Best Internet Providers in Ontario

Shopping for a new internet plan is easy. Shopping for a new internet plan that is both reliable and affordable is much harder. Luckily, we've been studying the Canadian telecom market since 2008 and have learned a few things in the process. Okay, fine: we've learned a lot.

There's no shortage of internet service providers in Ontario, though most of the province's 14.5 million residents still end up choosing two names: Bell and Rogers. As you'll see, one of those big names might be your best option. But they also might be overcharging you.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the alternatives and show you how we ranked the best providers in Ontario.

The best

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The best internet provider for you depends on your unique needs. The Canadian government has defined a "good internet speed" as a minimum of 50Mbps downloads and 10Mbps uploads. But the bare minimum isn't enough for everyone—households that primarily use the internet for email and social media don't need a high-powered plan, while families with multiple gamers or work-from-home professionals will need something that can handle all that activity. 

Your internet plan's speed is often determined by its connection type and understanding the difference is key to selecting the best option for your home. Most plans in Canada use one of four internet connection types:

• Fibre optic internet offers the fastest speeds, though mostly limited to metropolitan areas.
• Cable internet is more common and offers download speeds comparable to fibre, though its upload speeds are often slower.
• Satellite internet is expanding by the day, offering high-speed internet to remote areas of the country that lack the infrastructure for fibre or cable. 
• DSL internet is the most commonly available internet connection type and is often the cheapest, though its speeds are significantly slower than most fibre, cable, and satellite options.

We've taken speed, connection type, and affordability into account when determining the value offered by the ISPs in Ontario. And all of that calculating has allowed us to rank the best internet service providers in Ontario. Drum roll, please...

1. oxio

Price is the most important factor for many Ontario internet shoppers. With refreshingly transparent pricing, oxio offers low monthly rates while showing where your money goes. There are no TV or home phone bundling options, but that's part of how oxio keeps costs low. You can even see the plan price breakdown on its website, including oxio’s costs. There are fewer high-speed options with oxio than its competitors, but most homes can't process speeds beyond 1Gbps, even if an ISP advertises otherwise. Oxio gets bonus points for throwing in a free eero 6 Wi-Fi router rental.

• Fastest speed available: 1Gbps download / 30Mbps upload
• Cheapest plan available: $48/month
• Available connection types: Cable
• Perks: No activation, installation, or modem fee; no contract required

2. TekSavvy

TekSavvy is a very close second for our top service provider in Ontario. This independent facilities-based reseller uses its own infrastructure to connect you to the internet. TekSavvy relies on existing telecom lines (coax or phone lines) to connect the “last mile” to your home, so connection speeds are usually similar to those from your local cable or DSL internet provider. Customers can also bundle service with live TV and a home phone line. TekSavvy is also at the forefront of consumer rights movements, prioritizing internet affordability for all Canadians.

• Fastest speed available: 1Gbps downloads / 50Mbps uploads
• Cheapest plan available: $40.95/month
• Available connection types: Fibre, cable, DSL
• Perks: Limited-time discounts, 24/7 technical support

3. Koodo

Koodo's primarily known as a Telus flanker brand, providing affordable nationwide cell phone plans, but we like what their new home internet plans offer Ontarians.  Like oxio, Koodo avoids hidden fees and price hikes, opting instead for straightforward plans without a contract. Their plans are all prepaid, allowing you to switch to another provider if you should find a better option. We don't imagine that'll be the case, though, especially if you bundle your internet with your mobility: the Happy Stack bundle allows you to save up to $21/month and pick up Stream+ in the process.

• Fastest speed available: 1Gbps downloads / 50Mbps uploads
• Cheapest plan available: $65/month
• Available connection types: Cable
• Perks: Bundling with Koodo Mobile and Stream+, no contracts, 30-day money back guarante

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The fastest

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If you're reading this, that means our rankings for "the best" didn't satisfy you. You're not interested in balancing speed and affordability. You're a hardcore gamer, a Zoom meeting host, or some other kind of rabid internet user. The point is: you need the fastest plan available. We can help.

These rankings are based on sheer performance, with ISPs rated based on the speeds (both download and upload) they offer consumers.

1. Bell

Bell has the fastest internet available to the largest number of customers in Ontario, offering the Gigabit Fibe 3.0. plan, which provides 3Gbps downloads and 3Gbps uploads.          

Bell was crowned the Best Gaming ISP for Canada in 2022 by PCMag, but it does have competition from local-based ISPs. The company’s fixed wireless brings high-speed internet to rural Ontario, but your options usually max out at 50Mbps. Telus offers faster fibre optic plans out west, but Bell is the king of Ontario when providing the fastest internet speeds.

