oxio and Primus are both independent, no-contract home internet providers that sell service over larger host networks, but they focus on different technologies. oxio (owned by Cogeco) is a cable internet reseller that sells service over Cogeco in Ontario, Videotron in Quebec, and Rogers in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Primus is part of the Bell family but independently operated, and positions itself as a national fibre internet provider focused on choice and value; it sells service over the Bell, Rogers, Shaw, and Cogeco networks, and the network and plans available vary by address. In the Topicks.ca database, Primus offers fibre plans in Ontario and Quebec and cable plans in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, starting at $55/month. oxio plans start at $25/month in Ontario and reach 1500/200 Mbps in Western Canada. The two providers overlap in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, so this page compares them province by province on plans, pricing, speeds, coverage, contract terms, and equipment.
Plans and pricing
oxio offers 22 no-contract cable plans: 10 in Ontario ($25 to $85/month), 5 in Quebec ($50 to $75/month), and 7 in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan ($49 to $95/month). Its lineup leans toward lower-speed and mid-tier plans, starting at 15/2 Mbps, with uploads of up to 200 Mbps on select plans. Primus offers 7 no-contract plans: 4 fibre plans in Ontario and Quebec ($55 to $70/month), with symmetrical 150/150 and 500/500 Mbps tiers and 1000/750 Mbps gigabit plans, and 3 cable plans in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan ($55 to $130/month), from 75/50 Mbps to 1000/200 Mbps. Primus has no plan below 75 Mbps, while oxio has no fibre plan.
The price comparison depends heavily on province and on how much upload speed you need. In Ontario, oxio has the lower entry price ($25/month for 15/2 Mbps versus $55/month for Primus 150/150 Mbps fibre) and the cheapest gigabit download plan of the two at $55/month for 1000/30 Mbps. If upload speed matters, Primus 1000/750 Mbps fibre at $70/month is $15/month less than the oxio 1000/200 Mbps plan at $85/month, and Primus 500/500 Mbps at $60/month offers far more upload than oxio 500/30 Mbps, though at $15/month more. In Quebec, oxio starts lower at $50/month for 30/10 Mbps, but Primus is cheaper and faster above that: 150/150 Mbps at $55/month versus oxio 120/20 Mbps at $63/month, and 500/500 Mbps at $60/month versus oxio 500/50 Mbps at $75/month. Primus also offers a 1000/750 Mbps plan in Quebec at $70/month, while the fastest oxio Quebec plan is 500/50 Mbps. In Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, oxio is cheaper at every comparable tier: 50/50 Mbps at $49/month versus Primus 75/50 Mbps at $55/month, and 1000/200 Mbps at $90/month versus $130/month for the same speeds from Primus. oxio also offers 1500/200 Mbps at $95/month in Western Canada, and is the only one of the two with plans in Manitoba.
Network and coverage
Neither oxio nor Primus owns its last-mile network in the areas compared here; both sell service over larger host networks, so availability depends on which network reaches your address. oxio resells cable internet over Cogeco in Ontario, Videotron in Quebec, and Rogers in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Primus sells service over the Bell, Rogers, Shaw, and Cogeco networks; the network, technology, and plans available vary by location, so confirm directly with Primus which network serves your address. In the Topicks.ca database, Primus plans are listed in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, while oxio also serves Manitoba. Independently sourced coverage figures are not available for either provider on this page, so the comparison below is provider-reported.
