Bell vs Rogers vs Telus: What's the Difference?

By Kevin Kearney

Last updated 30 November 2023

Text Who's the Best Top Tier Mobile Carrier over roadsigns pointing to Bell, Rogers and Telus

Contents

In this guide:

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: How Do They Compare?
Network Coverage and Reliability
Customer Service
Get the Most Value
Regional Carriers: Freedom Mobile, Videotron, SaskTel, and More
Which Carrier is Best?
FAQs

Bell, Rogers, and Telus are the country’s three largest wireless carriers, providing service to over 97% of Canadians. Telus, in our opinion, is the best carrier in Canada, thanks to its large 5G network, excellent customer service, and competitive pricing.

But there’s more to the market than just the Big Three. Canada is also home to several regional carriers that offer affordable plans and reliable coverage to select areas. There are also numerous flanker brands that provide cheap plans and cell phone deals.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know in order to choose the best carrier for you. Read on to learn the difference between Bell, Rogers, and Telus, and understand the best way to find a great plan.

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: How Do They Compare?

Bell, Rogers, and Telus are the three nationwide telecommunications companies serving Canada with telephone, internet, cable television, and wireless service. Canadians often complain that the differences between Bell, Rogers, and Telus are nonexistent, with the carriers simply offering similar plans at similar rates.

All three offer premium services and, by extension, some of the most expensive cell phone plans in the country. Bell, Rogers, and Telus are independent networks that operate their own nationwide 4G and 5G cellular networks despite sharing towers.

You can check out the best cell phone plans in Canada or preview the most popular plans from the Big Three below.

#1	Rogers	Rogers Infinite Extra Plan Unlimited 175GB at speeds up to 1Gbps $80/mth Go	$80/mth	Go
#2	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk & Text 15 250MB data Deal: Get a bonus 250MB data when you sign-up with auto-payment options and use the promo code 250AUTO $15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront Go	$15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	Go
#3	Bell	Bell Monthly $30 Prepaid Voice and 5GB Data 10GB at 4G speeds up to 150Mbps Deal: Get 5GB bonus data with Automatic monthly top-up options $30 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront Go	$30 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront	Go

Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.

In 2021, Rogers Communications made a bid to buy Shaw Communications, a regional carrier serving Alberta and British Columbia operating on the Freedom Mobile network. The Competition Bureau argued the sale would limit competition, raising already high prices for consumers. In an attempt to silence its critics, Rogers agreed to sell Shaw’s Freedom Mobile unit to Videotron, a regional carrier for Quebec. As of April 2023, the merger was finalised with government approval.

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Network Coverage and Reliability

While Bell, Rogers, and Telus are all nationwide carriers, each carrier has subtle differences in what they offer and where they operate.

In Canada, where you live dictates your cellular service. 5G is still mostly limited to urban centres while 3G is the fastest you’ll find in some of the remote areas of the country. Telus’ 5G and 4G network is the largest of the Big Three and reaches the most Canadians, though Bell’s network is not far behind.

The Big Three's network coverage

Carrier	5G coverage	4G LTE coverage	Total network coverage
Bell	70% of Canadians	99% of Canadians	36% of the map
Rogers	70% of Canadians	97% of Canadians	28% of the map
Telus	70% of Canadians	99% of Canadians	37% of the map

If you’d like to see a coverage map of each carrier’s network, you can check out our guide to wireless coverage in Canada or select one of the Big Three in the coverage map below.

Click to Activate Interactive Map

Coverage information is collected from carriers and other third party sources. This is approximate coverage only and does not include indoor coverage. Actual speed and performance depends on your location and device. Local conditions and things like natural and artificial physical features of an area all affect your reception. Coverage © Mosaik

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Customer Service

Bell, Rogers, and Telus offer customer service and support over the phone, on social media, and through virtual assistants on their websites. In 2022, Telus was rated Canada’s Most Respected Mobile Service Provider by DART Insight and Communications with Koodo and Fido rounding out the top three.

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Get the Most Value

The best way to get the most value from the Big Three is to seek out their bundles, cell phone deals, and flanker brands.

Bundling services

The Big Three offer bundles of their internet, cable, streaming services at discounted rates. Bell, Rogers, and Telus all provide bundling options that will make watching sports, TV, and movies a breeze.

Unfortunately, none of the three carriers allow you to bundle wireless coverage. Still, if you’re already paying for multiple services or looking to add one to your household, you might want to start by seeing what Bell, Rogers, and Telus offer for internet connectivity.

#1	Bell	Bell Wireless Home Internet 25 Fixed Wireless 25/5 Mbps $50/mo Go	$50/mo	Go
#2	Telus	Telus PureFibre Internet 250 Fibre 250/250 Mbps Contract (24 mths) $80/mo Go	$80/mo	Go
#3	Rogers	Rogers Pro 2G Internet Fibre 2000/200 Mbps $130/mo Go	$130/mo	Go

Cell phone deals

Although Bell, Rogers, and Telus are considered premium carriers known for their more expensive plans, they’re also known for some of the best cell phone deals in Canada. We’ve compiled guides to the best cell phone deals from Bell, Rogers, and Telus, so you can score hot prices on the latest smartphones, like the iPhone 14, Google Pixel 7, and Samsung Galaxy S23.

