8 Best Internet Service Providers 2023

Of course, all of this depends on where you live. Only certain ISPs (internet service providers) are available in your area, and you might not get the advertised speeds. All things considered, you should get solid download and upload speeds with any of these recommended ISPs.

You can enter your ZIP code below to see what internet providers service your area.

So what are the best internet providers out there right now? Let’s dig in and find out.

Fiber Internet:

Let's start with the crème de la crème of the internet world—fiber optic internet. These connections use hair-thin strands of glass to transmit data as pulses of light. Average download speeds? I'm not even going to pretend I understand how it all works, but the most important part is that fiber internet is the only way you'll get gigabyte-internet speeds.

Cable Internet:

Next up, we have cable internet. Think of it as the reliable Honda Civic of the internet world—dependable, solid, and widely available. Cable connections transmit data over coaxial cables originally designed for—you guessed it—cable TV. They offer respectable download speeds, averaging around 25 to 100 megabits per second (Mbps). Cable internet is pretty widespread, reaching most urban and suburban areas, and is a solid choice for most households.

Satellite Internet:

Satellite internet connections beam data to and from, you guessed it again, satellites orbiting the planet. But here's the catch: latency. Signals need to travel over 22,000 miles, which can cause some lag. Speeds typically range from 12 to 100 Mbps, but keep in mind that weather conditions can impact performance. The best thing about satellite internet is that it's basically available everywhere, making it a choice for those in more rural or hard-to-reach areas. For example, thanks to Starlink, we have access to the internet on Lake Powell for the first time in my life. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

5G Internet:

5G home internet works by using the power of 5G wireless technology to provide high-speed internet access to your home. Instead of relying on traditional wired connections like cable or fiber, it uses radio waves to transmit data. The main catch with 5G home internet is that you'll need 5G coverage in your neighborhood. The good news is that 5G is quickly rolling out throughout the entire country.

For example, my parents moved to a 55+ community that only had bad cable internet, but we hooked them up with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and now they can stream seemingly endless episodes of Call the Midwife without encountering frequent buffering. I also am not sure if this is a good thing, or a bad thing. Maybe I should have gone with something slower from Best Internet Providers for Seniors?

10G Internet:

10G internet sounds like something made up for a science fiction movie (it definitely gives off "unobtanium" vibes). But it's actually a very real technology that could be widespread as early as 2025.

And yes, just like it sounds, 10G internet is super fast. But it also has nothing to do with mobile phones—it's actually a whole different technology than 5G. For a more in-depth explanation, read What Is 10G Internet?

DSL Internet:

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) internet uses copper phone lines to transmit data. Average speeds range from a modest 1 to 100 Mbps, depending on your proximity to the provider's central office. DSL is quite widespread, making it accessible to a large number of households across the US. If you can, avoid DSL internet at all costs. Unless you wish you still lived in the early 2000's.

We voted Comcast Xfinity as a great value internet provider thanks to its competitive prices and high marks for fast speeds. And it’s available across most of the US.

Your prices may differ based on where you live, but generally, Xfinity charges the same prices—or less—compared to similar ISPs. Here’s a snapshot of Xfinity plans and prices for the Western US:

Xfinity bundles

Another perk to Xfinity is that it now offers multiple services you can bundle together: internet, TV, home security, and mobile. Bundling is a great way to save money each month, and you may also find bundle-specific Xfinity discounts. For example, until December 5th, Xfinity is offering a free mobile line when you switch to Xfinity's Fast Internet plan.

But aside from cable TV, Xfinity’s other home services might be a bust. Here’s what our fellow experts had to say about other Xfinity services:

Xfinity cable TV: “Xfinity might have a lot of fees, but at least you won’t be disappointed by Xfinity’s service. This cable TV company is reliable, widely available, and you’ll get most, if not all, of the channels you and your family want.” —Chantel Buchi, TV and streaming expert

Xfinity Home security system: “Xfinity Home’s prices are hard to pin down, most of the equipment lags behind other brands, and its customer service (through Comcast) may be the worst we’ve ever encountered.” —Brianne Sandorf, home security expert

Xfinity Mobile: “Because of its bundle-only model, plan structure, and rock-bottom prices, it really is like no other mobile carrier... Overall a solid, cheap plan for those already in the Xfinity universe, though you have to deal with data throttling, slowdowns, and poor video streaming quality (unless you have a 5G device).” —Easton Smith, mobile expert

Does Xfinity have Wi-Fi hotspots?

Another major benefit Xfinity customers enjoy is thousands of wireless hotspots across the US. And if you’ve got Xfinity Mobile or any postpaid internet plan, you get hotspot access for free.

This is a huge boon if you’re on vacation and can’t find a Starbucks to siphon wireless internet off of. Not to mention access to all those Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots is a lifesaver if your home internet goes down and you’ve got an assignment due the next morning.

