Bell Internet Review 2024

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Bell is one of the biggest telecom companies in Canada. Bell offers fibre, DSL, and wireless internet connections in several central and eastern provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. The provider has various plans ranging from 10Mbps to 8Gbps speeds—yes, you read that right, 8Gbps—but prices are expensive. Despite that, Bell is a good option for those craving lightning-fast speeds.

In this in-depth review, we'll highlight the pros and cons of Bell internet, go over the carrier's various plans, and compare it to its competitors on the market.

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Bell internet plans

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Bell offers contract-free DSL, fibre, and wireless internet plans. There are 11 different plans to choose from, and speeds range from 10Mbps to 8Gbps. 

Bell’s fibre plans start at $49.95/month and top out at $140/month. Bell also offers DSL connections where fibre isn’t yet available, but the speeds are slower than what you get with fibre.

Bell also offers wireless internet service to rural parts of the country. Speeds range from 25Mbps to 50Mbps based on the plan, and they start at $60/month.

What we like

Fast download speeds

Bell Internet features fast speeds on the majority of its plans. In fact, the provider’s Gigabit plans are some of the fastest available in the country. You can choose between 1.5Gbps, 3Gbps, and a whopping 8Gbps speeds.

Most plans include unlimited data

Most Bell plans, with the exception of the 10Mbps and 15Mbps options, come with unlimited data. Even the 10Mbps and 15Mbps plans have a high data cap of 100GB, so it will be hard to exceed that each month. But if you do, it’s an extra $4 per GB. 

What we like: Bundle options

If you’re in the market for more than just internet service, you can save money by bundling your internet with your home phone, smart home plans, TV, or mobile services. 

Bell lets customers create their own bundle by picking and choosing different options or by selecting a bundle already created by Bell. For example, you can bundle Gigabit Fibe 1.5 internet with Fibe TV and home phone services for $200 per month—that saves you $60.

What we don't like

Limited availability

Bell Internet concentrates coverage in central and eastern Canada. Only customers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador can access the service. If you’re in Western Canada, you’ll have to look to other carriers like Oxio and Shaw Mobile for coverage.

Expensive plans

While Bell provides the fastest speeds we’ve seen, its prices are also the most expensive, especially compared to other regional providers like Cogeco and Eastlink. If you're looking to get more than 150Mbps for $100/month, you should look elsewhere.

Bell Internet vs. Competitors

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Now that we’ve gone through the ins and outs of Bell Internet, let’s take a look at its competitors and see how they stack up.

Bell Internet vs. Telus Internet

Both Bell and Telus boast large networks, solid reliability, fibre connections, and unlimited downloads. Overall, Telus internet is more expensive and offers slower speeds than Bell’s comparable plans. For example, Telus’ PureFibre Gigabit internet includes 940Mbps speeds for $89/month. Bell, on the other hand, offers a cheaper $75/month plan that comes with impressive 3Gbps speeds. 

Bell also has faster speed options than Telus, which tops out at 2.5Gbps. Bell’s plans include a 3Gbps and 8Gbps plan. Overall, we recommend Bell based on price and speed, but if you’re in the provinces serviced by Telus, it’s not a bad choice if you already have other services with the provider.

Bell Internet vs. Rogers Internet

Like Bell and Telus, Rogers is part of the Big Three—a nickname given to Canada's three largest telecommunications companies. Both Rogers and Bell offer coverage in Ontario, but Bell’s plans are more expensive and provide slower speeds than Rogers’ plans. Rogers’ 1.5Gbps speed plan costs $89.99/month, whereas Bell’s much slower 150Mbps plan is $100/month.

Bell is the clear frontrunner for the fastest plans, with speeds reaching up to 8Gbps. Rogers’s fastest plan can reach 2.5Gbps speeds, which is still quite fast. We suggest Rogers if you’re in Ontario or the other provinces serviced by the provider because you’ll get a fast fibre connection for less money.

Bell Internet vs. Cogeco Internet

Cogeco offers affordable cable internet plans in Ontario and Quebec. Bell’s plans provide slower speeds than similarly priced Cogeco plans. For example, an $84.95/month plan with Bell will garner speeds of up to 25Mbps. But for the same cost, Cogeco offers 1Gbps speeds, which is significantly faster. 

We recommend Cogeco if you're in the provinces it serves, but if you want faster speeds than 1Gbps, look to Bell's fibre Gigabit plans, which can reach 8Gbps. 

Recap: Is Bell Internet Right for You?

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Bell is a trusted name in the telecom industry backed by an impressive network available to residents in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. You’ll get access to a fibre network with unlimited data, but it’s an expensive option that will cost you upwards of $155/month. 

Despite the price tag, Bell wins out above all the rest if you’re looking for the fastest internet speeds in Canada. However, if you’re just looking for basic fibre home internet, there are cheaper options out there with providers like Cogeco and Eastlink.

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.
• Speed & 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 Bell internet, 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, including customer feedback, we compared Bell to other comparable ISPs (Telus, Rogers, and Cogeco) in order to place Bell's services in context.

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