Xplornet vs Starlink – Which is the Best Satellite Internet ISP in Canada?

About Xplornet vs Starlink. Canadian residents are spoilt for choice over the better satellite internet service. 

Starlink is a newbie in the Canadian market, although it promises better service than the already-established Xplornet.  

So the big question is: Which is the better internet service? If you’re in for this, check out our detailed side-by-side comparison of the two internet suppliers. 

Xplornet vs. Starlink: Overview

Different Orbit Types. 

About Xplornet

Xplornet started in 2004 as Barrett Enterprises in Canada, aiming to provide broadband internet to rural Canada. 

However, the company saw the need to shift to a more communicative name and rebranded to Xplornet Communications. The company later rebranded to Xplore Inc. in 2022, although the name Xplornet has stuck with most people. 

It is not just limited to providing satellite internet services as it offers others such as: 

• Wireless (WiMax)
• Fiber 
• Mobile Broadband

However, satellite internet is its main product thanks to the company’s partnership with renowned satellite company Viasat. 

The company uses four satellites in the geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) located 35,786 km from the earth’s surface. 

About Starlink

A Satellite hovering around Canada. 

Starlink is the newest major satellite internet company, launching its first satellites into space in 2019. 

However, despite being so new in the market, it has attracted immense customer adoption worldwide. 

Starlink has thousands of small satellites in low earth orbit.  Starlink satellites are about 550 KM from the Earth, so signal transmission takes a relatively short time. 

This difference in satellite location is the primary difference between Xplornet and Starlink. 

It means that Starlink Internet has a lower latency/lag than Xplornet.

 Also, unlike Xplornet’s four, Starlink has better connectivity with thousands of Satellites. 

Xplornet vs Starlink: Coverage

Rural Canada. 

Xplornet Coverage

Xplornet targets Canadians, especially those in rural areas, and its service is unavailable in other countries. 

However, the vast geographical size of Canada means that the company does not supply the country’s demands sufficiently. 

Although primarily a satellite internet service firm, Xplornet has also ventured into other internet types. 

Recently, they rolled out fiber internet in 13 Canadian provinces. It also offers  5G broadband services to Canadians in urban areas. 

Therefore, it intends to have better coverage in the country. But, as it stands, only their satellite internet is available in vast parts of the country. 

Starlink Coverage

A Rural Farm in Canada. 

Starlink has a worldwide presence, recently introducing the internet to remote parts of Africa. It also covers the Canadian zones that lack good Xplornet coverage.

 However, while the Starlink availability map may indicate Starlink is present in all Canadian provinces, some are on the waitlist. 

Hence, customers on the waitlist must wait until Starlink rolls out the service in their zone. 

Starlink is also available on the go in most Canadian provinces, which makes it an excellent internet service for RV enthusiasts. 

Xplornet vs. Starlink: Internet Speed and Latency

Xplornet has an extremely high latency. 

Starlink Speed and Latency

Starlink has excellent Internet speed with an average upload speed of up to 25 Mbps. The download speeds are also phenomenal. 

You can expect download rates of up to 200 Mbps and 500 Mbps for Starlink residential and business, respectively. 

Starlink’s latency is significantly lower than Xplornet’s satellite internet, primarily because of the differences in satellite locations. 

The average latency for Starlink internet users in Canada is 70ms, although Starlink. While this may sound high, Xporenet’s average satellite internet latency is around 900ms. 

Notably, the differences in latency make Starlink Internet better for online gaming and video conferencing. 

Conversely, Xplornet satellite internet is also viable for these activities but lags significantly. 

Xplornet Speed and Latency

Xplornet has average download speeds of around 100Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10 Mbps. 

Nonetheless, the speeds are practically lower, especially during stormy weather, due to the distant location of the satellites. 

But, we highlighted earlier that Xplornet plans to launch 5G and fiber internet with Gigabit speeds capacity. 

It will significantly improve the speed and lower the latency, although these internet options will only be available in towns. 

Xplornet vs. Starlink: Internet Plans

Xplornet is a perfect choice for those looking to cut on internet costs. 

