Best Internet Providers of 2025: Our Reviewers Give Their Top Picks

Best overall
Google Fiber
Google Fiber
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
Starts at$70/mo
  • pro
    Download speeds: 1,000–8,000Mbps
  • pro
    Superb speeds with no extra fees
  • Fire Emoji
    Free professional installation
Best reliability
AT&T Fiber
AT&T Internet
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
Starts at$55/mo
  • pro
    Download speeds: 75–5,000Mbps
  • pro
    Great customer support and fiber connectivity
  • Fire Emoji
    Save 20% when you bundle with AT&T Wireless
Best availability
Spectrum
Spectrum Internet®
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9
Starts at$25/mo
  • pro
    Download speeds: 72–245Mbps
  • pro
    Top value for when you can’t get fiber
  • Fire Emoji
    Get a Spectrum Mobile Unlimited line for a year
Best for budget users
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
Starts at$50/mo
  • pro
    Download speeds: 50–1,000Mbps
  • pro
    Simple setup and happy customers
  • Fire Emoji
    5-Year Price Guarantee included
Best satellite
Starlink
Starlink
3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7
Starts at$120/mo
  • pro
    Download speeds: 30–220Mbps
  • pro
    Reliable and portable rural Wi-Fi
  • Fire Emoji
    $0 Starlink Kit with 12-month commitment (select areas)
Peter Holslin
Kelly Huh
Jun 11, 2025
Icon Time To Read14 min read

We analyzed top internet service providers (ISPs) according to speed, reliability, availability, affordability, and connection type. In 2025, the best internet provider is Google Fiber, which delivers superb performance over gigabit and multi-gigabit speeds all at a fair price, with unlimited data and no extra fees.

A strong runner-up is AT&T Fiber, which also offers fast and reliable speeds. Overall, a fiber-optic service should be the top choice for any internet customer because it delivers fast, symmetrical speeds and isn’t prone to interference like cable, 5G, or satellite internet.

If Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber aren’t available, you might have better luck finding Spectrum, a cable internet provider which delivers fast download speeds at a good price point. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is also a top contender for its nationwide availability and affordable plans. For rural folks, Starlink is the best satellite provider due to its low latency and superior customer experience.

Keep reading for our expert deep dive into fine-print pricing details, nitty-gritty tech specs, and customer feedback on the best internet service providers.

Share your experience and rate your internet provider

Your feedback helps others find the right internet provider. Whether your experience was great, frustrating, or somewhere in between, we want to hear about it.

Google Fiber: Best overall

Google Fiber
Google Fiber
4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9
Prices
$70-$150
Speed and reliability
5.0/5
Dollar value
4.8/5
Customer experience
4.5/5

Our take: Although prices look high (at least up front), Google Fiber gets top ratings for dollar value in our review because it offers you the best connection you could possibly get for a totally reasonable price: The $70 a month price tag doesn’t look so shabby when you consider that slower plans from many competitors end up costing about the same once you factor in extra fees and price hikes.

Even Google Fiber’s baseline plan is incredibly fast, delivering symmetrical uploads and downloads of 1,000Mbps. It also delivers the fastest speeds in our Fastest Internet Providers report, which helps explain why we give it a perfect score for speed and reliability. Like an exotic bird, Google Fiber is available in only a handful of cities nationwide. Customers we spoke to had lots positive things to say—so if you can get Google Fiber in your area, you absolutely should. Read our Google Fiber review.

What is the monthly cost of Google Fiber?

Google Fiber costs $70 per month for the 1Gbps internet plan, $100 per month for the 2Gbps plan, $125 per month for the 5Gbps plan, and $150 per month for the 8Gbps plan. Google Fiber comes with unlimited data and doesn't include an annual contract or extra fees for installation or equipment.

Google Fiber recently released three new internet packages: Core 1 Gig for $70 per month, Home 3 Gig for $100 per month, and Edge 8 Gig for $150 per month. These new "lifestyle" plans offer advanced features like battery backup, priority room optimization, and a 25% bill credit for outages. Sadly, they are only available in some states, including Alabama, Tennessee, Arizona, and North Carolina; however, Google has plans to expand to other locations soon. 

