Best Business Internet Providers
Based on In-Depth Reviews
- 200+Hours of research
- 20+Sources used
- 17Companies vetted
- 4Research Criteria
- 5Top
Picks
- Pricing depends upon business size, business needs, and area
- Always read the contract before signing
- Negotiate with your ISP! Save all the money you can
- ISPs should guarantee at least 99% uptime
How we analyzed the best Business Internet Providers
Our Top Picks: Business Internet Providers Reviews
We researched business internet service providers with small and midsize businesses, SMBs for short, in mind. Our top picks reflect the requirements of those businesses. They can scale up their ISP services as your business grows and their contracts are flexible enough to accommodate changing business needs.
CenturyLink review
Best Overall
CenturyLink won our top mark, impressing us with their far-reaching presence and the variety of the services they offer. With a presence in all 50 states, this internet service provider (ISP) offers a connection through DSL, fiber optic and copper lines. They also offer fixed wireless connections, but on a much smaller scale than their other technologies.
If you’re a new business owner, you need to be careful with the terms of the contract you choose. CenturyLink has the most flexible terms of all the companies we reviewed. This is not to say that you shouldn’t be careful when selecting CenturyLink as your provider. After all, terms change constantly. Yet, it is a good sign when you can go on a company’s website and see clear terms, contracts and service level agreements.
Screenshot of centurylink.com 9.24.2019
We were particularly impressed by CenturyLink’s service level agreement, or SLA for short. An SLA is a commitment a service provider makes to its client that lists the provider’s performance guarantees. A good SLA will state the uptime clients can expect from their service. It should also state the steps to be taken if there is a critical issue and the time frame it should take for any issues to be resolved. CenturyLink’s SLA had all of this and more.
As of this writing, CenturyLink’s SLA states that each time their network availability is less than the 99.95% uptime they promise, their customers qualify for a credit. Credits range from one to ten days of their monthly recurring charge, depending on how many minutes the network is down. They also have similar SLA for their voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service, which is good to know in case you are thinking about bundling telephony and internet.
Screenshot of centurylink.com 9.24.2019
Other than internet telephone services, CenturyLink also offers security software and cloud backup as add-ons. These could be great additions for small companies looking to save a couple of bucks.
How about internet speed? We found all ISPs offer almost identical speeds and products with the exception of satellite ISPs. Prices vary depending on your area and business needs. We always suggest negotiating, attempting to waive fees, and getting as many discounts as you can.
When it comes to customer service, CenturyLink has average ratings. As usual within this industry, most consumer reviews are negative. However, after going through customer review sites that report consumer satisfaction, we noticed most of the disappointing reviews came from residential customers--an important thing to note since most review sites don’t distinguish between residential and business accounts. There were barely any complaints from business accounts, which makes sense since business accounts tend to be handled much more carefully across the industry. We will discuss this distinction between residential and business customer service further in our Methodology and Helpful Information sections.
Spectrum review
Best No-Contract Option
Available in 43 States, Spectrum Charter comes in as the best no-contract option for businesses. They offer their broadband connection through fiber optic and copper lines.
We were particularly impressed by the add-ons and extras Spectrum offers their business class customers. As of this writing, they provide desktop security, modem, email addresses and WiFi for customers at no additional cost. WiFi for employees and telephone lines can be added for a reasonable price.
Screenshot of https://business.spectrum.com 10.9.2019
Most business internet providers don’t list prices on their website, and when they do, they’re usually limited to special offers. There’s a good reason for that. Pricing for a business internet connection depends heavily on where your business is located, the type of connection you’re looking for, and the bandwidth and speed needed. This is why we were surprised to find that Spectrum lists its prices on its website, some as low as $59.99 as of this writing. We believe this is a great flexible option for small companies and businesses such as restaurants and beauty salons. That is not to say that Spectrum isn’t suited for small to mid-sized businesses or enterprises, but rather that their product stands out as a flexible options for smaller businesses or specific service businesses.
Screenshot of https://business.spectrum.com 10.9.2019
HughesNet review
Best Satellite Option
We don’t generally recommend that businesses invest in a satellite connection. Satellite is the flimsiest of internet technologies to the point that mildly bad weather can interfere with your signal--and thus your business can lose its internet connection for a while. Also, internet speeds barely count as broadband as defined by the FCC. Satellite providers do claim to offer 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, which qualifies the connection as broadband, but the truth is that your connection speed with satellite might or might not reach broadband speeds. Basically, your connection will not always follow the 25/3 rule.
Unfortunately, there are many places across the United States, mostly rural locations, that can only connect to the internet through satellite. But if you have more ISP options in your area, we suggest you look into them.
Screenshot of https://business.hughesnet.com 10.9.2019
There are only two large satellite providers in the US, and though both had their strong points, we preferred HughesNet because they offer shorter contractual periods. Also, they include optional security software and static IP address. Static IPs are usually used by businesses for hosting computing servers and similar dedicated services.
