Best Internet Providers
Based on In-Depth Reviews

From April 1860 to October 1861, the Pony Express ran from Missouri to California, taking an average of ten days to deliver handwritten messages. At the time, it was the quickest way for a letter to travel from East to West. It was expensive and, due to raids and attacks, the letters didn’t always reach their destination.

Today, we don’t even need to wait days: we can send messages to people from across the globe in an instant. Open an email account, type a message, and click send—that’s all it takes. The number of emails sent worldwide each day—281 billion in 2018 according to Statista— is evidence of how profoundly the Internet has revolutionized human communication… and that’s not even taking into account instant messages.

One of the most significant technological breakthroughs in the history of mankind, the Internet has done more than just enhance the speed and reach of human communication. It has fundamentally changed the very way we live. So many of the things we use or even depend on in our everyday lives are a result of technological innovations which have been made possible thanks to the Internet. Digital television, GPS, satellite radio, RSS feeds, social media and online forums, 100-man battle royals—none of this would exist without the Internet.

Because we all use the Internet for different purposes, not all our needs are the same. Some of us just use it to get our news, make the occasional post on social media, and google things. For others, it’s an essential component of their professional lives: they’re sales representatives, emailing clients day in and out, freelancers streaming a movie to translate its subtitles, or streamers playing online games for a living. There are different levels of use to the Internet, and the need for things such as bandwidth, speed, and data caps will vary from user to user.

It’s a Series of Tubes! or How the Internet Actually Works

The first commercial internet service providers (ISPs) emerged in the early 90s. Before that, the Internet was used by government laboratories and universities for research purposes—commercial use was forbidden. During the late 80s, ISPs began to form; they provided email service, news, and access to regional research networks at a time were usage restrictions were being removed by Congress. This helped develop a framework for public, commercial access to the internet.

In 1989, the first commercial ISP in the United States, the World, opened for business. However, usage of the internet was still limited during the early 90s. Internet access as we know it became a reality thanks to the technology of the World Wide Web (WWW, or “the Web”). People often mistake the terms “Internet” and “Web”, using them interchangeably. It’s important to clarify the distinction between the Internet and the Web in order to truly understand how it all works—and how it relates to ISPs.

The Web is the primary tool billions of people use to interact on the Internet. Users navigate it through a web browser which identifies URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) in order to access web resources. The Web is what you use when you click on a hyperlink, conduct a Google search, or upload a PDF document. On the other hand, the Internet is a global system comprised of numerous interconnected networks, which are themselves comprised of billions of computers and other electronic devices. Essentially, the internet is a network of networks.

ISPs connect users to the internet by making them a part of their network. Providers then connect to a larger network, which grants users access to the web at large. Large ISPs often arrange exchanges in traffic as well, effectively stacking network on top of network. This is how the larger Internet is put together: connecting smaller networks to make big ones.

Providers maintain their networks by hosting large data and routing centers which manage their web traffic. While an individual could theoretically connect to the internet directly, it would require extensive negotiation with ISPs, who own the physical infrastructure required for internet connection. Assuming one got past this step, you would then need to physically install the cables and other devices that would grant you access to the Internet, as well as provide your own maintenance for them.

Types of Internet Access

How you connect to the internet depends on the technology employed by an ISP. Some types of internet access are faster, while others are slower; some are more widely available, whereas others are nearly exclusive to certain regions.

1. Dial-up (Analog 56K): Dial-up was the first type of internet access to be offered commercially. It uses a 56k modem and a phone line to create a connection to the internet. Users must connect the telephone line to the modem in their computer and then install the other end into the phone jack. Since the line is shared, both devices cannot be active at the same time. Dial-up is inexpensive when compared to modern alternatives, but its low speeds and phone line requirement have seen it fall in favor of broadband starting in the early 2000s. Dial-up is often seen in rural areas, where other types of internet access are not found, or in households with very low bandwidth usage.

2. Satellite: Internet access can be provided by geostationary communication satellites in the Earth’s orbit connecting with satellite dishes on the surface. Dishes must be positioned in such a way that they can beam signals to the satellite and receive information back, which nearly always necessitates the aid of a certified technician sent by the provider. The dish itself is connected to a modem in the home. Satellite internet is common in rural areas, where cable, fiber optic, and DSL access may not be available. Compared to dial-up, it is more expensive, has bandwidth limitations, and is more unreliable due to the possibility of minor obstructions and weather interference with the signal. It can deliver considerably higher speeds, though.

3. Mobile Broadband: Mobile broadband internet can be provided by USB wireless modems, portable modems, tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices. It comes in 3G and 4G varieties, with 5G broadband currently in early deployment stages. The greatest advantage of broadband is the portability of the devices that provide the wireless signal. Its disadvantages include restrictive data caps, lower speeds, and high latency.

4. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): DSL uses wireless technology to transmit data over existing copper telephone lines. Being built over telephone lines means this type of internet access is widely available. Unlike dial-up, DSL works within telephone line frequencies, making it possible to make phone calls and use the internet simultaneously. Another advantage of DSL internet is that users get their own, dedicated circuit which won’t be affected by neighboring subscribers, as occurs with cable internet. On the other hand, DSL internet is somewhat slower than cable. The closer you are to the nearest telephone company facility, the stronger your connection will be.

           There are two types of DSL internet:

           - Symmetrical DSL (SDSL) offers equal bandwidth for upload and download speeds.

           - Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) offers higher maximum download speeds than it does upload speeds. This is the most popular type of DSL connection.

              Additionally, there are two faster forms of DSL known as HDSL (High data rate Digital Subscriber Line) and VDSL (Very High data rate Digital Subscriber Line). Both provide higher-than-standard DSL speed at                   an increased price point.

5. Cable: Cable internet is broadband technology that operates over coaxial cable TV lines. The speed of cable internet is comparable, albeit noticeably higher, to that of DSL internet. However, because this type of internet access makes use of shared cables, speeds can be considerably lower during peak Internet usage times. Like DSL, the way your connection is established allows for both surfing the Web and watching TV at the same time.

6. Fiber optic: Fiber optics technology is used to construct what is known as fiber to the x broadband architecture. Fiber optic cables are made out of thin transparent fibers of glass or plastic that are enclosed by material of a lower refractive index and that transmit light throughout their length by internal reflections. The way fiber optics work makes it possible to reach speeds unparalleled by other types of internet access—in 2014, record-breaking speeds of 1.4 terabytes per second were clocked using commercial-grade fiber optic cables. Fiber optic internet is therefore the best alternative for bandwidth-heavy activities. A big disadvantage of fiber internet is its price, however, as it’s the most expensive of all the internet access types. It is also limited in scope due to the infrastructure it demands.

Net Neutrality

The term net neutrality was coined by Tim Wu, a media law professor at Columbia University, in 2003. It stands for the idea that all internet traffic—regardless of user, content, website, platform, application, etc.—should be treated equally. Essentially, advocates of net neutrality are against ISPs blocking sites, slowing down traffic, charging extra, or otherwise making it difficult for users to access the content they want to find online.

On December 14, 2017, the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) voted to repeal net neutrality in a 3 to 2 vote. Nearly six months later, the repeal of Title II net neutrality regulations took place due to the US House of Representative’s failure to act under the CRA (Congressional Review Act) after having voted against deregulation. This was the climax of a long and lengthy process started by Ajit Varadaraj Pai, chairman of the FCC, who made his plans to repeal net neutrality known early during his time in office.

The repeal of net neutrality is a contentious topic. Studies in 2017 and 2018 showed that an overwhelming majority of voters opposed repealing net neutrality. In spite of bipartisan opposition and drawing the criticism of numerous associations, non-profits, and civil rights organizations, among other groups, the FCC still repealed these regulations. Many states are now drafting legislation to implement their own net neutrality laws.

Despite the harsh criticism directed at the repeal, opinion is still somewhat divided among experts on the topic. Many computer scientists, including co-creator of the Internet Vinton Cerf, and inventor of the Web Tim Berners-Lee, have condemned the repeal of net neutrality, calling it “rushed”, “flawed”, and “irresponsible.” Others, such as internet pioneer and former Chief Technologist for the FCC David Farber, have warned that extensive regulation could stifle innovation within the ISP industry. Some stand somewhere in the middle, such as computer programmer and creator of BitTorrent Bram Cohen, who would not want the Internet to turn into something like cable TV but believes net neutrality laws are very difficult to implement appropriately.

But how does the repeal of net neutrality impact you, the consumer? Since regulation favoring net neutrality was repealed not too long ago, we still lack sufficient evidence to say whether the effect has been positive or negative overall for consumers. There is one big issue that customers may be facing in the near issue as a result of this, however.

Net Neutrality and Monopolization

Using data from the FCC’s 2016 Broadband Progress Report, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) found that 51% of Americans are limited to single ISP choice where they live; 10% of Americans can’t even purchase what the FCC considers “basic broadband”. These statistics dispel the common misconception that those who are unsatisfied with their internet service can “just switch” to another provider. For a large number of Americans, that is simply not a choice.

The biggest issue with repealing net neutrality in the United States is that we suffer from serious monopolization in the internet service industry. “ISPs do have too much market power, particularly the cable internet service providers who essentially operate as monopolies in most major markets”, says Rahul Jain, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at USC.