Is Google Fiber faster than 5G?

Yes, Google Fiber is much faster than 5G. A fiber-optic plan on Google Fiber can reach speeds up to 8Gbps, while the absolute fastest 5G home internet plan tops out at 1Gbps. Google Fiber also provides a more reliable and steady connection than a wireless 5G connection, with speeds that don't fluctuate because of network congestion or other issues.

Is Google Fiber better than cable?

Yes, Google Fiber is better than cable internet. Google Fiber's fiber-optic connection promises faster and more stable internet speeds. Unlike cable, Google Fiber also delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds, giving you significantly more upload bandwidth to support gaming, file uploads, posting to social media, livestreams, and VR.

Google Fiber internet plans and prices

Plan
Price
Download speed
Details
1 Gig$70/mo.*Up to 1000 Mbps
Core 1 Gig$70/mo.Up to 1000 Mbps
1 Gig$70/mo.*Up to 1000 Mbps
2 Gig$100/mo.*Up to 2000 Mbps
Home 3 Gig$100/mo.Up to 3000 Mbps
5 Gig$125/mo.Up to 5000 Mbps
8 Gig$150/mo.Up to 8000 Mbps
Edge 8 Gig$150/mo.Up to 8000 Mbps
* Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
Available in select markets only. Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.

AT&T Fiber: Best reliability

AT&T Fiber
AT&T Internet
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
Prices
$55-$245
Speed and reliability
4.3/5
Dollar value
3.8/5
Customer experience
4.8/5

Our take: Although it doesn’t have the same blockbuster ratings as Google Fiber, don’t be discouraged—AT&T Fiber delivers excellent service and has a particularly solid record for customer experience. Available across 21 states, AT&T Fiber offers generous terms: Unlimited data, no annual contract, and frequent deals (including bill credits and other monetary benefits) offered to new customers account for the reason why it ranks well above average for dollar value in our review. “I’ll remain loyal to AT&T internet as long as I’m able,” San Diego customer Lauren Hannula told us in our review.

“I’ll remain loyal to AT&T internet as long as I’m able.” - San Diego customer Lauren Hannula

AT&T Fiber has invested heavily in building out its fiber footprint across the country, making it your best bet for an incredibly reliable fiber connection. You simply can’t beat multi-gigabit speeds or symmetrical uploads, hence why we give it a generous rating for speed and reliability.

Although the company offers speeds up to 5,000Mbps, you can get the most bang for your buck from one of the mid-tier plans—symmetrical 300Mbps download and upload speeds deliver a lot of bandwidth for a small or midsize household. Read our AT&T Internet review.

How much is the cheapest AT&T Fiber plan?

The cheapest AT&T Fiber internet plan costs $55 a month and gives you 300Mbps upload and download speeds. Read our guide on how to lower your AT&T internet bill as much as possible.

Can you bundle AT&T Fiber?

You can bundle AT&T Fiber with a wireless plan to get 20% off your internet plan. AT&T also offers bundling options with DIRECTV, but you don't get a discount on your DIRECTV service—you’re just adding it to your home internet plan while still paying full price.

Does AT&T have Wi-Fi hotspots?

Similar to Xfinity, AT&T offers Wi-Fi hotspots across the nation. So if you can’t find the Wi-Fi password posted at your favorite coffee shop, you can just hop on an AT&T hotspot to browse Instagram or check your work email. 

