TekSavvy Internet Review Canada: Plans, Prices and Who Should Choose It

1998Founded in Chatham, ON
10Provinces With Service
MostlyMonth to Month Plans
3 GbpsTop Fibre Tier in Select Areas

TekSavvy is worth checking if you want home internet without the usual big-provider bundle pressure. It can be a good fit for households that want a lower monthly price, simple terms, Canadian-based support, and no need to bundle internet with TV, mobile, or smart-home services.

Founded in 1998 in Chatham, Ontario, TekSavvy mostly works as a wholesale-based ISP. At many addresses, the last-mile line into the home may be owned by a larger cable or telephone company, but TekSavvy handles the plan, bill, support, and customer account. That is why TekSavvy can sometimes offer a better deal on the same basic connection type.

The useful question is whether TekSavvy has the right technology, speed, price, and terms at your exact address. If you are still deciding between connection types, start with the fibre vs cable vs DSL vs 5G vs satellite internet guide. If speed is the main concern, use the internet speed guide before paying for a faster tier than you need.

Before choosing TekSavvy: Check four things on the final order page: the regular monthly price after bill credits, the equipment or installation cost, whether the plan is month to month, and whether a fibre promotion includes a 24-month term or early cancellation fee. TekSavvy can still be a flexible, lower-cost choice, but the best deal depends on the exact address.

TekSavvy Plans & Pricing (May 2026)

TekSavvy pricing changes by province, street address, technology, promotion, and hardware option. The prices below are useful examples, not a guarantee. Always confirm the final monthly price, regular price after bill credits, equipment terms, installation cost, and cancellation terms on TekSavvy’s address checker before ordering.

Common Cable Plans

Just the Essentials
~$33/mo promo
Cable · Address Specific
  • ↓ Up to 30 Mbps download
  • ↑ Up to 5 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Light browsing, 1–2 people
Work and Play
~$39/mo promo
Cable · Popular Tier
  • ↓ Up to 100 Mbps download
  • ↑ Up to 30 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Families, WFH, streaming
Level Up
~$72/mo promo
Cable/Fibre · Fast Tier
  • ↓ Often 1 Gbps or faster where available
  • ↑ Upload depends on technology
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Gamers, heavy users, 5+ devices

DSL Plans

DSL 6
Varies/mo
DSL · Copper
  • ↓ Around 6 Mbps download
  • ↑ Around 0.8 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Basic email & browsing only
DSL 25
Varies/mo
DSL · Copper
  • ↓ Around 25 Mbps download
  • ↑ Around 10 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Light streaming, 1–2 people
DSL 50
Varies/mo
DSL · Copper
  • ↓ Around 50 Mbps download
  • ↑ Around 10 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Only if cable/fibre is unavailable

Fibre Plans (Select Areas of Ontario & Quebec)

Fibre 100
~$55/mo
Fibre · FTTH
  • ↓ Up to 100 Mbps download
  • ↑ Up to 100 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Couples, light WFH
Fibre 500
~$75/mo
Fibre · Sweet Spot
  • ↓ Up to 500 Mbps download
  • ↑ Up to 500 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Families, uploads, video calls
Fibre 1 Gig / 1.5 Gig
~$95–$120/mo
Fibre · Power Users
  • ↓ Up to 1–1.5 Gbps download
  • ↑ Up to 940 Mbps upload
  • Unlimited usage options
  • Best for: Large homes, creators, heavy use
Fibre 3 Gig
~$115/mo in select areas
Fibre · Limited Availability
  • ↓ Up to 3 Gbps shared across devices
  • ↑ Upload depends on package/address
  • May require eligible area and term promo
  • Best for: Multi-device power users

For most homes, the best value is usually a 100 Mbps cable plan, a 500 Mbps fibre plan, or a 1 Gbps plan only if the household has many people, heavy downloads, or several simultaneous streams. Before upgrading, run a real test with the Canadian internet speed test and compare the result to the speed you actually need.