You can access the wireless hotspots through the Xfinity Wi-Fi app, which uses your Xfinity username and password.

Share your Wi-Fi with the Xfinity xFi Gateway modem

Xfinity has one of the largest Wi-Fi hotspot networks thanks to its xFi Gateway modems. Most of these modems are automatically set to broadcast a Wi-Fi signal.

If you’re not keen on your own modem broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal that almost anyone can use, here’s how to turn off Xfinity Wi-Fi sharing.

T-Mobile 5G home internet feels like a mini-miracle. When I first got my hands on T-Mobile 5G home internet, I couldn't believe how easy it was to set up. I literally just had to plug in the T-Mobile Gateway box and within five minutes I had a Wi-Fi connection in my house. 

T-Mobile's 5G home internet only costs $50 a month and you don't need to lock yourself into a contract. You can return the Gateway box to your local T-Mobile brick-and-mortar store and cancel your service without having to pay any cancellation fees or anything like that.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet speeds

Most folks will get download speeds between 72-245 Mbps, 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 faster the data speeds you'll get. If you live close to a 5G tower, you can get data speeds up in the mid-200 Mbps range, which beats any DSL or satellite internet connection out of the water.

You also don't need to worry about data caps with 5G home internet. Use as much data as you want without ever worrying about passing some arbitrary data cap. 

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:

If you live in an area of the United States where your only internet options are satellite or a slow DSL internet connection, 5G home internet can be your ticket to a much faster internet connection.

Spectrum Internet® comes with a few extras that you might not get from other internet providers in the same area. That includes no contracts and no data caps—plus Spectrum’s prices are fairly competitive.

We’re also keen on Spectrum because it serves much of the Midwest. While other large ISPs stick to the coasts, that can leave residents of states like Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin feeling left out. Spectrum even offers cheaper regional plans for Ohio, New York, and North Carolina.

We do wish Spectrum speeds were more in line with other cable providers like Cox and Xfinity. But at 13th out of the 284 internet providers we analyzed, it's still a great bet for getting the speed you pay for.

We're also glad to see Spectrum do away with its hefty $199.99 setup fee for the Gig plan. You'll still need to pay a $19.99 equipment upgrade fee to go from its slower plans to the Gig plan, but that's much more reasonable. (And understandable, since the Gig plan requires different equipment.)

If you're looking for those excellent fiber internet speeds but can't get Verizon Fios Home Internet in your area, AT&T Fiber is well worth checking out.

Its fiber internet plans start at $55 a month for 300 Mbps speeds, putting it leagues ahead of most, if not all, other fiber providers when it comes to affordable prices. And even if you're running a home business and need gig speeds, the starting price for its 1000 Mbps plan won't break your piggy bank.

AT&T has some of the best customer service

Internet providers aren't typically known for amazing customer service, but AT&T (along with Verizon and T-Mobile) tops the charts in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report.¹

The ACSI interviewed thousands of actual customers in 2021 and 2022 to score internet providers. That's what makes it such a big deal that AT&T earned a top score out of all other major internet providers.

AT&T Fiber equipment and set up

Unlike T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, fiber internet requires fiber-optic cables. To get AT&T Fiber internet set up, you'll need to have a fiber infrastructure already set up at your house and then schedule an AT&T technician to come out and connect you to AT&T's internet network.

The technician will set you up with a Gateway device that will provide a Wi-Fi connection for your home.

Can you bundle AT&T internet?

AT&T offers bundling options with DIRECTV for its fixed wireless, DSL, and fiber internet services.

Our resident TV expert, Chantel Buchi, provides a helpful guide on which DIRECTV package is right for you. She also has this to say about DIRECTV: "DIRECTV’s satellite TV service has all the channels you want—including premium channels like HBO and SHOWTIME.

Although DIRECTV has a two-year contract with possible third-year price hikes, you’re guaranteed a great channel variety for the family, for movie buffs, and for sports addicts."

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.

If AT&T Fiber isn't in your area, take a look to see if smaller ISPs or even some of the following providers are available to you.

We always recommend fiber internet if you can get it. And Verizon Fios Home internet gives you plenty more reasons to choose it over other ISPs: low prices, fast download speeds, and some of the best customer service.

Verizon Fios Home Internet is still limited mostly to the East Coast, but given its good reputation, we hope it expands its service area soon. After all, every one of our East Coast friends who uses Verizon Fios Home Internet has nothing but great things to say about it.

Verizon TV and internet combos

Verizon also offers some of the best TV and internet combos out there thanks to its mix and match system. You can pretty much pair any of its Fios Home Internet plans with any of its Fios TV packages. So no sorting through dozens of pre-built bundles to get the internet speed and channel count you want.

We cover this more in-depth in our Verizon Fios TV and Internet combos review if you’re the kind of person who likes a little TV with your internet.

