Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.
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Selecting the best internet provider in your area may seem like a daunting task if you're not familiar with the features each one offers.
In addition, you may only have a choice of one or two internet providers available at your address, which means it's even more important to be able to evaluate the available packages.
As technology advances, new types of connections become available, such as fiber optic internet. In this guide to broadband internet and more, I'll give you tips and information that will help you choose the right internet service for your household.
Quickly and easily find out which internet companies operate in your area by entering your ZIP code into our convenient ZIP code checker tool. Get information on speeds, packages, and pricing, all with the click of a button.
Spectrum offers internet, TV & landline services with plans starting at $50.
Plans
Spectrum Internet Only Plans
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
Internet
300 Mbps
$49.99
Internet Ultra
500 Mbps
$69.99
Internet GIG
1000 Mbps
$89.99
Spectrum TV Plans
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
TV Select
125 Channels
$59.99
Spectrum Triple Play Bundles
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
TV Select + Internet + Voice
300 Mbps
125 Channels
Unlimited
$129.97
TV Select + Internet Ultra + Voice
500 Mbps
125 Channels
Unlimited
$149.97
TV Select + Internet GIG + Voice
1000 Mbps
125 Channels
Unlimited
$169.97
Spectrum (formerly Charter), is well known across the country - and for good reason. Their internet plans start at 200 Mbps and they also offer fiber coverage.
Large Coverage - Spectrum covers 24 of the 50 states. Check our coverage map to see if they're available in your area.
Contract Buyout - Spectrum offers an awesome contract buyout promotion for qualifying packages. That means if you're looking to pair TV and phone with your internet Spectrum will cover your fees up to a certain amount.
Improvements - Since charter acquired Time Warner Spectrum, customer service has drastically improved.
Promotions - Oftentimes Spectrum offers deals or sign-up bonuses that can help you out for up to a year.
You've heard the ups but we all know every provider has its downs:
Bill Increases - Remember those promo deals we mentioned? Keep in mind that they do end and oftentimes when your contract is still in play. Additionally, customers often say that their prices increase the longer you stay with them.
Expensive - Spectrum isn't exactly known for the best provider for consumers on a budget. While their promo deals can be tempting you'll want to make sure of what the price will be when they end and factor that into your budget.
Verizon FiOS offers internet, TV & landline services with plans starting at $50.
Plans
Verizon FiOS Internet Only Plans
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
Fios Internet 300 Mbps
300 Mbps
$49.99
Fios Internet 500 Mbps
500 Mbps
$69.99
Fios Gigabit Internet
940 Mbps
$89.99
Verizon FiOS TV Plans
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
Your Fios TV
125 Channels
$70.00
More FIos TV
300 Channels
$90.00
The Most Fios TV
425 Channels
$110.00
Verizon FiOS Triple Play Bundles
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
Your Fios TV + Internet 300 + Home Phone
300 Mbps
125 Channels
Unlimited
$139.99
More Fios TV + Internet 300 + Home Phone
300 Mbps
300 Channels
Unlimited
$159.99
The Most Fios TV + Internet 300 + Home Phone
300 Mbps
425 Channels
Unlimited
$179.99
There are some awesome fiber Internet providers out there like Google Fiber or AT&T Fiber. But of all those providers we've picked our favorite - Verizon FiOS.
FiOS has Speed - Verizon FiOS offers speed up to 940 Mbps. This works well for high-streaming households, gaming households, or even a small business.
Customer Service - Verizon has the best customer service rating amongst all other providers.
Discounts - Like most providers, Verizon FiOS offers promo discounts for new users. And unlike Spectrum, the longer you commit, the better the deal.
Sounds great right? Now here is the downside:
Coverage - Verizon FiOS is only available in nine states. Check out our coverage map of Verizon FiOS to see if it's available in your area.
HughesNet offers internet service with plans starting at $50.
Plans
HughesNet Internet Only Plans
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
Internet 30GB
25 Mbps
$49.99
Internet 50GB
25 Mbps
$64.99
Internet 100GB
25 Mbps
$99.99
Satellite internet providers offer nationwide coverage, meaning you can almost certainly choose this provider. But with coverage not being an option what else do they have to offer? Lots.
