The search for a great internet service provider (ISP) can be very simple, very complicated, or some combination of both. It’s very uncommon to run into people who only have one ISP available in their area; many people have multiple choices. Why not make it easier on yourself and check out our list of the best internet providers in the US.
That can turn the decision-making process into one filled with headaches. The choice is easy when you only have one option, but it’s not as simple when you have several on the table.
Things to know before diving into this list
In the list below we focused on the most widely available ISPs. The reality is that your part of the US might not offer any of these, or it may have a smaller local ISP that ends up being a better deal. While our guide is a good starting point, we also recommend checking out sites like highspeedinternet.com and ispprovidersinmyarea.com for a better look at local ISPs in your area.
If you end up finding options that aren’t on this list, simply head to Google Search and look for reviews from actual users. One last thing — if you live very rural area, you may have to resort to fixed wireless internet or even satellite or mobile data.
Best internet providers:
Editor’s note: We will update this list of the best internet providers periodically.
1. Xfinity
With a presence in 41 states across the US, chances are Comcast’s Xfinity service is available in your area. That’s certainly not a bad thing — Xfinity’s internet speeds range from 15Mbps to 2Gbps, with monthly prices starting at $39.99 per month. The most affordable plan is actually 200Mbps for $39.99 per month, which is cheaper than 15Mbps for $49.99 per month. Better yet, Xfinity offers various bundles to offset certain costs.
As a bonus, Xfinity customers are the only ones that can become Xfinity Mobile subscribers. Using Verizon towers, Xfinity Mobile offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $45 per month. If you prefer limited data plans, the 1GB, 3GB, and 10GB plans are available for $15, $30, and $60 per month, respectively.
That said, Xfinity’s customer service is known for its consistent mediocrity. You might also have qualms with Comcast, which has been consistently picked as one of the worst companies in the US over the years.
2. AT&T Internet
One of the oldest US telecom companies, AT&T keeps things simple and offers two main plans: Internet 100 and Internet 1000. As the names suggest, Internet 100 and 1000 offer speeds up to 100Mbps and 1Gbps, respectively. The faster plan uses fiber internet and eschews the 1TB data cap.
Also read: Here are the best AT&T plans | The best AT&T deals
Every plan starts at $45 right now for the first 12 months, so you can splurge on extra speeds with no immediate added costs. You can also pick up a $100 AT&T Prepaid Mastercard right now when you order online with plans above 25Mbps. That said, AT&T also offers plans with speeds as low as 5Mbps for those who want to spend a bit less. Also, the company provides generally-reliable internet to 15.7 million people with its broadband service and 3.1 million people with its fiber service.
Typically, AT&T internet plans come with a 1TB data cap. It’s probably more than your family could ever use in a month, but thanks to the current pandemic, you won’t have to worry about that. AT&T has suspended data caps through at least the end of 2020.
You can also bundle your plan with DirecTV, AT&T TV, and AT&T wireless service to save even more on your internet. If you connect DirecTV or AT&T TV right now, AT&T will also throw in a $100 reward card to sweeten the deal.
3. Charter Spectrum
Making things very simple, Charter Spectrum offers just one internet-only plan. Costing $49.99 each month, the plan includes a connection with speeds starting at 100Mbps, a modem, and no data caps. Tripling the speed to 300Mbps costs an extra $20 per month, while speeds up to 940Mbps cost an extra $60.
What’s nice about Spectrum is the lack of data caps across all of its plans. It also provides a free modem and free antivirus software to keep you protected. Additionally, Spectrum customers can gain access to Spectrum Mobile. Similar to Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon towers and offers an unlimited plan for $45 per month. Alternatively, you can pay $14 per GB used.
Spectrum doesn’t have the best reputation for customer service, however. Also, as simple as having just one internet-only plan is, it also means Spectrum is very inflexible if you want faster speeds and don’t want extras.
4. Frontier Communications
The aptly-named Frontier Internet is bravely foraging into rural America. It offers DSL, cable, and fiber internet connections to its customers. It covers regions that typically have few good options.
Pricing starts at $27.99 for 6Mbps speeds and goes up to $44.99 per month for up to 45Mbps max speeds. It makes for a good option in rural settings, but you’ll likely want something with better speed if available. Frontier also offers FiOS plans for customers in Texas, California, and Florida, but it’s not easy to come by.
That said, what you actually get for your money varies greatly. The further you get from urban areas, the harder it is to deliver and maintain a strong connection consistently. That seems to be one of Frontier’s major drawbacks. This is also one of those situations where you’ll want to chat up your neighbors to see how their experience has been.