Find some of the most popular cell phone deals available from the Big Three below.

Samsung

Galaxy S23 5G 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

40 Plans from $15/mth + $1,197.94 Upfront

Choose

40 Plans from $15/mth + $1,197.94 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S23+ 5G 256GB

6.6 inch display
Rear Cameras: 12MP, 50MP, 10MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

40 Plans from $15/mth + $1,729 Upfront

Choose

40 Plans from $15/mth + $1,729 Upfront

Google

Pixel 8a 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Cameras: 64MP, 13MP
Front Camera: 13MP

Choose

53 Plans from $20/mth + $800 Upfront

Choose

53 Plans from $20/mth + $800 Upfront

Google

Pixel 8 128GB

6.2 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 10.5MP

Choose

23 Plans from $20/mth + $1,108 Upfront

Choose

23 Plans from $20/mth + $1,108 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S24 FE 5G 128GB

6.7 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 10MP

Choose

83 Plans from $20/mth + $1,110 Upfront

Choose

83 Plans from $20/mth + $1,110 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S24 5G 128GB

6.2 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 10MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

80 Plans from $20/mth + $1,358.64 Upfront

Choose

80 Plans from $20/mth + $1,358.64 Upfront

Google

Pixel 9 Pro 5G 256GB

6.3 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 48MP, 48MP
Front Camera: 42MP

Choose

58 Plans from $20/mth + $1,732 Upfront

Choose

58 Plans from $20/mth + $1,732 Upfront

Google

Pixel 9 Pro 5G 512GB

6.3 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 48MP, 48MP
Front Camera: 42MP

Choose

20 Plans from $20/mth + $1,930 Upfront

Choose

20 Plans from $20/mth + $1,930 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy A54 5G

6.4 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 12MP, 5MP
Front Camera: 32MP

Choose

30 Plans from $44/mth + $690 Upfront

Choose

30 Plans from $44/mth + $690 Upfront

#10

Google

Pixel 7a 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Camera: 64MP
Front Camera: 13MP

Choose

30 Plans from $44/mth + $702 Upfront

Choose

30 Plans from $44/mth + $702 Upfront

Flanker brands

Canada is home to several flanker brands, or smaller carriers owned by Bell, Rogers, and Telus and operating on their respective networks, much like the popular Mobile Virtual Network Operators (or MVNOs). Flanker brands’ plans are cheaper, offering less data and slower speeds than the Big Three. Despite those downsides, flanker brands’ affordability, prepaid options, and excellent coverage make for fantastic alternatives to Bell, Rogers, and Telus.

Signing up with one of these brands can save you a bundle.

Bell owns Virgin Mobile and Lucky Mobile
Rogers Wireless owns Fido and Chatr
Telus Mobility owns Koodo and Public Mobile

Interested in trying out an alternative? Find some of the most popular plans from flanker brands below.

#1	Fido	Fido $15 Basic Plan with 100 Minutes + 250MB 250MB data $15/mth Go	$15/mth	Go
#2	Chatr Wireless	Chatr Wireless $15 Nationwide Talk & Text plan 500MB data Deal: Get 500MB bonus data when you sign up with Auto-Pay $15 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront Go	$15 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront	Go
#3	Public Mobile	Public Mobile $35 Unlimited Canada-US Talk + Text + 50GB 50GB at 5G full speeds up to 250Mbps Deal: Receive $1.75/mo. in points value with Public Points + Get a FREE eSIM or $5 off on a physical SIM with new activation on this plan $35 + $5 Upfront Go	$35 + $5 Upfront	Go
#4	Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile)	Virgin Plus (previously Virgin Mobile) $34 Plan with 60GB Data and Unlimited Minutes 60GB at 4G speeds up to 150Mbps $34/mth Go	$34/mth	Go
#5	Koodo Mobile	Koodo Mobile $40 Prepaid Base Plan 75GB at 4G speed up to 100Mbps Deal: Get FREE third month of service with new activation on this plan $40 Per 30 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront Go	$40 Per 30 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront	Go

Regional Carriers: Freedom Mobile, Videotron, SaskTel, and More

In limited parts of Canada, regional carriers operate independent cellular networks that span one portion of the country. They often partner with Bell, Rogers, or Telus to provide their customers nationwide service. Prices are often cheaper yet come with limitations, mainly that you must live within the carrier’s primary coverage area to subscribe.

