Internet providers in your area

How can you find internet service providers in your area?

By Joe Supan Last updated: September 21, 2021

If you’re searching for “internet in my area” online, chances are you’re moving or are stuck in a bad relationship with one of the other major providers. The industry has the least satisfied customers in America, and many people don’t have any way to improve their situation — about 1 in 4 Americans only have one broadband provider in their area.

That’s due to a complicated array of factors: The high cost of building broadband infrastructure in such a large country, telecommunications monopolies and inaccurate reporting from the FCC all contribute to the problem. But the internet has actually been improving in the U.S. We currently have the 11th fastest speeds in the world at nearly 200 Mbps, and government programs like the Emergency Broadband Benefit have succeeded in getting more people online.

Compare the best service providers for home internet

Comparing 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. Not all providers will be available in your area, but you can use this list to see how the largest ones compare to what’s available near you.

*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 09/17/21.

Where to find the best internet providers

When shopping for a new internet service provider, 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. Broadband access can vary significantly even in a single community, where one side of a street has access to fiber optic, for instance, and the other side does not.

If fiber optic internet is available in your area, it will almost always give you the fastest, most reliable speeds for the best value. If you can’t get fiber, your next best option is cable internet, but DSL may be a better choice if you’re looking for the cheapest plans. Lastly, satellite is a common go-to internet service in rural areas where fiber and cable are not available. Residents of rural areas may want to consider fixed wireless providers since they often have lower latency and higher data allowances than satellite providers.

Internet availability and service areas

• AT&T – Available in 21 states. Primary internet service areas include the South, Midwest and parts of the West Coast.

• CenturyLink – Available in 35 states. Primary internet service areas include the Northwest, Southwest and Midwest.

• Cox – Available in 19 states. Primary internet service areas include the Southwest, Central U.S. and the Northeast.

• Frontier – Available in 25 states. Primary internet service areas include the Midwest, Northeast, parts of the South and Texas.

• HughesNet – Available in all 50 states. Primary internet service areas include rural areas across the U.S.

• Spectrum – Available in 41 states. Primary internet service areas include the South, Midwest and West Coast.

• Verizon – Available in eight states. Primary internet service areas include the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

• Xfinity – Available in 39 states. Primary internet service areas include the Northwest, Great Lakes region and eastern U.S.

Source: FCC Fixed Broadband Deployment

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