What are you paying for?
If you pay for a tech membership or a computer service, this page lays out what it costs and what it covers — with the prices linked to where they were published, so you can check them yourself. Then it shows, honestly, which parts Geek Doctor does free and which parts genuinely need a paid human.
Prices checked 12 November 2026. Prices change; the links go to the live pages so you can see today's figure.
Canada — Best Buy Membership & Geek Squad
Best Buy Canada's membership costs $19.99 a month — that is $239.88 a year. Its published benefits include round-the-clock tech support, free device diagnosis, no labour fees on computer repairs (you pay for parts), antivirus setup for household devices, and 1 TB of cloud backup. One honest catch, in Best Buy's own terms: cancelling after the first 30 days may come with a Service Recovery Fee. Source: Best Buy Canada — Best Buy Membership.
Without a membership, Geek Squad Canada publishes these starting prices (source: Best Buy Canada — Geek Squad computer services):
| Service (Canada) | Published price | Geek Doctor |
|---|---|---|
| New computer setup | from $99.99 | Guides your setup and shows every step — free |
| Computer tune-up | from $99.99 | The checkup does the looking and explains it — free |
| Software installation | from $39.99 | Installs only trusted programs, with your permission — free |
| Accessory installation (webcam, headset, drive) | from $49.99 | Walks through the checks with you — free |
| Data transfer | from $99.99 (in store only) | Explains your options; moving everything is a bigger job — see the honest rows below |
| Remote support session | from $39.99 | On your screen whenever you open it — free |
| Virus removal and software repair | No price published on the Canadian services page — diagnosis is free; ask what the repair itself will cost before you agree | Explains what a "virus" warning usually is, and checks your protection — free |
United States — Geek Squad & My Best Buy Total™
Best Buy's US services page lists, among others (source: Best Buy US — computer and tablet services):
| Service (US) | Published price |
|---|---|
| Virus Removal and Operating System Repair (in store or remote) | US$149.99 |
| PC or Tablet Setup | US$39.99 |
| Data Backup or Transfer | US$99.99 |
| Operating System Tune-Up and Upgrade (remote) | US$39.99 |
| New Computer or Tablet Setup at home, without data transfer | US$174.99 |
The US membership, My Best Buy Total™, includes those in-store and remote services. Its yearly price moved during 2026: trackers listed it at US$179.99 a year and at US$199.99 a year — check the current figure on Best Buy's site before doing your own math.
The honest rows — what paid help genuinely adds
Geek Doctor will tell you the same thing in the app:
- Broken hardware — a dead screen, a failed drive, a cracked hinge — needs a real technician with parts and tools. No software, ours included, fixes that. A membership that waives repair labour can be real value here.
- Accident protection — drops and spills — is insurance, not tech help. If your plan includes it and you want it, that is a real thing you are paying for.
- A person in your home, any hour — a plan can send a person to your house. Geek Doctor cannot. What it can do is be on your screen whenever you open it — and what it explained stays with you after.
And the rows where the math is hard to defend: paying per visit for setups, tune-ups, installs, and scary-warning removals that take minutes and come with no explanation — while the explanation is the part that stops the next visit.
Don't take our word for it. Call them.
Take the five questions to your provider. Then try Geek Doctor on the same problem. Compare the answers — and compare how well you understand them. Keep whichever treats you better.
If you decide to stop paying: ask question 4 on the questions page first — what happens to protection on things you already bought — keep your cancellation confirmation, and remember Geek Doctor is here either way. It's free.