Is oxio's router better?

oxio includes the Amazon eero 6, widely regarded as one of the best consumer mesh Wi-Fi routers available in Canada. It uses mesh technology to distribute signal evenly across your home and is managed through a clean mobile app, eliminating the dead zones and configuration complexity of standard single-router setups. The modems and routers typically bundled with Netcrawler plans are functional but do not offer the same whole-home coverage or software experience as the eero platform.

Do oxio and Netcrawler serve the same areas?

Both oxio and Netcrawler are primarily Ontario providers using Rogers and Cogeco wholesale cable networks, which means their coverage footprints overlap significantly in cities like Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Kitchener, London, and Mississauga. Netcrawler also has some Cogeco-served markets in eastern Ontario and parts of Quebec through its wholesale agreements. oxio additionally serves Quebec via Videotron's network, giving it broader national reach beyond what Netcrawler currently offers.

How do I switch from Netcrawler to oxio?

Switching from Netcrawler starts with signing up online at oxio's website, a process that typically takes about ten minutes including address confirmation. oxio ships the eero 6 router and modem directly to you at no charge, and installation is self-serve with clear step-by-step guidance included in the box. Once your oxio connection is active, you contact Netcrawler to cancel; plan for their return shipping and restocking fees as a standard part of ending service with them, and then you are on fee-free service going forward.

Is support English only?

oxio provides fully bilingual customer support in both English and French, reflecting the national scope of their service and the importance of French-language access across Quebec and Francophone communities elsewhere in Canada. Support is delivered through digital channels including SMS and an online client portal, so there are no phone queues and responses are generally prompt. Netcrawler's support is primarily in English, which may be a limiting factor for subscribers in Quebec or other French-speaking regions who prefer assistance in their first language.

What internet speeds does Netcrawler offer compared to oxio?

Netcrawler offers a range of cable internet speeds through wholesale access on Rogers and Cogeco networks in Ontario, with plans covering common household speed tiers. The specific speeds available at a given address depend on the local network infrastructure and the wholesale agreements in place at that location. oxio offers plans up to 1 Gbps download in many cable-served areas, and entering your address on either provider's website is the most reliable way to compare the exact speed options and pricing available to you.

Is oxio more expensive than Netcrawler per month?

Netcrawler's headline monthly prices are often slightly lower than oxio's at comparable speed tiers, which is how they attract attention in the budget ISP segment. However, the true monthly cost comparison changes when you factor in Netcrawler's upfront shipping fees and the $30 restocking or return fee charged at cancellation; spread over a typical twelve-month period, those fees can add $4 or more to the effective monthly cost. oxio charges $0 on both ends, so the gap between the two providers is much narrower in practice than the advertised prices suggest.

Does Netcrawler offer gigabit internet plans in Ontario?

Netcrawler's plan lineup has historically topped out at lower speed tiers compared to providers like oxio, with their focus on budget-friendly entry-level cable speeds rather than high-capacity plans. Where gigabit service is available on the Rogers or Cogeco wholesale networks in Ontario, providers vary in whether they choose to offer that tier based on their pricing model and target market. oxio offers 1 Gbps plans in many Ontario addresses where the underlying cable infrastructure supports it, which is worth checking if high upload speeds or future-proofing are priorities for your household.

Is Netcrawler available in cities outside Toronto?

Netcrawler serves a range of Ontario markets through its Rogers and Cogeco wholesale agreements, with coverage that includes cities like Hamilton, Ottawa, London, Kitchener, and Mississauga in addition to the Toronto area. Availability at a specific address depends on which wholesale network is active on that street and whether Netcrawler has provisioned service in that local market. oxio covers similar Ontario geography through the same underlying networks, meaning both providers are generally competing for the same pool of cable-served Ontario households, though oxio additionally serves Quebec via Videotron.

Is Netcrawler available outside Ontario?

