Cord-Cutting

The Complete Cord-Cutting Guide for Canadians (2026)

  • Canada
  • Cord-Cutting
  • Streaming

Over one million Canadian households cancelled cable in the last three years. The transition is easier than most people expect. Here is everything you need to do it right.

Step 1 — Audit what you actually watch

Before cancelling, spend one week noting which channels you actually tune into. Most cable subscribers actively watch fewer than 10 of the 200+ channels in their package. This list becomes your shopping list for replacements.

Step 2 — Check your internet connection

Cord-cutting runs on your internet. Minimum requirements:

  • Single screen HD: 15–25 Mbps
  • Two screens simultaneously: 50 Mbps
  • Family with three screens: 75+ Mbps

Run a speed test at fast.com during the evening (peak hours) to see your real-world speeds.

Step 3 — Build your streaming stack

A typical Canadian cord-cutter uses three layers:

  • Live TV: An IPTV service like TiviLeaf covers all Canadian channels, sports, and news live. Starting from $9 CAD/month.
  • On-demand: Netflix ($17/month) or Crave ($9.99/month) for movies and series.
  • Free local channels: A $30 OTA antenna picks up CBC, CTV, Global, and CityTV in most cities.

Step 4 — Choose your devices

You do not need to buy a new TV. The most popular devices for cord-cutting in Canada:

  • Amazon Firestick 4K ($60): Easiest to set up, widest app support.
  • Apple TV 4K ($229): Best performance, ideal if you are in the Apple ecosystem.
  • Android TV box ($40–$80): Most flexible, great for IPTV.
  • Your existing Smart TV: Samsung and LG models from 2017+ support IPTV apps directly.

Step 5 — Cancel your cable

Once your streaming stack is set up and tested, call your provider to cancel TV (keep internet). See our step-by-step cancellation guide for Bell, Rogers, and Telus.

How much will you save?

The average Canadian TV + internet bundle costs $155/month. A cord-cutter’s equivalent setup (internet + IPTV + one streaming service) runs $90–$105/month. That is a saving of $600–$780 per year.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still watch news live?

Yes. CBC News Network, CTV News Channel, CP24, and LCN are all included in IPTV.

What about French channels?

TiviLeaf includes TVA, Radio-Canada, RDS, TVA Sports, Noovo, and other French Canadian channels.

Is the picture quality as good as cable?

IPTV delivers full HD and 4K streams. Quality depends on your internet speed, but with 50+ Mbps you will notice no difference.