Best Internet Service Providers of 2025
In our ranking of the best internet service providers for 2025, AT&T and Verizon are tied for first place with Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, Mediacom, and Astound Broadband. HughesNet, Frontier, and CenturyLink round out the top eight. Suddenlink, Optimum, and Viasat round out our list.
To learn more about the best internet service providers of 2025, read on.
AT&T Internet
AT&T Internet: AT&T primarily provides fixed, DSL, and fiber internet services to the Southeast, Great Lakes, California, and Nevada regions. In our ranking of the best fiber internet providers for 2025, AT&T comes out on top as the best internet provider overall. With download rates of up to 100 Mbps, its fiber options start at $55 per month (Mbps).
The best AT&T alternatives are available to those in urban areas, but DSL and fixed internet services may be available to people outside of cities. If you want to save money, there are bundles available, including DirecTV. For its fiber services, AT&T no longer requires a contract and offers unlimited bandwidth.
verizon internet
Verizon Internet: Depending on where you live, Verizon offers fixed mobile broadband (LTE or 5G), fiber optics, and DSL options. If you’re in a major city in the Northeastern United States, you’ll likely have more options than if you’re in a more rural area, where DSL is often the only readily available internet option.
The popularity of Verizon's fiber offerings has earned it the second spot in our ranking of the best fiber internet providers. Prices for Verizon's 300 Mbps plan start at $39.99; for the 500 Mbps plan, it's $64.99; and for the Gigabit connection, it's $89.99. Internet access is unrestricted, and there are no contracts attached to the plans.
Xfinity Internet
Xfinity: This year’s Best ISP ranking, along with rankings for the fastest high-speed ISPs and the best prepaid ISPs, puts Xfinity at the top. The provider, which offers two fiber plans and several cable options, has affordable prices starting at $45 for prepaid plans, $29.99 per month for monthly plans, and going up to $299.95 for the best speeds.
With a few exceptions in the Northeast, Xfinity plans include a data cap of 1.2 terabytes (TB) for users in most states. By committing to a 12- or 24-month contract or by bundling services like TV, streaming, and home security, customers can save money.
Cox Internet
Cox: In our ranking of the best internet service providers and the best fiber internet providers for 2025, Cox comes in at number four. It’s a flexible internet service provider that offers fiber, cable, and prepaid options. With Cox, you can enjoy introductory rates that can lower your internet costs if you commit to a 12-month commitment.
Prices range from $29.99 per month for download speeds up to 25 Mbps to $99.99 per month for Gigablast, the fastest package offering download speeds up to 940 Mbps. Cox has a monthly data cap of one terabyte (TB). However, it does offer bundled services including home security systems, tech support, and streaming services.
Spectrum Internet
Spectrum: With the exception of a few Midwestern states, Hawaii, and Alaska, Spectrum offers cable internet plans to most of the United States. Plans cost more for download speeds up to 940 Mbps and start at $49.99 per month for download speeds up to 200 Mbps. Maximum upload speeds, typical for cable connections, are 35 Mbps.
When you sign up for Spectrum, there are no limits on how much data you can use. If you need additional services, you can bundle them to save even more money. If you want bundles, Spectrum offers TV, Internet, and phone.
Mediacom Internet
In our ranking of the best affordable internet providers for 2025, Mediacom, which offers affordable internet subscriptions, tied for first place. Three plans are offered by this cable company. The cheapest package, at $29.99 per month ($19.99 for the first year), offers download rates of up to 60 Mbps.
Since Mediacom uses cable connections, its upload speeds will be slower than its download rates. On the other hand, the 1 Gig package offers download and upload rates of up to 50 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively. Mediacom is already among the best cable internet providers and best gaming internet providers in 2025 thanks to these speeds. There is no commitment necessary, and its data caps for plans range from 200 to 6000 GB.
Amazing broadband
With no commitments or bandwidth caps, Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) offers cable and fiber internet options. You can save money by bundling the service with TV, phone, internet security, or smart home security systems. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Options start at download speeds up to 250 Mbps at $25.99 per month. Monthly fees are $44.99 for speeds up to 500 Mbps and $54.99 for speeds up to 940 Mbps, respectively. Washington, D.C., and the Northeastern United States are served by Astound.
