How is Freedom’s network?

Depends on location and my theory is how many people are on a particular tower.
I have done great at times and had crazy problems at many other times.
Where i live currently it doesn't work reliably.
The signal strength was often low (with two towers nearby) and people would call and my phone would not ring about half the time and i would very rarely get a text saying someone tried to call (maybe 20% of the time i would get it). But when i travelled to Ottawa for example (pre covid) i had no problems at all (very different tower).

When i got so sick of abysmal service and switched the Walmart cell rep said they get many people switching away from Freedom for the same reason as me.
Also the call center people claim there is no problem and they have never heard of it, the "escalate" it and then claim its fixed (but can't tell you what they fixed and if they fixed it then it had to have existed) and will run you around until you pretend there is no issue or move to another carrier.

Also if it works in the locations you frequent (home, work, social life post covid) then your good but if you go to locations with crummy service you won;t know until people can't reach you. In a previous Freedom thread one poster was saying their parent had fallen at home, couldn't get up and couldn't get though to them (their parent was ultimately ok in the end.)

There are many threads on RFD with people going on about how Freedom sucks.

DjRags604 wrote: ↑ How is Freedom coverage these days?

Bad.

You can use cellmapper.net to see how bad it is in your area.

DjRags604 wrote: ↑ How is Freedom coverage these days? I remember connection issues were a constant a complaint as Wind but some of their offers are enticing…

Depending where you are? Or where you always go? I stay in Brampton 90% a year I have no issue using Freedom Network.

It is still *very* location dependent. Some places are great? Others not so much.

Very locational as mentioned, my best friend and his gf both had freedom but one of them had to change to something else to get more reliable signal at home. Had too many times when both were not contactable when they were at home.

How is Freedom's network?

Depends on both phone and location.
The network has greatly improved since the WIND days.

Phone compatibility is crucial. For a reliable network experience you need VoLTE, WiFi Calling, and access to extended range LTE B13.
Without the 700MHz LTE B13, you will have connectivity issues in weak signal / fringe coverage areas.
On Freedom you need working VoLTE for access to B13. (troubleshooting VoLTE)
With WiFi Calling, you have full Freedom service in any basement or building (or country).
(in the West, you have full access to many thousands of Shaw Passpoint WiFi hotspots - uncapped bandwidth, secure auto-connect)

Review Freedom's Device Compatibility Matrix to be sure you'll be using the right phone.
(not to be confused with their BYOD IMEI check, which is quite unreliable, but what the stores use)

Look for feedback from current Freedom users (with a listed device), in the areas you'll be using the phone.
The Freedom subreddit is good for confirming service quality in a particular location.
In eastern ON / Ottawa region Freedom is spectrum-starved (thanks to Telus).
Freedom Coverage Map

You've a 15-day no-risk trial period. If things don't work out the Freedom store will even refund the cost of the SIM.
Don't port in your existing number until you've confirmed things are working as you require.
You can get a free, express-delivered SIM via Freedom's online chat support.
(no refunds on prepaid service)

Thanks all. I’ll stick with Koodo for now