Our picks for best internet providers include Verizon Fios (best fiber), AT&T Internet (best availability and DSL), Xfinity (best cable), CenturyLink (best pricing structure), and Viasat (best satellite internet).
Best internet service providers
- Verizon Fios—Best fiber internet (starting at $34.99/month)
- AT&T—Best DSL and availability (starting at $55/month)
- Xfinity—Best cable internet provider (starting at $40/month)
- CenturyLink—Best internet with no surprises (starting at $30/month)
- Viasat—Best satellite internet (starting at $99.99/month)
We rely on home internet for entertainment, work, school, and more. It's important that you have a reliable internet service provider who can keep you constantly connected at the right price. We've reviewed providers throughout the country to pick our favorites of the bunch.
Internet providers: Our recommendations
| Provider | Best For | Best Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Fiber | Internet 940/880 | $64.99/month |
 |
DSL and Availability | Internet 300 | $55/month |
 |
Cable Internet | 300Mbps | $40/month |
 |
Price for life | Internet 1Gbps | $65/month |
 |
Satellite | Unleashed | from $99.99/month |
Verizon Fios: Best fiber internet
WhistleOut Rating:
Main Features:
- Prices starting at $34.99/month
- Unlimited data
- Speeds up to 980Gbps
- Great giveaways
Reliability is the name of the game when it comes to Verizon Fios. Its solid reputation has been earned by providing consistently solid service that tends to meet its advertised speeds more often than most internet providers. For our money, Verizon Fios is the best home internet out there...if you can get it. The problem is, it's hard to find.
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#1
|
Verizon Fios
myPlan + 2 Gig
$94.99/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
+ $99 Upfront
|
|
#2
|
Verizon Fios
myPlan + 300 Mbps
$34.99/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
+ $99 Upfront
|
|
#3
|
Verizon Fios
300 Mbps
$49.99/mo
with AutoPay
+ $99 Upfront
|
|
#4
|
Verizon Fios
myPlan + 500 Mbps
$59.99/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
+ $99 Upfront
|
|
#5
|
Verizon Fios
myPlan + 1 Gig
$74.99/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
+ $99 Upfront
|
The former king still reigns
Verizon used to be the ruler of all things fiber internet, including availability. However, after switching gears and selling a ton of its fiber infrastructure, along with AT&T's expansion of its own fiber network, Verizon Fios is no longer the largest player in the fiber game. However, it's still widely considered the best player.
Unfortunately, Verizon Fios isn't widely available. If you happen to live in Washington D.C. and these states, you're among the lucky who might have access to Verizon Fios:
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (Providence)
- Virginia
What you see is what you get
Well, kind of. The thing with advertised speeds from internet providers is they show the best speeds you could get during optimal conditions. In reality, you don't see those top speeds very often, and somehow we've all decided we're okay with all of this. What Verizon Fios does well is sticks closer to its advertised speeds than most internet providers tend to. Don't get us wrong. Verizon Fios isn't perfect, but it's definitely far above average.
Get free stuff with Verizon Fios
Besides providing superior service, Verizon Fios gets cool points for consistently offering great freebies for its internet customers. Examples of these giveaways include things like free Disney+, extended free trails of YouTube TV, free Amazon Echo Dots, PlayStation Plus, and more.
AT&T Internet: Best availability
WhistleOut Rating:
Main Features:
- Plans starting at $55/month
- Fiber and DSL connections
- Speeds up to 1Gbps
- Several bundles available
- 1,000GB data limit
AT&T doesn't have the entire country covered (no ISP does), but it is the biggest ISP on the list. Its Fiber network is especially impressive, covering huge swaths of the Midwest, South, and West Coast. All this makes AT&T Internet our choice for the best internet provider for availability.
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#1
|
AT&T
Internet 300 (Fiber 300Mbps)
$35/mo
Price after Autopay & Paperless bill discount. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
|
|
#2
|
AT&T
Internet 5000 (Fiber 5 GIG)
$135/mo
Price after Autopay & Paperless bill discount. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
|
|
#3
|
AT&T
Internet 500 (Fiber 500Mbps)
$45/mo
Price after Autopay & Paperless bill discount. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
|
|
#4
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AT&T
Internet 1000 (Fiber 1 GIG)
$60/mo
Price after discounts: $25/mo for new customers, and $10/mo w/ eligible Autopay & Paperless bill. Monthly State Cost Recovery charge applies in NV, OH, TX. One time install fee may apply.
|
|
#5
|
AT&T
Internet 100 (Fiber 100Mbps) + AT&T Wireless
$45/mo
Price after Autopay & Paperless bill discount. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
|
The largest fiber internet provider
AT&T has earned the bragging rights of having the largest fiber coverage in the country. It's a bit of a dubious honor, as fiber is notoriously not the most available internet connection, especially outside of metropolitan areas.