Netcrawler's service footprint is primarily concentrated in Ontario through its wholesale agreements with Rogers and Cogeco, covering cable-served areas in cities including Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Kitchener, London, and Mississauga. Outside of Ontario, Netcrawler has limited or no coverage, which makes them a regional provider rather than a national one. oxio, by contrast, serves multiple provinces including Ontario, Quebec via Videotron, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and several Atlantic provinces, giving it broader reach for customers who move frequently or want to keep the same provider when relocating.

oxio vs Netcrawler: Refundable Fees vs Totally Free

The bottom line

oxio is best if

✓ Customers who want $0 shipping fees (both ways)
✓ Users who want a premium eero router included free
✓ Those looking for a polished, modern customer portal
✓ Anyone wanting a 60-day money-back guarantee

Netcrawler is best if

• Users focused solely on the lowest possible monthly sticker price
• Customers who don't mind paying shipping/return fees
• Those looking for a very basic cable internet connection

★The exit tax problem

oxio strongly objects to charging customers to leave. Netcrawler's $30 restocking or return fee functions as a mini-cancellation penalty in disguise, even though the service is technically no-contract.

With oxio, if you need to leave, oxio provides a prepaid return label at no cost and charges no restocking fee. oxio believes customers should stay because they love the service, not because leaving costs $30 to execute.

Setting up service with oxio is a genuinely smooth experience. The hardware ships within a few business days, arrives with a clear setup guide, and the eero 6 router configures itself through a mobile app in minutes. Netcrawler requires the same physical steps but without the same level of polish; the account management tools are comparably dated and the routing hardware is more basic. For renters and first-time internet subscribers, a simplified setup matters more than most people expect.

The math changes meaningfully when you account for Netcrawler's exit costs over a full year of service. A customer who switches from Netcrawler after twelve months will have paid the advertised monthly rate plus up to $55 in combined upfront and return fees. oxio charges nothing on either end, which means the effective monthly cost of a year of oxio service can be lower than Netcrawler even when their headline prices appear similar.

Independent website. Not endorsed by or affiliated with oxio. Personal referral code disclosure applies.

Netcrawler is a budget-focused independent internet provider operating in Ontario, using Rogers and Cogeco wholesale networks to deliver cable service. Their monthly rates are among the lowest in the independent ISP market, but the no-contract claim needs a closer look: Netcrawler charges upfront shipping fees and a return restocking fee when you cancel. oxio covers identical territory on the same underlying networks, with a strict policy of $0 fees on both ends of your service.

Topic	oxio	Netcrawler
Shipping & Returns	oxio ships the hardware to you for free. If you leave, oxio gives you a prepaid label to ship it back for free.	Netcrawler may charge upfront shipping fees ($25+) and often charges a 'restocking/return' fee ($30) when you cancel and send the modem back.
Equipment	Includes Amazon eero 6 + Modem. High-end hardware for everyone.	Includes a modem and usually a basic Wi-Fi router. It works, but it's not a premium mesh system like the eero.
User Experience	The oxio client portal is designed to be clean and easy to use. You can change plans, update payment, or chat with support in seconds.	Netcrawler offers a more traditional ISP interface. Functional, but less focused on design and ease of use.
Reliability	Same cable networks (Rogers/Cogeco). Reliability is identical.	Same cable networks. Reliability is identical.
Cancellation & flexibility	oxio has no cancellation fees and no return shipping costs. Month-to-month billing means you can switch providers any time without financial consequences beyond the current billing period.	Netcrawler operates month-to-month but charges upfront shipping fees ($25+) and a $30 restocking fee when you cancel. Exiting Netcrawler costs up to $55 in combined fees despite the no-contract label.

Before you switch checklist

Check if your current contract has an end date or cancellation fee
Note when your current billing cycle ends
Confirm oxio availability at your address
Review the total monthly cost including taxes and fees
Understand equipment requirements (modem, router)
Plan for potential service gap during transition

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Frequently Asked Questions

Netcrawler operates as a month-to-month, no-contract provider, which means you are not locked into a multi-year commitment the way you would be with Bell or Rogers. However, the no-contract label does not tell the full story about what it costs to exit. Netcrawler charges upfront shipping fees on the hardware and a separate restocking or return fee when you cancel and send equipment back, which creates a financial barrier to switching that functions similarly to a soft contract penalty.

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Last reviewed: May 2026