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Best business internet providers

By Robin Layton Last updated: October 12, 2023

Fiber internet business plans provide symmetrical upload and download speeds, which can allow businesses of any size to work faster and more efficiently. Call us to learn more about business internet options.

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Compare top business internet providers

Business internet is a great option for those who need fast upload and download speeds, a guaranteed reliable connection and multiple devices to be able to be online at a time. Although business internet takes the stress out of connecting to the internet, it does come with higher starting prices.

*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 05/04/23.
**Wireless speeds may vary. ***Prices without Autopay and Paperless Billing. Exclusive offer for qualified addresses. For new residential Internet customers only. Max speed capable range for 500 Mbps (450-500 Mbps download/upload), Gig Service (846-940 Mbps download, 792-880 Mbps upload), 2 Gig (1800-2000 Mbps download/upload) and requires 2 Gbps capable devices and wiring. Performance details: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Beginning April 2022, a printed bill fee of $2.99/mo. will apply, NY, PA and select customers excluded. A $10 fee applies when Internet is disconnected. Equipment return required at disconnection, up to $150 per device if not returned. Multi-Device Security covers up to 10 devices. Other applicable charges and additional services are extra.  Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. Last updated 10/10/23.

Find business internet in your area

Unlike your home internet, some internet service providers don’t offer business internet in all of their coverage areas. Allconnect can help you navigate the choices available to you. 

You’ll want to have a good idea of how many employees you have accessing the internet at the same time in order to know what speed your business internet plan should have.

When providers advertise their speed plans, they tend to only talk about the download speeds. However, both upload and download speeds are essential for running a business. Download speed is how quickly information will be received by your router, like in a search engine inquiry or email program. Upload speeds refer to how quickly your system can load an image or file onto a web server, like emailing a photo to a client or loading new info onto your company’s website. 

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Our picks for the best business internet providers 

Jump to section: 

  • AT&T – Best for reliability
  • CenturyLink – Best cheap business internet 
  • Frontier – Best for fast starting speeds  
  • Verizon – Best for symmetrical upload speeds 
  • Xfinity – Best for availability

The listed providers are some of the most widely available and well-rated providers throughout the U.S. You can expect at least one of these providers to be available in your area unless you live in a particularly remote area. If none of these providers are available, consider a DSL or satellite provider, knowing these are not ideal for large businesses that require a lot of bandwidth.

Best for reliability: AT&T 300 Mbps

The 300 or 500 Mbps plan is probably your best bet to ensure fast enough upload and download speeds without breaking the bank each month. AT&T fiber service is available to about 11% of the U.S., mostly in the Midwest and South.

Pros

  • Fast speeds: AT&T’s 500 Mbps is great for smallt to medium businesses with up to 50 individuals

  • Extra security: ActiveArmor is included with all AT&T Business Fiber plans at no extra cost

Cons

  • High starting price: $75 is a bit higher than other providers

  • Availability issues: AT&T’s fiber connections are only available in certain areas

AT&T business internet plans and pricing

Although both of CenturyLink’s plans are some of the cheapest business internet plans available, the fiber internet 940 Mbps plan is a particularly good value. For nearly 10x the speed, you only have to pay an additional $20/mo. However, Xfinity has a $39/mo. plan, but it’s only for up to 50 Mbps, which will not do much for a small business. CenturyLink fiber is available in about 2% of the country, centered in the northern Midwest and Western parts.

Pros

  • Low starting price: $55/mo.

  • Affordable Gig plan: $75/mo.

Cons

  • Slower speeds: Uses DSL instead of fiber for the Business Internet plan, so not as many people can be connected at once as with fiber service

  • Limited plan options: There are just plans available

CenturyLink business internet plans and pricing

Best for fast starting speeds: Frontier

Frontier’s Business Fiber 500 plan offers symmetrical upload/download speeds and costs below $65/mo. If you want the best value available, Frontier’s Business Fiber 500 is an excellent choice.

Pros

  • Good plan options: From 500 Mbps to 2 Gigs, which can run an enterprise business up to 100 people

  • Latest tech: Wi-Fi 6E router included with plans

Cons

  • Expensive Gig plan: $85/mo. is steeper than some other providers

Frontier Fiber business internet plans and pricing

*Prices without Autopay and Paperless Billing. Exclusive offer for qualified addresses. For new residential Internet customers only. Max speed capable range for 500 Mbps (450-500 Mbps download/upload), Gig Service (846-940 Mbps download, 792-880 Mbps upload), 2 Gig (1800-2000 Mbps download/upload) and requires 2 Gbps capable devices and wiring. Performance details: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Beginning April 2022, a printed bill fee of $2.99/mo. will apply, NY, PA and select customers excluded. A $10 fee applies when Internet is disconnected. Equipment return required at disconnection, up to $150 per device if not returned. Multi-Device Security covers up to 10 devices. Other applicable charges and additional services are extra.  Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. Last updated 10/10/23.

