Popular Plans
Popular Phones
What You Need to Know
Owned by Rogers, Chatr is their entry-level carrier offering. While Chatr’s lowest cost plans are some of the cheapest among Canadian carriers, they come with limitations to calling areas. This makes it essential to research the zones in your area before committing to a plan.
Chatr offers prepaid monthly bundles with no option for post-pay plans. At the time of writing, prices for monthly bundles range between $15 and $75 per month, per line.
Should you need a phone, Chatr offers a range of basic flip phones and entry-level smartphones. However, device financing is not available. If you already have a phone, they offer SIM cards for unlocked GSM phones on the 850 and 1900Mhz frequencies.
What’s Good?
- No-contract plans available
- No credit check for service
- Bring your own device plans
- Affordable phone selection
- Unlimited messaging on most plans
- Canada-wide calling available for most plans
What’s Bad?
- Confusing zones on entry-level plan
- Confusing pay-per-use rates
- No device financing
- No roaming bundles
- “Unlimited plans”
Notable Features
- No In-Zone Data Overages: As long as you are in your home zone, data throttles when you reach your monthly high-speed data threshold instead of accruing overages or cutting you off completely. Plans without in-zone data are subject to overage fees.
Awards and Recognitions
- Chatr currently has an B- rating with the Better Business Bureau with 18 complaints closed in the past 3 years.
How's the Network Coverage and Speed?
Chatr uses portions of the Rogers’ network. Data from OpenSignal breaks down the Rogers network by type is as follows:
You can check coverage and network types in your area at the Chatr support page.
The Rogers netowork ranked third for download speeds in both the 4G and 3G network categories in Tutela's 2018 "Mobile Experience Report", tests showed an average speed of 16.12Mbits/sec for 4G downloads and 3.92Mbits/sec for 3G downloads. Uploads speeds averaged 7.73Mbits/sec across both 4G and 3G networks.
Additional data from OpenSignal shows an average an average 3G download speed of 2.2Mb/sec. 3G upload speeds clocked in at 0.7Mb/sec.
Do They Charge Roaming Fees?
Within Canada, roaming fees will depend on your plan. Plans labeled as in-zone use billing zones to determine roaming status. There are currently 17 designated in-zones covering cities across the country. For in-zone plans, roaming fees are as follows:
- Voice service: $0.25 per minute
- Data: $0.05 per megabyte
- Text: $0.25 per outgoing message
- MMS: $0.50 per outgoing message
If you're on a Talk & Text plan with optional data, you won't face roaming fees in Canada while outside in-zone areas on the Chatr network. However, data is more expensive for these plans.
You can check in-zone areas at Chatr's Coverage Map.
Outside of Canada, fees vary. Chatr does not offer international roaming add-ons. However, if your phone supports the network frequencies in use at your destination, you should be able to use your services at pay-per-use rates.
Current rates for destinations around the world are available at their Travelling the World page.
What About Long Distance Fees?
Depending on your plan, long distance fees may apply for calls within Canada. However, Canada-wide plans are available for worry-free calling coast-to-coast.
If you frequently call the US, their $45 per month unlimited Canada and US calling plan will keep bills affordable.
Per-minute international rates will differ depending on your plan as well. The $20/month local talk plan features drastically higher international rates. If you plan to talk with friends, loved ones or colleagues abroad for more than a few minutes per month, upgrading to a plan that includes their International Talk Saver Rate will likely save you money.
To find out more about long distance fees check their Long Distance page.
Does Chatr Offer Wi-Fi Calling?
No. Chatr does not support native Wi-Fi calling or offer a Wi-Fi calling app.
How About Voice over LTE (VoLTE)?
No.
Can I Tether My Mobile?
Chatr allows tethering but does not provide technical support for tethering with your device. For more information, consult their Data Services FAQ.
Be aware that tethering with a PC, game console or another device might cause increased data consumption. Any data used by those devices while tethered counts against your data bucket. Always tether with caution.
Do They Offer Data Rollover?
No. Chatr does not offer rollover on either postpaid or prepaid service.
What Add-ons or Bundles are Available?
At the time of writing, the only add-ons available relate to data.
Data bucket add-ons include:
- $10 for 2GB
Do They Offer Bring Your Own Device/Sim-Only Plans?
Yes! If you have an unlocked GSM phone that supports the 850 and 1900Mhz, you can pick up a universal SIM for a small fee. Sim-only plans do not provide a discount over standard rates.
You can find more about device requirements and support at their Bring Your Own Phone page.
Do They Require a Credit Check?
No! As all plans are prepaid, credit checks are not required to establish service.
What About Activation and SIM Fees?
Chatr charges a $10 fee for in‑store activations, while online activations are free.
To bring your own phone or tablet, you'll need a Chatr SIM.
Chatr SIMs are available through their retail and online stores for $10.
For more information, consult their General Information FAQ page.
NOTE: Fees often differ between retail stores and websites. Be sure to check both before signing up or adding a line to your account to maximize savings.
Do They Charge an Early Termination Fee?
As there are no term contracts or device financing options, there is no worry about early termination fees with Chatr.
Can I Port My Number To or From Chatr?
As per Local Number Portability requirements, you are free to bring your number to or transfer your number from Chatr as long as a few conditions are met.
- The account with the number must be active and in good standing.
- Chatr must offer service in the area where the number is based.
- Number portability must be available in the area where the number is based.
- The number must not be assigned to a pager.
They estimate the process will take 1 to 5 business days. You can start the process in-store, online or by calling Chatr.
