EBOX and Primus are both independent, no-contract Canadian internet providers that sell service over networks owned by larger carriers rather than building their own last-mile infrastructure. EBOX sells DSL and Fibre internet primarily over Bell network infrastructure in Ontario and Quebec, with possible additional cable access through Cogeco or Videotron in some areas where fibre is not yet available, and prices every plan at a flat ongoing rate. Primus is part of the Bell family but independently operated, and sells service over the Bell, Rogers, Shaw, and Cogeco networks; in the Topicks.ca database, Primus offers fibre plans in Ontario and Quebec and cable plans in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, all at regular monthly rates with no contract. The two providers overlap in Ontario and Quebec, where their fibre lineups are nearly identical in speed and within $1 of each other in price, so this page compares them on plans, pricing, speeds, coverage, contract terms, equipment, and support.
Plans and pricing
EBOX offers four plan tiers, each priced identically in Ontario and Quebec, for 8 plans in total: one DSL plan and three fibre plans from $54 to $69/month. Primus offers 7 plans: 4 fibre plans in Ontario and Quebec ($55 to $70/month) and 3 cable plans in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan ($55 to $130/month). Neither provider uses promotional pricing; every price below is a regular, ongoing monthly rate with no contract.
In Ontario and Quebec, the two fibre lineups match tier for tier on speed: 150/150, 500/500, and 1000/750 Mbps. EBOX is $1/month cheaper at every tier: $54 versus $55 for 150/150 Mbps, $59 versus $60 for 500/500 Mbps, and $69 versus $70 for 1000/750 Mbps, which works out to $12/year in savings at any speed. Because neither provider uses promotional pricing, that gap does not change after the first year. EBOX also offers a 50/10 Mbps DSL plan at $54/month, the same price as its 150/150 Mbps fibre plan, so DSL is mainly an option for addresses where fibre is not yet available. Primus is the only one of the two offering plans in Western Canada, with cable from $55/month for 75/50 Mbps up to $130/month for 1000/200 Mbps in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
Network and coverage
EBOX serves two provinces and Primus serves five, with Ontario and Quebec as the shared market. EBOX runs its Fibre and DSL plans primarily over Bell network infrastructure, and may also use cable infrastructure from Cogeco or Videotron in some areas where fibre is not yet available. Primus sells service over the Bell, Rogers, Shaw, and Cogeco networks, with fibre in Ontario and Quebec and cable in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan; the network used varies by address. Residents of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan can choose Primus but not EBOX, and neither provider lists plans in Manitoba or Atlantic Canada.
On speed, the two are tied in Ontario and Quebec: both top out at 1000/750 Mbps fibre, and both offer symmetrical 150 and 500 Mbps tiers. The practical difference is geographic reach and technology mix. Primus covers more provinces, but its western plans are cable with a 200 Mbps upload ceiling. EBOX is limited to Ontario and Quebec, but adds a DSL fallback for addresses outside the fibre footprint. Where both are available, the question is which network reaches your address, since availability depends on the host network at each location.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | EBOX | Primus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $54/mo (50/10 DSL or 150/150 Fibre, ON, QC) | $55/mo (150/150 Fibre, ON, QC / 75/50 Cable, AB, BC, SK) |
| 150/150 Mbps Fibre (ON, QC) | $54/mo | $55/mo |
| 500/500 Mbps Fibre (ON, QC) | $59/mo | $60/mo |
| Gigabit-tier price (ON, QC) | $69/mo for 1000/750 Mbps Fibre | $70/mo for 1000/750 Mbps Fibre |
| Top residential speed | 1,000/750 Mbps (Fibre, ON, QC) | 1,000/750 Mbps (Fibre, ON, QC) |
| Upload speeds | Up to 750 Mbps; symmetrical 150 and 500 Mbps tiers | Up to 750 Mbps (Fibre, ON, QC); up to 200 Mbps on western cable |
| DSL option | 50/10 Mbps · $54/mo (ON, QC) | Not offered |
| Western Canada plans | Not offered | Cable in AB, BC, SK · $55 to $130/mo |
| Data cap | Unlimited (all plans) | Unlimited on plans branded Unlimited; allowance not stated for High-Speed Internet 75 Mbps |
| Pricing structure | Regular monthly rates, no promotional reversion | Regular monthly rates, no promotional reversion |
| Price lock guarantee | Not listed | No stated price guarantee |
| Contract options | No contract (all plans) | No contract (all plans) |
| Activation and equipment | $0 modem rental, $0 router rental, $0 installation, $0 shipping | Free activation and Wi-Fi 6 equipment (select plans) |
| Technology | Fibre and DSL | Fibre (ON, QC) and Cable (AB, BC, SK) |
| Provinces served | 2 (ON, QC) | 5 (ON, QC, AB, BC, SK) |
| Underlying network(s) | Bell (primary); Cogeco or Videotron in some areas | Bell, Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco (varies by address) |
| TV | TV add-on available; no bundle discount | Not listed |
| Customer support | Phone, live chat, email, Facebook Messenger, FAQ | Phone, live chat, self-support, Self-Help app, network status page, English and French |
| Customer rating (Topicks.ca) | No rating yet | 5.0 / 5 |
Contract and pricing details
EBOX sells every plan on a no-contract basis at a flat, ongoing rate. No plan shows a promotional discount or a higher regular price that applies later, and all four tiers are priced the same in Ontario and Quebec: $54/month for 50 Mbps ADSL or 150 Mbps Fibre, $59/month for 500 Mbps Fibre, and $69/month for 1 Gbps Fibre.