Both providers cover Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, and oxio is the only option of the two in Manitoba. Because both resell access on host networks, the deciding question is which network reaches your address and which plans each provider can offer there. In Ontario and Quebec, Primus fibre plans offer symmetrical 150 and 500 Mbps tiers and up to 750 Mbps upload on gigabit, well above the 200 Mbps maximum upload on oxio cable plans. In Western Canada, both providers top out at 200 Mbps upload, and oxio reaches the higher download speed at 1,500 Mbps.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | oxio | Primus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (ON) | $25/mo (15/2 Mbps · Cable) | $55/mo (150/150 Mbps · Fibre) |
| Starting price (QC) | $50/mo (30/10 Mbps · Cable) | $55/mo (150/150 Mbps · Fibre) |
| Starting price (AB, BC, SK) | $49/mo (50/50 Mbps · Cable) | $55/mo (75/50 Mbps · Cable) |
| Starting price (MB) | $49/mo (50/50 Mbps · Cable) | No Manitoba plans listed |
| 500 Mbps tier (ON) | $45/mo for 500/30 Mbps | $60/mo for 500/500 Mbps |
| 500 Mbps tier (QC) | $75/mo for 500/50 Mbps | $60/mo for 500/500 Mbps |
| Gigabit-tier price (ON) | $55/mo for 1000/30 Mbps | $70/mo for 1000/750 Mbps |
| Gigabit with high upload (ON) | $85/mo for 1000/200 Mbps | $70/mo for 1000/750 Mbps |
| Gigabit-tier price (QC) | No gigabit plan in QC (top plan 500/50 Mbps at $75/mo) | $70/mo for 1000/750 Mbps |
| Gigabit-tier price (AB, BC, SK) | $90/mo for 1000/200 Mbps | $130/mo for 1000/200 Mbps |
| Top residential speed | 1,500/200 Mbps (BC, AB, MB, SK) | 1,000/750 Mbps (ON, QC) |
| Upload speeds | Up to 200 Mbps (select plans) | Up to 750 Mbps (fibre, ON and QC); symmetrical 150 and 500 Mbps tiers |
| Technology | Cable (Cogeco, Videotron, Rogers networks) | Fibre (ON, QC) and Cable (AB, BC, SK); Bell, Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco networks, varies by location |
| Contract options | No contract (all plans) | No contract (all plans) |
| Price lock guarantee | No stated price guarantee | No stated price guarantee |
| Satisfaction guarantee | 60-day satisfaction guarantee | Not listed |
| Topicks.ca promo code | TOPICKS: one month free | Not offered |
| Activation | Not specified; confirm with provider | Free activation on select plans |
| Installation fee | Not specified; confirm with provider. Fees may vary. | Not specified; confirm with provider. Fees may vary. |
| Equipment included | Modem and router included (oxio-supplied equipment only) | Wi-Fi 6 equipment on select plans; confirm equipment terms with provider |
| Provinces served | QC, ON, BC, AB, MB, SK | ON, QC, AB, BC, SK |
| Bundle discounts | Not offered (no TV or mobile bundle) | Not listed |
| Customer support | Online chat, SMS, self-serve, service status page | Phone, live chat, self-support, Self-Help app, network status page, English and French |
| Customer rating (Topicks.ca) | 4.5 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
Contract and pricing details
oxio offers month-to-month pricing on all 22 plans with no contract and no stated promotional period. The listed rates are ongoing monthly rates rather than time-limited discounts, and no price guarantee, pre-authorized payment discount, or term contract option is listed. Pricing varies by region because oxio uses a different host network in each: Ontario plans (Cogeco network) run from $25/month for 15/2 Mbps to $85/month for 1000/200 Mbps; Quebec plans (Videotron network) run from $50/month for 30/10 Mbps to $75/month for 500/50 Mbps; and plans in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan (Rogers network) run from $49/month for 50/50 Mbps to $95/month for 1500/200 Mbps. oxio includes a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, and promo code TOPICKS gives new customers one month free.
Primus plans are all no contract, with no stated price guarantee and no promotional pricing listed; the listed prices are regular monthly rates. Pricing and technology vary by region: 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
oxio includes a modem and router with all plans and requires customers to use oxio-supplied equipment: personal modems and modems from other providers are not supported. Installation fee terms are not specified in available plan data. Fees may vary; confirm current installation terms directly with oxio before signing up.
