Popular Internet Service Providers
- 360 Overall Rating
- Monthly Cost
- $35 and Up
- Connection Type
- Fiber
- Download Speed
- 0.8 Mbps – 940 Mbps
- Bundles
- Internet, TV
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Best ISP for Rural Areas
- 360 Overall Rating
- Monthly Cost
- $49.99 and Up
- Connection Type
- Hybrid-Fiber Coax
- Download Speed
- 100 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps
- Bundles
- Internet, TV, or Phone
See Review
- 360 Overall Rating
- Monthly Cost
- $39.99 and Up
- Connection Type
- Satellite
- Download Speed
- 12 Mbps – 100 Mbps
- Bundles
- Internet, TV, or Phone
See Review
Slow internet can test our patience. Have you ever found yourself on the internet browsing a webpage that takes forever to load? You sit watching the icon spin as time ticks by. Subpar internet speed can cause you to lose an online game or make your streaming videos buffer.
Imagine you’re a student trying to submit an assignment before the deadline or you’re working from home. Slow internet can sabotage your success at school and at work, too.
Light Use | Moderate Use | High Use | |
1 user on 1 device |
Basic Service |
Basic Service |
Medium Service |
2 users or devices at a time |
Basic Service |
Medium Service |
Medium/Advanced Service |
3 users or devices at a time |
Medium Service |
Medium Service |
Advanced Service |
4 users or devices at a time |
Medium Service |
Advanced Service |
Advanced Service |
Basic Service = 3 to 8 Mbps. Medium Service = 12 to 25 Mbps. Advanced Service = More than 25 Mbps. 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.*Speed usage data from FCC website.
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Overall, web surfing requires relatively little bandwidth, although a somewhat faster connection is required for videos.
When picking a plan with data upload and download speeds that match your needs, consider your day-to-day internet activities and choose accordingly. With some quick math, you can determine what you use; for instance, sending a text-only email uses only about 10 kilobytes (KB), according to Verizon Wireless.
A typical web page might require 1 megabyte (MB) to load, audio streaming uses about 51 MB per hour, streaming standard-definition video uses 500 MB per hour, and streaming high-definition video uses up 1.6 gigabytes (GB) per hour.
Users who buy less broadband capability than they need may end up disappointed with the result.
“Bandwidth is one of the two most important elements in computing these days, along with screen quality, since computational speeds are almost always more than enough for non-engineering tasks,” says Jakob Nielsen, Ph.D., a web usability expert and principal of the Nielsen Norman Group. However, he says, “Most users still save on bandwidth and prefer a moderate bandwidth at a moderate price to the highest-speed, highest-cost option.”
Streaming video and videoconferencing require higher speeds. If these comprise a good percentage of your daily internet activities, you’ll need faster internet service with low latency. A provider with a fiber-optic connection is the fastest and most reliable choice, with cable a close second.
It’s best to know your typical use and be aware of any data caps on your plan so you don’t exceed them. This could force you to pay data overcharges, cause your ISP to “throttle” or slow your speeds, or both. Streaming one minute of standard-definition video uses 11.7 MB, high-definition video uses 41.7 MB, and 4K ultra HD video devours 97.5 MB, which is the equivalent of sending nearly 5,000 email messages.
Fiber internet service consistently offers low rates of data loss (less than 0.4 milliseconds) and the lowest latency to ensure minimal disruptions. Take a look at internet providers like Frontier, which has an average latency rate of 9 ms, or Verizon Fios, which registers 12 ms. That’s barely perceptible to the average user and even to a frequent gamer.
The FCC says the best ISPs for two or more connected devices and moderate to heavy internet use should offer at least 12 megabits per second (Mbps) of download speed. For four or more devices, 25 Mbps is recommended.
For two or more users who regularly stream high definition or 4K video, use videoconferencing, participate in online gaming, or work from home, a good internet speed of 12 to 25 Mbps makes the most sense. Homes with four or more people using four or more connected devices will certainly want download speeds of 25 Mbps or more. That said, most experts recommend even higher speeds – at least 100 Mbps – for households with heavy internet use.
Most ISPs deliver their promised broadband speed, says the FCC in its tenth Measuring Broadband America Fixed Broadband Report, released in January 2021. The report evaluates 12 different ISPs along with the different technology configurations such as fiber, cable, DSL, satellite. The report states that out of these providers, only one performed below 90% for actual-to-advertised download speed.
Many plans on our Best Internet Providers of 2022 list offer incremental increases in cost for exponentially more speed. Xfinity, for example, has a 200 Mbps plan starting at $39.99 per month. For only $20 more per month, you could have 400 Mbps of download and upload speeds. That’s more than enough for the vast majority of families.
Working from home requires, at minimum, reliable internet service for email and a strong cellular signal or landline. It also often requires sharing large files and participating in videoconferences, both of which use considerable bandwidth.
Speedtest.net says videoconference platforms like Zoom and Google Meet only work well when connected to adequately fast internet. For its part, Zoom suggests download and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps for videoconferencing with multiple participants in high definition. Google support documentation offers similar recommendations.
When considering how much speed you need, beware that low promotional pricing may be for an ISP’s lowest speeds. Also make sure the download and upload speeds you actually get are the ones that you’re expecting, says the Federal Trade Commission.
Actual transmission speeds depend on the type of application you’re using, the number of people using it at the same time, and more. ISPs with a fiber optic network, like Verizon Fios, AT&T, and others, are generally the fastest and most reliable. Fiber is followed by cable, and then other technologies like fixed wireless, DSL, and satellite internet.
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