Internet providers in your area
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Best internet providers of 2021
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A good internet provider will offer reliable service over a broad area with multiple speed options at competitive prices. The best internet service providers (ISPs) have these qualities plus unique features that set them apart from all other providers. Our list of the best ISPs below highlights eight national providers that are the “best” in their own way.
Allconnect’s top providers of 2021
- AT&T – Best fiber-optic availability
- CenturyLink – Best for fast DSL speeds
- Cox – Best for internet bundle discounts
- Frontier – Best for low-cost DSL
- HughesNet – Best satellite internet provider
- Spectrum – Best for low fees
- Verizon Fios – Best fiber-optic internet provider
- Xfinity – Best for fastest max speeds
Provider
AT&T
Best fiber-optic availability
AT&T internet covers 40% of U.S. residents with nearly a third of their network consisting of 100% fiber-optic lines.
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CenturyLink
Best for fast DSL speeds
With speeds of up to 100 Mbps or higher where available, CenturyLink is one of the fastest DSL providers available.
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Cox
Best for internet bundle discounts
Cox makes bundling internet and TV rewarding by extending deep discounts, up to $50/mo. or more, off the total price.
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Frontier FiberOptic
Best for no hidden fees
With unlimited data and equipment rental included, Frontier plans come with no hidden monthly fees.
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HughesNet
Best satellite internet provider
HughesNet fills the broadband gap in many areas where cable, DSL and fiber-optic internet providers do not reach.
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Spectrum
Best for low fees
Spectrum internet plans include unlimited data plus a modem at no extra cost, and your router rental fee is only an additional $5/mo.
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Verizon Fios
Best fiber-optic provider
Verizon has arguably the best plan options of any major fiber-optic provider with 200, 400 and up to 940/880 Mbps speeds.
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XFINITY
Best for fastest max speeds
Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro internet plan boasts the fastest residential download speeds of any provider, up to 2,000 Mbps.
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*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 09/11/20.
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Our approach: We determine the best internet providers for you
When narrowing down our list of the top internet providers, we sought to highlight providers that are available to many people in different areas. Using the most recent FCC data, we identified the top internet providers available to at least 5% of U.S. residents.
From there, we leveraged our own in-house technology to further accumulate availability, speed and pricing details and for each provider. Specific plan, pricing and service details were sourced directly from the providers, both via our professional relationships with them and their official websites.
We also sought inspiration from Reviews.com, who is owned and operated by an affiliate of Allconnect, Inc. However, Allconnect, Inc. is not involved in or responsible for the production of Reviews.com content, including rankings cited on this page.
Equipped with an accurate, up-to-date portfolio of each provider, we then carefully examined each provider’s attributes to identify a provider’s exclusive advantage over the rest. The result is our list of the best internet providers of 2020.
Internet availability and service areas
When shopping for a new internet service provider (ISP), it’s likely you’ll discover internet options you previously didn’t know were available. It’s just as likely, however, that some ISPs you thought were (or hoped would be) available are not.
Operating costs and the expense of bringing new technologies, such as fiber-optic cables, to new locations can limit the areas where internet providers offer service. Additionally, competing in markets where another provider is already established can further limit profitability, which is why you’ll rarely find more than one cable provider in one area.
Where to find the best providers
![AT&T logo]()
AT&T – Available in 21 states. Primary internet service areas include the South, Midwest and parts of the West Coast.
![CenturyLink authorized retailer logo]()
CenturyLink – Available in 35 states. Primary internet service areas include the Northwest, Southwest and Midwest.
![Cox logo]()
Cox – Available in 19 states. Primary internet service areas include the Southwest, Central U.S. and the Northeast.
![Frontier logo]()
Frontier – Available in 25 states. Primary internet service areas include the Midwest, Northeast, parts of the South and Texas.
![HughesNet]()
HughesNet – Available in all 50 states. Primary internet service areas include rural areas across the U.S.
![Spectrum logo]()
Spectrum – Available in 41 states. Primary internet service areas include the South, Midwest and West Coast.
![Verizon authorized retailer logo]()
Verizon – Available in eight states. Primary internet service areas include the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
![Xfinity logo]()
Xfinity – Available in 39 states. Primary internet service areas include the Northwest, Great Lakes region and eastern U.S.
Find internet providers near you
Whether you’re shopping for cheap internet service, a faster plan or an all-around better internet provider, we can help you find the service that’s right for you.
