Carriers

Read and leave reviews for all carriers in Canada

At Everytel, we cover all carriers active in Canada. If you’re an existing customer, you can leave a review of your experiences, and if you’re weighing up different options, you can read reviews and easily compare each carrier’s services – from prepaid plans and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) deals to mobile internet.

With so many carriers on the market today, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. However, it is actually quite straightforward – as long as you focus on certain factors when comparing the different options. Below, we’ve listed the key considerations to keep in mind to help you make the best and most cost-effective choice.

Choose your carriers based on the following factors

When selecting a mobile or broadband plan in Canada, look beyond just the price. Consider these elements:

• Coverage Area: Canada’s geography is vast. While the “Big Three” (Rogers, Bell, Telus) cover 99% of the population, signal strength can vary significantly in rural areas compared to urban centres.
• Data needs: Do you need “unlimited” data? Most Canadian plans now offer unlimited data with throttled speeds after a certain cap (e.g., 50 GB or 100 GB).
• BYOD vs. Financing: Contracts are typically 24 months if you finance a device. You can often save money by bringing your own phone (BYOD) to a “Flanker Brand” like Fido or Koodo.
• Bundles: Carriers like Bell, Rogers, and Telus offer discounts if you bundle your Mobile, Internet, and TV services.

Which mobile carrier is the largest?

The Canadian telecommunications market is dominated by three major players, often referred to as the “Big Three”. Together, they hold the vast majority of the market share:

1. Rogers Wireless: The largest carriers by subscriber numbers.
2. Bell Mobility: A close competitor with extensive infrastructure.
3. Telus Mobility: Similar in size to Bell, with a strong presence in Western Canada.

Regional competitors like Freedom Mobile (owned by Videotron) and SaskTel (in Saskatchewan) are significant alternatives in their respective areas.

Carriers that share networks

Which mobile carrier offers the best network coverage?

This is a fierce battleground, but independent testing generally shows that:

• Overall Reach: Bell and Telus consistently rank at the top for the widest geographic coverage and fastest 5G speeds in rural and remote areas due to their shared infrastructure.
• Reliability: Rogers frequently wins awards for network consistency and reliability, particularly in major urban centres and along major transport corridors.

Who are the largest broadband providers?

Broadband (Home Internet) in Canada is largely regionalized by technology (Cable vs. Fibre/DSL):

• Bell: The dominant provider in Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.
• Rogers: The dominant cable provider in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Following the merger with Shaw, they are now also the dominant cable provider in Western Canada.
• Telus: The primary competitor in Western Canada (BC and Alberta) and parts of Quebec.
• Videotron: A major player in Quebec.

Which broadband provider offers the fastest broadband?

Speed claims depend heavily on whether you can access Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) at your address:

• Bell (Pure Fibre): Often rated as the fastest ISP in Canada, offering symmetrical speeds (same upload and download) of up to 3 Gbps or even 8 Gbps in select areas.
• Telus (PureFibre): Offers similar symmetrical fibre speeds in Western Canada, rivalling Bell’s performance.
• Rogers: Offers extremely fast download speeds via cable technology (Ignite Internet), but upload speeds are typically lower than fibre competitors unless you are in a specific area with Rogers FTTH.

Which carrier have the highest customer satisfaction?

Customer satisfaction in Canada varies, but trends from the CCTS (Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services) indicate that flanker brands (like Koodo, Virgin Plus and Fido) often score higher in customer satisfaction than their parent companies due to lower prices and simpler billing.

Regional carriers like SaskTel (Saskatchewan) and Videotron (Quebec) historically enjoy some of the highest customer loyalty ratings in the country.

Can you switch carrier if you’re not satisfied?

Yes. The Canadian government (via the CRTC) has created two specific codes of conduct to protect you: the Wireless Code (for mobile) and the Internet Code (for broadband).

For mobile (The Wireless Code)

• Keep Your Number: You have the right to keep your phone number when switching. Do not cancel your old service yourself; your new carrier will initiate the transfer (“porting”) which automatically cancels your old contract.
• Unlocked Phones: Since 2017, all devices must be sold unlocked. You can switch carriers simply by changing the SIM card.
• Trial Period: You get a 15-day trial period (if you haven’t exceeded usage limits) to return a new device and cancel without penalty.

For broadband (The Internet Code)

• Easy Switching: Just like with mobile, you generally do not need to talk to your old provider. When you sign up with a new ISP, they can often handle the cancellation of your old service for you (a “transfer of service”).
• No 30-Day Notice: Generally, for residential services, you are not required to give 30 days’ notice to cancel. Cancellation takes effect the day you request it. However, if you cancel a fixed-term contract early (e.g., before your 2-year term ends), you may still be charged an Early Cancellation Fee (ECF) depending on your agreement.
• Trial Period: If you sign a contract with an early cancellation fee, you are entitled to a 15-day trial period. If you are unhappy with the speed or reliability, you can cancel within this window without penalty (as long as you return the equipment).
• Clear Contracts: ISPs must provide a “Critical Information Summary” that clearly lists the monthly price, one-time fees, and speed limits, so there are no surprises on your first bill.