Price warning: TekSavvy promos often use monthly bill credits. That means the first-year price can look excellent, then the regular price applies later. The good news is that many plans are still month to month. The exception to watch for is select fibre promotions that may involve a 24-month term and an early cancellation fee. Read the final order page carefully before checkout.

Which TekSavvy Plan Is Right for You?

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1–2 people
3–4 people
5+ people
Email & browsing
Streaming & video
Work from home
Gaming
Heavy downloads
Cable
Fibre
DSL / SkyFi only

How TekSavvy Works: The Wholesale Model Explained

TekSavvy is often called a reseller, but that word can make the company sound more basic than it is. A better description is wholesale-based ISP. TekSavvy buys regulated access to the last-mile networks owned by larger cable and telephone companies, then sells internet service under its own brand.

The Basics

Canada’s telecom regulator, the CRTC, requires large network owners to provide certain wholesale internet access to eligible competitors. TekSavvy uses that access for many of its cable, DSL, and fibre services. It handles billing, customer support, account changes, and plan selection. The physical line into your home may still be owned by a larger network company, and a technician from that network owner may handle installation or physical line repair.

What This Means in Practice

If you buy a 100 Mbps TekSavvy cable plan on the same local cable network as a 100 Mbps Rogers or Cogeco plan, the last-mile connection is similar. The biggest differences are usually price, support, equipment, promo terms, and how outages are handled. If the problem is inside TekSavvy’s systems, TekSavvy can troubleshoot directly. If the problem is a damaged line, node issue, or field repair, TekSavvy may need the underlying network owner to act.

TekSavvy’s Own Networks

TekSavvy also has its own infrastructure in limited areas. Its fibre service is available in select Ontario and Quebec communities, and SkyFi is its fixed wireless LTE service for rural southwestern Ontario. SkyFi is not meant to compete with urban fibre or cable. It is meant for rural locations where the alternative may be weak DSL, older satellite, or no wired option. Rural households comparing wired, wireless, and satellite choices should also see the Starlink internet review.

If a TekSavvy plan is fast near the modem but weak in one room, the ISP may not be the problem. Read the modem vs router vs gateway guide or compare mesh Wi-Fi, extenders, and better routers before switching providers.

Coverage: Where TekSavvy Is Available

TekSavvy serves many areas across Canada’s 10 provinces, but the technology available depends on your exact address. Do not assume that a plan shown in Toronto, Chatham-Kent, Montreal, Winnipeg, or Halifax is available on your street. Always use the address checker.

Ontario: TekSavvy’s Home Province

Ontario is TekSavvy’s strongest market and the province where it is most familiar to long-time independent ISP customers. Cable plans are common in urban and suburban areas, DSL can still appear where copper service is the only wired option, and fibre is available at select addresses. TekSavvy’s Chatham-Kent roots matter because some of its own fibre and SkyFi footprint is concentrated in southwestern Ontario. For city-level comparisons, use the Best Internet in My City hub.

Quebec: Cable, DSL, and Fibre Options

TekSavvy serves parts of Quebec using a mix of wholesale cable, DSL, and eligible fibre service. Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, and surrounding communities may have different options depending on the underlying network at the address. Quebec pricing and hardware terms can differ from Ontario. If Vidéotron is one of the local cable options, the Vidéotron internet review is worth comparing as well.

Western Canada: BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba

TekSavvy can appear in Western Canadian address checks, but the available technology is more address-specific than in Ontario. In some areas, plans may ride former Shaw/Rogers cable infrastructure, TELUS-area infrastructure, or other local wholesale arrangements. Plan choice can be narrower than in Ontario and Quebec. Always compare TekSavvy against the local incumbent and regional providers before switching.

Atlantic Canada: NB, NS, PEI, and NL

TekSavvy availability in Atlantic Canada depends heavily on the local wireline networks near your address. In some communities the main alternatives may be Bell Aliant fibre, Eastlink cable, smaller regional providers, fixed wireless, or satellite. TekSavvy can still be worth checking, but do not assume the same speeds or prices you see in Ontario.