Large ISPs have carved up the country, thereby avoiding competition and resulting in stagnation within the industry. This has created an environment where providers don’t need to make an effort to better their service. Instead, they can just charge you more and more for the same amount of bandwidth. Jain went on,

“We as consumers are paying more for internet service, not less, while in most other developed countries, prices have fallen at a rapid clip. Why?”

Without net neutrality rules, individual ISPs will be able to do more than just give preferential treatment to content creators they favor. They might be able to throttle speeds and do anything they can to drive their customers away from content sponsored by other large ISPs. In a worst-case scenario, the Internet could end up a fragmented shadow of its former self.

Naturally, this is only a hypothetical aftermath. But the lack of net neutrality rules could have opened the floodgates for this kind of exploitative market practices. Some ISPs, large and small, have stated that they will not prioritize certain traffic or charge premiums to access certain content. We considered this during our research and recommend that consumers choose companies that are transparent in this area, although it might be hard to ascertain whether the company is being genuine in its efforts.

How to Choose the Best Provider in Your Area

Due to the ISP monopoly in the United States, some of us may have very little choice in what provider we pick. Unfortunately, the best ISP in one area may not be available in yours. Additionally, barring mobile broadband and satellite internet providers, most companies do not offer coverage nationwide. Because of this, we’ve written a short guide to help those who may not be covered by one of the companies that we rated as “the best” in any given category. This can also help those who want to opt for a local provider but are not sure what they should be looking for.

For Residential Customers

1. Review the provider’s track record with customers. One of the biggest gripes people have with providers is unreliable customer support. A company’s average customer satisfaction rate can be found on the ACSI’s yearly telecommunication report. After checking with the ACSI, make sure to look up the company on JD Power, the BBB, and other industry review aggregators. Local companies that don’t have much of a presence online are better researched through anecdotal evidence from nearby residents.

2. Check the provider’s prices and fees. Unless the provider clearly states what goes into its advertised prices, disregard them. Instead, try to find what is included in a plan’s price—and what isn’t. Check for how long the contract’s original price is going to last, if there are any installation fees, if they can be waived, and if opting for paperless billing can bring your final price down. Remember that taxes are added near the end of the process as well.

3. Verify the types of plan the provider is selling. Assuming you stay with the same provider for some time, your Internet needs could change. Subscribing to a provider with more than a single internet access type and a wider variety of plans ensures that you can upgrade or downgrade your plan, if the need arises.

For Businesses Customers

1. Ask other businesses about their own experience with a particular provider. Ask what kind of issues they’ve had with the company, if their technicians have done their job swiftly and efficiently, how long they’ve been serviced by the provider, and anything else that could affect your own business.

2. Make sure the provider can cater to your type of business. Not all ISPs cater to all sizes of business or industries. Some do, but are more experienced working with small, mid-sized, or large businesses. When looking for a provider, make sure to avoid those that advertise their business solutions as a “one-size-fits-all” alternative. Instead, try to find ISPs that have a history of working with companies your same size.

3. Check if the provider offers 24/7 customer support. Having tech support around the clock is essential for many businesses—especially those that are open at odd hours. Many providers have business solutions, but not all of them include 24/7 support. Of those that do, it’s not uncommon to see them charging an extra fee for it. The extra cost might seem restrictive, but generally pays off.

Bandwidth

The term bandwidth has several meanings, but is defined as the capacity for data transfer of an electronic communications system in the field of computing. Bandwidth is generally expressed in bits per second e.g. 250Mbps (megabits per second). Bits, particularly megabits, are often confused with megabytes, but they are not the same unit of measurement. Megabytes are not usually used in residential internet plans and use the acronym MBps rather than Mbps. Basically, the more bandwidth you have, the higher your maximum rate of data transfer will be.

If this is all a bit too abstract, think of bandwidth as a pipe. Higher bandwidth is equal to a larger pipe, which means a higher material capacity (i.e. data) can be transported from one end to another.

This is why your network might be acting “slow” if multiple people are using it for streaming, gaming, and other high-bandwidth activities.

A common misconception is that bandwidth is the same as speed. “Colloquially, they mean the same thing” says Professor Shyam Parekh. He explains that part of the confusion is the word’s origin in the domain of analog technology, where it was used to express hertz. A higher amount of bandwidth does not actually make your internet connection faster—only perceptually so. Rather, the speed of your network connection depends on the type of internet access you are using, when you are using it, the state of your equipment, and how far away you are from your ISP’s nearest data hub. This likely happens because of how ISP’s market their services and plans.

How Much Speed do I Need?