Satellite internet service providers usually charge by the amount of data exchanged, similar to how cell phone plans work. There are no hard data limits. This means that you have an unlimited internet connection, but you do have a limit on how many GBs you have of “high-speed” connectivity. This arrangement is similar to some cell phone plans. Since you are operating a business, we suggest you invest in the GBs you need to work comfortably. Don’t compromise the speed you need.
HughesNet has a fairly average reputation with consumers, according to customer review websites. The main complaint is that internet speeds can be slow at times, which -- as frustrating as it is-- is not surprising
Verizon FiOS review
Best for Fiber Optic Connection
Fiber optic technology delivers the best and most reliable internet connection around. Both upload and download speeds range from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. However, rollout of this still-new technology has been slower than anticipated. The main reason for this is that installation is costly and disruptive in densely populated areas.
Nowadays, most ISPs offer fiber optic internet, but clients may have to pay installation costs. This technology may be a great investment, but it’s not one every business can afford. Still, we can’t help but look to the future.
Screenshot of verizon.com 10.10.2019
Verizon FiOS, the brand that has come to be synonymous with fiber technology, has maintained its leadership throughout the years. We were surprised that it was the only ISP provider we found with an outstanding reputation across most customer review sites and consumer satisfaction platforms. And this reputation was extended to their other internet services, including copper technology and internet telephony. Even though Verizon’s availability leaves something to be desired and contract information is not accessible, we couldn’t help but be impressed with their top-notch service and fantastic reputation with consumers.
Fusion Connect review
Best for Heavy Internet Users
Fusion Connect is an ISP geared specifically toward businesses. And as such, you’ll find a variety of everything a business might need, from dedicated internet connections to strong SLAs. If your business relies heavily on internet services or you find your business scaling up, we encourage to check out Fusion Connect The company offers many services for enterprises of all sizes, from network security and threat management to internet phone systems. They have a presence in 35 states and offer fiber, copper and DSL connections.
Screenshot of megapath.com 10.10.2019
Their terms and contracts are very clear and their SLAs were very thorough. However, we were less than impressed with their cancellation policy. Though we appreciated them being forthcoming with their terms, we found their early termination fees to be on the high side. On the other hand, their customer reviews were above average, a great feat considering the fact that most consumer commentary about this industry is sharply negative.
More insight into our methodology
Reviewing business internet service providers proved more challenging than expected. There’s not as much data as we hoped regarding the business side of ISPs, since most data is geared towards residential service, and even that data could improve. However, we were able to find great sources and experts to interview.
We noticed most ISPs --with the exception of satellite ISPs --present similar, if not identical, offers. Pricing depends on many things, such as area, product and size of the business. We suggest to consumers up their negotiation game and fight to get the best price they can. With these things in mind, we identified the key factors that make for a good business ISP.
Reliability
What’s the point of having an ISP if its service doesn’t work? This is why we stress the importance of having service level agreements. These guarantees will assure customers that their ISP is putting its money where its mouth is. We also wanted to make sure that SLAs were robust enough to truly be helpful to consumers. Some ISPs we considered don’t have SLAs. Others had difficult processes that posed obstacles to consumers with downtime complaints. And there were other companies who made customers pay an extra fee for backup internet instead of providing it themselves.
The only top pick that doesn’t include SLAs is HughesNet, which was not surprising since its competition didn’t have SLAs either and it would be truly hard to keep up an agreement of performance for satellite internet. This technology’s performance depends on many external factors out of the ISP’s control.
Availability
It is well known that ISPs have a pseudo-monopoly in some areas of the United States. You can see it when people complain they only have one ISP provider in their area. In some cases you can have a single ISP for one area, drive two or three miles, and have another single ISP for the neighboring area. In addition to this, coverage maps are notoriously bad.
This is why we decided to look for ISPs that have a presence in at least 20 States. Unfortunately, an ISP that covers all of the US and its territories doesn’t exist. We tried to make our choices as inclusive as possible.
Customer Service
When we looked at customer review sites and reputable consumer satisfaction websites, such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, we were expecting reviews to be scathing. And we were not disappointed. In fact, sometimes it felt like we were fishing for bad in a sea of terrible. So when a company’s customer comments were merely mediocre, they stood out.
Yet, we were presented with another challenge. Most reviews and surveys are done with residential customers in mind. We found that some of the rare good reviews were from businesses. And we confirmed with our experts that relationships between ISPs and businesses are handled better than the relationships with residential customers. We therefore read through many review platforms to see if there were any worrisome common complaints that might affect business customers.
Contract Flexibility
We made a point to look for and read contracts, terms, and cancellation policies. We made sure our top picks had clear and forthcoming terms, because we found that some ISPs had terms that were downright sneaky.
Of course, one has to keep in mind that these things change all the time. We heartily recommend that business owners and IT specialists take the time to read thoroughly any contract they sign. Internet is essential to almost every business. This shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Helpful information about Business Internet Providers
Because there are no truly national internet service providers, not all of our readers will be able to purchase internet services from one of our recommended providers. Still, there are some general principles that may guide businesses through the process of choosing an ISP.
