Bell and Rogers offer high-speed internet plans with unlimited data. As the largest internet service providers (ISPs) in Eastern Canada, these two companies are the first names that come to mind for millions of Canadians when shopping for internet plans.
When comparing the two, Bell takes the crown because its fibre internet technology is superior to the cable technology that Rogers uses. Fibre internet provides faster download speeds, upload speeds, and better latency. Despite winning the overall comparison, Bell has some of the worst customer service of any Canadian company, which may be a dealbreaker for some people. In addition, most people don't need the high-speed fibre that Bell promises: plans under 1Gbps are more than fine for most households, even those streaming across multiple devices.
We gathered the key differences between these companies below to help you determine which ISP is the best option for your home.
What's happening
WhistleOut Canada watches for trends in the internet industry. Here's what's going on this month:
- We've updated our list of the best internet providers in Canada, including several hot deals on high-speed plans.
- Starlink is now available in most of Canada, making their satellite internet service an enticing option for remote areas.
- We’ve got our eyes on the best cheap internet plans and the best internet plans for students.
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#1
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Bell
Gigabit Fibe 3.0
$110/mo
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#2
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Rogers
Ignite Internet 500
$79.99/mo
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Availability
Rogers has the slight edge here, but it’s not by much. Fibre internet just isn’t readily available the same way that cable is. In many urban areas of Ontario, both internet providers should be available. Cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and much of southern Ontario will have almost 100% coverage from Bell and Rogers. To check the plans and providers available in your area, enter your address in the WhistleOut search tool.
Winner: Rogers
Price and value
The prices for each speed almost match between Bell and Rogers. There may be a couple of pennies of difference, but it won’t be enough to force your decision either way in most circumstances.
Bell and Rogers internet pricing compared
| Download speed | Bell price | Rogers price |
|---|---|---|
| 50Mbps | $60/month | $59.99/month |
| 150Mbps | $100/month | $99.99/month |
| 500Mbps | $110/month | $109.99 |
| 1.5Gbps | $90/month | $89.99/month |
| 3Gbps | $125/month | n/a |
Despite the near-identical pricing, there is still a winner, thanks to these plans' value. Because Bell provides fibre internet instead of the cable internet that Rogers offers, you get a more stable and reliable connection with significantly faster upload speeds. This difference isn't to say that Rogers isn't stable or reliable, but Bell has a clear advantage over Rogers from a technology standpoint.
Thanks to the better upload speed and reliability, Bell wins the value battle.
Winner: Bell
Speed
The charts above showcase Bell's huge leads in upload speed, with Bell’s slowest plan outpacing the fastest upload speed that Rogers has available right now. Beyond upload speeds, Rogers’ fastest download speed is 1Gbps, while Bell recently launched a lightning-fast 3Gbps plan—making it the fastest internet provider nationwide. Fibre internet’s speed (like this 3Gbps option) and reliability are why we chose Bell as one of the best internet providers in Canada.
What makes fibre internet speeds more consistent is that neighbourhood internet usage doesn’t impact your speeds or bandwidth. Cable is impacted by local internet traffic, typically resulting in slower upload and download speeds during peak usage.
Winner: Bell
Services and bundles
Both Bell and Rogers allow customers to bundle a variety of services like internet, TV, and home security. Cell phone service isn’t technically part of any bundle options, but there are usually discounts available if you already have home services. (Ready to score some discounts now? Take a look at the best Rogers bundles.)
- Bundle: internet, TV, home security
- Discounts on cell phone service
- Bundle: internet, TV, home security
- Discounts on cell phone service
Winner: Tie
Customer service
Neither provider has a great track record, but Bell’s customer service reputation is particularly poor, often ranking among the lowest in the country. Customers can contact Bell via phone, live chat on the Bell website, and most social media platforms. We recommend the live chat option via the Bell website to avoid long wait times on the phone.
Contacting Rogers can be done via the same methods above. We also recommend the online live chat when you need customer service support from Rogers. While Rogers’ customer service ratings are well below the industry average, they’re slightly higher than Bell’s.
Winner: Rogers
Perks and other features
With every Bell internet package, customers get basic McAfee online security included for free, with optional upgrades for $5/month (mobile support) or $10/month (including network defence, encrypted storage, SiteAdvisor Live). These features are useful when considering how much of our personal information transfers across the internet. Additionally, you can sign up for Bell Tech Expert to get premium support for computers and other devices that connect to the internet for only $6/month.
On the other hand, Rogers has its SmartStream service that you can add for $5/month. This add-on provides customers with a small box and remote to access streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, and tubi. SmartStream is free for 72 months on select plans, and customers can get 12 months of Disney+ for free if they sign up via SmartStream.
- Basic McAfee online security included
- Bell Tech Expert available
Both internet service providers also offer apps to control your internet connection. I’ve personally used both and haven’t run into issues with either. Overall, neither ISP offers anything truly groundbreaking in the perks and features area, so this will come down to personal preference.
Winner: Tie
Methodology: Evaluating Bell and Rogers
Our experts examined the differences between Bell’s and Rogers’ internet plans based on speeds, prices, perks, and customer service history. We also used both internet services ourselves to evaluate these qualities so that our first-hand experience can inform your purchase decision.
Bell vs. Rogers internet: recap
If Bell’s fibre internet is available in your area and you can look past the poor customer service reputation, we recommend signing up. Fibre internet’s superior reliability, consistency, and upload speed are massive advantages in Bell’s favour. This connection type is also better for streaming, gaming, and general web browsing.
Rogers is still a good internet provider and provides sound internet service to many Canadian customers. If speed isn’t your biggest concern and you’re not interested in SmartStream, Rogers will be a good choice.
You can look at the most popular Bell internet plans and Rogers internet plans below.
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#1
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Bell
Gigabit Fibe 3.0
$110/mo
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#2
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Bell
Fibe 150
$60/mo
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#3
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Bell
Gigabit Fibe 1.5
$110/mo
|
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#4
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Bell
Fibe 500
$80/mo
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#5
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Bell
Fibe 50
$60/mo
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|
#1
|
Rogers
Ignite Internet 500
$79.99/mo
|
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#2
|
Rogers
Ignite Internet 150
$59.99/mo
|
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#3
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Rogers
Ignite Internet 1.5 Gigabit
$109.99/mo
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Bell vs. Rogers internet: FAQs
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