AT&T internet plans and prices

Plan
Price
Download speed
Details
AT&T Fiber Internet 300$55/mo.Up to 300 Mbps
AT&T Fiber Internet 100$60/mo.^Up to 100 Mbps
AT&T Fiber Internet 500$65/mo.Up to 500 Mbps
AT&T Internet Fiber 1 GIG$80/mo.Up to 1000 Mbps
AT&T Internet Fiber 2 GIG$145/mo.Up to 2000 Mbps
AT&T Internet Fiber 5 GIG$245/mo.Up to 5000 Mbps
AT&T Internet Air$60/mo.°Up to 300 Mbps
Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.
^ Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more. Pricing includes Equipment Fee. Up to $99 install fee may apply, plus tax where applicable.
° $60/mo after $5 discount when enrolled in Autopay. Paperless billing req’d. Not available in NY. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. . Service subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. Offers may be modified, or discontinued, at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply to all offers. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.

Spectrum Internet: Best availability

Spectrum
Spectrum Internet
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9
Prices
$50–$70/mo. for 12 mos.
Speed and reliability
4.0/5
Dollar value
3.8/5
Customer experience
4.0/5

Our take: If you can’t get fiber, you should get cable internet—and Spectrum gets you a solid and reliable cable connection with fast speeds and generous terms. The cable provider ranks up there with AT&T in terms of speed and reliability because it gets respectable speed-test results and many customers we talked to said they didn’t worry too much about outages or slowdowns. “They’re very affordable, and if I’m having an issue, they’re very good about troubleshooting,” one longtime Spectrum customer in Queens, New York, told us.

The provider’s slow upload speeds certainly can’t top fiber. But Spectrum Internet is widely available nationwide, and it delivers excellent download speeds for decent prices. Also, you don’t have to worry about data caps or annual contracts. Cable companies tend to be regarded as impenetrable monoliths, but this is clearly a cable company that meets customers’ needs where it counts. Read our Spectrum Internet review.

Can you get Spectrum with just internet?

Yes, you can get Spectrum with just internet. Customers are able to bundle their Spectrum internet service with a Spectrum cable TV package or a Spectrum Mobile cellular phone plan, but you can also order internet alone without a bundle.

What is the cheapest Spectrum Internet plan?

The cheapest Spectrum internet plan costs $50 a month for 12 months and gives you download speeds of 500Mbps. Some families may also qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist, an internet package for low-income households that costs $24.99 a month and delivers 50Mbps speeds.

Does Spectrum offer discounts to existing customers?

In most cases, Spectrum does not offer discounts to existing customers. But there are ways to lower your Spectrum internet bill. As we write in our guide to Spectrum deals, try calling customer service to bring your monthly bill back to promo rates, or even going into a brick-and-mortar shop to haggle for a discount or promotion. You can also get discounts when you bundle your internet with a mobile phone plan via Spectrum Mobile.

Spectrum Internet plans and prices

Plan
Price*
Speed
View plans
Spectrum Internet Premier$50/mo. for 12 mos.**Up to 500 Mbps
Spectrum Premier w/ Spectrum Advanced WiFi$60/mo. for 12 mos.Up to 500 Mbps
Spectrum Internet Gig$70/mo. for 12 mos.††Up to 1000 Mbps
** Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
†† Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Best for budget users

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
Prices
$50-$160
Speed and reliability
4.0/5
Dollar value
4.8/5
Customer experience
5.0/5

Our take: A relatively new service, T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet runs over the provider’s 5G cellular network and delivers solid speeds for a competitive price. The speeds aren’t the greatest (you may see fluctuations due to the wireless connection), but lots of customers have given the service positive reviews—hence why it gets a particularly strong rating for customer experience in our review.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is incredibly easy to set up and it doesn’t cost too much, with a simplified pricing structure and extra perks (such as unlimited data and sign-up promos for customers) that make it an excellent alternative to the complex pricing tiers of cable internet. Plus, you get a monthly discount when you pair it with a qualifying T-Mobile cellular plan. Read our T-Mobile 5G Home Internet review.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet speeds

Most folks will get download speeds up to 415Mbps, which is more than enough for your usual streaming and gaming household. The speed you get with 5G home internet all depends on your proximity to a 5G tower—the closer you are, the more likely you are to get a reliable connection.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet availability

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is expanding around the country, but there's still plenty of spots without access (especially in rural areas). The easiest way to find out if you can get T-Mobile 5G Home Internet in your neck of the woods is by entering your ZIP code below and looking for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet to pop up.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plans and prices

Plan
Price
Price with mobile plan
Speed
View plans
Rely Internet$50/mo. w/ AutoPay‡‡$40/mo.Up to 318 Mbps
Amplified Internet$60/mo. w/ AutoPay‡‡$40/mo.Up to 415 Mbps
All-In Internet$70/mo. w/ AutoPay‡‡$40/mo.Up to 415 Mbps
‡‡ with AutoPay, taxes and fees included.

