“The most well-rounded package: hyper-fast download speeds, flexible bundle options, and a large network.” Best Budget: Frontier Communications “Even as the price increases, its services tend to be cheaper than other leading providers.” Best Value: Spectrum Internet “With simple plan choices, easy installation, no contracts, and no hidden fees, Spectrum is a great value.” Best for TV and Internet: Mediacom “You can create your ideal TV/internet bundle.” Best for Gaming: Verizon Fios “Boasts having low latency, which leads to a seamless gaming experience.” Best for Business: AT&T “Maximum download speeds of 1,000 Mbps, AT&T’s business internet packages leave its competitors in the dust.” Best Satellite: HughesNet “Among satellite providers, HughesNet is regarded as the top pick.” Best for Rural Areas: Viasat “Viasat’s deals are much cheaper than its competitors, allowing for a bit more buffer room within your budget.” Best Customer Service: Astound (formerly RCN) “Seems to understand how to maintain customer satisfaction, which is evident in its 4-star and 5-star reviews.” For eligible families, Xfinity also sells $9.95 monthly plans with 50 Mbps data speeds; you won’t win any track medals with this package, but it’ll suit your low-energy web-browsing needs, and it’s great for a home office. All of Xfinity’s plans come equipped with Constant Guard, which includes Norton Security Online, allowing you to browse the internet safely. Additionally, Xfinity offers a generous amount of freedom, in terms of data usage, with a data cap once you reach 1.2TB. Unless you live in a household full of professional gamers, 1.2TB offers plenty of buffer room, so it’s unlikely that you’ll come close to exceeding that limit. Comcast Xfinity also offers several package deals for your TV and phone, so you can bundle all your media-related needs under one network. Frontier’s plans offer truly unlimited data usage, while some other internet providers sneakily use soft data caps. This decreases download speeds once you reach a certain threshold, but Frontier’s service is much more upfront. It offers two types of internet plans: broadband and FiberOptic. The FiberOptic internet packages tend to be cheaper and more widely available. Alternatively, Frontier’s broadband network offers ultra-fast data speeds that easily match those offered by its top competitors, but they come with a higher price tag and are limited to metropolitan areas. Still, if you do live in an area that offers Frontier’s services, the network offers a cheaper alternative to top brands like Comcast or Verizon, without compromising on speed and performance. Frontier’s base plan for their FiberOptic internet service costs around $50 per month, delivering a download rate of 500 Mbps. For those who need a more substantial data package, however, Frontier also offers a $79.99 plan with download speeds up to 940 Mbps. You may also be interested in our guide to the best routers for under $50. Spectrum’s installation process is also quick, easy, and only requires one small activation fee. You’ll pay for the installation, and an electrician personally comes to your house to set up the modem, so it’s absolutely worth it. The Spectrum-issued modem is included as part of the package, so there are no hidden fees; the equipment is 100 percent free. Also, Spectrum operates on a monthly basis, so there are no contracts locking you into long-term commitments. For larger households, Mediacom provides packages with higher data speeds (up to 1,000 Mbps), more cable channels, and larger data caps, which you can customize to your specific needs. Do you prefer Netflix over TV, or would you sacrifice Wi-Fi speed in favor of HBO? Can you live with a 200 GB data capacity, or do you need a 6,000 GB limit? Mediacom lets users control all three of these factors, so you can create your ideal TV and internet bundle. However, while Mediacom’s service offers a tempting deal, it’s important to highlight its disappointing customer service reviews. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to waste precious free time listening to “waiting” music on the phone and being shuffled between unhelpful operators. Mediacom certainly isn’t the only internet provider with subpar customer service reviews (although we won’t name names), but you should keep this in mind if you decide to make the switch. However, Mediacom also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, so you can take advantage of a risk-free trial, and determine for yourself if the provider’s pros outweigh the cons. Fios offers three basic plans: The lowest comes with 300 Mbps for $24.99; the standard package offers 500 Mbps for $44.99; and the premium plan, the Fios Gigabit Connection, delivers speeds up to 940/880 Mbps for $64.99 per month. With all three plans, Verizon promises fast uploading speeds, which is perfect for live Twitch streaming. Also, Fios boasts of having low latency, which leads to a seamless gaming experience. The one downside is Verizon’s limited coverage: Fios is only available on the East Coast, so most of us can’t enjoy its services. The West Coasters can certainly make do with other providers, but it isn’t quite the same. There are no penalties for breaching the bandwidth threshold, but downloading speeds will slow down significantly. It’s in your best interest to stay under the cap unless you have the patience of a Zen master. At the very least, HughesNet tracks your internet use throughout the month and allows you to purchase additional data space if you’re running low. Alternatively, you can also splurge for its premium plan with a 100 GB bandwidth, which is one of the highest capacities available in the industry. HughesNet is arguably the best satellite provider in the U.S., but it’s also the most expensive. In addition to its monthly service charge, the company finds little ways to mark up the price. There’s the $99 activation fee, plus the cost of equipment, which is $15 per month to lease. Or, you can opt to buy the equipment outright. HughesNet also has one of the highest termination fees, which essentially locks you into its two-year contract. Viasat’s plans offer varying data allotments, ranging from 40 to 150 GB per month. It doesn’t charge a fee for exceeding your prepaid limit, but the internet speed will decrease drastically. It’s a frustrating inconvenience, but it also provides a strong incentive to ration your internet usage wisely (or just pay for a higher data cap). Overall, Viasat’s deals are much cheaper than its competitors, allowing for a bit more buffer room within your budget. Also, be sure to check out our picks for the best cable modems. Astound (formerly RCN) seems to understand the importance of maintaining customer satisfaction. Its services are only available in specific cities, such as Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., but having a smaller reach lets the company offer more individualized attention. Additionally, Astound’s network provides solid wireless connections and high speeds. Its basic plan starts at 300 Mbps for $25.99 to $14.99 per month, offering a budget-friendly service for young professionals, college students, or low-income households. For a more substantial package, Astound also has a 940 Mbps option, which costs $34.99 per month. Each plan operates on a month-to-month basis and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, Astound provides free, professional installation, furthering its commitment to keeping its customers happy. Our writers spent 30 hours researching the most popular internet service providers on the market. Before making their final recommendations, they considered 15 different internet service providers overall, screened options from 15 different brands and manufacturers, read over 150 user reviews (both positive and negative), and tested 1 of the internet service providers themselves. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.