Because we all use the Internet for different purposes, it stands to reason that we don’t all need to pay upwards of $80 for 1GB of bandwidth. Before you begin searching for an ISP in your area—assuming you have more than a single choice—it’s a good idea to review what you use the Internet for. After all, you wouldn’t want to get less bandwidth than what you need, either

Take long-time gamer Hector Cortez, for example. He streams liveplay of videogames on Facebook like Apex Legends and Rocket League nearly every day. When asked what type of service he would recommend to other gamers out there, he told us to “choose a company with fiber optic [technology].” He uses fiber optic himself and suggested that those living in areas with an unstable connection opt for plans with higher Mbps than they would regularly need, in order to ensure video quality.

Another example is Jorge Rodriguez, father of four. He’s been with the same provider for over a decade now, during which his family’s needs have changed. “When it was just four of us, we didn’t need a lot of bandwidth. But after having our third child and moving to the suburbs, we had to upgrade our plan.” He went on to explain how having a fourth child and moving further away from the city required a stronger plan to counteract the change in usage and the distance. “After three of our kids moved out, we were able to downgrade to a cheaper and more adequate plan for us.”

Lastly, we have Heidi Rivera, whose Internet needs lie somewhere in between high and low bandwidth. She’s an independent contractor with 10 years of experience in subtitle translation editing. She told us that “having good reliable internet is crucial to my business.” She mentioned the need for a good amount of bandwidth to stream and watch the content she edits but focused more so on the importance of good customer service. “I’ve had issues with my [internet] service, which is where good customer support came in handy… If I don’t have a service I can rely on, that means I’m losing money—and clients.”

What To Watch Out For When Dealing with ISPs

Bad Bundles

Almost every ISP that offers cable TV and phone service also has premade or customizable bundles. It’s an easy way to save money for consumers who want more than just internet. But it’s also an easy way for people to lose money if they cave into common sales tactics.

Before getting cable TV service and a phone line, ask yourself: how often will I be using these? If you aren’t keeping up to date with series currently running on TV or need the phone line for a specific reason, avoid getting swayed into bundling. Even if the cost is just a few dollars more than the internet service by itself, chances are the price of those services will also increase after the end of your payment period.

Additional Fees & Costs

When you visit a provider’s website, one of the first things you’ll see are their advertised prices. Consumers are generally shown three to four plans that the provider wants to sell the most, with any other plans lying elsewhere. Some providers opt against this, showing what their average plans offer and only revealing prices once the user inputs their location.

The plans that providers advertise to customers on their front page are more often than not purely promotional. Providers discount the standard price of their plans and offer them under contract for 12 to 24 months, after which the monthly payments may increase. These promotional plans are usually only available for new customers.

Lastly, the price you see does not take into consideration the price of renting your equipment. Most customers rent their equipment, thereby avoiding the hassle of having to learn how to install it themselves. It’s also less of an upfront investment. However, the cost of getting leased equipment from your ISP can quickly add up—especially if your provider decides to raise the monthly payment. Moreover, most companies charge a fee for the equipment’s installation, although some do waive this for new customers or online orders.

Maximum Bandwidth

Picture this: It’s been nearly a week since you changed Internet providers. You picked a plan advertising 400Mbps—a considerable upgrade compared to your previous plan of 100Mbps. You’ve been able to watch videos and play games online smoothly so far, although you can’t notice that big a difference. It’s Friday and you get a notification that the new episode of your favorite series is online, so you log in to the streaming platform... And quickly start to notice issues with your connection.  The stream is spotty, changing resolution all the time and outright stopping occasionally. After making several speed tests and resetting the router twice already, you call your provider to ask what is going on. The representative explains that your plan does not promise “speeds” of 400Mbps, but rather of up to 400Mbps.

The way ISPs advertise their plans can often be confusing. Consumers may automatically assume that the bandwidth being offered to them is exactly what they are going to get. This is problematic for two reasons. The first is the common misconception that we discussed regarding bandwidth and speed, two things which are not quite the same. The second is the large number of variables that affect Internet connections.

Consumers should never expect to get the exact bandwidth that is being advertised to them by an ISP. Professor Shyam Parekh explains that “The line that goes to your home might have a capacity of 1Gbps, but you are not going to get 1Gbps.” The time of day, the number of users online, your distance from the ISP, and end-user hardware issues, among many other factors, may be at play for your lower-than-expected bandwidth.

Providers could also be throttling your bandwidth for various reasons. This can be checked for through repeated use of free Internet speed testing software, such as Speedtest’s and HighSpeedInternet.com’s. Keep in mind that testing for speed throttling is hard, though, and there is no guarantee that a provider will change what they are doing when presented with evidence to support your claims.