Going Back to Basics
Today, we use the internet for everything. Your ISPs’ role is to connect your devices to the net. For more info on the technical aspects of how this connection works, you can check our Best Internet Providers article.
Elsie Melendez, a digital forensic specialist, notes that the internet is essential for businesses today. “It’s a must,” she said. “It’s the best way for communicating. For example, email replaced mail, and it’s free. You don’t have to mail letters anymore or buy stamps to send information.” And we agree. None of us would be able to run a business if we had to revert to using paper, envelopes, and stamps for every external communication.
Elsie Melendez has more than 10 years of combined experience as a digital forensic specialist and an information technology auditor. Melendez is currently the subdirector of the Internal Audit Office of the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery Program in Puerto Rico.
What Should a Business Owner Look For?
What’s the first thing you should look for? Bandwidth. Bandwidth is a measure of how much data an internet connection can transfer. However, bandwidth must not be confused with speed, even when it affects speed. Bandwidth is more like the number of lanes on a highway. If there are more lanes, there is less chance for slow traffic--and you’ll be able to drive faster.
Below you will find a calculator that will estimate your bandwidth needs:
As we mentioned earlier, bandwidth doesn’t equal speed, but one should really keep an eye on the actual speeds. Hector Albaladejo, an IT specialist, explained what businesses should look for when considering download and upload speeds. “The popular demand is bandwidth, and that’s all good. It is important,” Albaladejo noted. “But we have to understand that doens't necessarily mean you have a good internet connection. Because you can have speeds of 200 Mbps for download, but upload speeds of 5 Mbps. The usually recommended speed for businesses is that your download speed be at least two times your upload speed. That should be the norm. The ideal is that you have symmetrical speeds, same for download and upload.”
Most of us download much more information than what we upload. However, upload speeds can make a huge difference for businesses. Let’s say you are running a virtual call center through Voice Over Internet Protocol, and your upload speeds are too low. Your agents might have no trouble listening to your customers, but your customers might have issues listening in to your agents. That wouldn’t be ideal.
Héctor J. Albaladejo has 20 years of experience in the Information Technology industry, wearing many hats throughout the years, including the one of educator. Currently, Albaladejo serves as an IT specialist and IoT client monitor and support specialist for a Utah-based SMB.
“Another thing to consider about an ISP is what type of connection they offer,” said Albaladejo. “As an example, fiber optic is a very dependable connection. Basically, fiber optic works at the speed of light. But when you have ISPs that use copper or coaxial, those are good signals with good transmissions, but they are not the most optimal depending on the use you’ll be making of them.”
There’s a lot to consider when choosing the best internet provider for your business—so much, in fact, that many businesses turn to consultants to guide them. As Melendez noted, “I can open a business and go to [an ISP] and tell them ‘give me this or that,’ and they give me the most expensive products. Probably there was a better way it could have been managed, but since I didn’t have a consultant, I made a mistake and wasted a lot of money.”
For larger businesses, Albaladejo recommends that the choice of ISPs be left to the IT department. “Maybe an owner that works alone or in a small office of five people, he or she can take charge of it. But if it’s let’s say 300 users, still a mid-sized business, they need an IT department.”
To Keep in Mind
You and your ISP of choice need to have a strong relationship for the good of your business. It isn’t surprising that choosing your ISP is an important, maybe even delicate, matter.
When the time comes to choose your ISP or switch to another, we advise you take into account the following:
- Always contemplate growth. Look at the business as something that can and will grow. Don’t limit your company’s growth with the structure of your connections. Build a structure that allows your company to scale up.
- Don’t chain yourself to a long term contract. Some ISP contracts have terms of between three and five years. Try to negotiate a contract for the shortest term possible. This will help you grow and adapt, particularly if you need to move from one location to another.
- The most economical option isn’t always the best option. You need to spend time and effort getting quotes. Try to get the most for your money. Maybe an offer is a little more expensive, but you might save in the long run. Don’t look for cheap, look for value.
- Always ask around which ISP business owners and IT experts prefer. This will guide you when looking for quotes in your area.
- Negotiate everything. When researching ISPs, we chatted with an ISP a couple of times, posing as a business owner. We found very interesting that one representative offered to waive the installation fees right off the bat, while the other didn’t try. We advise to up your negotiation game and try a couple of times. Don’t leave any money on the table.
Consider municipal ISPs. If you live in a municipality that has its own local ISP and you don’t expect to move your business anytime soon, this might be the best ISP in your area. For example, Chattanooga, Tennessee is the paragon of municipalities that have a great local, reliable ISP with fantastic speeds.
FAQs about Business Internet Providers
Should I bundle internet connection with telephone services?
If you expect your relationship with your ISP to be a short one, it is best to have your telephone service with another company. You will avoid the extra trouble of implementing a new system and transferring numbers. However, it might all come down to budgeting. There are many business phone providers that offer competitive rates.