Ting Home Internet

Ting Internet offers "crazy-fast" gigabit fiber broadband for homes and businesses in a growing number of towns and cities across the United States. It prides itself on its customer service, honest plans that don't come with nasty surprises, and its support of net neutrality, which means Ting will never block, throttle, or interfere with internet access. 

Here’s what you need to know about Ting Internet and how it measures up to rivals.

What Is Ting Internet?

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Ting launched in 2012 as a cell phone MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) utilizing Verizon and T-Mobile networks. It was swiftly named by GigaOM as one of the most innovative brands in tech, alongside Apple and Samsung, and now boasts more than 250,000 customers. More recently, Ting entered into the world of internet broadband with a fiber internet service, as well as offering whole-home Wi-Fi.  

Fiber broadband offers incredibly high internet speeds via fiber-optic cables, which are superior at transferring data compared to copper cables that power cable internet service. By offering fiber, Ting is far ahead of the majority of other internet providers who rely on cable, DSL, or satellite connections. 

Ting Internet serves just 11 towns right now, with two more "coming soon." It also offers internet options for businesses and enterprises in need of speedy fiber connections.

Ting Internet Plans and Pricing

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Ting currently offers a few internet plans which are prepaid month-to-month with no contract. Ting's $89/month Home Gigabit plan delivers up to 1Gbps speeds and includes unlimited data, so you can stream, download, and upload virtually as much as you like without having to worry about hitting the dreaded throttle wall.

For those on a tighter budget—or who simply don’t need all the bells and whistles of gigabit internet—Ting’s 50Mbps Plan is just $39/month with no usage caps. With these slower speeds, it's ideal for basic web browsing or light streaming requirements in smaller households.

Your modem is included with your plan for free, but there are no routers or range extenders included. You can add Ting’s whole-home Wi-Fi router to your plan for $9/month (or a one-time $199 purchase), or you can bring your own router for free. Ting's Wi-Fi system can supercharge your internet connection, offering up to 2Gbps without any dead spots in homes up to 1,200 square feet—and if you need more coverage for a larger home, simply add on Ting’s range extenders to get to every corner of your house. You can also find other Ting home internet plans like its 200Mbps and 250Mbps plans.

Ting Internet Speeds

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Ting customers will enjoy symmetrical download and upload speeds, meaning your uploads (which are usually much slower) will perform just as fast as your downloads on both Ting plans.

The Home Gigabit plan delivers download and upload speeds of up to 1Gbps. That's fast enough to download a high-definition movie within minutes. It's perfect for music and video streaming, online gaming, and backing up large files to cloud-based storage services. And it's great for families with multiple internet users, too. You can boost your connection even faster—up to potential 2Gbps—when you add on the ISP’s whole-home Wi-Fi, consisting of the Ting Internet router and Wi-Fi range extender. 

Their budget-friendly 50Mbps plan delivers—you guessed it—download and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps. These speeds are better for those interested in basic web browsing or lighter streaming requirements.

Ting Internet Coverage and Availability

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Ting’s availability is currently limited to the following cities:

• Centennial, CO
• Charlottesville, VA
• Culver City, CA
• Fullerton, CA
• Fuquay-Varina, NC
• Holly Springs, NC
• Rolesville, NC
• Greater Sandpoint, ID
• Solana Beach, CA
• Wake Forest, NC
• Westminster, MD

That said, the internet provider is rapidly expanding, with service coming to Encinitas, CA, and Roaring Fork, CO this year. You can submit a request for Ting internet service to come to your city on their website. Ting’s pre-order service not only highlights the demand for access in a certain area (possibly meaning it will get wired up sooner rather than later), but it also gives future customers a discount on installation costs. We suggest reaching out for the exact figures, as the discount amount varies depending on where you live and the plan you choose. The discount will be deducted from your installation when you sign up for service down the road—and if Ting doesn’t end up servicing your neighborhood, they’ll refund your deposit.

Ting Setup and Customer Service

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After ordering Ting Internet, a technician will visit your home to set up your internet equipment and your network connection. Prior to this visit, Ting will begin the outside process of connecting your home to its network using fiber optic cables. Ting offers genuine fiber direct to your home, rather than using existing copper lines, so it will need to dig lines outside your property to lay the cable that connects your home to the exchange.

Once all your equipment is set up, your connection will be activated soon after. It generally takes around three weeks for Ting Internet to be up and running. Most of the equipment, including the Ting modem and outside box for your fiber connection, is loaned to you as part of your plan at no extra cost. If you want to add Ting's whole-home Wi-Fi router to your package, it's an extra $9/month, while range extenders are also available for $5/month. Alternatively, you can buy these outright for $199 and $99, respectively.

Ting prides itself on offering outstanding customer service. "We treat people like the smart, informed customers they are and give them the tools to control how they use our services,” says Ting marketing VP Michael Goldstein. "We don’t believe in profiting off of confusion." But online reviews suggest Ting doesn't always meet its promises. The company is rated "poor" on TrustPilot, where it has a 2.5-star (out of five) rating. Some customers report that Ting has a habit of overcharging you, while others complain of being left without service. Many of those who run into issues say Ting is poor at responding to their requests for assistance. However, some customers do give Ting a five-star rating, and the company's rating is slightly better on BestCompany.

If you run into issues, you can contact Ting support by phone at (844) 846-4994 or by using its online live chat feature.

Ting vs. Other Internet Providers

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There are a number of other fiber internet providers in the U.S. that offer services similar to Ting Internet, with crazy-fast fiber internet speeds and no data caps.

One of those is Xfinity, which offers 200Mbps fiber broadband starting at just $39.99/month. For faster connectivity, Xfinity also offers a 1.2Gbps plan priced at $79.99/month—which is comparable to Ting’s fiber plan—and an even quicker 2Gbps plan priced at a whopping $299.95/month. Unlike Ting, Xfinity will tie you into a one- to two-year contract for its faster fiber plans, and if you need an Xfinity router that will cost you extra ($14/month).

Google Fiber also offers speedy internet at an attractive price, and it's considered the gold standard in home internet. Its 1Gbps service will cost you $70/month, while its new 2Gbps plan is priced at $100/month — a third of the cost of Xfinity's 2Gbps service. Both plans include Google's own Wi-Fi equipment, and neither will tie you into a contract. However, like Ting, availability is currently limited.

You may also want to check out AT&T's home internet services. Its prices start at just $35/month (plus taxes) for a 300Mbps connection, while its 1Gbps plan is $60/month (plus taxes). AT&T offers widespread availability across the U.S., and like Ting and Google Fiber, it doesn't tie you into a lengthy contract. It also promises 99% reliability, and has been rated number one in customer satisfaction for four years in a row. For this reason, AT&T is hard to pass up, particularly given that it has greater availability than other providers.

Ultimately, availability is the first thing to consider when choosing a fiber internet provider. As mentioned above, Ting Internet covers only a limited number of towns and cities across the U.S., and the same goes for Google Fiber. If you can't get these services where you live, you may have more luck with Xfinity or AT&T.

Ting Internet: FAQs

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How fast is Ting Internet?

What do I need to have fiber internet?

Is fiber internet faster than cable or DSL?

Is Ting Internet prepaid?

Is Ting customer service good?

Can I bring my own router to Ting?

Is Ting Internet secure?

What cities is Ting available in? Is Ting available in my area?

Ting Internet is also coming to Encinitas, CA, and Roaring Fork, CO later this year.