Updated September 2, 2026

If you're wondering how much Fido international texting costs, check your mobile plan before assuming you're going to be charged for every message.

Fido's current plans are considerably more international-text-friendly than some of its older plans. Depending on when you activated or changed your service, international texting may already be included.

But if it isn't, sending traditional SMS messages internationally can still cost money—and there are several legitimate internet-based alternatives that may allow you to communicate without paying a per-message international SMS fee.

How Much Does Fido Charge for International Text Messages?

According to Fido's current Text Messaging support documentation, the pay-per-use rate for customers on a monthly Mobile plan sending a text from Canada to a U.S. or international number is:

$0.45 per message sent.

That's the pay-per-use rate. Your actual cost can be different if international messaging is included with your particular plan or add-on.

Fido specifically recommends checking My Account to determine what's included with your service.

Many Fido Plans Now Include International Texting

This is important because you could be researching international text-message charges for a service you already have.

Fido currently advertises plans that include unlimited international texts.

Its support documentation also says customers with Mobile plans activated or changed on or after April 15, 2025 can send up to 1,000 U.S. or international texts per month, whether they're in Canada or abroad, before additional per-message charges apply.

Because mobile plans and promotions change, don't rely exclusively on an article—including this one—to determine what's included with your particular account.

Log into Fido My Account and check your plan details before sending a large number of international SMS messages.

Watch the 160-Character Limit

There's another detail that can make traditional SMS more expensive than expected.

Fido says pay-per-use SMS charges are generated in 160-character increments.

That means one long message isn't necessarily one billable message.

If your text exceeds 160 characters, another pay-per-use charge can apply. Go beyond 320 characters and another charge can apply, and so on.

So a long international message could potentially cost considerably more than $0.45 when you're paying per use.

Before Paying for International SMS, Consider WhatsApp

For many people, the easiest alternative is WhatsApp.

WhatsApp sends messages through an internet connection rather than billing each conversation as an international carrier SMS.

If both people already use WhatsApp and you're connected to Wi-Fi, you can exchange messages, photographs, videos, voice notes and make internet-based calls without paying Fido $0.45 every time you send an international SMS.

There's an important qualification:

WhatsApp itself may not charge for the message, but your internet connection isn't necessarily free.

WhatsApp specifically warns that if you use the service over mobile data while roaming internationally, your carrier's data-roaming charges may apply.

If avoiding additional charges is the objective, use trusted Wi-Fi or make sure you understand your mobile-data and roaming arrangement.

Signal Is Another Excellent Free Alternative

Signal is particularly attractive for people who also care about privacy.

Signal says its messaging service is free to use, contains no advertising and uses either Wi-Fi or mobile data for communication.

Once again, the distinction is between the messaging service and the internet connection.

Signal doesn't charge you an international SMS fee for sending a Signal message overseas. Your mobile provider could still charge for cellular data depending on your plan and location.

On ordinary Wi-Fi that you're already entitled to use, Signal can therefore be a straightforward way to communicate internationally without paying per text.

iPhone Users May Already Have iMessage

If both people use compatible Apple devices, you may already have another alternative installed on your phone: iMessage.

Apple explains that iMessage sends messages over Wi-Fi or cellular data rather than traditional SMS.

On an iPhone, iMessages traditionally appear as blue bubbles.

If you're connected to Wi-Fi and the recipient is using iMessage, sending a message to somebody in another country doesn't inherently turn that message into an international SMS simply because they're overseas.

But pay attention to what happens when iMessage isn't available.

An iPhone can be configured to fall back to SMS. If that happens, carrier messaging charges can apply.

Before sending messages internationally specifically to avoid SMS charges, make sure you understand whether the message is being sent as iMessage, RCS or conventional SMS.

Google Messages and RCS Can Also Avoid Per-Message SMS Pricing

Modern smartphones increasingly support RCS, or Rich Communication Services.

Google says RCS messages can travel over Wi-Fi or mobile data and provide features such as high-resolution media, typing indicators and read receipts.

RCS is now increasingly interoperable between Android devices and iPhones where supported.

If you're using Wi-Fi that doesn't cost you extra, Google says there's no additional charge from Google for sending and receiving RCS messages.

If RCS uses mobile data, however, the usage is governed by your mobile-data plan.

And there's an important trap to understand:

If RCS isn't available, your phone may send the message as SMS or MMS instead.

