Best internet providers in Philadelphia
Our methodology
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.
Compare Philadelphia internet providers
Philadelphia residents have a few choices when it comes to internet providers. Satellite internet is available to 100% of the city through providers such as Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat, and cable internet is available to almost the entirety of the city through providers such as Xfinity. Fiber is also widely available to almost 90% of households in Philadelphia. AT&T and Verizon Fios offer fiber plans, while T-Mobile offers 5G Home Internet to over 50% of Philadelphia households.
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices are subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 11/05/24.
What internet speed do you need?
It’s smart to consider what speed you need before you pick an internet plan. You could lock yourself into a plan that’s too slow for your needs, and you’ll find your videos lagging, and gaming will be nearly impossible. You also don’t want to pay more for a faster plan when something in the middle will work just fine.
For a small household of one to two people, a 75 to 100 Mbps plan will allow you to stream on one device at a time while the other person checks emails, shops and browses social media.
A family of four or five can be simultaneously online with a 200 to 400 Mbps plan, with the ability to stream or game on multiple devices. Intermediate plans like these are often within $10/mo. or even cheaper than some of the advertised “cheapest” plans, so check plan speed before you buy.
If you live in a connected smart home with four or more heavy internet users, you’ll most likely need a 500 Mbps plan or higher. Multiple heavy gamers, students and work-from-home users in one large household should consider at least 800 Mbps to a 1 Gbps plan.
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Cheap internet providers in Philadelphia
If you’re looking to save a bit on internet, Philadelphia has a few options for less than $50/mo. Keep in mind that cheap internet in Philadelphia may still have additional fees that apply, such as an installation fee, equipment costs and activation fees. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet starts at $40/mo. for up to 245 Mbps, and Xfinity offers plans for around $25/mo. as well, depending on where you live. AT&T’s fiber internet is competitively priced at $55/mo.
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Xfinity
- Price: $25.00/mo. for up to 200 Mbps
- Connection type: Cable
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Verizon Fios
- Price: $34.99/mo. with mobile plan for up to 300 Mbps
- Connection type: Fiber
Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices are subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 11/05/24.
High-speed internet in Philadelphia
According to Ookla’s Speedtest.net, Philadelphia has a median internet speed of 237.29 Mbps. Verizon and Xfinity have the highest speed test results in the city, with Verizon reaching almost 250 Mbps and Xfinity around 190 Mbps.
Fiber is usually the fastest type of internet available in most cities, but Xfinity in Philadelphia provides cable internet up to 3,000 Mbps. An ultrafast plan like that can run a small home business, while other work-from-home residents, heavy gamers and streamers are online simultaneously. AT&T is also available in Philadelphia, with plans starting at $55.00/mo. and fiber speeds from 300 to 4,700 Mbps. Verizon is another fiber option with plans from 300 to 940 Mbps.
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Xfinity
- Price: $299.95/mo. for up to 3,000 Mbps
- Connection type: Cable
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Verizon Fios
- Price: $84.99/mo. with mobile plan for up to 2,300 Mbps
- Connection type: Fiber
Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices are subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 11/05/24.
Allconnect Rating
4.33 / 5
Best internet overall: T-Mobile
Although Xfinity offers some of the cheapest internet plans, T-Mobile takes all the guesswork out of your internet bill — no hidden fees, no equipment charges and no price increases. Households that connect many devices at one time might find T-Mobile lacking, but you can cancel anytime if you’re not satisfied. There is only one plan with speeds up to 245 Mbps, but you can save on your plan if you bundle with a mobile line.
Pros
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Affordable pricing, with mobile discount
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Easy setup
Cons
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Erratic speeds
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Must be near a cell tower
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Data caps
T-Mobile Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
3.47 / 5
Best internet for speed: Cox
Cox provides hybrid fiber and cable internet with prices starting at $50.00/mo. Cox offers one of the fastest plans at 2,000 Mbps. Cox plans do have data caps, which isn’t ideal if you have a large home of internet users, and be sure to watch out for price increases. Cox uses Panoramic Wi-Fi, an easy-to-use modem/router combo that is included free for 24 months on most plans.
Pros
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No contracts
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Affordable base plan
Cons
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Data caps
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Price increases
T-Mobile Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
3.81 / 5
Best internet for unlimited data: CenturyLink
CenturyLink’s plans provide internet for households with multiple internet users with no annual contracts starting at $50/mo. You can also get fast fiber speeds up to 1,000 Mbps for $70.00/mo. CenturyLink’s fiber plans offer some of the best value due to the reliability and speed capacity of fiber internet.
Pros
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No contracts
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DIRECTV bundles
Cons
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High fees
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Variable speeds
T-Mobile Customer Reviews:
Allconnect Rating
4.60 / 5
Best internet for low prices: Verizon
Verizon Fios is not only the best internet provider in Philadelphia — it’s one of the best providers anywhere in the country. If you can get it at your address, you should. Verizon offers the best combination of speed and price around, and you’ll get great value out of your plan since fiber is the best type of internet you can get. Verizon plans start at $34.99/mo. and have speeds from 300 – 2,300 (in some locations).
Pros
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Fast fiber connections
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5G internet
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No data limits or contracts
Cons
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Not widely available
Verizon Customer Reviews:
Compare internet providers in cities near Philadelphia
Philadelphia internet service availability by ZIP code
Philadelphia internet provider store locations
Philadelphia internet FAQs
What’s the best home internet service in Philadelphia?
Xfinity is one of the best home internet services in Philadelphia, with starting prices at $25/mo. and 99% of Philadelphia addresses can access it.
Does Philadelphia have fiber internet?
Yes, Philadelphia has 93% fiber internet coverage.
Does the Philadelphia government assist residents with internet costs?
PHLConnectED provides free access to mobile hotspots for income-eligible pre-K-12 households in Philadelphia.
Does Philadelphia have 5G internet?
Yes, Philadelphia has 5G internet. T-Mobile and Verizon both offer 5G home internet service in Philadelphia, but Verizon is the most widely available in the city, with 94% coverage.
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Written by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband Content
Robin Layton is an editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing on the site since January 2020, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMOVE.com…
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Edited by:
Anine SusEditor I
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