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. Fees may vary; confirm equipment, activation, and installation terms directly with Primus before signing up.
Perks and add-ons
oxio includes a 60-day satisfaction guarantee on its internet service, and Topicks.ca readers can use promo code TOPICKS for one month free. oxio does not offer TV service or a mobile bundle. oxio is owned by Cogeco, though no Cogeco-specific bundle discounts are listed for oxio subscribers. No student pricing is listed in available plan data.
Primus offers free activation and Wi-Fi 6 equipment on select plans. Primus does not list bundle discounts, streaming perks, loyalty perks, or student pricing in available plan data.
Customer support
oxio runs a digital-first support model with online chat, SMS, self-serve help, and a public service status page, but no phone channel. Primus offers phone support and live chat alongside self-support, a Self-Help app, and a network status page, with support in English and French. Primus holds a 5.0/5 customer rating on Topicks.ca, and oxio holds 4.5/5.
Who should choose which?
- You live in Manitoba: oxio has plans from 50/50 Mbps to 1500/200 Mbps there, and no Primus Manitoba plans are listed
- You live in Alberta, British Columbia, or Saskatchewan: oxio is cheaper at every comparable tier, with 1000/200 Mbps at $90/month versus $130/month from Primus
- You want the lowest monthly bill: oxio starts at $25/month (15/2 Mbps) in Ontario, $50/month in Quebec, and $49/month in Western Canada, while Primus starts at $55/month
- You are in Ontario and want the cheapest gigabit download speed: oxio 1000/30 Mbps is $55/month versus $70/month for Primus 1000/750 Mbps, if upload speed is not a priority
- You want the fastest download speed of the two: oxio offers 1500/200 Mbps at $95/month in Western Canada
- You want a longer evaluation window and a sign-up bonus: oxio includes a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, and promo code TOPICKS gives one month free
- You prefer chat and SMS support
- You are in Ontario or Quebec and Primus fibre is available at your address: plans and networks vary by location, so confirm eligibility with Primus first
- You need strong upload speeds: Primus fibre offers symmetrical 150/150 and 500/500 Mbps plans and 750 Mbps upload on gigabit, while oxio uploads top out at 200 Mbps
- You are in Ontario and want gigabit with high upload: Primus 1000/750 Mbps is $70/month versus $85/month for oxio 1000/200 Mbps
- You are in Quebec and want more than 120 Mbps: Primus 500/500 Mbps at $60/month is $15/month less than oxio 500/50 Mbps, and Primus offers 1000/750 Mbps at $70/month where oxio has no gigabit plan
- You prefer phone support or a Self-Help app, with service in English and French
- You value the highest customer rating of the two: Primus holds 5.0/5 on Topicks.ca
- You want free activation or Wi-Fi 6 equipment: both are offered on select Primus plans
oxio wins on entry pricing, Western Canada value, and reach, with plans from $25/month, the lower price at every comparable tier in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan (including $90/month for 1000/200 Mbps versus $130/month), the fastest download of the two at 1,500 Mbps, Manitoba service, a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, and promo code TOPICKS. Primus wins on fibre and upload speeds in Ontario and Quebec, with symmetrical 150 and 500 Mbps tiers, 1000/750 Mbps gigabit at $70/month that undercuts oxio 1000/200 Mbps in Ontario by $15/month and has no oxio equivalent in Quebec, phone support, and a 5.0/5 Topicks.ca rating. The deciding factors for most households are province and upload needs: in Ontario and Quebec, Primus fibre is the stronger option if upload matters and it is available at your address; in Western Canada, or if you want the lowest possible monthly bill, oxio is the option of the two.
View the Cogeco internet coverage map, Videotron internet coverage map, and Rogers internet coverage map for oxio service areas, and the Bell internet coverage map and Shaw internet coverage map, along with the Rogers and Cogeco maps, for Primus service areas on Topicks.ca to check service availability in your area.