That's when your Fido plan and international messaging rates become relevant again.

Free Messaging Doesn't Mean Free Internet

This is probably the most important rule in this article.

WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage and RCS can eliminate the international SMS charge.

They don't eliminate the need for an internet connection.

When you're sitting at home in Canada using Wi-Fi, that distinction may not matter.

When you're travelling internationally, it can matter enormously.

If your phone connects to a foreign cellular network and begins using mobile data, roaming charges can potentially be much more expensive than the text message you were trying to avoid.

If you're travelling and trying to minimize charges, connecting to trusted Wi-Fi and disabling cellular data roaming when appropriate can help prevent unexpected mobile-data usage.

What About Fido Wi-Fi Calling?

Be careful here.

Wi-Fi Calling doesn't automatically transform every international message into a free message.

Fido says that when you're travelling outside Canada and using Wi-Fi Calling, outgoing messages to non-Canadian numbers can still be treated according to applicable roaming and international-message rules.

In other words:

“I'm connected to Wi-Fi” doesn't necessarily mean “Fido can't charge me.”

There's a difference between sending a WhatsApp or Signal message over Wi-Fi and using Fido's carrier messaging services through Wi-Fi Calling.

Fido Roaming Is a Different Issue From International Texting

Another common source of confusion is the difference between:

Sending an international text while you're in Canada

and:

Using your Fido phone while you're physically travelling internationally.

Those aren't the same billing situation.

Fido currently advertises Fido Roam at $16 per calendar day in the United States and $18 per calendar day in eligible international destinations.

The daily fee is generally triggered when you use eligible services while roaming, subject to the terms of your plan and destination.

If all you want to do while travelling is communicate occasionally through WhatsApp or Signal, you may prefer Wi-Fi rather than triggering cellular roaming—but make sure cellular data and roaming settings are configured appropriately.

Fido Also Has an International Add-On

If you regularly communicate internationally and prefer traditional calling and texting, abandoning SMS isn't your only option.

Fido currently advertises a Worldwide Combo add-on for approximately $2 per month.

The advertised package includes unlimited international texting along with international calling to selected countries and a Fido Roam discount, subject to Fido's current terms and eligibility.

For somebody who frequently sends international texts, paying for an appropriate plan or add-on may be easier than constantly worrying about whether an app will fall back to SMS.

Best Ways to Avoid Fido International Text Fees

Option How It Works What to Watch For
WhatsApp Uses Wi-Fi or mobile data instead of international SMS. Mobile-data and roaming charges can still apply.
Signal Free internet-based messaging with a strong privacy focus. Both users need Signal; internet access is still required.
iMessage Apple messaging over Wi-Fi or cellular data. Watch for fallback to SMS when iMessage isn't available.
RCS / Google Messages Internet-based modern messaging over Wi-Fi or data. Availability varies; failed RCS can potentially fall back to carrier SMS/MMS.
Fido international texting Use international SMS already included with your Fido plan. Verify your specific plan's limits and overage rates.
Fido Worldwide Combo Optional add-on for people who regularly communicate internationally. Check current country coverage, eligibility and pricing before adding it.

Our Recommendation

If you're sitting in Canada and occasionally need to message somebody overseas, we wouldn't pay $0.45 per SMS unless there were a particular reason to use traditional texting.

First, check your Fido plan because international messaging may already be included.

If it isn't, ask the person whether they use WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage or RCS.

For conversations involving lots of messages, photographs and videos, an internet-based messaging app can be considerably more practical than paying per SMS.

If you regularly communicate internationally with people who don't use those services, investigate whether Fido's current international-texting inclusions or an add-on makes more financial sense.

Final Thoughts on Fido International Texting

The days when international communication automatically meant paying for every individual text are largely behind us.

Fido itself now includes substantial international messaging allowances with many current plans, while internet-based services provide additional alternatives.

The important thing is knowing which messaging technology you're actually using.

WhatsApp isn't SMS.

Signal isn't SMS.

iMessage isn't SMS.

RCS isn't SMS.

And Wi-Fi Calling doesn't necessarily make an international Fido SMS free.

Check your Fido plan, understand your phone's messaging settings and use Wi-Fi-based messaging when appropriate. A few minutes checking those details can prevent an unnecessarily expensive mobile bill.

Sources & Further Reading