Choosing the right internet service provider can be one of the most challenging and rewarding tasks if you do it correctly. There are many options out there, with every single internet service provider (ISP) claiming to be the best, but most won’t live up to these claims.
Finding a robust and reliable ISP will take some research and effort because each household has different needs for internet speed and considerations to factor into their choice.
We’ve collected some of the most important factors you will need to consider when choosing an ISP, including what to keep in mind about your living space and what to look for in the ISPs.
1. Size and Interior of Your Home
The size and setup of your home can greatly affect how the internet is distributed around your house. For example, you may get away with a cheaper option for an internet connection if your house is small and there aren’t too many things in and around the router.
On the other hand, you may have to upgrade your plan if you have a big home or if there are simply too many walls, furniture, and other obstacles between you and your router if you want to have a solid, fast connection.
Additionally, the number of people using the internet connection also matters, so keep that in mind when looking at different pricing plans from ISPs.
2. Your Online Habits
You should also consider the general online habits of the household. There may be a lot of you, but if you barely use the internet for anything other than work, the most expensive internet plan is likely not the best option.
But on the other hand, if you’re a household that likes to stream videos and download content, etc., the internet speed will need to be higher.
3. The ISP’s Reliability
Another thing to consider is reliability. The claims these ISPs make on their pamphlets or websites can’t be your only source of information. Make sure to ask around or look at online reviews and specifically search for feedback on reliability.
You might think that a fast connection automatically means uninterrupted internet service, but reliability is a huge problem for some providers. Before you purchase a plan, find out if other customers have had reliable internet connections from them.
4. Security
Security is another aspect you should consider when choosing an internet service provider. Sadly, most internet service providers can see what you do online, even when you open an incognito browser. There’s not much you can do to control it. It’s also extremely difficult to tell which ISPs sell this data to third parties.
The only way for you to take control of the situation here is to download a VPN. A VPN will conceal your IP address, so your ISP won’t be able to see what you do online or sell the data to third parties. You can easily learn how to use a VPN to stay safe from cyber attacks.
5. Customer Support
While this may not be the most important feature when selecting an ISP, it is the one that you need to look into nonetheless.
While the ISP may be perfect 90% of the time, there are bound to be some issues down the line, and having bad customer service could leave you without an internet connection for days.
An easy way to find out whether the ISP’s customer service is good or not is again to look at reviews specifically focusing on reviews focused on customer service.
Many moving pieces are involved in making the choice that will give you the best speed at the price of that world.
These are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing an ISP that will ensure your home online experience is as good as it can be.