Rural Ontario: SkyFi Wireless Internet

SkyFi is TekSavvy’s fixed wireless LTE service for parts of rural southwestern Ontario. TekSavvy says SkyFi offers download speeds up to 25 Mbps, with performance affected by tower distance, geography, and site survey results. It is not a fibre replacement, but it can be useful where wired service is poor or unavailable. If SkyFi, DSL, and satellite are your realistic options, compare the total cost, latency, data policy, and installation requirements before choosing.

The CRTC Fight: Why TekSavvy’s Battle Matters to Every Canadian

TekSavvy is different because it has spent years fighting public regulatory battles over wholesale internet access. That fight affects more than TekSavvy customers. It affects whether Canadians have real internet choices beyond Bell, Rogers, TELUS, and the brands those companies own or control.

In 2019, the CRTC ruled that certain wholesale rates were too high and ordered them lowered. In 2021, the CRTC reversed key parts of that decision. TekSavvy challenged the reversal through the courts, but the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed TekSavvy’s leave application in March 2025. That ended the court path for that specific rate fight.

The broader policy fight did not end there. The CRTC’s wholesale fibre decisions in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 expanded and refined how competitors can use large telephone companies’ fibre-to-the-premises networks. In February 2025, competitors began gaining broader access to fibre networks across Canada. In April 2026, the CRTC finalized rates for that access and said those rates are meant to provide certainty while still compensating network builders fairly.

The stakes are real. The CRTC previously found that independent wholesale-based competitors in Ontario and Quebec served 47% fewer subscribers at the end of 2022 than two years earlier, after accounting for acquisitions. That is why TekSavvy’s independence matters. Whether you choose TekSavvy or not, a healthier wholesale market can put pressure on the larger providers to offer better prices and clearer terms.

TekSavvy vs Bell & Rogers: The Real Comparison

FeatureTekSavvyBellRogers
Typical Price PositionOften cheaper than regular Big Three pricingCan be competitive on promosCan be competitive on promos
Max Residential SpeedUp to 3 Gbps fibre in select areasUp to 8 Gbps where available2 Gbps+ by region; higher FTTH in select areas
Contracts Required?Mostly month to month; check fibre promosPromo terms varyPromo terms vary
Unlimited UsageUnlimited options commonUnlimited on most modern wired plansUnlimited on most modern wired plans
Network InfrastructureWholesale plus limited own fibre/SkyFiOwn fibre and copper networksOwn cable, fibre, and former Shaw networks
Customer SupportCanada-based, 24/7 supportLarge-provider support modelLarge-provider support model
Billing SimplicityUsually simpler, but promo terms still matterWatch discounts and expiry datesWatch discounts and expiry dates
Outage ResolutionMay depend on underlying network ownerDirect control on own networkDirect control on own network
BundlingBasic TV and phone optionsFull internet, TV, mobile, home bundlesFull internet, TV, mobile, home bundles
Best ForPrice-conscious households that want flexibilityFastest Bell fibre addresses and bundlesRogers/Shaw cable or bundle households

TekSavvy is strongest when price, flexibility, and independence matter more than bundles. Bell and Rogers are stronger choices when the address qualifies for a faster direct-fibre tier, a full bundle, or direct network-owner support. Anyone choosing between the big providers should read the Bell vs Rogers vs TELUS internet comparison.

TekSavvy vs Other Alternative ISPs

FeatureTekSavvyOxioStart.caPrimus
OwnershipIndependent Canadian ISPOwned by CogecoPart of TELUSPart of Bell through Distributel
Main AppealCoverage, advocacy, flexibilitySimple online experienceOntario support reputationBundle/promotional pricing
CoverageMany areas across 10 provincesON, QC, AB, BC and select areasMainly OntarioMultiple provinces
Own Fibre / WirelessYes, select fibre and SkyFiNo major owned access networkNo major owned access networkNo major owned access network
ContractsMostly month to month; check fibre promosUsually no contractUsually no contractPromo terms may vary
CRTC AdvocacyVery activeLimited public advocacyLimited after TELUS partnershipLimited after Bell/Distributel ownership
TV/PhoneTekSavvy TV and TekTalkNo traditional TV bundle focusLimitedAvailable in some bundles

