Choosing the right internet service provider (ISP) means finding the right balance of price, speed, infrastructure, and logistics. While price is always an important deciding factor, you’ll also want to consider which connection type best suits your internet usage styles, which speeds you’ll require, and which providers service your home. A family of five, for example, will likely require a different set of features than a serious gamer.
There are currently thousands of internet service providers in the US, ranging from a handful of large, nationwide ISPs to many smaller, local providers (or subsidiaries of large providers). We’ve researched and reviewed a number of ISPs from across the industry and rounded up the top 10 options for you to choose from.
Breaking Down Our Top 10 Choices: Which Is Best For Your Needs?
Verizon - Best for streaming
AT&T Internet - Best for setting up a smart home
xFinity Internet - Best for families
Sparklight - Best for contract-free internet
ViaSat - Best for customers in remote locations
Spectrum - Best for serious gamers
HughesNet - Best for mobile users
EarthLink - Best for users who need lots of data
Cox - Best for gadget-lovers and tech-savvy users
A Closer Look at Our Top 10 Internet Service Providers
- Best forSetting up a smart home
- Starting price$35 per month
- Connection typeFiber, fixed internet
AT&T has lots of internet plans to choose from, and they’re all great options. Pricing is affordable across the board, and AT&T customer support has earned the J.D. Powers customer satisfaction award for exemplary service four years in a row. The 1000 Mbps is enough to power an entire house with WiFi capability, unlimited internet data, and faster upload speeds than competitors. AT&T also has a great mobile app that makes managing your smart home faster and more convenient.
Pros- 99% reliability rating
- Fast speeds including fiber plans
- Good customer satisfaction rankings
Cons- Limited coverage area for some plans
- Pricey extra fees
- Best forSerious gamers
- Starting price$49.99 per month
- Connection typeHybrid fiber coaxial
Spectrum internet is a cross between fiber and cable, so it delivers fast speeds, clear quality, and wider availability than most providers have to offer. In fact, Spectrum is available in 44 states across the country and has speeds ranging from 200 Mbps, up to a lightning fast 940 Mbps. Spectrum is also a great option for serious gamers. With speeds up to 940 Mbps, you can keep up the pace even with multiplayer online games and connected devices.
Pros- No data caps, 99.9% network reliability
- Free antivirus and modem with every plan
- Nationwide WiFi network for on-the-go internet
Cons- WiFi is not included in the price
- Confusing pricing plan
- Best forFamilies, students
- Starting price$83.50/month for 1 Gig, $38.50/month for 100 Mbps
- Connection typeFiber, cable
Optimum is a high-speed internet service provider serving millions of households in the greater New York City area (NY, NJ, CT). It generally offers 1 gig fiber internet although in some cases it only offers cable internet with max download speeds of 500 Mbps. As a subsidiary of telecommunications provider Altice USA, Optimum offers bundling of internet, cable TV, and mobile plans.
While Optimum’s prices aren’t particularly low when compared to the national average, it goes to great lengths to beat its competitors. For example, it offers a $500 contract buyout to help you move over from your old ISP. Furthermore, it offers discounts worth $5 to $25 per month to anyone living at an address also served by competitor Verizon Fios.
Pros- Free installation when you order online
- $25 discount if Verizon Fios is also available at your address
- Access to 2 million-plus Wi-Fi hotspots
Cons- Only available in parts of greater New York City (NY, NJ, CT)
- Home page doesn’t properly explain the pricing structure
- Best forFamilies
- Starting price$50/month for 3-100 Mbps, $65/month for 940 Mbps
- Connection typeDSL, fiber
CenturyLink offers internet to roughly 20 million households in 36 states. Its speeds range from 3-100 Mbps for DSL internet and 100-940 Mbps for fiber, which is only available in selected areas. Its WiFi 6 advanced technology allows for faster connectivity, enhanced data capacity, and extended battery life for in-home devices.
CenturyLink’s combined modem and router includes built-in security features from McAfee. Its mobile app gives you control of your security, lets you run speed tests, and allows you to see a list of connected devices and their signal strength. CenturyLink also offers downloadable security for your PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
Pros- Wireless modem and router in one
- No annual contracts
- Built-in privacy and parental control tools
Cons- DSL options aren’t that cheap
- $99 installation fee
- Best forTech-savvy customers
- Starting price$29.99 per month
- Connection typeFiber-optic
Cox is one of the up-and-coming ISPs, a real cool kid on the block. That’s because this internet provider offers all the right features, and doesn’t hold anything back. You can get serious security features like digital data shredder, vulnerability scanner, and spyware protection built into your devices. Cox also offers fast connections that are consistent and even optimized for your current internet activity. Cox also has 3+ million hotspots around the country and full-house WiFi coverage for every area and device in your home.
