Internet providers in New York, NY

Find internet providers in NYC

New York City internet at a glance

Best internet providers

• Verizon Fios – Best internet provider overall
• Spectrum – Low equipment fees
• RCN – Most affordable
• EarthLink – Fastest speeds

There are dozens of internet providers operating on New York, and in most places, you should have a choice between at least two (usually Verizon and Spectrum). If you can get Verizon Fios at your address — or any fiber internet — you should. It’s the fastest and most reliable technology by far, and it usually costs about the same as cable, which is a step down in speed. DSL service is also widely available, but it should be viewed as more of a last resort.

Internet availability by connection type

When it comes to getting the internet into your home in New York City, there are different types of connections. NYC customers have access to many different types of internet, including fiber, cable, satellite and DSL. The most common types are cable and DSL.

• Cable – 85%

• DSL – 95%

• Fiber optic – 83%

All available NYC residential internet 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. Speeds may vary. As of 03/18/22.

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

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NYC real-world internet speed performance

Verizon Fios users get the fastest internet in New York City by a long shot. Its average download speed is nearly 200 Mbps — enough to stream Netflix in 4K on eight TVs at once — but its upload speed is where it really stands out.

Verizon’s fiber internet gets you double what any other provider does, a key consideration for online gamers and houses with multiple people working or learning from home. That said, all of the internet speeds listed below will be plenty for most households.

• RCN – 199 Mbps

• Verizon Fios – 199 Mbps

• Spectrum – 155 Mbps

• Optimum – 128 Mbps

NYC internet speed compared to the national average

New York City gets pretty average internet speeds compared to the state and country as a whole. Its 115 Mbps download speed is a little slower than average — but still plenty for most households — while its upload speeds are actually a little faster. That’s largely due to fiber internet in New York, which provides the same upload and download speeds.

• Download speeds

  New York City – 115 Mbps

  New York State – 125 Mbps

  U.S. – 118 Mbps

• Upload speeds

  New York City – 57 Mbps

  New York State – 56 Mbps

  U.S. – 42 Mbps

Fastest available internet speeds in NYC

If you want access to the fastest internet in New York City, then these are the providers and plans you want to look at. RCN and Earthlink have the fastest speed range at up to 1,000 Mbps, but Verizon Fios is not far off. Additionally, Verizon Fios has similar speeds to Optimum and Spectrum, if you want more options in terms of speed. 

*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 03/18/22.

How to get cheap internet service in New York City

Looking to save money on your Internet bills? It can be hard to know where to start, especially in a place like New York City, where there are many providers available. As of July 2021, RCN, Optimum, and Verizon Fios are the cheapest internet service providers in NYC.

The amount below is what you’ll pay for the corresponding plan, but keep in mind that there are other fees and costs that come with the internet, including installation charges and equipment rentals, that can range from $15 to $100 on average for these services. Be sure to inquire about this when you set up so that you’re not surprised by hidden fees, or on the other hand, you can choose to pay for a service you feel like you need.

*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 03/18/22.

Allconnect’s affordable choice: Verizon Fios

Overall, Verizon Fios offers the best value for internet service in New York City. Fiber optic is not available everywhere in the city but if it is an option for you, it is your best bet for fast, reliable speeds at a good price. Verizon Fios’ cheapest plan ($39.99/mo.) offers speeds up to 300 Mbps. With cable providers, you’ll usually have to pay around $10/mo. more for that speed. If Verizon’s DSL service is available in your area instead of Verizon Fios, speeds will be much slower for around the same price.

Shop Verizon Fios plans

Or call to order: (844) 451-2720 (844) 451-2720

Allconnect Rating

4.31 / 5

Verizon Fios: Best internet provider overall

If you’re looking for great, reliable internet at an affordable price with no hassles, then Verizon Fios is the way to go. Verizon Fios uses fiber optic cable where you can get gig speeds starting at $84.99/mo. If you don’t want to spend this much, you can get a 300 Mbps plan starting at $39.99/mo.

Learn more about Verizon Fios internet

RCN: Most affordable plans

For the most affordable Internet in NYC — and the best bang for your buck — we recommend RCN. Not only do they have plans starting at $29.99/mo. with two months free, they also offer some of the highest speeds for that price and no contracts.

Learn more about RCN internet

EarthLink: Fastest speeds

With fiber optic service throughout much of the city, EarthLink has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps at many addresses.

Learn more about EarthLink internet

Allconnect: Let us compare providers for you

Why should you choose Allconnect? We’re the #1 broadband marketplace in the U.S, meaning you can trust us to search, compare and order internet and TV service for your home.

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Written by:

Hana LaRock

Allconnect contributor

Hana LaRock is a freelance writer with more than seven years of experience. She has written in many niches including broadband tech and personal finance, and has appeared on Business Insider, Pocketsense, The Bi… Read more

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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