Our picks
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Choosing a new internet provider can feel overwhelming, especially if you are not sure which speeds or connection types are the best fit for your home. Its even tougher when so many people are frustrated with their current service. A recent CNET survey found that 63% of Americans say they are paying more for unreliable intenret, which makes the search for something better even more important.
To help simplify the process, CNET’s broadband experts have spent months researching and testing the top providers across the country. We compared speeds, prices, reliability and how each connection type performs in real homes. With that work in hand, you can focus on the providers that offer the best match for your needs.
What’s the best internet provider overall?
Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber are two providers that stand out as the best internet service providers overall.Those in the Northeast will have a tough time finding a better ISP than Verizon Fios, while many in the South and Midwest will find AT&T Fiber the best option. As we often say in our ISP reviews, fiber internet almost always trumps other internet connection types. Don’t hesitate to sign up if you can get fiber broadband at your address for a reasonable price.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service providers across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also closely read providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the plan charts display the offerings most common to most areas. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