Primus plans are also all no contract, with no stated price guarantee and no promotional pricing listed; the listed prices are regular monthly rates. In Ontario and Quebec, fibre plans are 150/150 Mbps at $55/month, 500/500 Mbps at $60/month, and 1000/750 Mbps at $70/month (the same price in both provinces). In Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, cable plans are 75/50 Mbps at $55/month, 500/200 Mbps at $90/month, and 1000/200 Mbps at $130/month. Available plans may vary based on your address, so confirm pricing and eligibility directly with Primus.
Equipment and installation
EBOX includes installation, modem rental, wireless router rental, and shipping at no cost on its plans, removing the upfront equipment and setup costs that some providers charge separately. Specific self-install versus professional-install procedures are not specified in available plan data; confirm installation logistics directly with EBOX.
Primus includes Wi-Fi 6 equipment and free activation on select plans; the plans that qualify are not specified in available plan data. Installation fees and equipment rental or purchase terms are also not specified. Confirm equipment, activation, and installation terms directly with Primus before signing up.
Perks and add-ons
EBOX waives the modem rental fee, wireless router rental fee, installation fee, and shipping fee across its lineup, and includes unlimited data on every plan. EBOX also offers TV as an add-on, though there is currently no bundle discount for combining internet and TV.
Primus offers free activation and Wi-Fi 6 equipment on select plans. Primus does not list bundle discounts, TV, streaming perks, loyalty perks, or student pricing in available plan data.
Customer support
Both providers offer phone and live chat support. EBOX adds email and Facebook Messenger, while Primus adds a Self-Help app, a public network status page, and support in English and French. Primus holds a 5.0/5 customer rating on Topicks.ca; EBOX does not yet have a published rating.
Who should choose which?
- You are in Ontario or Quebec and want the lowest price for fibre: EBOX is $1/month less than Primus at every matching tier ($54 vs $55, $59 vs $60, $69 vs $70), or $12/year
- You want free equipment and setup on every plan: EBOX includes modem rental, router rental, installation, and shipping at no cost, while Primus free equipment and activation apply to select plans only
- Fibre is not available at your address: EBOX offers 50/10 Mbps DSL at $54/month in Ontario and Quebec, and Primus has no DSL option
- You want to add TV service to your account
- You prefer to reach support by email or Facebook Messenger in addition to phone and live chat
- You live in Alberta, British Columbia, or Saskatchewan: Primus offers cable plans there from $55/month, and EBOX does not serve these provinces
- You want gigabit in Western Canada: Primus offers 1000/200 Mbps cable at $130/month in AB, BC, and SK
- You value an established customer rating: Primus holds 5.0/5 on Topicks.ca, while EBOX has no rating yet
- You want bilingual support in English and French, a Self-Help app, and a public network status page
- Primus fibre is available at your address and EBOX is not: plans and networks vary by location for both providers, so check each one
EBOX wins on price, equipment, and technology choice in Ontario and Quebec. It matches Primus fibre speeds tier for tier (150/150, 500/500, and 1000/750 Mbps) at $1/month less at each level, includes free modem, router, installation, and shipping on its plans, offers a DSL fallback where fibre is not available, and has a TV add-on.
Primus wins on geographic reach and customer satisfaction. It serves five provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, where EBOX has no plans, holds a 5.0/5 Topicks.ca rating, and offers bilingual support with a Self-Help app and network status page.
The deciding factor for most households is province first: in Western Canada, Primus is the only option of the two. In Ontario and Quebec, the two are close to identical on speed, contract terms, and price stability, so the choice comes down to the small monthly saving and included equipment with EBOX versus the stronger published customer rating with Primus.
View the Bell internet coverage map, Rogers internet coverage map, Shaw internet coverage map, Cogeco internet coverage map, and Videotron internet coverage map on Topicks.ca to check which networks serve your area.