Pros- Awesome features for affordable prices
- Flexible plans, including prepaid internet
- Specialized gamer mode for almost lag-free gaming
Cons- Only available in 19 states
- Hard to figure out pricing right away
- Best forMobile users
- Starting price$49.99 per month
- Connection typeSatellite
HughesNet is one of the top satellite ISPs in the country. For one thing, you can get service anywhere in the United States, including Alaska and Puerto Rico. What’s more, HughesNet internet is fast, at 25 Mbps for every plan. You’ll choose from a range of data plan options, and you’ll never be throttled even when you go over. HughesNet has uber cool features, like built-in WiFi, video data saver, and bonus zones that help you optimize your internet activity. So you can stream more, watch more, do more, and use less data at the same time.
Pros- No caps on data usage
- Fast speeds on every plan
- Cool features built-in like bonus zone and video optimizer
Cons- After data usage runs out, bandwidth is much slower
- No fiber plans
- Best forFamilies, students, wanderlust, internationals
- Starting priceFrom $64.99 per month and $19.99 for basic internet service
- Connection typeCable, DSL, fiber-optic, satellite
DISH is a service provider that offers great deals on TV and internet bundles. You can get plans starting at just $65 a month for 190+ channels, sports packages, and feature-rich technology to enhance your entertainment viewing. DISH’s DVR capability lets you record and play back your favorite TV shows, events, concerts, and more. With 2 TBof memory and up to 16 channel simultaneous recording, you never have to miss a show again.
DISH offers reasonable prices and deals to help maximize your entertainment options without spending a fortune. DISH also has discounts available for senior citizens, active duty members, healthcare providers, and teachers.
Pros- Powerful DVR features
- Joey TV receiver for wireless transmission to various devices
- Lots of packages and channel plans to choose from
Cons- Not an actual ISP
- Have to read terms carefully to understand the offers
- Best forFamilies
- Starting price$29.99 per month
- Connection typeCable, fiber optics
Xfinity offers fast cable and fiber internet options with plans to fit just about any need. Great for gamers, streamers, multiple users, and families, Xfinity Internet has lots of features to keep things interesting. Xfinity Internet comes with seven different plan options, including a prepaid month-to-month payment option. Customers can choose between cable or fiber depending on how important speed is to them. Available in 40 states, Xfinity Internet is more accessible and more affordable than many competitors.
Pros- Fast and reliable speeds
- Lots of plans to choose from & no contract options
- Fun extras bundled into plans
Cons- Can’t purchase Xfinity equipment
- Lots of upselling for equipment rental
- Best forFamilies, students, gig workers, gamers
- Starting price$49.95
- Connection typeDSL and fiber
EarthLink is a familiar name in the internet world. It has been around since the ‘90s, and it’s been building its empire and reputation ever since. With 200+ million happy customers, we’d say EarthLink is doing a good job.
EarthLink offers fiber and DSL internet plans at a variety of speeds. So you can find a plan that fits your needs, from light streaming and internet usage to hardcore gaming, multiple user streaming, and even business plans up to 1000 Mbps. EarthLink also has no data caps. So you’ll never be throttled while using your internet.
Pros- No data caps
- Plenty of plans to choose from
- Great customer service
Cons- Plans are a little higher than other ISPs
- Availability based on location
- Best forStreaming
- Starting price$39.99 per month
- Connection typeFiber-optic
If you feel the need for speed, then Verizon Fios may be the right ISP for you. With a network of fiber-optic cables delivering speeds of up to 940 Mbps, Verizon Fios is definitely the place to turn to for gamers, streamers, and anyone else who needs fast internet or uses loads of bandwidth at the same time. Verizon Fios has no long-term contracts and comes with a 99.99% reliability rating for fast, consistent, and unlimited bandwidth.
Pros- High-speed connection with 99.99% reliability
- Service bundles for greater affordability
- Great option for gamers, families, and stream hogs
Cons- Only offered in 10 states
- No public WiFi hotspots
Reviewing the Top Internet Service Providers: Our Methodology
Top10.com internet service provider reviews are based on objective facts. Our reviews are based on research via the internet service providers’ sites, trusted 3rd party sites, customer reviews, and use of the product through free trials, or through paid use in some cases.