Best symmetrical upload speeds: Verizon

Although Verizon’s price points are a little higher than some of the other providers that offer business internet, it is worth it if you know you will be uploading large files regularly. Verizon is one of the few providers that offer symmetrical or close-to-symmetrical upload speeds for all of its plans. Verizon fiber is available throughout much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, covering 9% of the U.S.

Pros

  • Fiber connections: Verizon’s symmetrical 100 Mbps can power a small business of up to 10

  • No risk trial: 30-day money back guarantee on 2-year term

Cons

  • Expensive: The top-end plan is $249/mo.

Verizon business internet plans and pricing

Best for availability: Xfinity

The 50 Mbps plan is not fast enough for most businesses, so if you choose Xfinity, go with the 250 Mbps or 500 Mbps plans. Xfinity is the largest U.S. cable internet service provider, available in parts of 40 states.

Pros

  • Several plan options: Plans get cheaper with 2-3 contracts

  • Wide availability: Xfinity serves the Western, Central/Southern and Northeast regions of the country.

Cons

  • Expensive: The 1.25 Gbps plan is $199.99/mo

Xfinity business internet plans and pricing

Call us to learn more about business internet options.

Call (866) 983-3427

What internet speeds do you need to run a business?

Fiber is your best bet for your connection because the upload speeds are symmetrical with your download speeds. That makes it possible for you to upload documents, share presentations to multiple devices, etc., much faster than other types of internet.

The best speeds for business internet by size are:

  • 50 Mbps: Up to 10 users, with email and a point-of-sale system
  • 100 Mbps: Up to 10 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security and HD, 4K video streaming
  • 500 Mbps: Up to 50 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security, HD, 4K video streaming and large file transfer capability
  • 1 Gbps: Up to 100 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security, HD, 4K video streaming and large file transfer capability
  • 2 Gbps and up: Over 100 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security, HD, 4K video streaming, large file transfer capability and cloud hosting

What internet speed do you need for small businesses?

Small businesses will likely want at least 100 Mbps. The more devices you will have online at a time, the faster the speeds you will need. Additionally, if you need to upload large files frequently, you should either pick a plan faster than 100 Mbps or a fiber plan that has symmetrical upload and download speeds, such as Frontier or Verizon.

What internet speed do you need for large businesses?

Large businesses, with users from 50 to 100, should consider fiber plans around 500 Mbps and higher. Two key aspects of large business internet to look for are scalability – can the service grow with your business – and tech support. No business can afford downtime, so access to 24/7 quality tech support is critical.

Business internet vs. home internet

The best thing about using business internet over a regular residential connection is that you will receive a dedicated line, which means you will not need to share your internet connection with anyone outside of your company. You will also get a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that guarantees certain speeds as opposed to a best-effort service agreement that you tend to get with a home internet plan.

What we like

  • Faster starting speeds – With business internet plans, you can expect to see most plans starting at 100 Mbps as opposed to 10, 15 or 25 Mbps.

  • Better upload speeds – Upload speeds on a business internet plan will be faster than a home plan, especially with symmetrical upload/download speeds.

Things to consider

  • Can be pricey – Fiber small business plans start around $60/mo., but if you have a medium to large business, prices can skyrocket into the hundreds per month.

  • Fewer options – In most areas, there are not as many providers to choose from for business internet compared to home internet.

Business internet FAQs

Is business internet faster than home internet?

Yes, starting speeds tend to be faster with business internet. The biggest difference between business internet speed and home internet speeds, however, has to do more with upload speeds than with download speeds.

Yes, you can get business internet for your home since many small businesses are run at home. Since starting prices tend to be more expensive with business internet than with home internet, make sure you truly need the added benefits of business internet, such as faster upload speeds and Service Level Agreements.

Yes, any internet service provider can set up a Wi-Fi network for your business after you purchase an internet plan from them. Keep in mind, though, that a hardwired system with Ethernet cables will provide your working environment with the best possible speeds.

A fiber connection will provide the fastest speeds available in your area for any business operation.

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Robin Layton

Written by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

Robin Layton is an editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing for four years on the site, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMOVE.com. … Read more

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