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After nearly two years of Zoom calls, binge-streaming and generally spending more time on the internet than in the “real world”, it is clear to many of us that having quality internet service is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. But determining the best internet provider for your home can cause a headache as you compare the many complicated options, types of internet service and megabits of download and upload speed.
Our team has made finding a great ISP (internet service provider) much easier by breaking down the top 10 best internet providers of 2022 and rating each based on its offered plans, prices, availability across the U.S. and customer reviews as well as support options.
AT&T Internet comes in at the top of our 10 Best Internet Providers of 2022 list because of its affordable price points, decently-regarded customer service and variety of plans covering any internet needs. AT&T does not require annual contracts, meaning changing, upgrading or even canceling internet service should be stress free. AT&T offers phone support, live chat and easy-to-schedule in-store appointments. With a wide variety of plans featuring both high 1,000-plus Mbps speeds for gamers and the more affordable “Internet Basic 1.5” which offers 1.5 Mbps for those who just need to occasionally check email. AT&T has a speed option for everyone.
Unlike most of the home internet providers on our list, T-Mobile Home Internet offers fast wireless internet speeds to customers via its existing nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks. T-Mobile’s new service, launched in early 2021, is available to 634 metro areas nationwide and serves up to 30 million households. Because the home internet uses cell networks, T-Mobile Home Internet is available in 49 U.S. states (excluding Alaska) and even serves some rural areas where traditional DSL internet may not be available, but cell service is. T-Mobile Home Internet also sets itself apart by not charging customers additional fees for the in-home hardware and makes the DIY installation easy.
Cox Communications offers cable internet service across 18 states but primarily operates in Arizona, California and Virginia. The cable broadband provides high internet speeds through existing cable TV lines, meaning it’s probably already available in your neighborhood and maybe even your home. With high download speeds reaching up to a blistering fast 1,000 Mbps, Cox’s cable internet is a solid and affordable choice for any homeowner. Cox also offers numerous packages combining internet, cable TV, smart home automation and security. The company even offers landlines—you can create custom Cox bundles to get exactly the services you want.
As one of the largest ISPs in the U.S., CenturyLink offers home internet coverage to an estimated 48.6 million people. CenturyLink primarily offers its extensive DSL broadband internet coverage in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina and Washington but also offers one of the most extensive fiber services of all U.S. providers to approximately 18.1 million people. CenturyLink sets itself apart with its dedication to no annual contracts, short-term promotional rates which expire unexpectedly, complex and limiting bundles and—perhaps most importantly—no data overage charges or data caps. CenturyLink’s Simply Unlimited Internet means unlimited data at fast, reliable speed that won’t break the bank. None of this comes quite as cheap, however.
Xfinity is the brand name of the Comcast Corporation’s internet, telephone and wireless services. It’s also the largest cable company in the United States. Offering Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) service across 40 states—most notably California, Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C.—Xfinity’s contract-free plans and nationwide public Wi-Fi hotspots make it an excellent choice. In most regions, Xfinity offers the lowest-priced internet plan and is often the provider with the fastest download speeds, since its cable internet gets up to 1,200 Mbps and its fiber gets speeds up to 2,000 Mbps. Xfinity also offers multiple plans, promotions and prices in different areas which can be confusing or even unfair for existing customers who are used to certain services at certain prices.
Launched in 2005, Verizon Fios offers 100% fiber optic internet service to homes in nine states across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. Unlike other providers, which offer “Hybrid Fiber” or “Fiber to Node” networks which run fiber to near your home but not all the way, Fios’ “Fiber to Home” service means that data is transmitted across fiber optic cables all the way into your home. Though its footprint is small, Fios has made a name for itself with simple plans and pricing, lightning fast speeds and excellent customer reviews. Fios also guarantees truly unlimited data on all of its service plans meaning you will never run out of data and supposedly won’t see a slowdown.