In the battle of HughesNet vs Viasat (the two largest satellite providers) HughesNet comes out on top. Here's why:
Speed - HughesNet service can support up to several devices no matter what plan you choose.
Coverage - obviously.
Price - Compared to ViaSat, HughesNet offers cheaper plans.
As a consumer, you should keep in mind that there's often cons that come with pros like the ones HughesNet has.
Customer Service - HughesNet has low customer service rating with complaints from tech support to reliability.
Speed Limitations - HughesNet has data caps that reduce your speed after you allocated billed amount.
Best cheap internet provider
Frontier Internet
Download
50-1,000 Mbps
Channels
Calls
Monthly Price
$50-80
39 User Reviews
Pros
No data caps
Solid speeds to some rural areas
Good range of plans
TV and phone bundles available
Price lock or no-contract options
Cons
Contract required with fiber
Fiber isn't widely available
Some reports of hit or miss DSL speeds
Frontier offers internet & landline services with plans starting at $50.
Plans
Frontier Internet Only Plans
Package
Internet
TV
Phone
Price
FiberOptic 50
50 Mbps
$49.99
FiberOptic 500
500 Mbps
$59.99
FiberOptic Gig
1000 Mbps
$79.99
We know the internet is a "must-have" these days but let's be honest.. it comes with a price.. literally. And it's not cheap! If you're looking for internet on a budget, Frontier is your provider.
Speed - As far as cheap internet goes, this will be your fastest provider.
Bundle and Save - Frontier offers both TV and home phone and the more you bundle, the more you save.
Data - Does your household require high data? You're in luck. Frontier supports streaming and gaming.
Remember what we've taught you though, there's always some sort of downside. For Frontier it's:
Data Caps - your service will slow after you've reached the allotted amount.
Internet provider availability by ZIP code
Considerations when comparing internet providers
Here are a few factors to take into consideration:
Speed: 25 Mbps is sufficient for email, browsing the web, watching HD videos, and playing games. Look for 100 Mbps or more if multiple people in the house stream video, download large files, and/or engage in competitive online games.
Equipment: The most economical choice is to buy your own modem. Most large internet providers provide their customers with a list of approved equipment you can purchase. Additionally, if you want wireless internet you'll need a decent quality router.
Contract: Commitment terms vary widely. Cheap internet providers usually require at least a one-year contract in order to get their advertised pricing. If you want to avoid a contract you may end up paying a little more per month.
Data caps: It's frustrating to hunt down, say, the best internet for gaming, only to find that you tear through your data allotment halfway through the billing cycle. Make sure you read the terms and conditions.
Customer service: We've all been there - the internet suddenly goes down for no apparent reason. You don't have time to sit on hold for hours, waiting for a tech to get to you. Check out the American Customer Satisfaction Index to see which companies rate the highest.
The best internet service varies due to where you live and what you're looking for from your internet. You can find out what providers are available in your area and compare internet plans depending on your needs.
Which is the best and fastest service provider?
Xfinity often comes up as one of the best and fastest providers on its fiber-based service.
What's the best home internet deal?
There's a large choice of internet providers, but AT&T, Verizon Fios, Spectrum, Optimum, and Xfinity are commonly voted to have the best internet deals.
Who are the best internet providers in my area?
The best depends on your budget and internet needs. Check your ZIP code to find internet providers available in your area for the best deals.
Recap
Location, location, location. That's ultimately going to be the dictating factor when it comes to choosing an internet provider. Be sure to check your area using our convenient internet provider ZIP code checker to see what is available to you.
With many great options on the table, knowing what you can actually get in your home should be the first thing you consider when shopping for an internet provider.
Though it's not the fastest connection type, it can reach virtually anywhere in the U.S. For those looking for the cheapest Internet option available, DSL service will do the trick.
No matter where you live, you'll be sure to find an option that works for your household and budget.
