Telus and Rogers are two of Canada's largest internet service providers, each operating their own national-scale fibre and wireless infrastructure. Telus leads with its PureFibre network and OPTIK fibre service, serving BC, Alberta, and select markets in Ontario and Quebec, with fully symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps and a 5-year price lock on term plans. Rogers -- which acquired Shaw in 2023 -- offers cable and fibre internet under the Xfinity brand across Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and Western Canada, with promotionally priced 24-month plans reaching up to 3 Gbps in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, and a 5G Home Internet wireless option for areas without wired coverage. Geography is the primary decision factor here: in Western Canada, Telus and Rogers (including Shaw infrastructure) compete directly, while in Ontario Rogers has a stronger urban fibre footprint and Telus serves select markets over wholesale access.
Plans and pricing
Both providers structure their internet plans around speed tiers, with Rogers offering regional variants by province and Telus offering two primary plan families: month-to-month OPTIK plans (currently listed for Quebec markets) and term-based PureFibre plans (AB, BC, ON, QC) with a 5-year price lock. Rogers has the lowest entry price with 5G Home Internet wireless plans, while Telus entry-level fibre starts higher but includes unlimited data and fully symmetrical speeds.
Telus OPTIK plans are month-to-month with a $5/month pre-authorized payment discount applied, making them flexible but modestly priced for what they offer. PureFibre term plans include a 5-year plan price lock and a $10/month pre-authorized bank discount on top of the 24-month promotional rate. Rogers Xfinity plans are promotional 24-month rates that revert to a higher regular price after the term; a $5/month auto-payment discount applies. Rogers Western Canada plans (AB, BC, MB, SK) are priced slightly lower than Ontario at comparable tiers, reflecting former Shaw infrastructure markets. Rogers also offers 5G Home Internet wireless plans starting at $35/month for lower-data uses in areas without wired coverage.
Network and coverage
Telus and Rogers serve largely different geographic strongholds, which is the most important coverage factor when choosing between them. Telus PureFibre is the dominant fibre provider in BC and Alberta, with additional reach into select Ontario and Quebec markets following CRTC wholesale access rulings. Rogers -- expanded through the 2023 Shaw acquisition -- is the primary cable and fibre ISP across Ontario and has inherited Shaw's cable footprint in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Where both operate, they compete directly; in much of Ontario outside of major cities, Rogers cable is often the only major national provider.
Rogers reaches all 10 provinces through a combination of its own Xfinity infrastructure and the inherited Shaw cable network in Western Canada. Telus fibre coverage is concentrated in BC and Alberta where it owns infrastructure outright, with Ontario and Quebec coverage coming via wholesale FTTP access. Shaw's cable footprint -- now part of Rogers -- remains a separate dataset on Topicks.ca and covers primarily urban and suburban areas of BC and Alberta.
Head-to-head comparison
| Telus | Rogers | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (fibre) | $71/mo (OPTIK 250) | $50/mo (Xfinity Starter 100, SK); $70/mo (Xfinity Starter 100, AB,BC,MB); $75/mo (Xfinity Starter 150, NB,NL,ON) |
| Entry-level fibre speed | 250/250 Mbps (OPTIK 250) | 150/150 Mbps (Xfinity Starter 150, ON) |
| Mid-tier value (~$85-$95/mo) | PureFibre 1 Gig 940/940 Mbps ($95/mo) | Xfinity Popular - 500/200 Mbps |
| Gigabit-tier price | $95/mo (PureFibre 1.5 Gig) | $100/mo (Xfinity Premier 2G, ON) |
| Top residential speed | 5,000/5,000 Mbps | 3,000/3,000 Mbps (NB/NL) |
| Upload speeds | Symmetrical on OPTIK and most PureFibre plans; PureFibre 1.5 Gig is 1500/1000 Mbps | Asymmetrical on most plans (200 Mbps up on 1G/2G tiers in ON/AB/BC/MB/SK); NB/NL plans offer symmetrical speeds at 500 Mbps, 1G, 2.5G, and 3G tiers |
| Data cap | Unlimited (all fibre plans) | Unlimited (all Xfinity fibre plans); 200 GB or 600 GB on wireless plans |
| Price lock guarantee | 5-year Plan Price Lock (PureFibre 24-month plans) | None stated; promotional rate for 24-month term only |
| Contract options | No contract (OPTIK); 24 months (most PureFibre AB/BC plans); PureFibre 1.5G in QC and ON is no-contract at $130/mo | No contract (wireless); 24 months (Xfinity fibre) |
| Installation fee | Free professional installation ($0, all plans) | Self-installation is free, but a professional installation fee may apply. |
| Modem/equipment | Not stated; confirm with Telus | Modem rental included on Xfinity plans |
| Mobile internet option | Yes (Mobile Internet plans: 5 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB) | Yes (5G Home Internet plans from $35/mo) |
| Provinces served | BC, AB, ON, QC + territories | All 10 provinces |
| Bundle discounts | Yes (Telus mobile bundle discount) | Yes ($10/mo with Rogers mobile, noted on AB/BC/MB plans) |
| Customer rating | 2.0 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
Contract and pricing details
Telus offers two distinct plan families. OPTIK plans (250/250 in QC, GIGA 1.5 in QC, GIGA 3.0 in QC) are month-to-month with no contract and a $5–$24/month discount for pre-authorized payments, depending on tier; these are currently listed for Quebec markets. PureFibre plans (500, 1 Gig, 1.5 Gig, 3 Gig, 5 Gig) require a 24-month term and come with a 5-year Plan Price Lock guarantee, a $10/month pre-authorized bank discount, and term discount on top of the promotional rate. PureFibre 500 (AB, BC) is $80/month for 24 months (was $125). PureFibre 1 Gig (AB, BC) is $95/month for 24 months (was $135). PureFibre 1.5 Gig (AB, BC) is $95/month for 24 months (was $140); upload speed is 1,000 Mbps (1500/1000 Mbps). In Quebec and Ontario, the PureFibre 1.5G plan is now listed at $130/month with no contract (1500/1000 Mbps) -- these no longer appear as 24-month promotional plans. PureFibre 3 Gig (AB, BC) is $110/month for 24 months (was $155). PureFibre 5 Gig (AB, BC) is $130/month for 24 months (was $165). Telus mobile internet plans (5 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB) are month-to-month and separate from home internet.