• Fastest speed available: 3Gbps download / 3Gbps upload
• Cheapest plan available: $49.95/month
• Available connection types: Fibre
• Perks: Free Wi-Fi modem, McAfee Security

2. Rogers

For many Ontario residents, Rogers is the only other major internet service provider in your area. Thanks to a fibre-optic infrastructure and existing coaxial in many homes, Rogers offers gigabit speeds to just about every building it serves. While their plans lag behind Bell's speeds, though they're still faster than most other ISPs in Ontario. 

• Fastest speed available: 1.5Gbps download / 50Mbps upload
• Cheapest plan available: $49.99/month
• Available connection types: Cable
• Perks: Free Wi-Fi modem, free installation with online purchases

3. Distributel

Like many third-party reseller ISPs, Distributel offers cable internet and DSL connectivity, but Distributel gets extra points from us because of its low, low prices. The ISP’s 1Gbps plan includes unlimited downloads, 30Mbps upload speeds, and a basic high-speed modem for a fraction of the price you’d pay a major cable company like Rogers. You need to supply a Wi-Fi router or rent one from Distributel, but it quickly pays for itself from the money you’re saving on each monthly bill.

• Fastest speed available: 1Gbps download / 940Mbps upload
• Cheapest plan available: $44.95/month
• Available connection types: Cable, DSL
• Perks: 24/7 technical support, month-to-month pricing

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The cheapest

Forget value and speed. You're concerned with your wallet and nothing else. It doesn't matter if an ISP offers bare-bones connectivity: you just want to keep it cheap. Look no further. We've ranked the cheapest providers in Ontario.

1. Diallog

Diallog isn't only known for their cheap plans, with plenty of high-end high-speed options available in the province, but they do provide some of the most budget-conscious plans around, with rates starting as low as $12.50/month. That's a very slow DSL plan, with just 6Mbps download speeds, though if you primarily use the internet to email or read the news, then that should suffice.

• Fastest speed available: Up to 1Gbps download and 30Mbps upload speeds
• Cheapest plan available: $12.50/month
• Available connection types: Cable, DSL
• Perks: 24/7 technical support, $50 referral credit, 5G modem

2. VMedia

Like Diallog, VMedia offers a wide range of plan options, including some very slow and very cheap options. But VMedia also offers a more reasonable cheap plan in their Internet 30 option, which provides 30Mbps downloads and unlimited data for $38.95/month.

• Fastest speed available: 1Gbps download / 30Mbps upload speeds
• Cheapest plan available: $32.95/month
• Available connection types: Cable
• Perks: Free modem, free professional installation

3. Telcan

In our review of Telcan, we noted their affordable plans and responsive customer service were positive contrasts to behemoths like Bell and Rogers. They're one of the cheaper ISPs in Ontario, with plans starting at just $38/month. Unlike a lot of other ISPs, that low price is not for a limited time: Telcan doesn't spike their prices after a period of your contract. What you pay is what you'll keep paying throughout your use of the plan.

• Fastest speed available: Up to 1Gbps download and 30Mbps upload speeds
• Cheapest plan available: $38/month
• Available connection types: Cable, DSL
• Perks: $0 activation fee, no contract

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Rural internet options for Ontario

Finding coverage outside of the metropolitan hubs of Ontario can be difficult. Most ISPs don't have fibre or cable internet infrastructure in the province's northern stretches, leading many to believe high-speed internet was simply not possible in rural areas. For a long time, the only option were painfully slow DSL and fixed wireless plans. But a lot has changed in the last few years. 

Satellite internet can provide broadband in even the most remote parts of the country, with some satellite providers' speeds rivaling the fibre plans in Toronto. Chief among them is Starlink, the ISP powered by Elon Musk's Space-X, which boasts speeds up to 220Mbps and availability throughout all of Canada. Starlink isn't the only satellite provider, but we've found that they're by far the best doing it right now.

Methodology: How WhistleOut rates internet plans

WhistleOut evaluates internet plans based on the following criteria:

• Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it both to other plans from the same provider, as well as similar plans from competitors in the market, to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
• Speeds & data: Faster upload and download speeds usually mean a better user experience, but not every household needs the fastest plan available. Additionally, the more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better the plan—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need, and we ensure that you’re not overpaying for services or data that will go unused.
• Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of an ISP’s network determines your reception and service. We value ISPs with large coverage maps who can provide quality internet to more Canadians.
• Plan extras and perks: In addition to the basics—speeds and data—some plans throw in freebies like modems, installation, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.

Our internet experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate internet service providers in Ontario, analyzing their coverage, cost, and plan options. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and upload/download speeds. After performing extensive research, we selected the best plans for average consumers in both Ontario.

Looking for more options for your next internet plan? Be sure to check out our guides to the best internet service providers in Canada and the best internet plans in the country.