The big reason why AT&T is leading the fiber charge has to do largely with its purchase of DIRECTV. As part of the agreement with the FCC, AT&T promised to expand its fiber internet coverage. By following through, it is not the largest fiber network in the country.
AT&T DSL
Yes, AT&T has the largest fiber internet coverage, but that's not really the reason why it has the best availability. The vast majority of this big internet provider's offerings consist of DSL internet. While DSL is clearly inferior to the faster and more reliable fiber, it still can provide more than enough power to support the average household. In fact, AT&T's DSL clocks in as fast as 300Mbps.
Infrastructure for DSL is much easier and cheaper to build than fiber. So, it's not a surprise that AT&T's DSL is much more available than its fiber internet.
Bundle up with AT&T
AT&T might be known more for its wireless and internet services, but it's also a big player in TV. This means you can bundle your internet and TV services with AT&T and potentially save big. Or, at the very least have only one bill for multiple services. AT&T TV comes in several tiers to fit the needs of those wanting just the basic channels to those who want the whole enchilada, including premium channels like HBO and Showtime.
AT&T TV requires a high-speed internet connection. So, it just makes sense to bundle it with AT&T internet.
Xfinity: Best cable internet
WhistleOut Rating:
Main features:
- Prices starting at $40/month
- Cable and fiber provider
- Widely available
- Cable internet speeds as fast as 500Mbps
- Several bundle options
Xfinity is the biggest cable company in the country. So, it makes sense that it's also the biggest cable internet provider. Xfinity doesn't offer the best prices for what you get but in many of the areas where it's available, it's often the best choice.
|
#1
|
Xfinity
300 Mbps
$40/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#2
|
Xfinity
1.2 Gig
$100/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#3
|
Xfinity
500 Mbps
$45/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
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#4
|
Xfinity
1 Gig
$50/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#5
|
Xfinity
300 Mbps + Unlimited
$80/mo
5 year price guarantee + FREE mobile line for 12 months
|
Xfinity cable vs. fiber
Even though it's more expensive, we'd pretty much always recommend fiber over cable. Xfinity fiber, is generally faster than cable which lends better to heavy Internet users. However the lower speeds that come with Xfinity cable are still more than fast enough to handle the demands of the average household.
CenturyLink: Best for no surprises
WhistleOut Rating:
Main features:
- Prices starting at $30/month
- Price locked in for life
- DSL and Fiber
- 1,000GB limit for DSL
- Unlimited data for fiber
- No contracts
CenturyLink is by no means the biggest internet provider on our list, but it's a mighty player. Offering mostly DSL connections, CenturyLink also provides fiber internet to small pockets of the country. Its services are highlighted mostly by the price-for-life policy.
Price for life
With CenturyLink, the price you pay for your plan is locked in for as long as you remain with CenturyLink. Yes, this is worth mentioning a third time already. Almost all prices you see advertised for internet plans are introductory rates that skyrocket once the intro period is over—usually 12 or 24 months. On a CenturyLink plan, you don't have to worry about ending any sort of introductory period.
View PlanMy experience with CenturyLink
I am a current satisfied customer of CenturyLink. When I moved to my current location, I basically had a choice between Xfinity's 400Mbps cable plan at $75/month (which has since been upgraded to the current 500Mbps plan for $45/month) or CenturyLink's Gigabit fiber plan at a promotional and LOCKED-IN rate of $50/month. It was a pretty easy decision.
I test my internet speeds often, and I've never seen them approach 1Gbps. In fact, my speeds tend to be around 300-400Mbps, which was Xfinity's advertised peak speeds. Remember, however, that it's likely Xfinity's speeds never really reach their maximum. Overall, I got what I expected, and I'm happy.
Viasat: Best satellite internet for rural areas
WhistleOut Rating:
Main Features:
- Prices starting at $99.99/month
- Available everywhere
- Unlimited data (average 850GB monthly high-speed data cap)
- Speeds up to 150Mbps
Viasat stands out by offering fast speeds and data limits that you can't get with its competition HughesNet. It offers just one plan, which makes it easy to determine if it's the right provider for you.
The bad news is that your experience with Viasat depends on where you live. The data limits and speeds for the Unleashed plan are the same everywhere, but just about everything else changes. Pricing stretches from $99.99/month to $119.99/month depending on your address. Additionally, you may face a steep one-time installation fee of up to $300. Viasat uses your credit score to determine your fee, so customers with great credit may qualify for free installation.
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Viasat
Viasat Essentials
$71.22/mo
for 12 months. Contract required.