Rogers Xfinity fibre plans are promotional 24-month rates that increase to the regular price after the term. A $5/month discount applies with automatic payment (or $10/month on certain higher-tier plans). Plans vary by province -- Ontario and NB/NL plans now lead with the Xfinity Starter 150 (150/150 Mbps at $75/month), while Alberta/BC/Manitoba entry-level remains the Xfinity Starter 100 at $70/month, and Saskatchewan offers the Starter 100 at $50/month. Ontario and NB/NL Xfinity plans include a $100 bill credit; Saskatchewan and AB/BC/MB plans include a $50 bill credit. The Rogers 5G Home Internet wireless plans are month-to-month with no contract.
Equipment and installation
Telus includes free professional installation on both OPTIK and PureFibre plans ($0 professional install included). Equipment and modem fee details are not specified in the available plan data; confirm directly with Telus before signing up.
Rogers includes modem rental in the monthly price on all Xfinity fibre plans. Self-installation is free, but a professional installation fee may apply. Contact Rogers directly to confirm whether self-install or professional installation applies to your address and what fees may apply.
Perks and add-ons
Telus offers a mobile bundle discount when pairing internet with a Telus wireless plan. The 5-year Plan Price Lock on PureFibre term plans is a notable perk for customers who want long-term price certainty. Telus mobile internet plans (Mobile Internet 5 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB) are available for on-the-go or temporary connectivity needs.
Rogers offers a $10/month bundle discount when pairing Xfinity internet with a Rogers wireless plan, available on Alberta, BC, and Manitoba plans as confirmed in the plan data. Ontario and NB/NL Xfinity fibre plans include a $100 bill credit; most SK and AB/BC/MB plans include a $50 bill credit.
Customer support
Both Telus and Rogers offer multi-channel support including phone, online chat, self-serve apps, and retail store locations. Telus holds a 2.0/5 customer rating on Topicks.ca; Rogers holds a 2.6/5 rating.
Who should choose which?
- You live in BC or Alberta, where Telus owns its fibre infrastructure outright
- You want symmetrical upload and download speeds -- most OPTIK and PureFibre plans deliver equal up/down speeds (note: PureFibre 1.5 Gig is 1500/1000 Mbps, not symmetrical)
- You want a 5-year price lock guarantee on a 24-month PureFibre plan
- You need the fastest available speeds -- Telus tops out at 5 Gbps vs Rogers at 3 Gbps
- You prefer a no-contract month-to-month option with fibre speeds (OPTIK plans)
- You already have a Telus wireless plan and want to bundle for a monthly discount
- Free professional installation is included on all Telus internet plans at no charge
- You live in Ontario, Atlantic Canada, or a Shaw-legacy area (BC, AB, SK, MB urban markets) where Rogers cable or Xfinity fibre is the primary wired option
- You want a lower promotional entry price -- Rogers Xfinity fibre starts at $50/month in SK and $70/month in AB/BC/MB vs Telus OPTIK at $71/month
- You need wireless home internet without a wired connection -- Rogers 5G Home Internet starts at $35/month with no contract
- You want modem rental included in your monthly plan price at no extra step
- You already have a Rogers wireless plan and want to bundle for a $10/month internet discount
- Provincial availability matters -- Rogers serves all 10 provinces; Telus does not
Telus wins on speed, upload parity, and price lock, with symmetrical fibre plans up to 5 Gbps and a 5-year rate guarantee on term plans -- features Rogers does not match. Rogers wins on entry-level pricing, geographic reach, and wireless home internet, serving all 10 provinces with a broader mix of wired and wireless options including 5G Home Internet from $35/month.
For most households, geography decides this comparison: if Telus PureFibre serves your address, it typically offers better upload speeds and long-term price certainty. If you are in an area where Rogers or Shaw cable is the primary infrastructure, Rogers Xfinity is the natural choice.
View the Telus internet coverage map, the Rogers internet coverage map, and the Shaw internet coverage map on Topicks.ca to check service availability in your area.