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Internet shopping tips from our experts
How much should you pay for internet? What’s a good internet speed? After 20+ years of helping people find the best internet service for their homes, we’ve become experts at answering internet questions like these and ones you may not know you had.
Find your speed, present and future
Speed is one of the most important considerations when choosing an internet service. Discover what speeds you need and take our speed test to see what you’re currently getting.
Compare available providers
There’s more to each provider than price and speed. When shopping for internet service, be sure to compare promotions, contract requirements, data caps, equipment and fees from each provider.
Resources and guides
Look to our Resource Center for tips on how to find the best internet service in your area and guides to help you make the most of your service.
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Compare internet service providers
Comparing internet service providers head-to-head is one of the best ways to avoid overpaying for internet service or signing up for a plan that doesn’t fit your needs.
| Provider | Monthly price range* | Download speed range | Tech | Data cap | Contract |
AT&T | $35.00-$60.00 | 5-1,000 Mbps | DSL, fiber optic | 1 TB/mo. DSL, unlimited with AT&T Fiber | One year |
CenturyLink | $49.00-$65.00** | 3-940 Mbps** | DSL, fiber optic | 1 TB/mo. | None |
Cox | $29.99-$99.99 | 10-940 Mbps | Cable | 1 TB/mo. | One year |
Frontier FiberOptic | $49.99-$79.99 | 50-940 Mbps | Fiber optic | None | None |
HughesNet | $39.99-$139.99 | 25-25 Mbps | Satellite | No hard data limits | Two years |
Mediacom | $19.99-$79.99 | 60-1,000 Mbps | Cable | 1-6 TB/mo. | One year |
Optimum | $29.99-$69.99 | 20-940 Mbps | Cable | None | One year |
Spectrum | $49.99-$109.99 | 60-940 Mbps | Cable | None | None |
Suddenlink | $34.99-$84.99 | 100-940 Mbps | Cable | 250-350 GB/mo. Unlimited plans available | One year |
Verizon Fios | $39.99-$79.99 | 200-940 Mbps | Fiber optic | None | None |
Viasat | $50-$150 | 12-100 Mbps | Satellite | 12-150 GB/mo. | Two years |
Windstream | $19.99-$67.00 | 1-1,000 Mbps | DSL, fiber optic | None | None |
Xfinity | $20.00-$299.99 | 15-2,000 Mbps | Cable | 1 TB/mo. for most plans | No long term agreement required |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 09/11/20.
Search internet providers for plans in your area
Internet technology types
Not all internet connections are the same. Each internet type and provider presents specific advantages and potential disadvantages.
Internet provider FAQs
How much is internet only?
Depending on what internet options are available in your area, you may be able to find cheap internet-only plans ranging from $20 to $50/mo. For higher-tiered internet plans with faster speeds, monthly costs for internet could easily reach $100 or more.
What internet is available at my address?
Cable, from providers such as Xfinity, Spectrum and Cox, is likely available in your area. DSL is another commonly available internet service, from providers including AT&T, Verizon and Frontier. Fiber technology is available primarily in select metro areas and includes providers such as CenturyLink and AT&T. Rural areas will likely have the fewest internet options and may only be eligible for satellite internet providers such as HughesNet.
What is the fastest internet speed in my area?
The fastest available internet speeds will depend on which internet providers are near you. Gigabit download speeds, around 1,000 Mbps, are available in many areas from providers including AT&T, CenturyLink, Cox, Mediacom, Spectrum, Verizon Fios, Windstream and Xfinity. Call to speak with our internet experts about the fastest available internet speeds for your home.
What internet speeds do I need?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines a broadband connection as one with download speeds of 25 Mbps or higher and upload speeds of 3 Mbps or higher. These speeds are perfect for basic internet use, streaming shows and gaming online. Speeds of 100 Mbps or higher are ideal for connecting five or more devices and streaming in HD or 4K video quality. Check out our guide to finding the right internet speeds for your home and check your internet speeds with our speed test.
What internet fees do providers have?
Fees for installation, Wi-Fi equipment and data will vary by provider. See our full breakdown of added fees by provider.
How do I test my internet speed?
Take our internet speed test to test your download speeds, upload speeds and ping. Not sure what it all means? Refer to our article on how to read and understand your speed test results.
Written by:
David AndersSenior Writer, Broadband Content
David joined the Allconnect team in 2017, specializing in broadband and TV content. His work has been referenced by a variety of sources, including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. As a Senior W… Read more
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