From choosing the right internet speed to understanding how different connections work, we compiled all the info you need to make an informed purchase. Our localized search tool will show you available internet service providers near you. Entering your zip code will help us filter your results to pair you with providers that service your location. To start, check out our top internet picks below.
Table of Contents
| Our Picks |
| Provider |
| Connection Types |
| Starting Price |
| Download Speeds Up To |
| Upload Speeds Up To |
| Data Caps |
| Credit Check Required |
| How to Buy |
Best flat-rate plans  | Best low-cost plans  | Best internet security  | Low-cost fiber internet  | Reliable satellite ISP  | Fast satellite ISP  | Best for no contracts  | Best plan variety  |
| CenturyLink | Frontier | EarthLink | AT&T | HughesNet | Viasat | Spectrum | Xfinity |
| Fiber, DSL | Fiber, DSL | Fiber | Fiber, DSL | Satellite | Satellite | Cable, Fiber | Cable, Fiber |
| $65/mo* | $49.99/mo | $49.95-$99.95/mo | $35/mo | $39.99/mo | $49.99-$149.99/mo | $44.99-$104.99/mo | $19.99-$29.99/mo |
| 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | 30-1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | 25 Mbps | 12-100 Mbps | 200-1000 Mbps | 900-1200 Mbps |
| 940 Mbps | 880 Mbps | 1.5-1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Check Availability | Check Availability | Check Availability | Check Availability | Check Availability | Check Availability | Check Availability | Check Availability |
Speeds may vary. Service may or may not be available in your area. All pricing subject to change at any time. Additional taxes, fees, surcharges, and terms apply. CenturyLink Offer Details. As of 8/23/21.
Speeds may vary. Service may or may not be available in your area. All pricing subject to change at any time. Additional taxes, fees, surcharges, and terms apply. CenturyLink Offer Details. As of 8/23/21.
Understanding internet speed and connection type can be complicated. Most providers offer high-speed plans ranging from 100-1000 Mbps depending on your location. Are you a gamer? Do you stream content in several different rooms? Work from home? Read more about how to choose the best internet speed for your lifestyle to help you get started.
When shopping for a new internet provider, availability is anything but uniform. Depending on your location, there may be as many as 5-6 options or no providers at all. Large cities typically see the most options, while rural areas are likely to have internet availability issues.
The FCC broadband map does a decent job of providing information on availability, but it’s a far cry from 100% accuracy. While a zip code can tell a person how many providers are available near them, only an exact home address can confirm whether a home is serviceable. Sometimes, your options may come down to which side of the street you live on.
HighSpeedOptions works to close that gap and bring you the most accurate recommendations available near you. Enter your zip code below to see the best options for your home.
Once you’ve identified available providers in your area, the real work comes in. You’ll want to consider multiple factors to help narrow down your search.
Introductory Fees
When you first sign on with a new provider, oftentimes there are setup fees involved such as a professional installation ($50-$200), a service activation ($5-30), and equipment purchases ($50-$300). This can add up quickly, making your first bill quite high. Make sure you watch out for these charges or ask an agent if they are willing to waive them for new customers.
Starting vs. Standard Pricing
In addition to a provider’s promotional offers, be sure to inquire about the potential price hikes that come a year or two after you sign on. Some providers like AT&T can have pretty steep increases after your first year. Don’t be afraid to ask upfront about this. Sometimes requesting a long-term contract is enough to secure fixed pricing on your internet service.
Internet Fees
On top of your actual internet service, there are additional fees ISPs may tack onto your monthly bill. Charges like equipment rentals, data overages, and late fees are all ways customers incur larger-than-expected payments. If a provider doesn’t post these fees upfront, you can likely find them listed in the terms and conditions section of a specific plan.
Technology
As we mentioned above, each internet connection type has its own advantages and disadvantages fit for different lifestyles. The key is finding the right plan for you. Generally speaking, connection types fall in this order from fastest to slowest: Fiber, Cable, DSL, and Satellite. However, the faster your connection, the more it typically costs. If you have 10+ devices connected to the internet at any given time, Fiber internet might be best for you. On the other hand, if you value price over speed, DSL may be a better fit. Consider your usage when selecting your internet connection.
In general, an internet provider is confined to where their network is constructed. Be it a DSL, cable, or fiber-optic network, each ISP either owns or shares infrastructure that delivers internet service. While many times providers agree to not compete in the same zone as another, there are cases all over where the same neighborhood or street is split among different providers. The only way to really know which provider(s) are available at your home is to input your full address. A zip code search will tell you how many providers are near you, but a full address helps guarantee exact availability.
Many factors can affect your actual internet speed, but the main causes for a noticeable difference between advertised speeds and actual speeds are the provider and connection type you have.
For starters, internet service providers almost always advertise the maximum bandwidth their network can deliver. For instance, a provider like Xfinity may promote a plan with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Yet, on a good day, customers may only be able to experience speeds averaging around 750 Mbps. Why is this? A provider’s maximum bandwidth is the peak capacity of a network to transport data over its cables. As things like more users, poor equipment, or bad weather come into play, things slow down a bit.
Additionally, the farther away your home is from your provider or their access points, the slower your available speeds are likely to be. Or, if you have older fixed-wireless or DSL connections, your speeds are limited.
Computer scientists Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn are credited with inventing the Internet communication protocols we use today and the system referred to as the Internet. Cerf and Kahn developed a set of guidelines for data transfer using packet switching in 1980, calling those guidelines TCP/IP, or Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol. The TCP part of the protocol is in charge of packing the data before it moves across the network and unpacking it once it has arrived. The IP component acts as the trip coordinator and maps the movement of information from its start point to its end point.
Though other protocols were developed and used before TCP/IP, such as the file transfer protocol (FTP) and network control protocol (NCP), the Internet as we know it today is built on the basis of Cerf and Kahn’s “network of networks.”
The main factor you’ll want to assess is your household’s internet usage and streaming habits. Check out some additional insights on what internet speed is best for your lifestyle.
The first step to finding internet providers in your area is to enter your zip code in the search bar. If you live in a large city, more options will be available than in rural parts of the country. Enter your zip code above to find internet providers near you.