It is not always possible to use the product through its entire lifecycle. However, reviewers will try the signup process, make customer service queries to check response times and perform any other possible function within the review period. For the rest of the information, we rely on what the brand says about its own product offering, customer reviews, and complaints, ratings from independent agencies like the BBB, and trusted journalistic publications.
Some of the key features we compared when looking at the Internet Service Providers on our list were:
- Price
- Connection type
- Download speed
- Coverage
What You Need to Know Before Choosing an Internet Service Provider
There are a lot of options when it comes to ISPs. So before you go signing your life away, make sure to get the information you need to make an informed decision. Here are a few questions you should ask before diving in:
- Do you have coverage in my area? For which types of plans?
- What are your data limits and will I be throttled?
- What are the contracts or obligations involved? Can I cancel? What are the ramifications?
- Does my router or modem work with your service?
- Do you have self-installation and how does it work?
- How much is this going to cost me? What are the hidden fees you don’t talk about straight up?
- What speed options are available to me?
Try to consider all of these questions before making your choice of internet service providers.
What Types of Internet Service Providers Are There?
There are several different types of internet service providers available today and each one comes with varying levels of service and reliability. What’s important to note is that not all types of connections are available in all areas of the country. So while one type of connection might be better or faster, if it’s not available in your state or neighborhood, it won’t do you any good. You’re best off looking for an ISP that has coverage in your area, and choosing from those options. Here are the most common types of ISP connections out there:
- Fiber optic
- Cable
- DSL
- Satellite
- Wi-Fi broadband
- Dedicated leased line
Internet Service Providers: How ISPs are Helping During COVID
Corona has certainly changed the way most people do a lot of things. Regardless of your political or global views, COVID has kept people at home and indoors more than ever before. Which means one thing for a lot of people: more time online. Whether you are studying classes with distance learning, managing your business affairs remotely, or staying connected with friends and loved ones who you can’t see in person, the internet has been a godsend and an essential component to surviving this pandemic. Today more than ever people are prioritizing good internet services, and the quality ISPs have helped the general public survive this unprecedented world situation.
Finding a Trusted Internet Service Provider
As with most things in life, the internet has its positive aspects and its negative ones. One of the more unfortunate downsides to using the web is the proliferation of hackers, spammers, and determinantal scams out there today. For this reason, it is vitally important for people to protect themselves against cyber threats including identity theft and scams. Make sure you have a good antivirus on your device, never share personal information, and always connect to a private network that is secure before entering any private details onto any website you visit. Read up on more internet safety best practices to stay safe online.
How Much Does an Internet Service Provider Cost?
Internet service providers vary in pricing depending on the service, the type of internet connection, and the features you want included. The average price costs anywhere from $20 up to $80 a month but there are plans for more. Typically internet service providers offer longer contracts for a more discounted rate. You can also get discounts on your internet services by bundling it with other services the provider offers.
One thing to be careful of is an early termination fee. If you sign a long contract and want to cancel before the close date, you may be charged anywhere from nothing to a few hundred dollars.
Tips on Working With Internet Service Providers
Internet service providers vary in terms of quality, customer service, and reliability. You’ll need to do some research, read online reviews, and ask around to find the best ISP for you. You can also use some of these pro tips to get the most out of your internet service provider:
- Choose the right speed for your needs
If you’re living alone, 25 Mbps is enough to give you reliable high-speed internet. This’ll give you plenty of speed for doing most things you want including surfing the web, social media accounts, and occasional streaming. On the other hand, if you have a lot of people streaming HD movies or are trying to get real work done on your internet, you’re going to need more juice than that.
- Reliability
This is probably the best feature to look for when choosing an internet service provider. Some brands offer an SLA that guarantees good service. This is a golden ticket. You should also read reviews to see which ISP has good customer service. That way, when something goes wrong, you know there is somebody there to help.
- Bundle to save
Usually, ISPs will offer additional services such as cell phone plans and TV services. If you’re in the market for one of these services anyway, or if you’re happy to switch, the ISP will give you a discounted rate for combining both services in one.
- Turn off WiFi to save more
Many internet service providers automatically charge you for WiFi when you sign up. They include the fee with your equipment charges so many people don’t even realize they’re paying for it. If you already have this service or have your own equipment, you can likely save a bit each month by opting out of the WiFi services.
Getting the Best Internet Service Provider for You
If you’re like most people, you live on the web. You do your shopping there, you pay your bills there, you enjoy various forms of entertainment there, and you even communicate with friends, family, and business associates via the internet. Which is why if you’re like most people, your internet service provider is one of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make concerning your day to day lifestyle. Options abound, so find the one that suits your needs, situation, and wallet best.
