Ebox vs Bell at a glance
In one sentence: Ebox costs approximately $30-50 less per month than Bell for comparable internet speeds, has no contract, and includes equipment free — but Bell offers higher top-tier fibre speeds and 24/7 phone support.
| Feature | Ebox | Bell | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price (basic) | ~$45/mo | ~$80/mo | Ebox |
| Monthly price (500 Mbps) | ~$55/mo | ~$95/mo | Ebox |
| Contract required | No contract | 2-year contract | Ebox |
| Equipment | Included free | Rental fees ($12-15/mo) | Ebox |
| New customer discount | $25 off first month · OR181 | Promo varies | Ebox |
| Max speed available | Up to 1 Gbps | Up to 3 Gbps (fibre) | Bell |
| Cancellation fee | $0 | Up to $400+ | Ebox |
| Support | Chat / email | 24/7 phone | Bell |
| Installation | Self-serve, no tech visit | Often requires technician | Ebox |
| Bundled services | Internet only | TV, mobile, home phone | Bell |
Prices approximate as of . Check each provider's website for current plans at your address.
Pricing — Ebox is $30-50 cheaper every month
The pricing gap between Ebox and Bell is significant. Bell's basic internet plan typically starts around $80/month, while Ebox offers a comparable plan for $40-50/month. Over a year, the difference is $360-480 in your pocket — and that doesn't account for Bell's equipment rental fees.
Bell charges $12-15/month for modem and router rental. Ebox includes equipment free. After accounting for equipment fees, a Bell customer paying $80/month is actually spending $92-95/month total, while an Ebox customer pays just $45 all-in.
New Ebox customers save an additional $25 on their first month using Ebox referral code OR181. Bell does not offer a comparable publicly-available referral discount.
Switching from Bell ($85/mo + $13 equipment + 2-year lock-in) to Ebox ($55/mo, equipment included, no contract) saves $516 per year. With referral code OR181, your first Ebox month is just $30.
Contracts — Ebox offers full flexibility
Bell's standard internet plans require a 2-year contract. Early cancellation fees can reach $400 or more depending on how many months remain. If you move within those two years to an address Bell doesn't service, you typically still owe the cancellation fee.
Ebox operates on a month-to-month basis. You can cancel anytime without penalty. After three years locked into a Bell contract I never fully wanted, the freedom to leave whenever I want was the single biggest reason I switched.
Speed and reliability
For most Quebec households, Ebox and Bell deliver functionally identical speeds. Both offer plans in the 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps range, and both consistently meet advertised speeds in my experience.
Where Bell has a genuine edge is the top tier. Bell's fibre service (where available) reaches up to 3 Gbps, while Ebox's fastest plan currently tops out around 1 Gbps. For households with multiple 4K streams, online gaming, and large file transfers all simultaneously, Bell's top tier may be relevant. For the vast majority of users, this is a meaningless difference.
Reliability has been comparable across both providers in my experience. I had occasional outages with Bell over three years; I've had two brief outages in six months with Ebox. Neither service was dramatically more reliable than the other.
Who should choose Ebox vs Bell?
Choose Ebox if you..
- Want to save $30-50 per month
- Refuse to sign a 2-year contract
- Want equipment included free
- Don't need TV/phone bundled
- Need internet for typical home use
- Want self-serve setup (no tech visit)
Choose Bell if you..
- Need fibre speeds above 1 Gbps
- Want bundled TV, mobile, home phone
- Require 24/7 phone support
- Need in-person service options
How to switch from Bell to Ebox
Step 1: Check your Bell contract end date. If you're still under contract, waiting until it expires avoids cancellation fees that could exceed your annual Ebox savings.
Step 2: Go to ebox.ca and choose your plan.
Step 3: Enter referral code OR181 at checkout for $25 off your first month.
Step 4: Equipment arrives in 3-5 business days. Self-serve setup takes about 20 minutes.
Step 5: Once Ebox is active, cancel your Bell service. Time the transition carefully to avoid downtime — keep Bell active until Ebox is fully working.
For more detail on switching from Quebec's other major provider, see our Ebox vs Videotron comparison.
Referral disclosure: Code OR181 is a personal referral code. You pay nothing extra.