We spend a lot of time staring at coverage maps, tracing the limits of one carrier’s 5G coverage, and measuring the width of another’s 4G LTE network. We’ve been tracking cell phone coverage since 2008 and have learned a thing or two about how to suss out the best service for your phone and your wallet.
In Ontario, we’ve studied the networks of 23 different carriers from Kingsville to Moosonee and Ottawa to Kenora to determine which carrier offers the best coverage in the province. Bell has the best overall coverage in Ontario, though we prefer Rogers and Freedom in southern Ontario. We break down what that all means and highlight some plans that provide reliable coverage at reasonable rates.
Read on to find the best coverage in Ontario and learn how to score a great deal on a new cell phone plan.
How we picked the best coverage in Ontario
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Coverage map
We analyzed each carrier’s footprint in the province, keeping an eye out for dead zones. -
5G and 5G+
High speed is the future, so we focused on carriers that offer the newest technology. -
Network reliability
We scoured trade publications and customer feedback reviews to determine whose coverage is both widely available and reliable.
You can read more about our detailed methodology below.
Best overall coverage in Ontario
Bell has the best overall coverage in Ontario. In southern Ontario, Bell’s expansive 5G network offers customers fast speeds, including pockets with ultra-fast 5G+. In northern Ontario, the carrier provides 4G LTE coverage in pockets of the province that their competitors don’t reach. While Rogers and Freedom are viable alternatives in the southern half of the province, Bell’s large network and high-speed service in urban centres mean it provides the best overall coverage in Ontario.
Before activating a new plan, though, you’ll need to make sure your neighborhood is covered by a given network—both in where you live and where you often travel to, such as your workplace. You can find your neck of the woods on the interactive map below or enter your address into the WhistleOut search to complete the most precise coverage check.
Best coverage in Southern Ontario
Bell might have the best overall coverage in Ontario, but that doesn’t mean they’re the best option if you live close to the border. Technically speaking, Rogers has the best coverage in Southern Ontario, with high-speed 5G and solid 4G LTE throughout the lower half of the province. We’re not alone in saying that: In 2023, umlaut deemed Rogers’ coverage the most reliable in Canada and cited its strong performance in Ottawa and Hamilton in its report.
That being said, some will find Rogers’ plan prices to be prohibitively expensive. Freedom Mobile also offers solid coverage in Southern Ontario, with 5G available in the Toronto, Hamilton, London, and Windsor metro areas. In many ways, their coverage map for Southern Ontario is similar to Rogers’. The key difference is in affordability: Freedom’s monthly prices are significantly cheaper, sometimes by $15–20 per month.
If you want to compare the networks’ coverage maps in Southern Ontario, our interactive map allows you to toggle between carriers and zoom in on particular parts of the province.
Best coverage in Northern Ontario
Bell has the best coverage in Northern Ontario, with significant 4G LTE coverage in the areas surrounding Moosonee and Galeton. The carrier also offers extensive coverage to the east around Pickle Lake, Red Lake, Ear Falls, and Sioux Lookout. Notably, they also offer 5G coverage in the Kenora metro area.
Telus’ map is markedly similar, thanks to the carriers sharing significant swaths of their networks, though Bell’s coverage is slightly larger in the northern stretches of the province. Neither Bell nor Telus offers 5G coverage in Northern Ontario.
Rogers and Freedom don’t operate their own networks in Northern Ontario. While both carriers provide extended coverage in this more rural part of the country, neither can promise speeds faster than 3G.
How to get better phone coverage in rural Ontario
Most of Northern Ontario is not covered by any wireless network. Even the rural areas within Bell’s network can feature pockets with spotty coverage. Luckily, there’s a solution if you’re willing to invest a few hundred dollars. Cell phone coverage boosters, like SolidRF’s 5-Band Booster, can improve a wireless signal by drawing it from an open area (like your driveway) into an enclosed area (like your living room).
Unfortunately, coverage boosters don’t work for areas that lack nearby towers. If you’re in one of the rural areas of Northern Ontario that’s completely outside the carriers’ coverage maps, we recommend leaning on your internet connection. By turning on your phone’s Wi-Fi calling option, you can send and receive calls without having to bother with a cell phone carrier.
Best phone plans in Ontario
We’re always tracking the best cell phone plans in Canada, along with the best plans in Ontario. If you’re looking to score the best coverage in Ontario, especially Northern Ontario, we recommend grabbing the best Bell plan on the market: the Essential 100GB, which offers unlimited talk and text, along with 100GB of full-speed 5G+ data.
If you want the best coverage in Southern Ontario, we recommend Rogers’ 60GB Non-shared plan, which offers unlimited talk and text and 60GB of full-speed 5G data. If you’re looking for a more affordable option and primarily spend your time in the province’s southern cities, we suggest Freedom’s 5G Unlimited 100GB CA-US plan, which provides unlimited talk and text plus 100GB of full-speed 5G data.
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Freedom Mobile
$60 5G Unlimited 100GB CA-US plan
$55/mth
+ $45 Upfront
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How we picked the best coverage in Ontario
WhistleOut evaluates coverage based on the following criteria:
- Coverage map: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
- 5G and 5G+: Unleashing the full potential of your smartphone requires high-speed service. We only considered carriers that offer 5G (and its cousin, 5G+), which is the newest generation of wireless technology available in Canada.
- Network reliability: Coverage is only good if it’s reliable. We scoured user reviews and third-party whitepapers to evaluate whether or not a carrier’s network provides consistent coverage.
Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate the best coverage in Ontario. We compared the plans from 23 carriers by analyzing their coverage maps, network reliability, cost, and plan options. After performing hands-on testing and extensive research, including customer feedback, we picked the plans we feel meet the needs of most people.
Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to evaluate a cell phone carrier or plan and find the one that best meets your specific needs.
Cell phone coverage guides by province:
- British Columbia Wireless Coverage
- Alberta Wireless Coverage
- Saskatchewan Wireless Coverage
- Manitoba Wireless Coverage
- Ontario Wireless Coverage
- Quebec Wireless Coverage
- New Brunswick Wireless Coverage
- Nova Scotia Wireless Coverage
- Prince Edward Island Wireless Coverage
- Newfoundland and Labrador Wireless Coverage
Cell phone coverage by city:
- Vancouver Cell Phone Coverage
- Edmonton Cell Phone Coverage
- Calgary Cell Phone Coverage
- Toronto Cell Phone Coverage
- Ottawa Cell Phone Coverage
- Montreal Cell Phone Coverage
- Quebec City Cell Phone Coverage
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