Home internet in Canada for newcomers

Before you shop: check your building

• Ask your landlord. Some rentals, especially rooms and student housing, include internet. Your lease should say so. See renting your first apartment.
• Check which cables reach your unit. Many apartment buildings are wired for only one or two networks. Provider websites ask for your address to show what is available.
• Plan the timing. Book internet as soon as you sign your lease. A technician visit can take days or weeks to schedule.
• Use your phone in the meantime. A large mobile data plan can cover your first weeks. See cheapest phone plans.

Types of home internet in Canada

What internet speed do you need?

Speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Download speed matters for streaming and browsing. Upload speed matters for video calls, sending files and working from home.

• 1–2 people, browsing, streaming and video calls: a basic plan of 50 to 100 Mbps is usually enough.
• Family streaming on several devices at once, or working from home: 300 to 500 Mbps.
• Large households, big downloads, gaming: 1 Gbps or more.

The CRTC’s national target, set in 2016, is that all Canadians should be able to get at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. Faster plans cost more, so start with a mid-range plan. Most providers let you change plans, and since June 12, 2026 they may not charge a plan-change fee.

Big providers vs independent providers

Large companies own the networks in each region: for example Bell, Telus, Rogers, Vidéotron, SaskTel and Eastlink. They often bundle internet with mobile and TV.

Independent providers (also called smaller or competitive ISPs, internet service providers) rent access to those networks and sell their own plans. Examples include TekSavvy, Oxio, Start.ca and Distributel. They are often cheaper, with simple month-to-month plans, but they may have longer installation times and less in-person support. Big-carrier brands such as Virgin Plus (Bell), Fido (Rogers) and Freedom Mobile also sell lower-priced internet.

Compare prices in cheapest home internet, and test bundle offers with the bundle savings calculator.

Contracts, price locks and cancellation

Many providers offer two prices: month-to-month, or a lower price on a 1- or 2-year term. Telus, for example, said its 2-year term prices are $10 to $30 a month lower than month-to-month, and it listed a cancellation fee of $480 on a 2-year PureFibre term, going down by $20 each month.

• Month-to-month is best if you may move soon.
• A term can save money if you are sure you will stay at the address.
• Price locks (Telus advertised a 5-year Plan Price Lock on PureFibre) protect you from increases, but check what happens if you move.
• Ask what the price becomes after a promotion ends. Virgin Plus, for example, noted that its internet price may increase during your subscription.

Installation, modems and fees

• Activation fees are banned since June 12, 2026 for individual home internet customers (CRTC Telecom Regulatory Policy 2026-43). See the activation fee ban.
• Installation by a technician at your home can still have a reasonable fee. Some providers waive setup when you order online: Rogers said you can save its $39 setup fee.
• Modem and Wi-Fi equipment may be included or rented. Freedom, for example, includes one modem and one router, with extra routers at $5 a month. Telus offers a Wi-Fi Plus add-on for $10 a month.
• Return equipment when you cancel, or you may be charged for it.

Low-cost internet and your rights

The federal government’s Connecting Families initiative offers low-cost internet plans through participating providers to some families that receive the maximum Canada Child Benefit, and to some low-income seniors. Check eligibility on the Government of Canada website. Learn about the Canada Child Benefit.

If you have a billing or service problem your provider does not fix, you can complain for free to the CCTS (Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services). Libraries and many settlement agencies also offer free Wi-Fi and computers. Find one in the newcomer support directory.

Moving, travelling or leaving Canada

• Moving to a new address: tell your provider early. Service may not be available at the new address, and a term contract may have a cancellation fee if it cannot move with you.
• Travelling for a few months: ask whether you can put service on seasonal suspension instead of cancelling.
• Leaving Canada: cancel in writing, return rented equipment and keep the return receipt. Pay your final bill so it does not go to collections. See the leaving Canada checklist.

Setting up on installation day

1. Make sure someone 18 or older is home for the technician window.
2. Ask where the modem should go: a central spot gives the best Wi-Fi.
3. Change the default Wi-Fi name and password.
4. Run a speed test on a device connected by cable and on Wi-Fi. If speeds are far below your plan, call the provider.
5. Check your first bill against your order, especially any installation or equipment charges.

Sharing internet with roommates

If you share a home, one person usually signs the contract and the others pay their share. Agree in writing who pays what and what happens if someone moves out, because the account holder is responsible for the full bill and any equipment.

Common questions

Sources

• CRTC: Telecom Regulatory Policy 2026-43, ban on fees that are a barrier to switching
• CRTC: Canadian Telecommunications Market Report 2026
• Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS)
• CRTC: Telecom Regulatory Policy 2016-496 (basic service objective)
• ISED: Connecting Families initiative
• TELUS: internet plans
• Rogers: Xfinity internet plans
• Freedom Mobile: Home Internet
• Virgin Plus: offers

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.