When comparing lower-cost internet providers in 2026, remember that “alternative ISP” does not always mean independent. Oxio can still be a good low-friction option, and the Oxio review is worth reading if it is available at the address. Start.ca and Primus may also be worth comparing. But for households that want to support one of the few larger independent ISPs still publicly pushing for wholesale competition, TekSavvy is the clearer choice.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

  • Often cheaper than Big Three regular pricing
  • Mostly month to month on standard residential plans
  • Uses proven underlying cable, DSL, and fibre networks
  • Transparent positioning compared with many bundle-heavy offers
  • Canada-based 24/7 customer support
  • Own fibre service in select Ontario/Quebec areas
  • Active consumer rights advocacy at the CRTC
  • SkyFi wireless for parts of rural southwestern Ontario
  • TekSavvy TV and TekTalk phone available

Disadvantages

  • Fastest fibre tiers are available only at select addresses
  • Outage resolution can depend on the underlying network owner
  • Promo prices may rise after bill credits end
  • Some fibre promotions can involve a 24-month term
  • DSL plans are slow by 2026 standards
  • Plan selection is not equal across provinces
  • Equipment and hardware terms need to be checked carefully
  • Not ideal if you need a full TV, mobile, and smart-home bundle

Frequently Asked Questions

At the same advertised speed tier and on the same underlying access network, TekSavvy should be broadly comparable because the last-mile connection is usually the same cable, DSL, or fibre infrastructure. The bigger difference is maximum speed availability. TekSavvy can now offer fibre up to 3 Gbps in select areas, while Bell and Rogers may offer faster direct-fibre tiers at some addresses. Most households do not need more than 100 to 500 Mbps.
Cable uses coaxial cable infrastructure and is usually the best TekSavvy option if fibre is not available. DSL uses copper phone lines and is much slower by 2026 standards. Fibre is the best connection type where available because upload speed, latency, and reliability are stronger. SkyFi is fixed wireless LTE for parts of rural southwestern Ontario, with download speeds up to 25 Mbps.
Most TekSavvy residential plans are month to month, but some select fibre promotional offers can involve a 24-month term and an early cancellation fee. Check the final terms for your exact address before ordering. The practical takeaway is: TekSavvy is usually flexible, but not every promo is contract-free.
TekSavvy usually buys wholesale network access instead of building a nationwide last-mile network everywhere it sells service. It then handles its own retail pricing, billing, and support. That can make it cheaper than regular pricing from Bell, Rogers, or TELUS, especially if you do not need bundled discounts or the fastest direct-fibre tier.
TekSavvy has been fighting for wholesale internet access rules that let smaller providers compete with the large telecom companies. Its court challenge over earlier wholesale rates ended when the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed its leave application in March 2025. The broader policy fight continued through CRTC fibre-access decisions, including final wholesale fibre rates released in April 2026.
It depends on your address and priorities. Oxio may have a cleaner online experience and sharp pricing in some areas, while Start.ca has a long Ontario history. The key difference is ownership and advocacy: Oxio is owned by Cogeco, Start.ca is part of TELUS, and TekSavvy remains one of the best-known independent ISPs still active in CRTC competition fights.

Sources: TekSavvy official Internet, Fibre, SkyFi, Ontario and policy pages · CRTC Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-180 · CRTC Telecom Order 2026-77 · CRTC April 24, 2026 fibre access news release · Supreme Court of Canada case 41486 · Cogeco Connexion acquisition of oxio · Start.ca TELUS partnership information · Bell/Distributel/Primus acquisition information · WhistleOut and PlanHub plan listings for address-specific price examples.

InternetAdvice.ca is independently operated with no affiliate links. We do not receive compensation from any internet service provider. Data verified May 2026. Prices, promos, speeds, and availability can change by address.