Compare internet providers in the US

Compare the same five things for every offer: speed (download and upload), the monthly price and how long it lasts, the price after the promotion, extra costs such as equipment and installation, and the contract or price-guarantee length. Then multiply out the total over 24 months. The table on this page does that calculation for each plan. Finally, confirm which providers actually serve your address.

Among the plans listed here, Verizon Fios 300 Mbps has the lowest estimated 24-month cost at $819 including setup fees. Prices depend on your address and many require autopay. With a phone plan from the same carrier, 5G home internet from T-Mobile and Verizon starts at $35 a month.

Fiber is usually best: it has the same upload and download speed, low latency and fewer outages, but it is not available everywhere. Cable is widely available and fast to download, though upload speeds are much lower. 5G home internet is easy to set up and often cheapest, but speeds vary with signal. Satellite is mainly for homes where nothing else is offered.

Most households are fine with 300 to 500 Mbps. One or two people who stream and video call can use 100 to 300 Mbps. Large households, remote workers and gamers do better with 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps. If you upload large files, a fiber plan with matching upload speed matters more than a bigger download number. Use the speed calculator on this page for a personal estimate.

It runs several parallel transfers against Cloudflare's speed-test servers and reports the average speed after a short ramp-up, plus ping and jitter. It is accurate enough to tell whether your connection is near your plan speed. Results are lower over Wi-Fi, with a VPN, or while other devices use the connection. Browser tests top out around 1 to 2 Gbps, so use a wired test with a dedicated app for multi-gig plans.

The most common causes are weak Wi-Fi, an old router, other devices using bandwidth, and evening congestion on shared networks. Test with an Ethernet cable first. If a wired test is consistently below about 80 percent of your plan, restart the modem and router and contact your provider with your results.

Only if you are under a contract. Many providers now sell no-contract plans with price guarantees instead, but check your agreement. If you do owe a fee, ask the new provider whether it offers a buyout or credit toward it.

No. Keep the old service until the new connection is installed and tested. Then cancel and ask for the final billing date and a confirmation number. Return rented equipment and keep the receipt.

Many plans advertise a low price for the first 12 months, then rise by $20 to $45 a month. A plan with a multi-year price guarantee can cost less over two years even if the first month looks more expensive. That is why this page shows the 24-month cost and the price after the promotion.

Usually yes for cable, but the model must be compatible with your provider. Fiber normally uses a provider-supplied terminal at the wall, but you can add your own router. 5G and satellite plans use the provider's equipment. Using your own equipment can save $10 to $15 a month in rental fees.

Enter your address on each provider's website, or use the FCC National Broadband Map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov, which lists the providers and speeds reported for your address. Local co-ops and municipal fiber networks appear there too.

They were compiled on October 21, 2026 from provider pages and third-party trackers. Providers change prices and promotions often and show address-specific offers, so confirm the final price, taxes and fees with the provider before you order.