Canada has long been known for exports like hockey, maple syrup, and Ryan Gosling. But another export that’s started to garner well-deserved attention is Canada’s large number of quality TV programs.
Shows like Kim’s Convenience, Letterkenny, Schitt’s Creek, Trailer Park Boys, and Workin’ Moms — just to name a few — have gained popularity among international audiences. For those who are looking to cut the cable TV cord, this begs the question: Where else can subscribers get access to the awesome content bestowed upon us by our neighbor to the north?
Well, the good news is that a growing number of streaming services are including these popular shows in their lineup of titles. Read on to explore which services we recommend to those looking for the best places to catch their favorite Canadian programs.
Comparing Canadian TV streaming services
| Amazon Prime TV | Hulu | Netflix | YouTube TV | |
| Price | $8.99/mo. | $5.99/mo. | $8.99/mo. | $49.99/mo. |
| Annual price | $107.88/yr. | $71.88/yr. | $107.88/yr. | $599.88/yr. |
| Free trial length | 30 days | 7 days | N/A | 7 days |
| Number of channels | 100+ | 65+ | N/A | 70+ |
| Number of titles | 25,000+ | 2,562+ | 5,320+ | Unavail. |
| Number of simultaneous streams | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| DVR Storage | N/A | Live TV plans only | N/A | Unlimited |
| Streaming quality | HD | 4K Ultra | 4K Ultra | 1080p |
Top streaming services for Canadian TV
When shopping around for a streaming service with Canadian TV content, it’s important to consider a few factors, including the number of titles, price, available add-ons, and — of course — the free trial options. Below we explore four of the best streaming services for users who are fans of the small-screen gems created by our neighbor to the north.
Amazon Prime Video
Price ($8.99/mo.)
What makes it great
Amazon Prime Video’s strong point is sheer numbers, as it has the largest library of any streaming service in this article by far. Most on-demand titles users will find on other streaming services can be found in its massive library as well. And for subscribers looking for Canadian TV’s best shows, this is great news, as it’s hard to go wrong with Amazon Prime Video’s huge catalog of choices. Users can even hover over a title while it’s playing to see extra info, such as which actors are featured in a given scene. Additionally, viewers can download video content onto Amazon Fire Tablets, Android products, and iOS devices. And for subscribers who really love all the bells and whistles, Amazon Prime Video provides premium channel add-ons like Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, STARZ, and more. With a generous 30-day free trial, it’s definitely worth giving it a whirl.
However, there are a couple of caveats about Amazon Prime Video: while it has the largest library of shows and movies, users will find that they have to pay extra to view many of those titles. Additionally, while Amazon Prime Video allows up to 3 simultaneous streams, only 2 can show the same content at the same time.
What to watch on Amazon Prime TV
Call Me Fitz, Cardinal, Corner Gas, Degrassi, Kim’s Convenience, Little Mosque on the Prairie, The Newsroom, Orphan Black, Vikings, Wynonna Earp
Hulu
Price ($5.99/mo.)
What makes it great
There’s a reason Hulu is the second-most-popular streaming service in the world. Hulu offers thousands of on-demand shows and movies that give users access to tons of content. The basic on-demand package with ads is $5.99/mo., or $12.99/mo. with no ads. Hulu also offers on-demand packages with live TV, starting at $54.99/mo. with ads, or $60.99/mo. without ads. Subscribers can fortify their plans with premium channel add-ons like Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, STARZ, and more. Plus, each live TV plan includes 50 free hours of DVR storage, the option to create kid-specific profiles (Hulu doesn’t offer customizable parental controls), and a seven-day free trial. While it may not feature as many Canadian TV shows as competitors like Amazon Prime Video, or YouTube TV, Hulu makes a great all-around streaming package for cord-cutters who want access to popular Canadian TV shows.
What to watch on Hulu
Cardinal, Letterkenny, The Newsroom, Schitt’s Creek, Vikings
Netflix
Price ($8.99/mo.)
What makes it great
Netflix has long been the front-runner of major streaming services. For subscribers looking for a place to find their favorite Canadian TV episodes, Netflix offers lots of ad-free content at competitive prices. Netflix’s baseline plan is $8.99/mo. and provides standard-definition (SD) streaming with the option for 1 simultaneous stream. Netflix also offers a $13.99/mo. plan, which provides high-definition (HD) picture quality and 2 simultaneous streams. There’s also a $17.99/mo. plan with 4 simultaneous streams and 4K Ultra HD picture quality. Users can download titles to view later on a mobile device and limit content by taking advantage of parental controls. Since Netflix doesn’t offer live TV, there’s no DVR option.
While it may not offer the sheer number of titles that Amazon Prime Video or YouTube TV offer, for the price, Netflix has plenty of quality Canadian programming. In fact, in 2017, Netflix picked up the reboot of the beloved mockumentary series Trailer Park Boys after a decade-long hiatus. Not to mention Netflix is the only service where viewers can watch Workin’ Moms.
What to watch on Netflix
Alias Grace, Anne with an E, Between, Frontier, Heartland, Kim’s Convenience, Schitt’s Creek, Trailer Park Boys, Workin’ Moms, Wynonna Earp
YouTube TV
Price ($49.99/mo.)
What makes it great
With thousands of free titles, over 70 live channels, and the option for premium channel add-ons like Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, STARZ, and more, YouTube TV is a serious contender in the streaming game. It offers access to tons of on-demand Canadian TV shows and makes a great overall cable TV replacement. Channels like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC are available in most markets. The service also offers tons of cable TV staple channels like AMC, Big Ten Network, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, ESPN, SyFy, TCN, TLC, TNT, and many more. What’s more, YouTube TV’s interface is easy to navigate across all devices. Plus, YouTube TV offers unlimited DVR storage space for 9 months. So for those looking for an all-in-one package that has both a live TV option and a huge selection of shows created by our neighbor to the north, it’s hard to go wrong with YouTube TV. The best part? Users can take advantage of a seven-day free trial, no strings attached.
What to watch on YouTube TV
The Amazing Gayl Pile, Call Me Fitz, Cardinal, Degrassi, The Newsroom, Nirvanna the Band the Show, Orphan Black, Vikings, The Plastic Man Comedy / Adventure Show, Schitt’s Creek, Trailer Park Boys, Wynonna Earp
The final cut
With so much quality content coming out of the Great White North, there’s no question that it takes a high-quality streaming service to deliver access to Canadian TV’s best programming. Sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime TV, Hulu, Netflix, or YouTube TV and explore the treasure trove of Canadian TV shows that await.