Cheapest Internet Plans in Canada 2026: Low-Cost Providers and Resellers

Low-priced home internet in Canada often comes from internet resellers and regional providers, alongside the major providers’ own budget brands. Resellers such as TekSavvy, Oxio, Start.ca and Distributel rent capacity on the large providers’ lines, so the speeds available depend on the network at your address, while the price, contract terms and customer service are their own. This page compares low-cost providers with the major ones, explains how promotions and equipment fees change what you pay, and covers programs for low-income households. It is part of our smart-spending guides.

Low-cost internet plans by provider

Reseller prices change often, and a plan’s availability depends on your address. The provider’s own site has the current price and an address check.

Major provider pricing

Bell, Rogers and Telus prices are regular rates. New customers are often offered a promotional price for a set number of months, after which the bill moves to the regular rate. Shaw’s former cable network in Western Canada is now part of Rogers.

Internet prices by province

What households pay depends on where they live, mostly because the number of providers and resellers serving an area varies from province to province and between cities and rural areas. Average prices by speed and province, and what households in each province spend on internet in a year, are on the average internet bill in Canada page.

Ways to lower an internet bill

Contract vs month-to-month: comparing the real cost

A promotional price that ends partway through the term changes the total more than the advertised monthly price suggests. Adding up both periods shows the real cost over the same length of time.

Some promotions end without a reminder, and the bill moves to the regular rate the next month. Noting the promotion’s end date leaves time to ask for a new offer or compare other providers before it ends. Early cancellation fees, where a plan has a term commitment, belong in the same comparison.

Renting vs owning a modem

Many providers charge a monthly rental for the modem or router, while some include it in the plan price. Owning compatible equipment removes the rental fee in exchange for a one-time purchase, so the saving depends on how long you keep the plan. A modem has to match the network type at your address (cable, DSL or fibre), and providers publish lists of the equipment they support; fibre service usually requires the provider’s own equipment.

Low-income internet programs

The Connecting Families Initiative is a federal program that offers discounted internet service to eligible seniors and families through participating providers. Eligibility is confirmed by an invitation letter from the government; only people who receive a letter can sign up, through the program’s registration portal. Some providers also run their own low-cost programs, such as Rogers Connected for Success and Telus Internet for Good, with their own eligibility rules, so the provider’s site has the current terms.

Internet speed guide: what you need

Many households are well served by 100 to 150 Mbps. Gigabit plans mainly help households with many simultaneous heavy users or people who move large files often. Upload speed matters too for video calls and backups.

How to negotiate a lower internet bill

Step 1: Research competitor prices. Find what a reseller or regional provider charges for comparable speed at your address. This is your leverage.

Step 2: Call the loyalty or retention department. Ask for the loyalty or retention team rather than general customer service; these agents usually have more room to offer discounts.

Step 3: Mention switching. Say you are considering a specific competitor at a specific price, and be ready to follow through.

Step 4: Ask for a promotional rate. Even without cancelling, many providers will apply a promotional rate for a set number of months to keep a customer. Asking directly (“What can you offer me to stay?”) makes the request clear.

Step 5: Check low-income programs. Households that may qualify can look at the Connecting Families Initiative and the provider programs listed above.

Frequently asked questions

Is 100 Mbps enough internet speed for most Canadian households? For many households, yes. A 100 Mbps connection handles 4K streaming, video calls, gaming and several devices at once. Faster plans help households with many heavy users at the same time, or people who often upload or download large files for work.

Why is internet expensive in Canada? Canadian internet prices are often compared unfavourably with other countries’; the average internet bill page sets Canada’s prices against several countries using the federal government’s price study. Reasons usually given include a few large companies owning most of the network infrastructure, long distances and low population density outside cities. The CRTC requires the large providers to offer wholesale access to independent providers, which is what lets resellers such as TekSavvy and Oxio sell service on those networks.

Are budget internet providers like TekSavvy reliable? Resellers use the same lines as the large providers they rent capacity from (Bell, Rogers, Videotron and others), so the connection itself is usually comparable at the same speed. The difference is mostly service: smaller providers may have longer waits for technical support or installation appointments than the big telecoms.

Related guides

Cell service is the other big telecom bill; the prepaid phone plans guide compares budget brands, pay-as-you-go and no-contract plans. Lowering hydro, heating and water bills is covered in saving on utilities.

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