Starlink: Best satellite internet provider

Starlink
Starlink
3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7
Prices
$120–$500
Speed and reliability
3.8/5
Dollar value
3.0/5
Customer experience
4.3/5

Our take: If you’re looking specifically for internet in a rural area, Starlink can’t be beat. Elon Musk’s much-hyped satellite service offers unlimited data at 100Mbps+ download speeds, which is surprisingly fast considering that you’re getting a connection beamed from 342 miles above Earth.

Having satellite internet once meant rationing your data usage to a maddening degree, but Starlink gets high marks for customer experience in our review because its unlimited data and tiered soft limits give you more flexibility than what you get from rivals Viasat and Hughesnet. You still need to shell out a pretty penny for equipment and monthly fees. But Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites chart shorter distances for data to travel, and you can get portable versions of Starlink that fit in an RV or even a backpack. Read our Starlink review.

How much does Starlink cost?

Starlink internet costs $120 a month for the standard service, plus a one-time fee of $349 or $449 (depending on where you live) to cover the standard antenna-and-router kit. Starlink Mini, Mobile, and Priority plans cost between $50 and $5,000 a month, depending on whether you’re using it for an RV or boat and how much priority data you need. You also have to pay a fee for the mobile equipment.

To cut costs where you can, read our guide on how to lower your Starlink bill.

How long is the waitlist for Starlink?

Starlink no longer has a waitlist for its service. The satellite provider now has enough bandwidth capacity to serve customers across the United States.

What is the downside of Starlink?

Like all satellite internet providers, the downsides of Starlink include higher prices than standard fixed wired internet providers, slower speeds, and higher latency than what you'd get from a cable or fiber internet plan. However, Starlink’s downsides are justified because you're able to get internet service in remote areas and vehicles that wouldn't be connected to Wi-Fi otherwise.

Starlink internet plans and prices

Plan
Price
Speed
Details
Residential$120/mo.^^Up to 150 Mbps
Priority 40GB$140/mo.Up to 220 Mbps
Priority 1TB$250/mo.^^Up to 220 Mbps
Starlink Mobile Priority $250.00–$5,000.00/mo.^^40–220Mbps
^^ Plus hardware, shipping & handling fees, and tax. Fully refundable. Depending on location, some orders may take 2 weeks or more to fulfill.

Compare the best internet providers—Plans and prices

Provider
Prices
Speeds
View plans
Google Fiber$70-$150*1000-8000 Mbps
AT&T Fiber$55-$245°°100-5000 Mbps
Spectrum$50-$7050-1000 Mbps***
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet$50-$70†††292-415 Mbps
Starlink$50-$5000‡‡‡100-220 Mbps
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.
* Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
°° Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes $ fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
*** Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
††† w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
‡‡‡ Plus hardware, shipping & handling fees, and tax. Fully refundable. Depending on location, some orders may take 6 months or more to fulfill.

A fiber internet provider is almost always your best bet for home internet—the price, speeds, and reliability simply can’t be beat.

In our Google Fiber review, we point out that this fiber provider is like an exotic bird—a marvel of incredible reliability and great value, yet available in only a handful of cities. Even if you don’t exactly need 1,000Mbps on your home internet plan (or 5,000Mbps … or 8,000mbps), you’re better off picking Google Fiber over pretty much any other internet provider that comes your way because you get the most bang for your buck with ultra-fast speeds at a fair price.

