The internet has existed since the late 1990s. The earliest days of consumer internet were all about dial-up internet connections that were extremely slow as its download speed is only 56 kbps.
With time, the world shifted to broadband internet technologies like DSL, fiber optics, wireless, cable, and satellite. Broadband allowed the transmission of wide bandwidth data over a high-speed internet connection.
Nowadays, a strong, reliable internet connection at home is borderline essential, which means finding the right internet service provider that offers an internet connection that fits your requirement is crucial.
Regarding the features that an internet service provider must have, customer satisfaction is key to provide the consumer with an experience that stops him or her from shifting service providers.
In this article we will discuss the best ISPs in the United States and the type of internet bundles and packages they offer so you can choose the most appropriate internet service for your home.
Contents
Best ISPs in the United States
1. AT&T
AT&T is one of the biggest internet providers in the United States, with more than 122.5 million users. Its broadband services range from high-speed DSL to new-gen fiber-optic connections. AT&T also offers fixed wireless connections, mostly recommended for rural areas.
AT&T Fiber is a reliable and fast internet provider that offers symmetrical internet speeds. Its download and upload speeds can reach up to 1000 Mbps. Plus, AT&T does not impose data caps on its fiber optics services but places a 1 TB limit on its AT&T Internet 768 kbps – 75 kbps plans.
But the ITB data allowance for a month is quite hard to beat for most households. AT&T also offers fiber internet services to 21 different states across the United States with a strong footprint in Texas, California, and Illinois.
You can always bundle your AT&T internet plans with entertainment services like DIRECTV Stream and DIRECTV along with home phone service.
Its AT&T Internet + DIRECTV Stream bundle offers up to 75 Mbps of internet speed along with Live TV, NFL Sunday Ticket, 40,000+ on-demand titles, 20-hour DVR cloud storage, and more for $114.99/mo.
There’s no annual contract required to sign up for this bundle. You can pick and choose plans from each service, and tailor it to your needs and budget with AT&T.
2. Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios stands is also a premier internet service provider in the United States, especially in the Northeastern region. Known for its lightning-fast speeds and exceptional reliability, Fios has a reputation among residential and business users.
Verizon Fios operates on a 100% fiber-optic network, and delivers the fastest internet speeds available in the market. Verizon uses this technology to offer a range of internet plans to different needs, from basic browsing to heavy streaming and gaming.
Verizon Fios has some internet plans that would fit this: The Fios Internet 300/300 Mbps plan offers 300 Mbps for downloading and uploading speeds at about $39.99 per month. It’s good for light to medium internet usage, like surfing, streaming, or light gaming.
Their Fios Internet 500/500 Mbps plan gives a download and upload speed of 500 Mbps for about $64.99 per month. This is suitable for families or those households with heavy user volumes and devices concurrently working on the internet.
For heavy internet users, large families, smart homes with huge numbers of connected devices, Fios’ Gigabit Connection plan offers speeds of up to 940 Mbps in downloads and 880 Mbps in uploads at a price of about $89.99 per month.
3. Spectrum
Spectrum is also one of the biggest internet service provider in the U.S. It offers its services to 27 million subscribers in 41 different states.
Spectrum internet services offer fast downloads of up to 940 Mbps but slower uploads due to their Hybrid Cable and Fiber network. Plus, they don’t impose any data caps, giving subscribers the freedom with unlimited data and no annual contracts.
Spectrum also provides cable TV and home phone services. There are multiple bundles available for you to choose from. The Spectrum Double Play Silver offers a broadband connection with a download speed of up to 200 Mbps along with Silver TV that allows the easy viewing of 175+ channels with Free HD, on-demand content, and more.
The price of this bundle is only $119.98/mo. You can visit Spectrum customer service for more details.
4. Cox Communication
Cox Communication is also an internet service provider that offers entertainment and home automation services like Cox Cable TV and Cox Homelife.
It is one of the largest private telecom companies that serves 19 states in the U.S. Although its broadband services are mainly centered on cable internet, it also offers fiber optic internet to customers in some areas.
As an ISP, Cox offers reliable and high-speed internet services. It offers multiple internet plans, carefully curated to fit the broadband needs of different customers.
The download speeds offered in the said plans range from 25 Mbps – 940 Mbps. Cox imposes data caps on all of its internet plans and offers a monthly data allowance of 1.25 TB on each.
It offers multiple internet, TV, and phone bundles. Its COX Internet Preferred and Contour Preferred plan offers an internet service with a download speed of up to 150 Mbps along with 140+ channels including ESPN, HGTV, Food Network, and more and the price of this bundle is just $149.99/mo.
5. Xfinity
Xfinity is also one of the best cable internet service provider in the United States with approximately 30+ million broadband internet subscribers. Xfinity internet services are available in 39 states across the U.S. In many areas, Xfinity is the high-speed internet service provider.
The service is delivered via a hybrid fiber-coaxial network, which means the entire internet delivery structure is made out of super-fast fiber-optic lines except for the last mile, which is coaxial cable.
The download speed of Xfinity’s broadband services can reach up to 1200 Mbps but the ISP imposes data caps of 1.2 terabytes monthly. The best way to get the most out of Xfinity internet services is to bundle them up with their TV and phone services.
The Xfinity Internet + TV X1 Saver Pro+ is the Double Play bundle that provides an internet connection with a download speed of 200 Mbps and cable TV that offers 140+ channels, and the price of this bundle is as low as $79.99/mo.
6. Frontier
Frontier happens to be the only one that provides high-speed optical fiber internet services in the esteemed regions of Washington and Oregon. The internet service provider has its availability in seven states across the United States and offers an internet router for free with all of its internet plans.
The cheapest internet plan from this service provider costs around $20.00 a month. With this plan, Frontier offers Internet speeds that go as high as 6 Mbps. Even though this speed is quite low, the unlimited data option makes up for it.
7. Mediacom
Mediacom is the fifth-largest cable operator in the United States that not only offers high-speed internet services but also provides phone, home security, and automation services.
It offers its services in 22 states across the U.S, and is often praised by its subscribers for its high-speed internet services at affordable rates.
The download speed of Mediacom’s broadband services could range from 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps, and it does impose different data caps on its internet plans.
The data allowance ranges from 1000 GB to 6000 GB depending on what plan a customer is choosing. Just like all the other providers on the list, Mediacom also offers multiple internet, TV, and phone bundles.
Its Mediacom Internet 300 with Variety TV & Phone bundle provides an internet connection with a download speed of 300 Mbps and a cable TV connection that offers 170+ channels for just $119.99/mo.
8. RCN
RCN is also an ISP that offers high-speed cable and fiber optic internet service in selected areas including New York, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington D.C, and Lehigh Valley.
RCN offers different internet packages for its customers and the download speed of the internet services offered in the packages range from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps without any data caps.
Besides high-speed internet connections, RCN also offers digital TV and phone services for residential and business customers. The prices of the internet, TV, and phone bundles may vary from one region to another.
Conclusion
Some ISPs offer exciting deals and additional services that you may not need. Also nowadays users can search internet availability by address and, keep a few important things in mind including the total monthly cost with equipment, taxes, and plan price; download speed and data caps.
Make sure the ISP can meet your standards, internet needs, and requirements before you make the final decision.
