What credit score do you need for a phone plan in Canada?
Quick summary
No phone company in Canada publishes a minimum credit score. A higher score may make a monthly plan simpler to get, but no company promises approval at any score. If your score is low or you have none, a prepaid plan generally does not need a credit check. Check your own report first with our free credit report guide.
Checked November 10, 2026. Main source: Rogers: Learn about Credit Limit Monitoring (no date shown, last confirmed November 10, 2026). See all 5 sources.
Key facts
- Published minimum score
- None found for any carrier
- Source: Company pages read November 10, 2026
- Rogers
- A credit assessment may lead to a deposit, credit limit monitoring, or both
- Source: Rogers support page, no date shown
- Prepaid (Public Mobile, Chatr, Lucky)
- Described as no credit check
- Source: WhistleOut, updated June 30, 2026
What is known, and what is not
Here is every fact we could tie to a named page. Anything not in this table is general guidance, and we mark it that way.
| Item | What we found | Kind of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum score | No company page we read gives one | We looked at company pages and found none |
| Rogers | A new customer's limit and deposit depend on a credit assessment. Amounts vary by customer | Company page |
| Public Mobile, Chatr, Lucky | Described as prepaid with no credit check | Named publisher, dated |
| Prepaid without data, in general | Generally does not need a check | Scotiabank |
| A credit card on file | May mean no check is run | Scotiabank |
| 650 as a minimum | One site says 650 in 2023 and shows no company source | Not used |
Sources: Rogers: Learn about Credit Limit Monitoring (no date shown, last confirmed November 10, 2026); WhistleOut: How to get a phone plan without a credit check in Canada (updated June 30, 2026, read November 10, 2026); Scotiabank StartRight: Newcomers and credit score checks in Canada (read November 10, 2026); Hardbacon: Minimum credit score for a mobile phone contract in Canada (updated May 15, 2024, read November 10, 2026).
How score ranges usually read
Equifax Canada says generally 760 and up is excellent, 725 to 759 is very good, 660 to 724 is good, and below 560 is in the lowest range. It says the bands are general, and that lenders use many different models. Phone companies do not say which band they use.
People often ask if a score in the 700s means they are fine. A higher score tends to make lenders more willing. It does not guarantee a yes, and it is not a rule any phone company has published. The same goes the other way for a score near 500: it may lead to a deposit or a prepaid plan, and it does not always mean a no.
Source: Equifax Canada: What is a good credit score (no date shown).
Your options, from simplest to most involved
These are options, not company rules. Ask each company before you apply.
- Prepaid. The sources we read describe prepaid plans as not needing a credit check. Check the plan, because the Scotiabank page speaks only about plans without data.
- A monthly plan with a deposit. Rogers says a deposit may be asked at activation. Ask how much, and when you get it back.
- A monthly plan with a credit card on file. Scotiabank says a card may mean no check is run. Ask the company if that applies.
- Wait and build. If you plan to buy a phone on a plan later, a secured card or a credit builder can start your file. See the guides below.
Check your own report first
Before you apply for a monthly plan, look at your own file. Check that the accounts, addresses and payments are right. Checking your own report is a soft inquiry and does not change your score.
A company's check for a monthly plan may be a hard inquiry. Ask the company which kind it runs before you agree.
If you are turned down or owe a bill
Your contract rights are set out in the Wireless Code. If a phone bill goes unpaid, it may be sent to collections.
Questions people ask
What credit score do I need for a phone plan in Canada?
No Canadian phone company we checked publishes a minimum score. Rogers says its decision depends on a credit assessment, and that it may ask for a deposit or set a credit limit. Prepaid plans are described as not needing a check.
Is 650 the minimum credit score for a phone contract?
One site says 650 for 2023 but shows no company source. We found no phone company that states it, so we do not treat it as a rule.
Can I get a phone plan with a score near 500?
We cannot say what any company will decide. You may be offered a deposit, a lower credit limit or a prepaid plan. Ask each company before you apply.
Do I need a credit score for a prepaid plan?
The sources we read describe prepaid plans such as Public Mobile, Chatr and Lucky as not needing a credit check. Scotiabank says this about plans without data, so ask about data plans.
Does applying for a phone plan hurt my credit score?
It can, if the company runs a hard inquiry. Checking your own report does not. Ask the company which kind of check it runs.
I have no credit history. Can I still get a plan?
Often yes. A prepaid plan is the simplest start, and some companies may ask for a deposit on a monthly plan. See our guide for newcomers.