AT&T maintains probably the largest fiber network in the country and offers a range of speed tiers, offering you budget-friendly packages and the option to go all out with multi-gigabit speeds for a premium fee. Take a look at our internet speed guide to see how much bandwidth works best for you.

Your other two best options are cable internet and 5G home internet. If you can’t get fiber, we recommend cable provider Spectrum since it offers a solid deal with unlimited data, no annual contracts, and mobile and internet bundle deals through Spectrum Mobile. T-Mobile’s cost-effective 5G Home Internet plan is best for budget users and folks who live in areas with limited internet options.

As for satellite internet—well, it’s expensive and slow, but in very remote areas it’s sometimes the only available option. If you absolutely have to get satellite internet, Starlink is your best bet. Once you get past the high startup costs, you can breathe easy with reliable speeds and unlimited data.

Methodology: How we picked the best internet providers

The Reviews.org editorial team compiled this list of the best internet providers by selecting the highest-rated providers across categories we recognize as the most significant consumer use cases. We take a holistic approach in determining these categories, as customers have limited options due to their location and budget.

To select the best provider for each category, we look at the overall quality ratings taken from our comprehensive reviews of every major internet service provider (ISP). Our editorial team bases this rating on a proprietary calculation that encompasses 15 major aspects of an internet service, organized into three main pillars: Speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience. Each pillar gets a 1–5 star rating, which we average to provide an overall quality rating.

how we review products and services

To inform this rating, all providers we review undergo a thorough research process that involves analyzing performance data extracted from customer speed tests, diving into the fine print of contracts, interviewing real customers, interacting with customer service, reading reputable customer satisfaction reports, and checking availability through the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map. Once we know every provider inside and out, we’re then able to step back and compare every ISP and ultimately recommend the best internet provider for users depending on their use case.

At Reviews.org, we believe boring internet is usually the best internet. Most customers just want dependable service for an affordable price, so that’s what we look for in the best internet providers. If you want to know more about how we review internet providers, see our How We Test Internet guide for a full rundown.

What if I can’t get any of the internet providers on this list?

If none of these best providers are available where you live, aim to sign up with a fiber or cable internet provider that gives you speeds of 300Mbps or faster for a price that fits your budget. Home internet costs about $81 a month on average, but you can get decent Wi-Fi for less in many parts of the country. In a rural area, try a fixed wireless or satellite internet provider.

Scroll further down this page to see a crash course on buying internet for your humble abode. You can also run a search with your zip code below to see what internet options are available in your area. 

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Find internet in your area.

Honorable mentions: Other great internet providers

Although we picked out the best internet providers above, you can likely find other great options where you live. The internet providers below are all standouts too—you’d be pleased getting home internet from any of them. We picked them because they also performed well in our reviews and stand out for awesome speed and reliability, excellent dollar value, and smooth customer experience.

Verizon

Verizon Fios—Fantastic fiber for the Northeast

Fiber provider Verizon Fios gets top ratings across multiple customer surveys, and it has a great reputation for its reliability, speeds, infrequent outages, and record-low latency rates. The price is right (starting at $49.99 a month) and you don’t have to worry about data caps or extra fees. Fios is only available on the East Coast, but Verizon’s recent efforts to acquire Frontier means access may grow soon. Read our Verizon Fios review.

Quantum Fiber

Quantum Fiber—Competitive fiber prices

Formerly sold under the CenturyLink name, Quantum Fiber offers high-speed symmetrical broadband for a solid price—either $50 or $75 a month, depending on the plan. The 500Mbps plan delivers much faster speeds for the price of a slower fiber plan from some of its competitors, and a Price for Life guarantee locks in your rate until you quit. Read our Quantum Fiber review.

Frontier

Frontier—Affordable fiber and YouTube TV discounts

A recently announced acquisition from Verizon means Frontier’s customers may eventually become Verizon customers, but for now, Frontier remains a solid option—especially if you’re in one of the 25 states where it’s available. You can still take advantage of this fiber-forward provider’s excellent rates, fast download speeds, and the $10 a month off you get on YouTube TV for your first year of service. Read our Frontier Internet review.