And if you’re already a Verizon Wireless Unlimited customer, you can combine select mobile plans with your internet plan and save up to $25 a month.

Okay, technically, it's $10 off your mobile bill, $10 off your internet bill, and $5 off for auto pay for a total of $25. And you'll need to enroll in the Mobile + Home Rewards program through Verizon Up to land those savings. But an extra $25 each month is totally worth it in our book.

Verizon Fios equipment and set up: 

Verizon Fios allows you to set everything up on your own, or you can get a technician out to your house. Admittedly, setting up Verizon Fios is fairly complicated, so you'll need to make sure to follow the provided instructions from Verizon closely.

The good news is that you don't need to worry about any equipment fees with any Fios Verizon internet plan.

Does Verizon Fios Home Internet have Wi-Fi hotspots?

The only major downside to Verizon Fios we could find is that it no longer seems to offer a public Wi-Fi hotspot network. You won’t mind this much if your local haunts have a Wi-Fi wireless router and share their password.

But if all those wireless connections are hidden behind lock and key—er, password—those hotspots will be sorely missed. (If Wi-Fi hotspots are a necessity in your life, check out Xfinity or AT&T instead.)

If Verizon Fios Home Internet isn’t available in your area, check out these other top fiber internet providers:

Generally, we recommend DSL or cable internet providers like Optimum (formerly Suddenlink) if you can get them.

But in rural areas where you can’t get these types of internet connections, satellite internet can be a saving grace. And Viasat currently offers the fastest satellite internet speeds with the most generous data caps.

Though it’s not known for blazing fast download speeds or low latency, satellite internet has come a long way. Viasat’s plans now have download seeds up to 100 Mbps, which blows HughesNet’s 25 Mbps speeds out of the water.

You’ll also find that Viasat gives you more data for your money, giving you unlimited data on all of its plans. HughesNet’s data caps range from 15 to 200 GB, and you'll have to pay at least $150 to snag the highest data cap. Still, we’re frustrated with only two choices for satellite internet, and we bet you are too. So, in the meantime, we’re keeping our ears to the ground for news on Starlink.

Satellite internet is very different from DSL, cable, or fiber. If you’re used to blazing-fast internet speeds for relatively low prices, you might be in for a rude awakening with satellite.

Viasat’s prices may put you into a state of temporary sticker shock. And those prices last only for three months. About 90 days later, your price gets bumped up. Yuck.

We should mention here that, even after the price hike, Viasat is still your best deal if you want up to 100 Mbps of download speeds and no standard data caps.

And both Viasat and HughesNet, the only other satellite internet provider, suffer from high latency. That’s just the nature of the beast that is satellite internet. It likely won’t affect you—unless you enjoy fast-paced online gaming.

Viasat installation and equipment 

You have to lease satellite internet equipment from Viasat, but you have your choice on paying $299 upfront for your equipment or paying $9.99 monthly. If you plan on using Viasat for the next several years, you can certainly save money by paying upfront, but we'd recommend going with the monthly option in case you decide to cancel your service and switch to a different ISP.

As for getting the service installed, you'll need to sign up for the service and get a technician out to set everything up. No DIY options here.

Does Viasat have Wi-Fi hotspots?

Viasat currently doesn’t offer Wi-Fi hotspots to its customers in the US—except for military and government personnel on Navy bases.

But it did build a wireless hotspot network in Latin America, connecting much of rural and urban Mexico to the internet.⁵ Here’s hoping that Viasat extends its hotspots to the US soon.

Until Starlink, Project Kuiper, and other satellite internet projects offer service everywhere in the US, you might be stuck with two satellite internet providers: Viasat and HughesNet.

We recommend Viasat for its faster speeds and more generous data caps. But if you can make do with 25 Mbps speeds and lower data caps, HughesNet might be worth a look.

We’re fans of CenturyLink's commitment to the word "No." The ISP gives the big N-O to data caps, contracts, and price hikes, which means you won't need to worry about paying for more data, forking over your latest paycheck if you cancel service, or paying more and more on your monthly bill as the years go by.

Promotional prices are great . . . at least until they expire and your monthly internet bill launches into space. But CenturyLink offers the best of both worlds: pretty low prices that don’t get out of hand a couple of years down the road.

CenturyLink recently overhauled its internet plans, but even though some names have changed, it seems to still be the same deal it was before. Its Simply Unlimited Internet plan features DSL internet service that gets you speeds of 100–140 Mbps, depending on where you live. And its Fiber Internet plan gets you all the benefits of a fiber internet connection, complete with speeds up to 940 Mbps. (Though only certain cities can get this plan so far.)

CenturyLink internet benefits

CenturyLink internet comes with the following perks that make it a good deal:

• No contract
• No data caps
• No price hikes

You'll want to make sure you set your account up for paperless billing in order to get all the benefits as well. And if you swap internet plans or move, be aware that your monthly bill may change at that time. Otherwise, these CenturyLink deals are pretty straightforward and easy to get.

