Best Internet Plans and Discounts for Seniors in Canada

When you reach a certain age, you’re entitled to certain things: preferential parking, early bird specials, and, most importantly, some serious senior discounts. The latter applies to internet plans as much as anything else. If you know where to look, you’ll find internet packages for seniors with cheap monthly payments. Good news: we know where to look.

We’ve assembled a list of the best internet plans for seniors, including the best senior discounts and subsidized plans, like Telus’ Internet for Good and the Government of Canada’s Connecting Families initiative.

Best internet plans
for seniors

Telus | Internet for Good: Internet 150 | $35/month

Cons:

• Limited to qualified applicants

Telus’ Internet for Good offers affordable, high-speed fibre internet for low-income and elderly Canadians, with three packages available for those who qualify. This plan is the best of the bunch, with features that rival some of the best internet plans in the country. For $35/month, you’ll get unlimited data, as well as download and upload speeds up to 150Mbps, which is fast enough to browse, stream, and videoconference, ensuring you’ll stay in touch with all of your loved ones.

If you’re looking to take advantage of this great deal, you’ll first need to apply through Telus. To qualify, you’ll need to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in the amount of at least $6,500/year and be able to provide your Old Age Security statement, also known as the T4A(OAS). You can find more info and apply over on the Internet for Good website.

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Connecting Families | 2.0 Plan | $20/month

Cons:

• Limited monthly data
• Limited to qualified applicants

In 2018, the Canadian government launched its Connecting Families initiative, a program offering subsidized internet access to low-income families and senior citizens. The Connecting Families 1.0 plan gave users 25Mbps downloads, 5Mbps uploads, and 100GB of data for just $10/month. The 2.0 plan, released in April 2022, doubles all the details, with 50Mbps downloads, 10Mbps uploads, and 200GB of data for $20/month.

Both plans are still available, though we recommend the 2.0 plan, which has speeds that meet the minimum qualifications for the government’s definition of “good internet speed” and, as such, will allow for better experiences while streaming music and video. If you can afford Telus’ Internet for Good option, though, we recommend choosing that plan over Connecting Families: Telus’ speeds are faster and the plan has unlimited data, ensuring you’ll rarely, if ever, deal with slow or laggy video on Netflix and Crave.

Connecting Families plans are only available to eligible Canadians, which includes low-income families who receive the maximum Canada Child benefit (CCB) and low-income seniors who receive the maximum GIS. If you’re in one of those groups, you should’ve received a letter in the mail with instructions on enrolling.

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Diallog | DSL Ultimate | $45/month

Cons:

• Only available in ON and QC

If you’re looking for cheap internet but don’t qualify for Connecting Families or Internet for Good, this Diallog plan is an excellent alternative. For $20/month, you’ll pick up fast DSL internet with 50Mbps downloads, 10Mbps uploads, and unlimited data. Diallog also provides 24/7 technical support, which is helpful if you’re tired of calling your kids every time you have an issue.

There are some additional upfront payments that come with this plan, including for activating the cable line and for renting the 5G wireless modem that will provide Wi-Fi to your house. Still, this is a solid plan from a reliable ISP and is perfect for seniors looking to stay connected without breaking the bank.

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TekSavvy | 6 Mbps Lite | $40.95/month

Cons:

• Only available in ON and QC
• Pricing depends on location

Some people just need a basic home internet plan, one that will allow them to browse the web, send emails, and use social media. For those folks, fast speeds and unlimited data aren’t worth the pricetags: if you’re not looking to stream or videoconference, then there’s no point in paying for the kind of plan designed with those activities in mind.

This basic plan from TekSavvy is one of the cheapest internet plans in Canada. Importantly, it doesn’t require qualifications for admission. If you pay the price, then you get the service! It’s not a good choice for average to serious internet users, but it’s perfect for those senior citizens who want the ability to occasionally check in on family and friends.

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Methodology: How WhistleOut rates cell phone plans

WhistleOut evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:

• Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it both to other plans from the same ISP, as well as similar plans from competitors in the market, to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
• Speed: We judged a plan's download and upload speeds to determine the kind of experience you'll have. Importantly, though, we've considered what the average Canadian household needs for home internet rather than giving preference to the fastest speeds available.
• Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of each ISP's network determines your  service. 
• Plan extras and perks: In addition to the basics—speed, data, amd coverage—some plans throw in freebies like free modems, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.

Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate the best internet plans and discounts for seniors. We compared plans from 26 providers by analyzing their coverage, cost, and plan options. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and speed. 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 an internet plan to evaluate an internet service provider or plan and find the one that best meets your specific needs.