Internet providers in Ontario
Internet providers in Ontario: who they are and how they differ
Most Ontario homes choose between Bell and Rogers, with Cogeco in some regions. Many smaller names belong to them: Bell owns EBOX and Primus, Rogers runs Comwave, and Cogeco owns oxio. Bell and Rogers tie their best prices to 2-year terms, so compare the steady price and what leaving would cost.
Providers in this guide
Who owns which internet provider in Ontario?
Several names that look independent belong to a bigger provider. Here’s who owns what in Ontario.
Bell, EBOX and Primus
Bell sells fibre, and some older copper, across much of Ontario. It also owns EBOX, Primus and Distributel, which run under their own names.
Its other brands
Rogers and Comwave
Rogers runs the main cable network in much of Ontario, including the former Shaw area in the northwest. Comwave now sells as Rogers Together with Comwave.
Its other brands
Cogeco and oxio
Cogeco is the cable provider in parts of Ontario, like Burlington, Oakville and Kingston. It also owns oxio, which keeps its own brand and pricing.
Its other brands
Others
TELUS, TekSavvy, Beanfield, Freedom and VMedia
TELUS sells fibre internet in Ontario and owns London’s Start.ca. TekSavvy sells across the province, and Beanfield serves select Toronto buildings. Freedom Home Internet and VMedia both belong to Videotron.
Regional and rural
Eastlink, Execulink, Xplore and Starlink
Eastlink serves Sudbury and many smaller Ontario communities, and Execulink serves a range of Ontario towns. Xplore and Starlink reach rural addresses. Other local companies serve their own towns.
Contracts in Ontario: know before you sign
Bell and Rogers tie their best Ontario prices to 2-year terms, and leaving one early costs a fee that shrinks each month. Many smaller providers have no contract at all.
2-year terms
Bell and Rogers
Both sell 2-year terms and month-to-month plans. Their best prices usually need the term, and leaving early costs a fee for each month left.
Offer periods
Cogeco and TELUS
Some of their offers come with a term and an early termination fee. Your account or agreement shows yours.
No contract
EBOX, oxio, Primus and Beanfield
These providers sell internet with no contract, so you can leave any time. Most TekSavvy plans have none either.
What actually differs between internet providers
The connection at your address
Fibre to the home uploads as fast as it downloads. Cable and older copper upload much slower. The same provider can offer different connections a few streets apart.
The price after the promotion
Big providers lead with credits that end. Smaller brands often skip the promotion and charge one steady price. Compare what you’d pay in year two or three.
Same owner, different price
A brand owned by a bigger company can use a similar network but sell it for less, with less hand-holding. Owner and price are separate questions.
Find the provider worth switching to.
See how your bill compares with pricing found for your area.
How to pick a provider in Ontario
Check who serves your address
Enter your address on each provider’s site. Availability changes from street to street and building to building.
Note the connection and upload
Write down whether it’s fibre, cable or copper, and both the download and upload speeds.
Compare the steady price
Compare the price after any promotion ends, plus equipment and installation, not just the first months.
Check what leaving would cost
If you’re on a contract now, our switching guide estimates the fee to leave early.
Common questions about internet providers in Ontario
Who are the main internet providers in Ontario?
Bell and Rogers run the biggest networks, with Cogeco in some regions. Smaller brands include EBOX, oxio, Primus, Comwave, TekSavvy and Beanfield. TELUS, Freedom and VMedia also sell here, alongside regional providers.
Is Comwave owned by Rogers?
Comwave now sells as Rogers Together with Comwave, and its terms of service name Rogers for legal notices.
Is oxio owned by Cogeco?
Yes. Cogeco bought oxio in 2023, and oxio keeps operating under its own brand and pricing.
Do Ontario internet providers have contracts?
Bell and Rogers sell 2-year terms and month-to-month plans, and some Cogeco and TELUS offers have a term. EBOX, oxio, Primus and Beanfield have no contract.
Which Ontario provider has the fastest upload?
Whoever has fibre to your home. Bell’s fibre plans upload as fast as they download, and Beanfield runs fibre in the buildings it serves. Cable plans upload much slower.
Sources
We used providers’ own pages and published ownership announcements. PriceFox is paid by customers, not by internet providers.
- Bell acquires Longueuil-based Internet provider EBOX ↗Bell owns EBOX and kept its brand.
- Bell and Distributel announce strategic agreement ↗Bell’s acquisition of Distributel.
- Distributel acquires Primus ↗Primus became part of Distributel, now owned by Bell.
- Cogeco Connexion announces the acquisition of oxio ↗Cogeco owns oxio, which keeps operating under its own brand.
- TELUS PureFibre Internet arrives in Ontario and Quebec ↗TELUS sells fibre internet in Ontario and Quebec.
- Freedom Mobile brings new Home Internet and TV services to Canadians ↗Freedom Home Internet launched in Ontario; Freedom and VMedia are owned by Videotron.
- Homegrown Start.ca bought by TELUS ↗TELUS owns Start.ca, which keeps its own name.
- Eastlink purchases Sunwire’s services in Sudbury and Timmins ↗Eastlink serves Sudbury, Timmins and other Ontario communities.
- Comwave Terms of Service ↗Comwave operates as Rogers Together with Comwave and names Rogers for legal notices.
- The Internet Code, simplified ↗How early cancellation fees on fixed-term internet contracts work.