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Viasat
Viasat Unleashed
$101.22/mo
Available in select locations
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Internet for rural areas
Wired internet (cable, fiber, DSL) infrastructure is excellent in most urban and suburban areas. However, broadband access is still difficult to come by in much of the rural areas of the country. For many, satellite internet from providers like Viasat, Starlink, and HughesNet are the only options. And, for the time being, you probably should only be signed up for satellite if it's your only option for high speeds. The quality of the connection is not great for the price you are paying. If you have access to cable or fiber, there is no reason to look at satellite internet. and
The best internet provider in your area
The tricky thing about picking out the best internet providers is that internet connections vary by location. What might be the best internet provider in one area, may not even be available in the next.
For you, the best internet provider is the one in your area that can get the speeds you need at the price you are willing to pay in your area. You can use our internet search tool to find that provider near you.
Types of internet
There are four main types of broadband internet connections that are used throughout the country. These include fiber, cable, DSL, and satellite.
Fiber internet
Fiber internet has been the best internet option since it's been around. Its ability to provide equal and very fast download and upload speeds (up to 1Gbps) makes it pretty much unmatched by the other types of internet connections. Fiber also tends to be a more reliable connection than cable, DSL, and satellite—you should experience less downtime. Basically, if fiber is in your area, and it's not too expensive, this is the choice to make for your home internet.
Cable internet
Before fiber, cable internet was the best type of internet connection. Cable is also able to provide pretty fast download speeds (up to 1Gbps); however, it's not able to match upload speeds, often topping out around 20Mbps. While it's not quite as fast or dependable as fiber, cable internet is more widely available. Building cable internet infrastructure has been relatively easy—it had largely already been built for cable TV. Cable prices tend to be cheaper than fiber, which might also make it a better option for you.
DSL
DSL, or digital subscriber line, is a slightly older type of broadband connection that works through phone lines. It's not the fastest, usually topping off around 10-15Mbps, and it does have a reputation of cutting out more often than cable and fiber.
These days, several providers use an improved very high-bit rate DSL (VDSL) to deliver your internet. These have a theoretical top speed of about 100Mbps, but you'll probably never see your connection reach that peak. More likely, a VDSL connection will get average highs at around 50Mbps. Still, plenty fast to support many households' needs.
DSL is probably your best option when cable and fiber internet is not available.
Satellite internet
The realm of satellite internet is an evolving story (see "Internet Game Changers" below). For now, however, satellite internet is offered through Viasat and HughesNet. Providing speeds that can reach up to 100Mbps, these aren't theoretically the slowest options, but issues with latency—the time it takes for the signal to the satellite and back to you—have hampered satellite internet performance.
Satellite internet doesn't have the best value for money. You'll have to pay more for what you'd get from other types of internet connection at lower prices. For now, satellite internet is probably only best for those in rural areas who have no other option.
Internet game changers
There are two game-changers that could potentially shift the landscape of home internet: satellite, and 5G.
As stated above, satellite internet in its current form isn't the greatest option. However, SpaceX's Starlink, currently in its relative infancy, could be set to change this drastically. With theoretical high speeds of 1Gbps and cable-like low latency, Starlink could make satellite one of the best internet options available. SpaceX isn't the only company challenging the satellite internet realm. Amazon is also testing out its own super-fast satellite internet.
No doubt, you've been hearing a ton about 5G lately. The mobile internet technology is growing rapidly with all three major carriers now providing nationwide 5G. It's even already started making its way into several homes as the main source of internet. Still, 5G is in its infancy and not close to reaching its potential. As companies continue to build out 5G infrastructure, it may be a dominant source of internet connection.
Best internet providers: Recap
Now more than ever, a reliable internet provider is an important thing to have. The best internet provider for you depends on what you need out of your internet connection, and the options in your area. Our picks for best internet providers include:
- Verizon Fios for Best Fiber—While not available everywhere, its reputation for providing reliable service and consistently high speeds makes Verizon Fios one of our favorite ISPs.
- AT&T Internet for Best Availability—With the largest fiber network, and a robust DSL offering, AT&T Internet seems to have the largest net of broadband internet coverage.
- Xfinity for Best Cable Internet—The largest cable company offers a strong cable internet connection to a wide swath of the country.
- CenturyLink for Best Internet with No Surprises—Prices locked in for life is an extremely unique and attractive feature from this internet provider.
- Viasat for Best Satellite Provider—Rural internet users might find that Viasat provides the best internet option for them—for now.
To find the best internet provider in your area, enter your ZIP code in our internet search tool.
How we picked the best internet providers
In picking the best internet providers, we looked at:
- Prices
- Availability
- Internet speeds
- Data limits
- Reliability
- Reputation
Our picks might not be available in your area. However, if they are we believe they are likely your best choice for home internet providers.
Angelo Ilumba
Senior Writer
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