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Internet providers in Boston, MA

Shopping for internet plans in Boston? Compare our top picks for internet providers in the Boston area to find the plan that best fits your needs.

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Boston internet at a glance

Best internet providers

Internet availability by technology

The Boston area is served by five types of internet connection — DSL, cable, fiber, fixed wireless and satellite. While there is almost complete satellite coverage at the lower speeds, the best option to achieve speeds of 100-250 Mbps comes from cable internet in Boston, while fiber is the best choice for those wanting 1,000 Mbps.

  • Cable – 88%
  • DSL – 42%
  • Fiber optic – 44%

All available Boston residential providers

*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. As of 08/11/21.

While the chart lists the top speeds for internet in Boston for each provider, not everyone will be able to achieve those speeds. Other factors that can affect the speed are the modem used, number of other people using the system at the same time, activities being performed and your zip code. Certain areas of the city can achieve faster speeds than others.

Our methodology

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction.

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.

For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of one to five, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between three and four. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.

We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.

See how we review internet providers

Fastest internet providers in Boston

*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. As of 08/11/21.

Boston high-speed internet access compared to U.S. averages

Internet service providers in Massachusetts, particular in the Boston area, far exceed the national average for high speed internet up to 250 Mbps, giving the majority of Boston residents the opportunity to enjoy fast speeds. However, Massachusetts internet providers are far below the national average for super high speed internet. While almost a quarter of the country can enjoy speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, fiber internet in Boston is available to less than 1% of residents.

  • Download speeds 250 Mbps or higher

    Boston – 96%

    Massachusetts – 97%

    U.S. – 86%

  • Download speeds 1,000 Mbps or higher

    Boston – 0.5%

    Massachusetts – 0.5%

    U.S. – 21%

Source: FCC

Cheapest internet options in Boston

While these are the top cheap high-speed internet providers in Boston, MA, there may also be an additional fee if you opt to receive a paper bill. You can also expect to pay a monthly fee for a modem. Additionally, there may be an installation fee, along with monthly charges for taxes and fees.

Allconnect’s affordable choice: Astound Broadband

Of the five cheapest providers in Boston, at $25.99 a month, Astound offers the best value. With that price, you could receive internet speeds up to 250 Mbps, five times more than Atlantic Broadband’s Basic Internet for $9 a month less.

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Or call us today: (844) 451-2720
Verizon logo

Allconnect Rating

4.31 / 5

Verizon: Best customer service

Verizon offers its Fios fiber internet service and DSL in Boston. With the fiber network, which is available in 64% of the Boston area, you can expect speeds up to 940 Mbps. The DSL service is in 87% of the area and can deliver speeds up to 200 or 400 Mbps. You can expect to pay $39.99/mo. for 200 Mbps, $64.99 for 400 Mbps and $89.99 for the fiber service delivering up to 940 Mbps.

Why Boston loves Verizon

  • High customer satisfaction – Verizon Fios has been ranked #1 in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power for the past eight years and has been PC Magazine’s Readers’ Choice award winner for the last 12 years.

  • Fiber optic network – Verizon relies on a fiber network, making its service more reliable. This also allows Verizon to offer faster upload speeds than cable providers.

Things to consider

  • Fiber not available everywhere – In areas where fiber isn’t serviceable, Verizon offers DSL service which offers slower speeds for a higher price.

  • Somewhat high starting prices – Compared to its competitors, Verizon doesn’t offer particularly low starting prices.

Learn more about Verizon internet
Xfinity logo

Allconnect Rating

3.54 / 5

Xfinity: Fastest internet speeds

With 10 internet plans ranging from $39.99/mo. to $299.95/mo. and speeds starting at up to 50 Mbps and running up to 2,000 Mbps, Xfinity earns our rating as the best internet provider in Boston. The provider is rated average for its customer service. Bostonians love the wide range of options to choose from, giving them the opportunity to choose their plan based on either speed or cost. Some Xfinity plans in Boston have no term agreement, while others require a 24-month commitment. The rate for some plans increases after either 12 or 24 months.

Why Boston loves Xfinity

  • Multiple plans to choose from – Xfinity offers up to 10 plans in the Boston region, giving customers the ability to select the exact speed the need.

  • Fastest speeds available – Xfinity offers the fastest internet speeds available with both its 1,200 Mbps plan and its 2,000 Mbps plan.

Things to consider

  • Price increase – Xfinity has one of the biggest price jumps after the first 12 months out of any provider.

  • More expensive with no contract – Xfinity offers both contract and no contract options but if you opt for no contract, you will have to pay more each month.

Learn more about Xfinity internet

Astound Broadband: Cheapest internet

Formerly known as RCN, Astound Broadband offers three plans ranging from $25.99/mo. to $39.99/mo. with speeds from up to 250 Mbps to up to 940 Mbps. Each plan comes with a modem and standard WiFi and contracts are not required. Unfortunately, Astound’s customer service does not fare as well, receiving only two stars on Yelp.

Why Boston loves Astound

  • Affordable plans – RCN offers some of the most affordable plans in the Boston area, with pricing starting at $25.99/mo.

  • No data caps – RCN offers unlimited data and you will never have to worry about internet throttling.

Things to consider

  • Not all speed plans available – RCN has a great list of speed plans but only a handful will likely be available in your specific area.

  • Poor customer satisfaction ratings – RCN is a smaller provider so it’s not ranked in the main customer satisfaction reports, but based on Yelp reviews, RCN is not great in the customer satisfaction department.

Astound Broadband powered by RCN

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Erin Gobler

Written by:

Erin Gobler

Contributor

Erin Gobler is a freelance writer based in Madison, WI. She writes about topics including budgeting, student loans, credit, mortgages, investing, broadband and insurance. Including Allconnect.com, her work has b… Read more

Robin Layton

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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