CenturyLink Internet
CenturyLink: In 36 states and 19 cities, CenturyLink offers two options that include DSL or fiber internet connections. There are no contracts required to use its services, and if you’re looking to save money, CenturyLink offers “Price for Life.” With CenturyLink’s Price for Life offer, your monthly fee stays the same for the duration of your service.
The fiber service has download speeds of up to 940 Mbps and costs $65 per month. This contrasts with DSL, which costs $50 per month and offers much slower download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. While CenturyLink’s DSL service has a monthly data cap of 1 TB, its fiber plan offers unlimited bandwidth. Both plans include available internet and phone packages. Parental controls and capabilities are both features of its modem.
Border Internet
Frontier is ranked as the best ISP for gaming in 2025 due to its low latency (the amount of time it takes for data to travel from one point to another). It offers fiber and DSL internet connections in 25 states, ranking eighth overall. DSL plans start at $49.99 per month and go up to $79.99 for a 1 Gig package, which offers download and upload speeds of 1,000 Mbps. The company has released two additional fiber options: 2 Gig for $109.99 per month and 5 Gig for $164.99 per month. There is no commitment when you sign up, and unlimited data is included with all plans.
hughes net internet
Someone who lives in a more rural area has the option of HughesNet, a satellite internet provider. The company ranks first on both our list of the best satellite internet providers for 2025 and our list of the best internet providers for rural areas for 2025.
If your property has a clear view of the southern sky, you'll likely have satellite internet access, offering an alternative for homes outside of cities that can't connect to terrestrial, cable or fiber optic internet providers.
The best of the internet
Optimum: Optimum offers a selection of internet services plus a number of add-ons, such as a monthly rental for a modem or router. Its service area is limited, and it’s only offered in four Northeastern states, which is a drawback. It offers hybrid fiber-to-the-core services with download and upload speeds of up to 10 Mbps and 1 Mbps, respectively, starting at $24.95 per month. The company’s highest fixed plan is 1 Gig, but in some areas, Optimum is now rolling out a 5 Gig upgrade.
No contracts are necessary for the service, and data is unlimited. For even more savings, you can combine streaming service packages with mobile phone plans.
Internet vias
Viasat: Viasat ranked No. 2 on our list of best satellite internet providers, No. 5 on our list of best rural internet providers, and No. 12 overall. Off the beaten path but looking for cheap internet options? Viasat’s Basic 12 plan starts at $39.99 per month. While this ISP requires a commitment, plans include unlimited data. Download speeds range from 12Mbps to 100Mbps.
Maximum upload speed is 3 Mbps. Plans from Viasat can cost up to $149.99 per month, however, Viasat Voice, Viasat Shield (Internet Security) and EasyCare, an enhanced customer service option, may result in discounts. Along with your internet service, you also get satellite TV.
Suddenlink Internet
Suddenlink: With its low-cost, no-contract plans, Suddenlink is the cheapest internet service provider for 2025. It ranks in our best fiber and cable rankings and serves 17 states in the South, Midwest, and West Coast. If your home qualifies for assistance, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connections Program, in which Suddenlink participates, could offer a discount of $30 to $75 per month.
Suddenlink’s hybrid fiber coaxial connections are available for anywhere from $20 to $75 per month. You can download up to 940Mbps and upload up to 50Mbps at this top tier. However, only the top two plans offer unlimited data. The ISP offers a number of bundled packages, including TV, streaming, and mobile plans.
Best Ways to Choose an Internet Service Provider
Some factors, such as price, are easy to compare when looking for an internet service. Other factors, such as customer service, are difficult to evaluate without firsthand knowledge of the business. Here are some of the most important things to consider when looking for a new internet provider:
Costs vary
widely for ISPs and connection types. The cheapest package offers download speeds of up to 30 megabits per second (Mbps) for around $15 per month (megabits per second). However, there may be certain eligibility restrictions. This is sufficient for basic online browsing, HD video streaming, and other high-bandwidth activities. On the other hand, a super-fast gigabit connection often costs at least $65 to $80 per month.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented an emergency broadband benefit to help those who cannot afford internet access get their homes online. This initiative helps low-income families who are having trouble getting online due to the coronavirus outbreak. Eligible families can get a one-time discount on the cost of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet, as well as a monthly discount on their internet subscription.