Xfinity

Xfinity—Nationwide cable with decent prices

Xfinity delivers fast internet speeds over a cable connection in 39 states, holding its own against top-notch fiber-optic brands in our Fastest Internet Providers lineup (according to our Xfinity speed test).New customers can get low introductory prices and a sweet mobile and internet bundle, and you may be able to snag a deal after a year or two if you play your cards right with customer service. Read our Xfinity review.

Astound Broadband

Astound Broadband—Deals aplenty on cable internet

Low starting prices and sign-up deals for new customers make this cable internet provider a great pick for anyone who needs to save some bucks. Depending on your service area, deals include multi-year price locks, a one-year free Astound Unlimited phone line, and a $100 Amazon gift card. Read our Astound Broadband review.

Viasat

Viasat—Another great satellite provider

With no contracts and no data caps, Viasat’s recently-launched Viasat Unleashed package makes for a cost-effective pick for rural users who need reliable Wi-Fi under the starlight in remote parts of the United States. Use these seven tips to lower costs on your Viasat internet bill. Read our Viasat review.

Verizon

Verizon 5G Home Internet—Great speeds and even better discounts

The main competitor to T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service offers faster speeds and a larger array of sign-up deals and discounts. This cellular-based 5G service is especially worth the price if you’re already a Verizon customer, because you can get up to $25 a month off when you also have a qualifying cellular phone plan. Read our Verizon 5G Home Internet review.

Shopping for internet? Here’s what you need to know

Since not every reader lives in an area with access to these providers, let’s give you some context to help understand how to pick an internet provider. The main things to consider in your research are:

  • Availability
  • Connection type
  • Price
  • Speed

Availability is the main deciding factor

The best internet provider for you depends heavily on where you live. ISPs aren’t available everywhere, so you might only have a few options you can choose from.

To make sure you’re aware of all your options, use our availability tool below. Simply type in your zip code and hit “Search Providers” to get all the plans and prices available in your area.

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Find the best internet providers in your area

What internet connection type should you get?

  • Fastest speeds: Fiber and cable internet offer the fastest and most reliable speeds.
  • Most affordable: 5G home internet offers the most affordable prices that include extras like unlimited data and router rental. They also include free self-installation and don't have contracts.
  • Widest availability: 5G home internet and satellite internet are great for rural residents. 
Connection type
Prices
Speeds
Fiber internet$19.99–$299.99/mo.100–10,000Mbps
Cable internet$20.00–$120.00/mo.25–1,200Mbps
5G home internet$30.00–$95.00/mo.72–1,000Mbps
DSL internet$34.99–$99.99/mo.1–100Mbps
Satellite internet$49.99–$5,000.00/mo.5–220Mbps
Rural customers have to settle for less
Heads Up

If you live in a rural area, your best bet is DSL internet or a low-cost 5G home internet package from a company like T-Mobile or Verizon. But you may be stuck with fixed wireless or satellite internet, which cost more money and have stricter limits on speed and data.

 Still, there are some solid options for rural internet. And while satellite internet used to be the slowest of the slow, it’s turned into a more flexible and reliable internet option thanks to SpaceX’s Starlink and revamped plan options from Hughesnet and Viasat.

How much should you pay for internet?

  • Average prices: Most plans cost $60–$80 a month for a home internet plan that gives you enough bandwidth to handle your daily Wi-Fi needs.
  • Gigabit internet: You might pay upwards of $100 a month or more to cover the cost of an upper-tier gigabit or multi-gig internet plan.
  • Price-guarantees: Xfinity and T-Mobile both offer five-year price guarantees. 

How much internet speed do you need?

Most people need speeds of at least 25Mbps per person in their household to ensure a smooth connection with minimal slowdowns or buffering. So if you live in an apartment with three other people, you want an internet plan with minimum 100Mbps download speeds.