Google Fiber is a service provider for both residential and business internet offered by major technology corporation, Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company) first launched in 2010. As another provider offering true “Fiber to Home” service, Google Fiber is one of the most affordable options for “gigabit” fiber internet service with upload and download speeds reaching 1,000 Mbps. This is significantly higher than older cable and DSL services which maxed at around 200 Mbps for downloads, and 25 Mbps. As of 2022, Google Fiber is available in a number of major metropolitan areas across 15 states, but since Google Fiber generally expands neighborhood by neighborhood, access may vary depending on your address.
As the only satellite internet provider on our list, HughesNet offers service virtually anywhere with a view of the Southern sky. HughesNet’s service is primarily focused in the continental United States, but it also recently expanded into Alaska, Puerto Rico, Brazil, India and certain countries in Europe. Due to using satellites that distribute its service, HughesNet struggles to reach customers with physical obstacles—such as trees, buildings and mountains—between their homes and the satellite. HughesNet’s service is most popular with rural customers where tall buildings are less of a problem and cable or fiber is less likely to reach.
Windstream is a DSL provider with service available in all 50 states, especially Georgia, Texas and Kentucky. Though primarily focused on business services such as Cloud-hosted VoIP and data storage, Windstream also offers broadband plans for residential customers. It’s a common choice for customers in rural areas who combine internet with TV service provided through Windstream’s partner, Dish Network. Despite mainly offering DSL service, Windstream has recently invested in network upgrades, including fiber in its main subscriber areas. This means some customers can get hybrid fiber-DSL connections many times faster than older plans.
Often referred to as just “Spectrum”, Charter Spectrum is the internet provider brand of Charter Communications which also owns Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. Primarily available with widespread coverage in major metro areas such as New York, Los Angeles, Orlando and Chicago, Spectrum is one of the top three largest internet providers in the U.S. Spectrum’s easy-to-understand tiered pricing system makes buying internet relatively easy, and its unlimited data and contract-free options make Spectrum especially popular with cord-cutters. Spectrum also offers a two-year price lock deal, so if you’re happy with your internet plan you can lock it down for longer.
Determining which internet provider is best for you and your home may seem like an overwhelming task, especially with the amount of providers available to those living in larger metropolitan areas with many options. Even if your rural home only has two options, figuring out exactly what you need can be confusing. Companies’ promises don’t always seem to mean exactly what they say, and this can be additionally frustrating. Below, we’ve broken down the key factors in determining which internet provider is best for you.
The first step is to figure out which providers offer internet service in your area. While some areas and major cities will have a plethora of options, more rural locales may only have a few—or even only one. Also consider that while satellite and DSL (digital subscriber line) internet services may be available virtually anywhere, they are much slower than cable or fiber optic services.
The best way to determine which providers offer coverage in your area is to use websites such as Broadbandnow.com where you can enter a zip code and find a list of available providers. You can also ask neighbors or your landlord to see which providers may already have lines run to your home or building as that may save you installation costs down the road.
Nowadays, every internet package you look at markets itself as “high-speed internet”, but that certainly comes with a cost. According to the most recent Broadband Pricing Index report , the average monthly cost of internet service is $36.33 . You can expect basic internet with download speeds of at least 25 Mbps at this price point. But you’ll pay slightly more for the highest speeds, with averages closer to $58.12 , according to the report.
But internet plans and prices can vary widely based on several factors. That’s why it’s essential to understand what speeds you can expect from your internet plan before purchasing.
Once you’ve determined a list of providers in your area, it’s time to compare each ISP’s plans, offered speeds and prices. First and foremost, you should figure out how much speed you need for your household.
A great way to evaluate your internet speed needs is to test your current internet speed and compare it to the available options. Presumably, you know if you are pleased or disappointed in your current internet, so use an internet speed test, such as speedtest.net. If you’re still unsure, a good rule of thumb is 50 to 100 Mbps allows 4K video streaming on two to three devices, some online gaming and quick downloads. Speeds clocked around 100 to 500 Mbps will give you 4K streaming on four to five devices, multiplayer online gaming and the ability to run numerous smart devices. Speeds between 500 and 1,000 Mbps or higher will give you basically no slow-down from the internet no matter what you try to run. If you regularly upload files to the cloud, host streams or attend Zoom meetings, you’ll also want to pay attention to your upload speeds.
