealing to customers who want more control over their monthly spending.

Another difference is that Koodo has the “Tab” system, which allows customers to finance the cost of a new device over time, and pay it off in monthly installments. This allows customers to upgrade their devices more frequently, without having to pay the full cost upfront.

Koodo also has “Elastic Plans” which allow customers to adjust their plan every month to suit their needs, by increasing or decreasing the amount of data, minutes and texts they use. This is a feature that Telus doesn’t offer.

Additionally, Koodo markets itself as a “no-term” contract provider, which means they don’t require customers to sign a long-term contract in order to get service. This can be more appealing to customers who value flexibility and don’t want to be locked into a contract for a long period of time.

What Is Koodo Tab?

The Koodo Tab is a financing program offered by Koodo Mobile, a Canadian telecommunications company. It allows customers to purchase a new device and pay for it in monthly installments, rather than paying the full cost upfront.

When a customer chooses to use the Koodo Tab, they will pay a lower upfront cost for their new device, and will then make monthly payments to pay off the remaining balance. The amount of the monthly payments will depend on the cost of the device and the term of the financing.

The Koodo Tab also allows customers to upgrade their devices more frequently, by paying off the remaining balance of their current device and starting a new Tab for a new device. This means that customers can always have the latest device without having to pay the full cost upfront.

It’s worth noting that customers need to pay a certain amount of the device’s cost upfront before they can activate the Tab feature, this cost is called the “Tab Charge” and it can vary depending on the device’s value.

Overall, the Koodo Tab is a great way for customers to purchase a new device and pay for it over time, while also giving them the opportunity to upgrade their devices more frequently.

Koodo

Koodo Monthly Plans

Koodo offers a variety of monthly plans to suit different needs and budgets. These plans include options for data, minutes, and texts, as well as additional features such as roaming and international calling.

Here are a few examples of Koodo’s monthly plans:

Basic Plan: This plan includes unlimited Canada-wide calling and text, and starts at $25 per month.
Data Plan: This plan includes a set amount of data and starts at $30 per month. Customers can add more data to their plan for an additional cost.
Talk & Text Plan: This plan includes a set amount of minutes and texts and starts at $20 per month. Customers can add more minutes and texts to their plan for an additional cost.

Koodo also offers a variety of add-ons for their plans, such as international calling, roaming, and additional data. Customers can also add additional lines to their plan at a discounted rate.

It’s worth noting that Koodo also offers “Elastic Plans” which allows customers to adjust their plan every month to suit their needs, by increasing or decreasing the amount of data, minutes, and texts they use.

Overall, Koodo’s monthly plans are flexible and customizable, allowing customers to choose a plan that best suits their needs and budget. Customers can also change their plans as their needs change, or add extra features as needed.

Koodo Prepaid Plans

Koodo Mobile offers a variety of prepaid plans for customers who want more control over their monthly spending and don’t want to commit to a long-term contract.

Here are a few examples of Koodo’s prepaid plans:

Pay-Per-Use: This plan does not require a monthly fee, and customers will only pay for the calls, texts, and data they use. This plan is best for customers who only use their phone occasionally.
Daily Plans: These plans include a set amount of data, minutes, and texts, and are valid for 24 hours. They start at $3 per day.
Weekly Plans: These plans include a set amount of data, minutes, and texts, and are valid for 7 days. They start at $10 per week.
Monthly Plans: These plans include a set amount of data, minutes, and texts, and are valid for 30 days. They start at $20 per month.

Koodo’s prepaid plans allow customers to pay for only what they use and avoid any long-term commitment. These plans also include Canada-wide calling and text, and international calling and roaming options at an additional cost.

It’s worth noting that these plans are subject to change, and Koodo may offer different prepaid plans or promotions at different times. It is always best to check their website or contact their customer service for the most up-to-date information.

Overall, Koodo’s prepaid plans provide customers with more control over their monthly spending and an alternative to traditional postpaid plans. They are a good option for customers who want to avoid a long-term commitment or for customers who just need a phone for occasional use.

What Is Koodo Refer-a-friend

Do you have friends or family you want to recommend to Koodo? After all, Koodo operates on one of the best Canadian Networks, Telus, right?

What if I’ll also tell you that you can be rewarded for referring your friends and family to Koodo? Yes, that’s right. Koodo offers a refer friends and family referral program, you (the referrer) and the person you referred to both will receive $5 off your monthly bill for 5 months. That’s $25 saved. Again, this is for every single friend you refer to Koodo.

Now, how do you refer friends and family to Koodo? It’s actually quite simple, here’s how to do it:

Click the link here. Refer your friend.
There is no step two! Koodo will send your friend everything they need to complete the process. Once they do, you’ll both receive the credits.

Koodo Loyalty Plans

Koodo does not have a traditional loyalty program where customers can earn rewards or points for staying with the company for a certain period of time. However, they do offer an alternative called “Elastic Plans”.

