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Choosing the best internet service provider (ISP) does not have to be complicated. Unfortunately, when you live in an area with various ISPs to choose from, it is not always easy. To make things easier for you, we’ve assembled a list of the top broadband internet service providers in the United States for this post.
Things to Know First
We ranked several large internet service providers (ISPs) in the United States based on pricing, availability of connection options, download speeds, and customer service scores for this list. Keep in mind that most of these internet service providers provide different prices, connection options, and speeds that vary depending on the area, so what you see may differ from our comparison.
Comcast’s Xfinity service will likely be the most accessible on our list, with coverage in over 41 states throughout the United States. Xfinity’s internet speeds range from 15mbps to 2Gbps. They provide several packages for cable TV, phone, home security, and mobile phone plans, including their most affordable plan, 100Mbps, for $29.99 per month. Despite their great deals, Xfinity’s customer service is known for being consistently bad, being named one of the worst companies in the United States over the years.
AT&T likes to keep things simple. They have two primary plans: Internet 100 and Internet 1000. Every plan starts at $45 for the first 12 months, so you may spend on faster speeds without incurring any additional charges. AT&T does not demand a contract, but it does offer TV and phone packages to sweeten the deal.
- Verizon
Also known as Verizon Fios, they keep things simple with three internet-only plans. The options are $39.99, $59.99, and $79.99 per month, respectively, and offer up to 200, 400, and 940Mbps. Customers who join Verizon may choose from various bundles that include home phone, TV, and cellular options. Verizon also provides prepaid internet service.
- Spectrum
Spectrum also provides three internet-only plans with download speeds ranging from 200 to 940 Mbps and upload speeds ranging from 10 to 35 Mbps. The price starts at $44.99 a month, but it may be less if you choose to combine your internet with TV. Spectrum does not demand a contract and does not charge a fee for your modem.
To offer enticing bundles, CenturyLink heavily relies on bundling with a TV subscription. However, you are welcome to obtain internet-only services with speeds up to 1Gbps. Pricing starts at $49 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps and increases to $65 per month for speeds up to 940Mbps.
Frontier Internet provides its consumers with DSL, cable, and fiber internet connections. It includes areas where there are often few excellent choices. Pricing ranges from $27.99 per month for 6Mbps speeds to $44.99 per month for maximum speeds of up to 45Mbps. It’s a reasonable option for rural areas, but you’ll probably want something faster if it’s accessible. Just like Xfinity, Frontier does not have a good reputation with customer satisfaction.
Cox Internet offers complicated plans. For example, a monthly fee of $29.99 gives you 10Mbps, while an additional $10 gets you 50Mbps. It costs $59.99 a month to upgrade to 150Mbps and an additional $20 to 500Mbps. Finally, 1Gbps speeds are available for $99.99. Prices are competitive, but availability is a problem. Cox Communications operates in only 18 states.
Optimum’s internet service is surprisingly robust, at least in terms of speed. The standard plan costs $29.99 per month and provides speeds of up to 20Mbps, with an additional $15 offering you speeds of up to 200Mbps. At $39.99, 300Mbps speeds are more inexpensive. Lastly, for $64.99 per month, you can have speeds of up to 400Mbps. Optimum has also lately introduced gigabit speeds for $65 per month. Unless you live in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, or a tiny sliver of northeast Pennsylvania, Optimum will not be available to you.
You should not have a problem with Viasat’s availability because the service is based on satellites rather than where you live. However, they offer a shallow data cap, which de-prioritizes your data if you surpass a particular level of utilization each month. Plans are also expensive, with rates increasing every three months. The Unlimited Platinum 100 plan, for example, with speeds of up to 100Mbps, costs $150 per month for the first three months and $200 per month after that.
Mediacom is our last choice for the top internet service providers. Plans begin at 60Mbps for $39.99 and go up from there. Increasing the fee by $10 will offer you 100Mbps speeds, and another $10 would get you 200Mbps. Above that, each tier costs only $10 more per month to get to 500Mbps and 1Gbps. Mediacom offers up to ten times the speed of DSL and unique DOCSIS 3.0 connectivity. You may even save money by bundling a TV package with a home phone line.
Still Unsure About which ISP to Choose?
If you’re still not convinced by our list of the best internet service providers in the United States, you might want to try our services. Windstream is a prominent provider of advanced network communications and technology solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises and a developer of digital signage and in-store experience solutions. For more information, please visit our website or call us at 1-855-626-8452.