The cost of internet access in the United States is still high overall. According to the 2019 Communications Report by the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, “most ISPs still fall short in providing decent, affordable service.” On the bright side, ISPs are spending a lot of money expanding their networks to make them faster for more users. Performance and reliability have also improved over time, according to Ian Greenblatt, president of technology, media and telecommunications at J.D. Power. This shows that ISPs’ continued technological investments are definitely paying off for customers.
Speed
Even if you don’t need the highest speeds, your internet connection should be fast enough for your online activities. It may be a good idea to switch to a faster plan if you’re experiencing frequent latency or buffering. See our article What is a decent internet speed? for more details. It may also be worth switching from one type of connection to another, such as from DSL to cable. See details on several types of internet services below.
Check out our ranking of the fastest high-speed internet providers to see which ISPs have the fastest speeds.
Reliability
Bills
When signing up for an ISP, look for reputable customer reviews because many of these criteria can be difficult to assess. Take advantage of our Best ISPs ranking to see which companies get excellent marks from reliable, objective sources. Additionally, your friends and neighbors may be able to advise you against using your current ISP.
Types of Internet Services
Read our What is an Internet Service Provider? guide to learn more about the many types of Internet connections available.
Cable Internet
Because of its affordability, cable internet is another popular option. You can get a basic internet connection for less than $40 per month, according to the plans we evaluated in our guide to the best internet providers for 2025. Cable speeds also make it popular. If they choose, they can get download speeds of 175 Mbps, 275 Mbps, and 500 Mbps.
Fiber Internet
The best option for the fastest internet speed is fiber optics. While it has fast download speeds, cable internet has significantly slower upload rates. Download and upload speeds on fiber are equivalent. This makes fiber ideal for users who send a lot of data, such as small businesses using the cloud for backups or individuals who enjoy sharing high-definition videos online.
For frequent internet users like online gaming, fiber internet is ideal. It offers lower latency and minimal packet loss, so there is less disruption when used for other purposes like gaming. Similarly, while connected via fiber, users who participate in video conferencing and video streaming should experience fewer connectivity issues and less chance of screen freezes. However, only about 44% of Americans have access to fiber, according to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data collected in June 2020.
Satellite Internet
While most urbanites don’t generally think of satellite these days for high-speed internet, it’s still one of the best options for most rural areas in America. According to the Federal Communications Commission, satellite internet is a broadband option available in nearly every county in the United States, including some isolated areas in Alaska and Hawaii. By comparison, less than 20% of rural areas have access to fiber optic internet, and only 55% of rural areas can get high-speed access through a cable provider. While satellite internet isn’t ideal for gaming, it does fill a need for internet connectivity in some remote areas.
DSL Internet
DSL Faster, more reliable broadband services like cable and fiber internet are gradually replacing DSL internet service. However, many people in their areas, especially in rural areas, have few options for high-speed providers. In many areas, DSL offers much faster speeds than dial-up and is often faster and more reliable than satellite internet. In our investigation of the best internet service providers, we found that DSL plans typically cost less than comparable satellite internet prices.
DSL may be right for you if you are a light Internet user who mostly uses one device at a time to surf the web or stream TV. If you live in a crowded household where many people are using the Internet at the same time, especially if there are two or more people
WiFi Access Points,
Weather may have a minimal impact on fixed internet. However, it has a shorter latency (the amount of time it takes to transmit data) than satellite internet, giving certain rural areas another option.
5G Network
5G home internet uses the same network as your 5G smartphone, however, unlike your smartphone, which can roam, 5G home internet is only available in your home. It’s important to note that 5G home internet has the potential to offer faster speeds and more flexible plan options, but experts typically recommend choosing cable or fiber (if available in your area) over these other options because they are often more reliable internet connections.
The companies that made our list of the best internet service providers for 2025 offer more than just internet access. Many of them are also cable providers or giants in the telecom industry, and they can bundle the price of your internet connection with another service they offer.