For more information about porting numbers, refer to their General FAQ page.
Will They Unlock My Phone?
Yes! According to CRTC Wireless Code regulations effective December 2017, they must unlock your phone free of charge upon request. If you received a subsidy on your phone, you must wait 90 days before unlocking your phone.
You can stop by any store or contact Chatr by phone, email or chat to start the unlocking process.
For additional questions about pricing, features, and coverage, be sure to check our Chatr Q&A Forum. It’s filled with questions and answers from people like you looking to get the most out of their mobile service!
If you spot any errors or missing information, please let us know! It's appreciated and will help make this page better for everyone.
Voice network: VoLTE
Data network: LTE
Mailing Address:
Chatr Wireless, 34 Eglinton Avenue W., Suite 316, Toronto, ON M4R 2H6
Phone Number:
1-800-485-9745
(or *611 from your cell)
Official Website, Facebook, X, Coverage Maps, Manage Your Account
Resources
Review Sources and Citations
Common Questions
Chatr does not officially support hotspot or tethering. Many users find the feature is blocked by default or unavailable after updates. If you see a message directing you to call Rogers, this is why.
Troubleshooting Steps
- Restart your phone and check if hotspot/tethering appears in your settings.
- Verify your data connection is working normally before attempting to tether.
- Check if Battery Saver mode is enabled—this can block hotspot functionality.
APN Workaround for Android (Unofficial)
Some Android users report success by modifying APN settings:
- Go to Settings > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names
- Select the Chatr APN
- Edit APN Type and add ,dun to the existing parameters
- Save and restart
Important Notes
This APN tethering workaround is not officially supported by Chatr, isn't guaranteed to work on all devices, and does not work on iPhone. If hotspot/tethering is essential for your needs, consider switching to Freedom Mobile or another carrier that officially supports these features.
Note: This feature may not be officially supported by Chatr. Results vary by device and network settings.
To adjust your voicemail ring delay:
- Dial *#61# and press Send to see your current voicemail number and ring delay
- Write down the phone number displayed (including +1)
- Dial **61*+1xxxyyyzzzz*11*30# and press Send (replace +1xxxyyyzzzz with the number from step 2; change 30 to your preferred delay in seconds)
- Dial *#61# again to verify the new settings
Ring delay can be set in 5-second increments up to 30 seconds maximum (e.g., 15, 20, 25, or 30).
If this doesn't work: Contact Chatr customer support directly. Many users report that these codes are rejected due to carrier restrictions, and changes may only be possible through customer service.
The default ring time on Chatr is approximately 20 seconds. Voicemail cannot be disabled through phone settings—contact Chatr to request removal if needed.
Voicemail cannot be disabled through your phone settings or codes on Chatr. You must contact Chatr customer support to request voicemail deactivation.
To deactivate voicemail:
- Call Chatr customer support at *611 from your Chatr phone or 1-800-485-9745 from any phone
- Request that voicemail be deactivated on your account
- Alternatively, submit a support ticket at chatrwireless.com/contact-us (tickets are typically resolved within 48 hours)
- Wait for Chatr's backend team to process your request
Important notes:
- Voicemail is a default service on Chatr and can only be removed by customer support
- No phone codes or settings will disable voicemail on your device
- After deactivation, callers will hear continuous ringing if you don't answer
- You can also visit a Chatr store for in-person assistance
Contact Chatr Support (Required for Password Reset)
There is no automated self-serve option to reset a forgotten voicemail password. You must speak with a live Chatr agent.
- From your Chatr phone, dial *611
- Or call 1-800-485-9745 from any phone
- A Chatr agent will verify your account information and reset your password or send you a reset link via SMS.
- Have your phone number and account details ready to speed up the process.
If You Don't Know Your Current Password
Your default voicemail password is the last 4 digits of your Chatr phone number. Try this first before calling support.
Note: Wait times may apply when contacting support. If you prefer not to call, you can also submit a support ticket at chatrwireless.com/help-support for assistance.
Chatr Mobile does not offer a formal suspension or seasonal holding plan. However, you have two options to maintain your account while traveling:
Option 1: Non-Payment Grace Period
You can leave your account unpaid for up to 90 days (approximately 3 months) without losing your number. After this period, you must make at least one payment or your account will be cancelled and you'll lose your phone number.
Option 2: Switch to the Cheapest Plan
Temporarily downgrade to Chatr's lowest-cost plan while you're away. This keeps your account active with minimal monthly fees and ensures you won't lose your number.
Important: Do not exceed 90 days without payment, as this will result in permanent account cancellation. Set a reminder before the 90-day mark to either make a payment or reactivate your service.
For trips lasting 2-3 months, the non-payment option works well. For longer absences, switching to the cheapest plan is recommended to avoid any risk of losing your account.
To deactivate your Chatr account, follow these steps:
- Remove autopay: If you have automatic payments set up, call *611 from your Chatr phone or 1-800-485-9745 to cancel autopay before your next billing date.
- Stop making payments: Once autopay is removed, simply stop paying your bill. Your account will become inactive and eventually close automatically.
- For immediate cancellation: Port your phone number to another provider—this automatically closes your Chatr account. There are no cancellation fees.
If your phone was stolen:
- Call Chatr customer service immediately at *611 or 1-800-485-9745 to report the theft
- Request temporary suspension and phone blacklisting to prevent unauthorized use
- Remove autopay to stop charges
- Have your account details and ID ready to verify ownership
Note: Chatr accounts cannot be canceled online or in-store. You must contact customer service by phone or let the account become inactive by stopping payments.
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