Best Internet Plans & Discounts for Students

We know how important it is for students to have reliable internet service, especially when they're headed back to school. We also know how difficult it can be to find one for a good price. We’ve collected the best internet plans and discounts for students so you can stop worrying about your monthly bill and worry about your upcoming paper instead.

The best internet plan for students is Netcrawler’s Unlimited 100Mbps, which offers 100Mbps downloads and unlimited data for $39/month. Diallog’s DSL Ultimate plan is also a solid option, providing 50Mbps downloads and unlimited data for $20/month. If you want a lightning-fast fibre plan, we recommend Virgin Plus’ 300 Mbps Fibre plan, which offers 300Mbps downloads and unlimited data for $46/month.

Attend school outside of Quebec and Ontario? We’ve also got deals from TekSavvy, DistribuTel, VMedia, and SaskTel to make sure you’ve got solid internet service, no matter your university.

Read on to explore the best internet plans and discounts for students.

Best Internet
for Students

Diallog | DSL Ultimate | $20/month—Runner-up

This Diallog plan is close second for the best internet plan for students. For $20/month, you get 50Mbps speeds coupled with unlimited data. Even though it doesn't have the faster speeds of the Netcrawler plan, 50Mbps is still fast enough for Zoom and Netflix (though you might experience some delays if you have several roommates). 

Unlike Netcrawler, Diallog charges customers for the 5G wireless modem and service activation, leading to a $94.25 upfront cost. This low price also expires after three months, rising to $40/month.

• Pros: Cheap monthly payment, fast downloads, unlimited data
• Cons: Installation fee, price jumps after three months, only available in Ontario and Quebec

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Virgin Plus | 300Mbps Fibre | $46/month—Best fibre internet plan for students

If you’re looking for a high-speed fibre internet plan without breaking the bank, Virgin Plus’ 300Mbps fibre plan is a perfect fit. The plan delivers 300Mbps download speeds and unlimited data for a reasonable $46/month. With speeds that fast, you won’t have any issues with latency. Virgin Plus also provides a free wired modem, which you can choose to install yourself or have Virgin Plus install for a fee.

Virgin Plus’ internet plans are month-to-month, meaning the price might increase earlier (or later) than Netcrawler and Diallog’s three months. If the price is increasing, Virgin Plus will notify you at least 30 days in advance, giving you time to find another provider if you don’t like the new price.

• Pros: High-speed fibre internet, free wired modem, no contract
• Cons: Higher monthly payment, month-to-month pricing, only available in Quebec

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Discounted Internet for Students

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There are a few ways to get discounted internet in Canada. Here are a few ways you can drive down your bill and take advantage of free internet.

Discounts for low-income students

The Government’s Connecting Families initiative provides a solid monthly discount and a reliable high-speed internet connection for low-income families in Canada. The plans offer much more than basic internet access, with 50Mbps downloads, 10Mbps uploads, and 100GB to 200GB of data for $20/month. If you're concerned about the Government acting as a service provider, no need to worry: the program partners like Bell, Cogeco, Videotron, and others to ensure home internet with fast speeds. To see if you qualify for the Connecting Families program, check out the initiative’s official website.

Telus also offers low-cost internet for eligible households through its Internet for Good program. Internet for Good features two plans: Internet 25, which offers 25Mbps speeds for $9.95/month, and Internet 50, which delivers 50Mbps speeds for $19.95/month. In order to qualify for the program, your family needs to received receive the maximum Child Care Benefit and a net income less than or equal to $32,797.

Free internet on Wi-Fi hotspots

Students can take advantage of free Wi-Fi at hotspots throughout the country. Several internet service providers have hotspots at stadiums, airports, cafes, shopping malls, and other public places. Telus has a hotspot locator tool—as do Bell, Cogeco, SaskTel, Shaw—so you can find the nearest hub wherever you are.

What is the Best Internet Speed for a Student?

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The best internet speed for a student is between 15Mbps and 50Mbps. That range allows for browsing the web, gaming, videoconferencing, and streaming videos and music without latency issues or an unreasonable monthly payment.

If you live with several roommates, use multiple devices, or attend all of your classes via Zoom, though, you should consider getting a connection of 100Mbps to 150Mbps so you can avoid unwanted delays or frustrating glitches.

If you want to get a better sense of the best internet speed for you, you can test your current connection with our internet speed test.

Best Internet Plans & Discounts for Students: FAQs 

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