The Elastic Plans allow customers to adjust their plan every month to suit their needs, by increasing or decreasing the amount of data, minutes, and texts they use. This feature enables customers to change their plans as their needs change without any penalty or additional cost.

For example, a customer on a base plan with 1GB data can add more data to their plan in a month when they know they will be using more internet and reduce it in a month when they know they will be using less, this means customers only pay for what they use.

Additionally, Koodo offers a variety of add-ons for their plans, such as international calling, roaming, and additional data. This allows customers to customize their plans and add extra features as needed.

Overall, Koodo’s Elastic Plans provide customers with more flexibility and control over their monthly expenses and help them save money by only paying for what they use.

Koodo vs. Fido Network

If you plan to compare the network Coverage of Koodo vs. Fido across Canada, here it is:

In the above screenshot, purple is for the Koodo network coverage, whereas for Fido (Rogers here), it is represented in “Red” color.

As you see, the network coverage is almost similar, except that maybe at a few spots, Koodo (Telus) is available, while in certain other spots, Rogers’s network is available.

To be realistic and honest, how often would you be traveling to one of these remote places even to compare? Most of us have jobs in cities and roam around in city streets or suburbs where you would not have any issues with either Fido or Koodo.

The only exception is when you choose something like Freedom Mobile, their network is pathetic and horrible. That’s where you want to be sure before getting the connectivity or making the switch over.

Can I Get The Latest Smartphones From Fido Or Koodo?

Yes, both Fido and Koodo offer a wide range of devices, including the latest smartphones from various manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, LG, and Google among others.

Fido offers a variety of devices to choose from, including the latest smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, they also offer financing and leasing options for their devices. Customers can choose from a range of financing and leasing options, such as paying for the device in monthly installments, paying off the remaining balance of the device over time, and upgrading to a new device more frequently.

Koodo also offers the latest smartphones and other devices, as well as financing options through the Koodo Tab. Customers can purchase a new device and pay for it in monthly installments, rather than paying the full cost upfront. This allows customers to have the latest device without having to pay the full cost upfront.

Both companies offer a wide range of devices and financing options, so you should be able to find the latest smartphones on both Fido and Koodo.

Fido Vs. Koodo Subscriber Count

Fido and Koodo have different target markets and offer different services, which may appeal to different types of customers. For example, Fido has a loyalty program called Fido XTRA that rewards customers for their long-term service and offers free perks every week for subscribed customers, such as free data, free international calling, and discounts on other Fido products and services. On the other hand, Koodo offers Elastic Plans which allow customers to adjust their plan every month to suit their needs, by increasing or decreasing the amount of data, minutes, and texts they use. This is a feature that Fido doesn’t offer.

In terms of subscriber numbers, both companies have a significant customer base in Canada. According to the latest available data, Rogers Communications has over 10 million wireless subscribers, including those under the Fido brand. Telus Communications, on the other hand, has over 8 million wireless subscribers, including those under the Koodo brand.

It’s worth noting that Fido and Koodo have different target markets and offer different services, which may appeal to different types of customers. For example, Fido has a loyalty program called Fido XTRA that rewards customers for their long-term service, while Koodo offers Elastic Plans which allow customers to adjust their plan every month to suit their needs.

Overall, both Fido and Koodo have a significant customer base in Canada, and both companies offer a wide range of mobile services and devices that appeal to different types of customers.

Final Words

Fido and Koodo are two of the best cellular networks, subsidiaries of the bigger brands Rogers and Telus. With that said, you are free to pick one of the two, as both pretty much offer the same unlimited talk time Canada-wide and match the mobile data offered. If you’re not interested in the unlimited plan, they offer the 500-minute plan too.

I would personally go with Fido any day. It’s fast, reliable, amazing customer care call center support and you end up getting the extra 5 hours of internet surfing every month with the Fido pulse plans. Also, you can keep everything under one roof with Fido – both the mobile plan and Internet services. Also, I do feel Fido’s customer care is better than Koodo’s. Please share this article if you find it helpful, and let me know your comments below. Thanks for reading!

Fido vs. Koodo Review

Value For Money

5.0/5

Benefits

5.0/5

Rewards

5.0/5

Sagar Sridhar

Sagar Sridhar is an accomplished personal finance blogger hailing from Canada. With a unique blend of quirkiness and enthusiasm, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the personal finance industry. Sagar’s passion for finance, coupled with his engaging writing style, sets him apart from his peers. While he has a background in computer engineering and a Master’s in Project Management, Sagar’s true passion lies in helping others manage their money. His writing has been featured in several top Canadian finance publications, solidifying his status as a sought-after voice in the field. Despite juggling his work and blogging schedule, Sagar remains resolute in his mission to make a lasting impact on the personal finance world.