The table below highlights the major internet plans for Starlink and Xplornet internet services. Note that for Xplornet, the internet plans will determine the internet speeds at which the company will supply the service. 

The above table shows that Xplornet’s equipment is cheap, although the company charges for installation. However, Starlink has a self-installing package that you can easily set up seamlessly. 

Xplornet vs. Starlink: Installation

How long does it take to receive the kit for each company after making a request? Check out the table below for that and more on installations. 

Xplornet vs Starlink: Pros and Cons

A Satellite Orbiting the Earth. 

When picking an internet service provider, one of the primary considerations is if it is reliable. Such a demand is especially pertinent for rural dwellers who cannot afford to spend heavily on undependable internet. 

Let’s explore the upsides and downsides of Xplornet and Starlink to help you identify the most reliable internet service. 

Starlink Upsides and Downsides

Starlink is better for video conferencing than Xplornet. 

Pros

• With Starlink, you’re assured of a relatively lower latency than Xplornet. Hence, despite being a satellite internet service, Starlink is suited to video conferencing and other low-latency endeavors. 
• Secondly, Starlink has thousands of satellites in space, unlike Xplornet’s four. Therefore, subscribers don’t have to compete for internet access, ensuring top speeds. 
• You don’t require an installation professional to erect Starlink. Instead, you do everything all by yourself. Also, for additional activities, like stowing the dish, warming it, or shopping for accessories, there’s an app to help you. 
• Finally, Starlink doesn’t compel its subscribers to sign long-term contracts with the company. You can terminate anytime you feel like without incurring any costs. 

Cons

• It’s pricier than Xplornet regarding equipment costs and monthly charges. 
• Also, it is not too dependable in some areas, and you may require another investment in High-Performance Equipment. 
• Starlink is affected by extreme weather like snow or rain, meaning it is less dependable than Xplornet Fiber and 5G. 

Xplornet Upsides and Downsides

Xplornet is more affordable than Starlink. 

Pros 

• It may not have reliability similar to Starlink, but it’s cheap and affordable to rural Canadians. 
• Also, its coverage in rural Canada is more impressive than Starlink, which still supplies the entire country. 
• Thirdly, there’s no waitlist for Xplornet customers. Hence, unlike Starlink, which places some subscribers on the waitlist, Xplornet connects promptly. 

Cons

• Subscribing to Xplornet means you must remain in the partnership for a year. Hence, opting out before this period lapses will attract contract termination charges. 
• Secondly, you must engage a professional Xplornet installer to erect the systems, unlike Starlink, which has a self-installing kit. 
• In addition, Xplornet’s internet is more prone to inclement weather disruptions than Starlink’s. It is because of the distant location of Xplornet’s satellites. 
• Lastly, the extensive distance signals must travel from the GEO means Xplornet has an outrageously high latency. It poses a huge issue, especially when streaming or playing online games, as the lag is extremely high.

The above comparison of upsides and downsides makes it sufficient to conclude that Starlink is the better internet service. 

Xplornet vs. Starlink: Commitment and Flexibility

Terminating a Starlink contract is easy. 

If you prefer short-term engagements with your ISP that you can opt out of at any time, then Starlink must be your go-to provider. 

Your contract with Starlink is only valid for the month you pay for the internet, making it quite flexible. 

Also, you can pause internet use for some Starlink plans like Starlink RV and resume when you’re out camping again. 

However, Xplornet is more invested in those who prefer long-term commitments. When you opt-in to the service, you cannot terminate it for a contract term of one year. 

While this is also not a lengthy period, it’s inflexible. It complicates it for those who just want to try the service. 

Conclusion

Our guide has provided a detailed elaboration of each satellite internet company’s strengths and weaknesses. 

Canadian rural dwellers can now make an easy choice between the two suppliers. Of the two, we advise subscribers to opt for Starlink if things remain as they are currently. 

But if Xplornet beefs up its 5G and fiber internet, these will be perfect alternatives to Starlink.