Nothing is worse than opening an internet browser to see a “no connection” message. A reliable internet connection is vital in any home or property, but mainly if you depend on the internet for work-related purposes. Therefore, when selecting an internet provider, you want to ensure you do your research by reading reviews on websites like DSLReports. Or get a sense of the customer service by calling a potential internet service provider and talking through your assessment with a representative.
After you’ve determined your optimal internet speed and selected a plan from a few providers, the final comparison to make is between any promotions, discounts or bundled services your chosen providers may offer. If you’re looking for a TV subscription, a landline phone or home security, internet service providers often bundle these things with internet plans. Additionally, many ISPs offer sign-up promotions or discounts, sometimes in the form of no cost subscriptions to popular streaming sites or Visa prepaid gift cards.
To determine the best internet provider for your home, you must understand the different types of internet offered.
The most innovative internet type, fiber has proven to be the fastest since it sends data at nearly the speed of light. Fiber internet uses fiber optic cables—lines made of tiny glass fibers—to transfer data. Light rather than electricity is transferred, which accounts for fiber internet’s lightning-fast speed. Fiber internet is also offered in three different types such as fiber to the home or premises (FTTH or FTTP), fiber to the curb (FTTC) and fiber to the node or neighborhood (FTTN).
The most common type of broadband connection, cable internet uses cable wires to provide a high-speed internet connection. These wires, known as coaxial cables, are typically the same wires your TV service employs.
Best for rural areas, satellite internet, uses exposure to the southern sky to connect with a satellite orbiting around the exosphere. This signal can provide internet access to your computer, phone, television and other devices.
The upgraded version of 4G internet, 5G internet speeds remain consistently high—even at peak times of day. Many major internet service providers (ISPs) now offer 5G home internet, allowing homeowners to wirelessly connect homes without cables, fiber optics or other physical connections.
The average home internet bill in the U.S. is $64 per month, but this can vary greatly based on your location and on the type of internet service that you purchase. While most internet providers, including many on our list, have low-cost plans that begin as low as $19.99, taxes, fees and equipment costs can add $10 to $20 more per month. In some areas, internet plans can run much higher, up to $100 per month or more.
DSL internet is often the cheapest at an average of $50 per month. Cable averages $59 per month and fiber averages $59 per month. Because it has the highest equipment and operating costs, satellite services come in as the most expensive internet type and average $123 per month.
Some hidden costs and fees that internet providers often add to customer’s bills include: equipment rental, installation/activation fees, FCC service fund fee, late payment fees, cancellation fees and data overage fees. Looking for ISPs that do not charge data overage fees or ones that offer free installation can be a great way to save money.
Generally, you should expect to pay more for less service the more remote an area you live in. The larger a monopoly a company has on a market, the more it’s likely to charge you and the less it’s likely to waive fees to keep your business.
To determine the best internet providers ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed third-party data on dozens of companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics including:
The most important factors to consider when choosing an internet service provider are: availability in your area, affordability (including promotions and discounts), speeds offered and reliability.
A good download speed is a minimum of 50 Mbps and a solid upload speed is 10 Mbps. Keep in mind that modern email, video streaming and cloud storage platforms use more and more data every year.
While DIY-installing your internet is a great way to save costs, depending on what type of internet connection you are using, it may be a complex, difficult process. Additionally, some providers require a professional to install your internet service.
Multiple internet service providers are undoubtedly great options, but ultimately the best ISP for your home depends on your internet requirements. For instance, we picked AT&T’s Internet 300 + Entertainment package as the best bundle, while the Optimum 300 plan is the best if you’re looking for internet-only. No matter your internet needs, there is a plan to fit the description.
Chauncey grew up on a farm in rural northern California. At 18 he ran away and saw the world with a backpack and a credit card, discovering that the true value of any point or mile is the experience it facilitates. He remains most at home on a tractor, but has learned that opportunity is where he finds it and discomfort is more interesting than complacency.
Lexie is an assistant editor who is responsible for writing and editing articles over a wide variety of home-related topics. She has almost four years’ experience in the home improvement space and harnessed her expertise while working for companies like HomeAdvisor and Angi (formerly Angie’s List).