Choosing the best internet provider to meet your home needs
When shopping for the right internet service for your home needs and lifestyle, there are six factors to consider when shopping:
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Price
What is my monthly budget?
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Speed
How much speed do I need?
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Availability
Which internet service providers are available in my area?
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Technology
Technology used to deliver internet service: fiber, cable, DSL, satellite.
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Data Caps
Do I want an unlimited data plan or a data plan with a cap that will meet my needs?
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Terms
Contract or no contract?
Finding the best internet provider in my area is easy by using our free tool that allows you to search and compare offers.
How do I find the cheapest internet provider?
Pricing for internet plans vary based multiple factors: speed requirements; contract term/no contract; technology used to deliver internet service (e.g. fiber, DSL, cable, satellite) and unlimited data vs data cap. Finding the cheapest internet provider in my area, at your specific home address, is easy by using our free tool that allows you to search and compare offers.
How do I find the fastest internet provider?
According to a U.S. News 360 Reviews report, published April 2020, here is the list of top 5 fastest internet plans from their best internet service provider list:
| Company | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Cost |
 Xfinity Internet |
15 Mbps – 2,000 Mbps | 1 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps | Starting at $29.99 |
 Cox Internet |
10 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps | 1 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps | Starting at $29.99 |
 AT&T Internet |
0.200 Mbps – 940 Mbps | .128 Mbps – 940 Mbps | Starting at $50.00 |
 Frontier Internet |
6 Mbps – 940 Mbps | 6 Mbps – 880 Mbps | Starting at $20.00 |
| Verizon Internet | 100 Mbps – 940 Mbps | 100 Mbps – 880 Mbps | Starting at $39.99 |
Source: https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/internet-providers/high-speed-internet
Finding the fastest internet in my area is easy by using our free tool that allows you to search and compare offers.
How much speed do I need?
According to the FCC’s Broadband Speed Guide: “Compare typical online activities with the minimum download speed (Megabits per second, or Mbps) needed for adequate performance for each application. Additional speed may enhance performance. Speeds are based on running one activity at a time.”
| Activity | Minimum Download Speed (Mbps) |
| General Usage | |
| General Browsing and Email | 1 |
| Streaming Online Radio | Less than 0.5 |
| VoIP Calls | Less than 0.5 |
| Student | 5 – 25 |
| Telecommuting | 5 – 25 |
| Social Media | 1 |
| Watching Video | |
| Streaming Standard Definition Video | 3 – 4 |
| Streaming High Definition (HD) Video | 5 – 8 |
| Streaming Ultra HD 4K Video | 25 |
| Video Conferencing | |
| Standard Personal Video Call (e.g. Skype) | 1 |
| HD Personal Video Call (e.g. Skype) | 1.5 |
| HD Video Telecommuting | 6 |
| Gaming | |
| Game Console Connecting to the Internet | 3 |
| Online Multiplayer | 4 |
Source: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/broadband-speed-guide. FCC note: These numbers are rough guidelines and are not based on surveys or experiments conducted by the FCC. You should use your best judgment when choosing your broadband service.
How do I determine how much speed I need for multiple users/activities?
According to the FCC’s Household Broadband Guide: “For household broadband needs…compare minimum Mbps needs for light, moderate and high household use with one, two, three or four devices at a time (such as a laptop, tablet or game console).”
Light Use(Basic functions: email, browsing, basic video, VoIP, internet radio) |
Moderate Use(Basic functions plus one high-demand application: streaming HD video, multiparty video conferencing, online gaming, telecommuting) |
High Use(Basic functions plus more than one high-demand application running at the same time) |
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| 1 user on 1 device | Basic | Basic | Medium |
| 2 users or devices at a time | Basic | Medium | Medium/Advanced |
| 3 users or devices at a time | Medium | Medium | Advanced |
| 4 users or devices at a time | Medium | Advanced | Advanced |
- Basic Service
3 to 8 Mbps* - Medium Service
12 to 25 Mpbs - Advanced Service
More than 25 Mpbs
*Mbps (Megabits per second) is the standard measure of broadband speed. It refers to the speed with which information packets are downloaded from, or uploaded to, the internet.
Source: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/household-broadband-guide. FCC note: These numbers are rough guidelines and are not based on surveys or experiments conducted by the FCC. You should use your best judgment when choosing your broadband service.