Best Internet Providers

How We Chose the Winners

Like it or not, we’re all tethered to the internet to some degree. Many people work from home, school from home and stay connected with long-distance friends and family members through social media and video chats from home. 

As our homes get smarter and smarter, we also use an internet connection to power those smart devices, such as cameras, thermostats and TVs, in addition to the usual array of smartphones, laptops and tablets that require an internet connection. In fact, U.S. households have an average of 21 connected devices—all vying for a piece of your home internet’s speed and performance.

Our internet needs continue to grow and evolve, making it more important than ever to have a connection that’s solid, stable—and reliably fast—with minimum downtime and maximum reliability.

If you’re fortunate enough to have multiple internet provider options available in your area, you may be stuck trying to figure out how to decipher service types, plan tiers and exactly what internet speed you really need.

The good news is, we’ve done a lot of that work for you, ranking the best options available in your area by a specific set of criteria. Curious to learn more? Keep reading to find out how we determined the best home internet providers, and what factors you should consider before signing a contract.

Our Criteria

The best internet provider for you depends largely on your location, what type of internet you want and how much you want to spend. There are several factors to consider when evaluating internet services, as each provider offers different plans, speeds, prices and features. 

Here are the criteria we take into account when comparing providers, along with additional tips to consider before making a final decision. 

Local Availability

The first thing we check is which internet providers operate in your area. Availability can vary significantly depending on location, and some providers might only be available in certain regions, cities or neighborhoods. Once we know which providers are servicing your area, then we can take a look at the type of internet connections they offer.

Here are some of the most common internet connection types:

• Fiber Optic: Fiber optic internet is the fastest and most reliable internet connection available. It uses light signals transmitted through fiber-optic cables to deliver internet to your home. Pros include ultra-fast speeds, symmetrical upload and download speeds and low latency, which refers to the time it takes data to travel between your device and a server on the internet, measured by “ping.” Drawbacks are limited availability in certain areas and price, as fiber can be more expensive than other options.
• Cable: Cable internet uses the same coaxial cable that delivers cable TV to your home. It’s widely available in urban and suburban areas throughout the U.S. Fast speeds and wide availability are the pros of cable internet, and the downsides include slower speeds during peak seasons and non-symmetrical upload and download speeds, with upload speeds typically being slower.
• Satellite: Satellite internet connects to the web via satellites in orbit, and is ideal for rural and remote areas where other internet options aren’t available. This type of internet connection can provide relatively fast internet speeds and is available virtually anywhere, as long as you have a clear line of sight to the sky. Drawbacks include high latency, which can cause delays in activities like online gaming or video calls, a higher cost than other internet options and a susceptibility to weather interference from storms and snow.

• 5G home: This newer wireless broadband option uses 5G cellular networks to provide high-speed home internet. Pros include fast speeds, quick installation and no need for wires or cables to be run to your home. Drawbacks include limited availability, especially in rural and remote areas, and susceptibility to signal blocking by things like buildings and trees that might interfere with the 5G signal.

• Fixed wireless: Fixed wireless internet delivers broadband using signals between a fixed wireless hub and a receiver on your home—often an antenna mounted on the roof or an outside wall. This is great for rural areas where other services may not be available. Another pro is that like 5G home internet, it doesn’t require physical cables to be run to your home. However, speed can be affected by the distance between your home and the wireless hub, as well as adverse weather conditions. This type of internet can also be more expensive than other options.

Speed

Speed is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a home internet provider because it directly impacts the quality of your online experience. The speed of your internet connection determines how quickly you can perform various activities on the web, and the overall efficiency of your household’s internet usage. 

For our rankings, we use a relatively straightforward process to compare internet speeds between providers. First, we look at the advertised upload and download speeds from each company, and then we factor in real-world speed test sources like the FCC and Ookla.

Here’s how to evaluate your need for speed—and other things to consider when comparing internet provider speeds:

Activities

Different online activities require different levels of speed. Too slow of a connection can cause delays and frustration or make certain activities impossible. 