Does CenturyLink have Wi-Fi hotspots?

One of our frustrations with CenturyLink is that it doesn’t offer a Wi-Fi hotspot network to its current subscribers.

So if hopping from hotspot to hotspot is a must-have for you, we think Xfinity or AT&T are better Wi-Fi companies. Both of these ISPs let you access hotspots as long as you’re paying for a home internet plan—no extra cash required.

DSL is older internet technology, but it’s also more widely available across the US. Especially in rural areas.

If you’re looking for top-notch DSL internet, these other providers are worth a look:

Cox offers low promotional prices on most of its plans that last for 12 months. But if you don't want to get roped into a contract, you can subscribe to Cox Internet's Go Fast internet service with speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Cox still costs about $10/month more compared to an internet service provider like Xfinity, but having no contract and potentially getting on promotional pricing can really sweeten the deal.

On top of all that, Cox performed fairly well in our latest speed report and offers some excellent bundling options if you want cable TV with your internet.

Our team tests our own home internet networks regularly, along with reaching out to folks living in different areas to test out ISPs we don’t have access to. 

We also use thousands of Reviews.org internet speed test results from across the country to get a better idea of average performance. When users conduct speed tests on our website, we save their results in a database that includes the ISP they used in the test. After years of providing the speed test to our users, we've gained millions of data points to measure download and upload speeds from different internet providers.

We also use outside sources like the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), HighSpeedInternet.com, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete our assessment of an ISP. (Remembering that FCC data is flawed and doesn’t include every ISP.²)

We also look at Better Business Bureau, JD Power, and Consumer Affairs comments and ratings, along with browsing Reddit or Quora threads for anecdotal insights on ISP experiences.

Long-story short: We balance our own proprietary data and personal experience with research from other sources.

When it comes to the best internet providers overall, we recommend Xfinity, AT&T Fiber, Verizon Fios Home Internet, CenturyLink, and Viasat, while Cox, Spectrum, and Astound Broadband, powered by Grande are worth a look as runners-up. It’s always worth looking around to see if there’s a smaller local internet provider offering a great deal near you too.

Either way, searching for the best internet gives you a lot to think about. 

• Xfinity: Best Value. Available basically nationwide, Xfinity offers stellar prices and speeds. It scored high on our list of the fastest ISPs, and regularly offers limited-time deals. Plus, you can save more money by bundling your internet with its TV, home security, and mobile services.
• Spectrum: Best for no contracts. Spectrum Internet® comes with no contracts or data caps, and most of its prices are competitive, especially if you live in New York, Ohio, or North Carolina. But you may not get the internet speeds you pay for.
• AT&T Fiber: Best for low fiber prices. It's hard to find fiber internet prices lower than AT&T's. That makes it a stand-out deal for gamers, streamers, and anyone who works from home.
• T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Best 5G home internet. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is the golden ticket to get away from bad ISPs. If you live in an area with T-Mobile 5G coverage, you can get fast internet speeds for a cheap price.
• Verizon Fios Home Internet: Affordable plans. We always recommend fiber internet if you can get it, and Verizon Fios Home Internet comes with top-notch fiber speeds and customer service we’ve heard nothing but good things about. The only thing it’s missing is Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Viasat: Best satellite internet speeds. With the fastest speeds satellite can provide, Viasat is our pick for anyone who can’t get cable or DSL service in their area. It may even be a better value than the competing satellite provider, HughesNet, if you’re looking for speeds around 100 Mbps.
• CenturyLink: Runner-up. Look no further than CenturyLink if you’re after reasonable prices that don't skyrocket a year later. It also offers a fiber internet plan for those that need gig speeds. But if you need a wireless network while you’re out of town, look elsewhere.
• Cox: Runner-up. Cox saves you money with low promo prices that last a year. And it doesn’t require a contract for its 100 Mbps plan. We only hope it improves its internet speeds and raises its data cap to unlimited in the future.

Our team tests our own home internet networks regularly, along with reaching out to folks living in different areas to test out ISPs we don’t have access to. 

We also use millions of Reviews.org internet speed test results from across the country to get a better idea of average performance. When users conduct speed tests on our website, we save their results in a database that includes the ISP they used in the test. After years of providing the speed test to our users, we've gained millions of data points to measure download and upload speeds from different internet providers.

We also use outside sources like the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), HighSpeedInternet.com, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete our assessment of an ISP. (Remembering that FCC data is flawed and doesn’t include every ISP.²)

We also look at Better Business Bureau, JD Power, and Consumer Affairs comments and ratings, along with browsing Reddit or Quora threads for anecdotal insights on ISP experiences.

Long-story short: We balance our own proprietary data and personal experience with research from other sources.

Sources