You’re better off not overspending if you can get away with a slower plan. But make sure the Wi-Fi package you get comes with enough speed to support all of your Wi-Fi devices, and consider upgrading to a faster plan if you share the Wi-Fi with a larger group of people.

Speed: 5-100 Mbps
speedometer showing 5-100 mbps
Simultaneous Users: 1-2

Casual web browsing, heavy text-based social media, light video-based social media, streaming HD video on 1–3 devices, making video calls

Speed: 100-300 Mbps
speedometer showing 100-300 mbps
Simultaneous Users: 3-5

Streaming 4K video on 2–3 devices, online multiplayer gaming, making video calls on 3 or more devices, operating 3–5 smart-home products

Speed: 300-500 Mbps
Simultaneous Users: 6-9

Streaming HD or 4K video on 4–5 devices, posting video content regularly to social media, operating 6–8 smart-home products

Speed: 500-1,000 Mbps
Simultaneous Users: 10+

Streaming HD or 4K video on 5 or more devices, hosting a livestream, VR gaming, operating 9 or more smart-home products

Speed: 1,200 Mbps+
Simultaneous Users: 20+

Doing anything you want online on as many devices as you need while sharing your Wi-Fi with dozens of other users

The Federal Communications Commission defines high-speed broadband internet as any connection that delivers minimum download speeds of 100Mbps and minimum upload speeds of 20Mbps. Getting a plan with 100Mbps is a great starting point if you live in a small household and do regular stuff like streaming Netflix and making the occasional video call.

Hardly anybody needs the fastest-possible speeds offered by an internet provider—gigabit and multi-gigabit options are mostly good for influencer mansions and Bitcoin miners.

FAQ about the best internet providers

Who actually has the best internet?

Google Fiber has the best internet you can get because it delivers superb speeds (from 1Gbps all the way up to 8Gbps) over an incredibly reliable fiber-optic connection. Even though prices look high on paper, Google Fiber’s $70 a month starting price is competitive with many other providers and ends up being a great value considering you get symmetrical speeds and don’t have to worry about price hikes or extra fees.

Which internet connection is the most reliable? 

Fiber-optic internet is the most reliable internet connection you can get because it runs on newer infrastructure, delivers the fastest-possible speeds you can get, and is usually just as affordable as (or even cheaper than) slower internet packages from cable and DSL providers.

Who has the fastest internet ever?

Google Fiber has the fastest internet ever. According to our Fastest Internet Providers report, Google Fiber users got average download speeds of 204.05Mbps on our speed test—beating out major contenders Metronet, Xfinity, and Verizon Fios by a healthy margin. Google Fiber also offers an 8,000Mbps internet plan, among the fastest-possible speeds you can get from any internet provider.

Is Starlink the fastest internet?

Starlink is not the fastest internet provider—the speeds you get likely are slower than what you can get from a fiber or cable internet provider like Google Fiber, Verizon Fios, Xfinity or Spectrum. However, according to data Reviews.org analyzed in our comprehensive Starlink review, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service delivers the fastest speeds of all the major satellite internet providers, and it also has lower latency rates than satellite competitors Viasat and Hughesnet.

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Find the best internet for your needs

At the end of the day, the best internet provider is the fastest, most affordable one that you can sign up for on your block. You don’t need the fanciest plan or tons of deals to be a happy Wi-Fi customer, but you definitely should shop around to explore your options before committing to an internet service provider. Run a search with your zip code below to see what’s available in your area.

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Peter Holslin
Written by
Peter is a journalist and editor who has been covering tech, culture, and music since the late 2000s. Prior to joining the Reviews.org team as managing editor, he was the senior staff writer at HighSpeedInternet.com, where he covered 5G, mobile hotspots, and internet services. As a freelancer, he’s also written for Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, Pitchfork, LA Weekly, and many other publications. He studied writing and journalism at The New School University in New York City and got his start in the media industry as the music editor of the California alt-weekly San Diego CityBeat. He’s also a musician and DJ and owns too many vinyl records for his own good.

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