How to switch internet providers

1. Before you shop

• Read your current bill and contract. Find the plan name, price, the date any promotion ends, and whether you have a contract or an early termination fee (ETF).
• Measure your real speed. Use our speed test on a wired connection at different times of day. If you already get the speed you pay for, the problem may be your Wi-Fi, not your provider.
• Find out what you actually use. Count simultaneous streams, video calls and gamers. Our speed guide turns that into a number.
• Check who serves your address. Use each provider's address checker and the FCC National Broadband Map (opens in a new tab). Fiber and cable footprints differ street by street.
• Call your current provider first. A retention offer can be cheaper than switching, and it gives you a price to compare against.

2. Compare the real cost

The advertised price is rarely what you pay in month 13. Write down these numbers for each offer:

• Monthly price, and how many months it lasts
• Price after the promotion ends
• Whether the price needs autopay, paperless billing or a mobile phone line
• Equipment rental, installation or activation fees
• Data cap and overage charges
• Contract length and the ETF, or a price guarantee in years
• Taxes and surcharges, so you know the all-in monthly bill

Multiply it out over 24 months. That is what the comparison table does for you. A plan that is $10 cheaper for the first year but $35 more expensive afterward costs more over two years.

Ask the provider for the broadband "nutrition label" for the plan you are considering. It lists the price, fees and typical speeds in a standard format, which makes offers easier to compare.

Fiber, cable, 5G or satellite?

• Fiber: fast, with equal upload and download speeds and low latency. Best for working from home, gaming and uploads. Available in limited areas.
• Cable: widely available and fast to download, but upload is much slower. Prices often rise after the promotion.
• 5G home internet: easy setup and often the lowest price, especially with a phone line from the same carrier. Speeds vary with signal strength and network load.
• Satellite: for rural homes with no other choice. Higher latency and higher equipment costs.

3. Order and schedule

1. Order the new service while the old one is still active. Never cancel first. If the installer is late or cannot connect your home, you still have internet.
2. Get the offer in writing. Save the confirmation email or screenshot with the price, promotion length and any credits.
3. Pick your equipment. Using your own modem and router can save $10–15 a month, but check that the model is approved by the provider. Fiber usually needs a provider-supplied ONT at the wall. 5G and satellite use the provider's receiver.
4. Prepare for installation. Choose where the router will sit: central, high up and away from metal and thick walls. Ask whether self-install is available.
5. Ask about an ETF buyout. Some providers offer to pay part of your old provider's early termination fee. Ask before you sign.

4. Cancel the old service

1. Test the new connection for a few days: speed, Wi-Fi in every room, video calls, and any work VPN.
2. Call or use the provider's cancellation page. Ask for the last billing date, the amount of the final bill and a confirmation number.
3. Ask whether your email address on the old provider's domain will stop working, and move your mail and contacts first.
4. Return rented equipment by the deadline. Use the prepaid label or drop it at a store, and keep the receipt or tracking number.
5. If you have bundled TV or phone service, check how the bundle discount changes.

5. After the switch

• Change your Wi-Fi password and reconnect your devices. Use the same network name and password as before to avoid reconnecting everything.
• Set a calendar reminder for one month before the promotion ends to compare prices again.
• Review the first two bills. Confirm the price, credits, and that nothing was charged for the old service.
• Update your address or service details for security cameras, smart-home hubs and anything tied to your old public IP address.

6. If something goes wrong

• Billed after cancelling: use your confirmation number, ask for a credit, and dispute the charge with your card issuer if the provider does not fix it.
• Slower than promised: test with a cable, restart the modem and router, then contact support with your test results. Our speed test lets you copy them.
• Unresolved complaint: you can file a complaint with the FCC consumer complaint center (opens in a new tab) and with your state's public utility commission or attorney general.