Travelling to the US with Canada, US, Mexico plan - Does roaming need to be turned on ?

[radeohedca]

I will be travelling to the US in a couple of days and I have a couple of questions since I've been reading conflicting information in past Community posts. Some of what I've read is counter to what we've known about roaming in the past, so I wonder if things have changed in recent times.

1.  As I understand it, having a Canada, US, Mexico plan now means that I do no need to buy a roaming package. Can someone please confirm this.

2. I've read that I DO NOT need to turn on roaming with my Canada, US, Mexico plan when I enter the US.  Please confirm.

Thank you !

[radeohedca · Accepted solution]

So I have returned from my trip to the U.S. and here's how it went down.
I intentionally had roaming turned off while my buddy (also with PM) had his turned on as we crossed the border at Windsor/Detroit. 
I was able to use phone and text but I had to enable data roaming in order to use the web.  My buddy had access to the web immediately since he already had roaming enabled.... which stands to reason.

So the take-away is...  You can use phone and text without enabling roaming once you cross the border but you must enable it if you will be using a web browser or any apps that use data.   
So the PM statement that you do not need to enable roaming should  be elaborated on for clarification. 
Bottom line, just enable roaming and you'll be good to go for phone, text & data. 

[colleeno]

@radeohedca 

You can just turn roaming on now while you're in Canada and leave it on. Then you don’t even have to think about it when you go to the U.S. or Mexico. Mine has been toggled on for over a year now. You will probably receive a text from Public Mobile when you cross the border suggesting you buy a roaming add-on but that is an automated message that is sent to all customers so just ignore it.

[hairbag1]

@radeohedca 

Public Mobile is a pre-paid service and as such, there are never going to be any traditional "overage charges". If you do hit your data limit, the data will just stop until next regular renewal or you buy an add-on. I've had data Roaming enabled in my cell since 2018 and never had additional charges or fees later on. Anyhow...I've been to USA frequently and can confirm that in order to use your Public Mobile Canada / US / Mex plan data whilst in USA, you must have Roaming enabled in settings....but you'll never get an overage or other usage bill later on.

ed

[Phil_Adelphus]

@radeohedca  You don't need a roaming add on but you may get an automatic text message on crossing the border implying that you do.  You can safely ignore it, it's sent to everyone regardless.   It's been said that you don't need data roaming turned on to make voice calls in the USA, but you do need to enable it to use data.  But I've also seen conflicting information on another carrier as to whether roaming needs to be enabled for voice calls also.  

[radeohedca]

The database for the PM Chat Bot should be corrected then.

[hTideGnow]

hi @radeohedca 

you do not need another roaming add-on

but on your phone, you need to turn on roaming to allow your phone to use a partner network (non PM), so it connects to T-Mobile or AT&T or Verizon

[radeohedca]

Great... thanks for confirming !

[radeohedca]

  Please Confirm !

[Handy1]

@radeohedca  Yes that’s correct CAN/US /MEX plans have roaming built into it no need to buy anything extra 

[radeohedca]

I guess I'd better clear this up too then....

1.  As I understand it, having a Canada, US, Mexico plan now means that I do no need to buy a roaming package. Can someone please confirm this.

[Handy1]

@radeohedca  Well please come back and update the thread when you find out for certain it’s will be news to me if that’s the case . I just don’t understand how it would work when you need to reply in the roaming partners T mobile  AT&T or Verizon if you don’t have data roaming turned on in phone settings or it won’t be able to connect to those roaming partners I don’t think 🤔 with out it turned on 

[radeohedca]

That's what I was saying in my OP.  Not having to turn on roaming is counter to everything we knew in the past.  But the context of other things I've read here on the Community suggests that PM has entered into agreements with some US carriers such that roaming does not need to be turned on for those of us with Can/US/Mex plans. 
It's not a big deal, I'll ultimately find out once I cross into the US but it would be good to clear this up instead of propagating misinformation.

[radeohedca]

Okay, so the Chat Bot is wrong ? 
(See my cut & paste conversation in previous post.)

[Handy1]

@radeohedca  the messaging here at public mobile is not always the best they say monthly plans but are in fact only 30 days . So to me this is another one of those cases where messaging is not completely correct . I’m willing to bet $ to doughnuts that you need data roaming turned in when you leave Canada . So unless something’s changed that I’m unaware off . But in any case you will not be billed extra for having it on now here in Canada might be bit or batter drain to do so . But test for yourself when you head to the U.S. and you will find you need data roaming turned roaming turned in phone settings 

[SKSuh]

Roaming needs to be enabled for use outside of Canada 

Public Mobile worked flawlessly on my lowly iPhone 15 Pro Max in the USA (2024) and México (2025). 

[radeohedca]

 I guess I will ultimately find out once I enter the US.

[Handy1]

@radeohedca  Not when you home here in Canada but you need it on when you leave Canada for US or MEX 

adding @radeohedca  and public mobile is pre paid so you will never get surprise bill you can only use what you have already paid for 

[radeohedca]

Interesting because the Chat Bot said that roaming does not need to be turned on.

[Handy1]

@radeohedca  Yes ensure you have data roaming turned on in phone settings , and that it no need to buy anything else your plan has roaming built into it to use in all 3 countries calling texting and data