Also, Frontier doesn’t have the best of reputations. The company ended up as one of the worst companies in the US for 2018, with customer satisfaction the second-lowest out of US ISPs in 2018.
5. Verizon
One of the first and best internet providers to offer fiber internet to your home, Verizon Fios keeps things simple with three internet-only plans. Costing $39.99, $59.99, and $79.99 per month, the plans include up to 200, 400, and 940Mbps, respectively.
The plans also offer some nice bonuses. For a limited time, all plans include one year of Disney Plus for free. The 940Mbps plan also throws in free router rental too. You can also save up to $20 per month with your Verizon wireless plan.
Also read: Here are the best Verizon Wireless plans right now | Best Verizon phones
Apart from surprisingly competitive pricing and good reliability, Fios is also known for its relatively good customer satisfaction. You can also get various Fios bundles, though Fios TV finished 2018 with fewer subscribers than at the start of the year.
Where Fios struggles most is with availability. Some areas without Fios can still get Verizon’s DSL service, but speeds top out at 15Mbps. At that point, you’re better off with an alternative.
6. CenturyLink
CenturyLink internet provider is a relatively inexpensive option. Like others, it heavily relies on bundling with a TV subscription to offer tempting packages. That said, you’re more than welcome to get internet-only plans that top out at 1Gbps. Pricing kicks off at $49 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps and jumps to $65 per month for speeds up to 940Mbps. One benefit of the 100Mbps plan is that you can keep your pricing for as long as you keep your plan.
CenturyLink’s service seems a little inconsistent, depending on your location, and on the whole a little slower than others. There’s also no guarantee you’ll have access to its maximum speeds. For example, CenturyLink tops out at 60Mbps in my neck of the woods. It also gets bad press for having poor customer service.
7. Cox Internet
Cox Internet’s internet-only plans are a bit more complicated than others, but only because there are more of them. $29.99 per month gets you 10Mbps, while an extra $10 gets you 50Mbps. Stepping up to 150Mbps is $59.99 per month, while 500Mbps speeds cost an extra $20. Finally, you can get 1Gbps speeds for $99.99.
If you’re a no-contract die-hard, you might be interested in Cox’s new StraightUp Internet plan as well. It costs $50 per month for 25Mbps speeds, but the equipment rental is included and you can cancel your service any time you want.
Also read: Is your internet good enough for Google Stadia? It’s complicated
Prices are relatively competitive, though availability is an issue — Cox Communications is available in only 18 states. Customer satisfaction is also an issue, with Cox positioned as one of the worst.
8. Optimum
Now owned by telecom company Altice, Optimum offers surprisingly robust internet service, at least when it comes to speed. The base plan costs $29.99 per month and offers speeds up to 20Mbps, with an extra $15 getting you up to 200Mbps speeds. 300Mbps speeds are actually more affordable at $39.99. Finally, $64.99 a month get you speeds up to 400Mbps.
Optimum has also recently added gigabit speeds that cost just $65 per month. For a very limited time, you can grab those gigabit speeds for $55 and pay the same price for the life of your plan. However, availability is extremely limited. Unless you live in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, or a very small sliver of northeast Pennsylvania, Optimum won’t be available where you are.
9. Viasat
With Viasat, we now enter the world of satellite internet providers. Don’t expect slow speeds of yore, however, with plans featuring top speeds up to 100Mbps. Unfortunately, many locations reflect download speeds closer to 12Mbps. You also shouldn’t have an issue with availability, since service is dependent on satellites and not on where you live.
That said, consider Viasat if there’s literally nothing else around you. Every plan has a laughably low data cap, which de-prioritizes your data if you exceed a certain amount of use each month. Also, plans are very expensive, with prices going up after three months. For example, the Unlimited Platinum 100 plan with speeds up to 100Mbps costs $150 per month for the first three months and $200 per month after that. If you’re a night owl, data used from three o’clock to six in the morning doesn’t count against your Priority Data, so that’s a plus for some people.
The last option on our list of the best internet providers is Mediacom. Plans start at 60Mbps for $39.99 and grow from there. Upping the price by $10 will get you 100Mbps speeds and $10 on top of that will boost you to 200Mbps. Above that, each tier is still just $10 more per month to jump to 500Mbps and 1Gbps respectively.
Also read: Wi-Fi at 20: The internet’s most important tech is about to grow up
As with Viasat, you’re mostly paying for availability. Mediacom boasts speeds of up to 10 times faster than DSL and exclusive DOCSIS 3.0 connectivity. It also claims that you can game online with limited lag, which is at least better than saying severe lag. You can even bundle and save with a TV service or home phone line.