Here’s what you need to know to determine your internet speed requirements:

• Web browsing and social media: Basic browsing doesn’t require a lot of speed; 10 to 25 megabits per second (Mbps) should suffice. If your connection is too slow, pages and images might take longer to load, and you might experience lag when scrolling through social media. 
• Streaming movies and videos: Streaming, whether it’s high-definition (HD) or 4K content, requires a faster internet connection to avoid buffering. Streaming in HD requires between 25 and 50 Mbps, while 4K is more taxing on the connection, requiring 50 to 100 Mbps.
• Gaming: Online gaming requires a fast, stable connection with low latency. Slower speeds or high latency can lead to lag, which impacts performance in competitive games. For light gaming, 25 to 50 Mbps will suffice. Serious gamers should look for speeds of 100 Mbps or more, but keep in mind, low latency is more critical than faster speeds.
• Video calls & remote work: Apps like Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams require adequate speed for audio and video quality. A speed range of 25 to 50 Mbps is solid for those who work from home.
• Multiple devices & heavy gaming: If your household has a lot of connected devices or you’re into heavy gaming, your connection needs to increase even more. Smartphones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles and smart home devices like security cameras and thermostats all factor into connected devices—so be sure to include these when considering internet speed. The more devices that are connected to the internet, the more bandwidth is required to keep things running smoothly. For heavy-duty usage needs, you will want a connection of 100 Mbps or higher.

Data Caps

Some internet providers impose data caps, which is a limit on how much data you can use each month. Once you reach your limit, your speed may be slowed down, also known as throttling, or you may incur additional charges for extra data usage. If you’re a heavy gamer or a household with a lot of connected devices, this is something you’ll want to be aware of when selecting an internet provider and plan.

Connected Devices

As we mentioned earlier, the number of connected devices matters when it comes to internet speed. According to Deloitte, the average U.S. household has 21 connected devices in their home. The more devices you use, the faster your internet should be in order to keep up and function optimally.

Speed Consistency & Reliability

Consistent, stable speeds matter just as much as high speeds. Providers might advertise high “up to” speeds, but those numbers are not necessarily consistent with what you’ll get on a day-to-day basis. To determine the best home internet, we look into the provider’s track record for speed consistency, service disruptions and maintenance times.

Additionally, some internet service provider’s speeds can become slower during peak times like evenings and weekends. This can vary by provider, so it’s best to look into whether your area experiences these slowdowns with the providers you’re considering.

Pricing, Contracts & Promotions

Budget is an important factor for many households when choosing a home internet provider. When we’re rating the best internet services, we look beyond the static plan price and also consider contract terms, introductory rates, promotional pricing and bundles.

Here’s what you need to know:

Pricing

On average, internet costs between $40 and $60 per month, plus equipment fees, taxes and one-time fees like installation and activation fees. Monthly pricing can go up considerably from here, depending on internet type, speed and contract length.

Contract

For short-term needs, you’ll want to find a month-to-month or prepaid internet plan to avoid early termination fees. 

However, most people will fall into the group of long-term usage, which works to your advantage because you’ll often qualify for special deals when enrolling in a service contract. Contracts are typically one or two years in length. 

Before committing to a contract, be sure you know your fees for early contract termination, contract renewal date and potential price hikes, like the end of a promotional period.

Introductory Rates & Promotions

Providers will often offer a promotional price for new customers that’s good for a set amount of time. This works to get you in the door and save you some money during that time, but be sure you know when that promotional period is up, and what your monthly fee will be afterward.

Bundles

Some providers offer bundle deals, which allow you to bundle TV or phone services with your home internet. If you already have or plan to get these services, bundling can save you money overpaying for each service separately. Additional features like free Wi-Fi hotspots, security features or streaming services may also be available to bundle with your internet package, depending on the provider.

Customer Satisfaction

Customer experience plays a big role in separating the best from the rest. Here are some questions that we look for the answers to when evaluating internet service providers:

Availability

How easy is it to contact customer service? Do they have multiple contact methods available, such as phone, chat and email? The more availability, the better your experience and satisfaction will be when any issues arise.

Reputation

Does the company have a good reputation for reliability, consistency and customer service? Researching online reviews and ratings from sites like the Better Business Bureau can help paint a clear picture of company reputation, especially when it comes to common issues and resolutions.

Service Reliability

Does the provider have consistent service with minimal interruptions and downtime? Are outages dealt with quickly and efficiently? Many of us rely on home internet for work and other important tasks, so reliability is key when comparing providers.