Here are some of the most popular regional carriers and where you can find them:

Freedom Mobile: Urban areas of Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.
Shaw Mobile: Urban areas of Alberta and B.C.
Videotron: Quebec
Fizz: Quebec
SaskTel: Saskatchewan

#1	Videotron	Videotron 65GB All-Inclusive Cell Phone Plan Unlimited data Deal: Holiday Offer! Waive the $50 activation fee when you subscribe to a mobile plan with data + Get $10/mo. off when you bring your own device $5/mth + $50 Upfront Go	$5/mth + $50 Upfront	Go
#2	Freedom Mobile	Freedom Mobile $60 5G Unlimited 100GB CA-US plan Unlimited 120GB full-speed data at 5G Deal: Receive 20GB Roam Beyond data on this plan + Get $5/mo. off for 18 months when you activate on this plan $55/mth + $45 Upfront Go	$55/mth + $45 Upfront	Go
#3	Fizz	Fizz Unlimited Minutes & Text Messaging + 3GB Data 3GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps $17/mth + $5 Upfront Go	$17/mth + $5 Upfront	Go
#4	SaskTel	SaskTel totalSHARE Nationwide Unlimited Full speed data Deal: Holiday Offer: Get 25GB/mo. bonus for 24 months with this plan + Get $20/mo. off with BYO or buy phone at full price + Get Student Promo up to $20/mo. off + Waived $60 activation fee $70/mth Go	$70/mth	Go
#5	Eastlink	Eastlink $35 Promo 60GB Plan 60GB at 5G speeds Deal: Holiday Offer! Online Only: Get $70 Welcome Credit + FREE Shipping when you purchase this plan $35/mth + $60 Upfront Go	$35/mth + $60 Upfront	Go

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: Which Carrier is Best?

Bell, Rogers, and Telus all offer nationwide coverage, 5G service, and a comprehensive suite of services. Rogers is by far the best when it comes to 5G coverage, but Bell and Telus have the best network coverage footprint in Canada.

Overall, thanks to its coverage, customer service, and diversity of plans, Telus is the best carrier of the Big Three.

Check out our guide to the best Telus cell phone plans, the best Telus prepaid plans, or browse the carrier’s most popular plans below.

#1	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk & Text 15 250MB data Deal: Get a bonus 250MB data when you sign-up with auto-payment options and use the promo code 250AUTO $15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront Go	$15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	Go
#2	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk & Text 15 250MB data Deal: Get a bonus 250MB data when you sign-up with auto-payment options and use the promo code 250AUTO $15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront Go	$15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	Go
#3	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk & Text 25 250MB data Deal: Get a bonus 250MB data when you sign-up with auto-payment via promo code PRE5PROMO24 + Receive $5 credit for 12 months with new activation on this plan $25 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront Go	$25 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	Go
#4	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk & Text 25 250MB data Deal: Get a bonus 250MB data when you sign-up with auto-payment via promo code PRE5PROMO24 + Receive $5 credit for 12 months with new activation on this plan $25 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront Go	$25 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	Go
#5	Telus	Telus Nationwide Talk, Text & Data 35 18GB data Deal: Receive 15GB/mo. bonus data + Get extra 2GB data when you sign-up with auto-payment options and use the promo code QCBONUS15 $35 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront Go	$35 Per 30 Day Top-up + $15 Upfront	Go

Bell vs. Rogers vs. Telus: FAQs

Are Rogers and Bell the same?

No, Rogers and Bell are not the same. Rogers is owned by Rogers Communications Inc. and Bell is owned by Bell Canada Inc. Both carriers operate on their own independent networks.

Is Telus owned by Rogers?

No, Telus is not owned by Rogers. Telus is owned by the Telus Corporation and Rogers is owned by Rogers Communications Inc.

Does Telus use Rogers or Bell towers?

Yes, Telus and Bell share some of the same cell towers. That’s part of the reason why both carriers have been able to build wireless networks that reach 99% of Canadians.

Which carriers offer 5G in Canada?

Bell, Rogers, and Telus all offer 5G in Canada, with 5G networks that reach 70% of Canadians. A number of regional carriers also offer 5G connectivity. Videotron offers it to residents of Montreal, while Shaw and SaskTel offer it in select areas of Saskatchewan.

Are Bell, Rogers, and Telus an oligopoly?

No, Bell, Rogers, and Telus are not technically an oligopoly. While it’s been suggested that Bell, Rogers and Telus are colluding with one another to keep cell phone plan rates high for Canadians, there’s no evidence to prove collusion.

The Government of Canada, however, agreed with its citizens, stating in 2019 that prices were too high and began working to address consumers’ concerns. In 2021, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) established a policy to encourage more Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). In 2022, the CRTC announced they’d reduced wireless plans by 25%.

The success of these efforts is debatable. The CRTC’s requirements for MVNOs prohibit real competitors from entering Canada’s market and critics have highlighted that the reduction of cell phone plan costs is not as impressive as the Government has made it out to be.

Can I bundle services with my mobile phone?

No, none of the Big Three allow you to bundle services with your mobile phone. They do, however, offer bundles of their internet, cable, and streaming services, driving down your overall monthly payment.

Who is the best carrier in Canada?

Telus is the best carrier in Canada, thanks to its coverage, customer service, and diversity of plans. While Bell and Rogers also offer nationwide coverage, 5G service, and a comprehensive suite of services, Telus' plans are the overall best for Canadians.