Choosing an Internet Service Provider: The Ultimate Guide

As claimed by the American Customer Satisfaction index, broadband providers received very low customer satisfaction in 2015. According to the report, the consumers are consistently unsatisfied with the coverage and price of both fixed and wireless internet. This only makes consumers more confused about which internet service provider is the best.

There are so many internet service providers available today. But are they available in your area? This is just one of the questions that you might ask before choosing an ISP.

So how can you find the best internet service provider out there right now? Let's find out.

Options in Your Area

Check out the web to know which internet service providers are available in your area.

Fiber optics and cable providers are usually available in the city. But in more rural areas, internet services are limited.

Internet Speed

This is the most important thing people look for internet service. But before choosing an internet plan, you should first consider your browsing habits. If you are a heavy user, then you should really get a high-speed connection plan. Faster internet speed usually cost more. But if you only browse and do light video streaming, then you can choose cheaper plans which are slower compared to the faster one.

Types of Connection

Most households get faster download speeds compared to upload speeds. This is called asymmetrical connection. Downloading is when you use the internet to receive content like online gaming, video streaming or just by browsing through Facebook. Uploading refers to when you send files over the internet or do a video call. This setup works for households because most people download content more frequently than they upload.

But if you are a business owner, you might want to choose a symmetrical connection. You will get the same speed for download and upload in this type of connection.

Internet Delivery Method

To make it simple, internet service from a cable company most likely provide the most reliable and fastest speeds. It also cost more compared to internet service from a phone company over DSL. Digital subscriber lines are cheaper than cable, but a little slower. Satellite internet services have the widest coverage, but they are slow and expensive.

Plans & Packages

Now that you know the internet speed you need, and which ISP companies the availability of ISPs in your area, you now need to look for the best deal you can get.

Here are some things that you should take into consideration:

Promotions

Promotions are usually available to new customers. ISP companies often give discounts to their new customers for one whole year. But make sure that you can pay for the full price once the promotional period is over.

Bundles

A lot of cable companies have bundles consisting of television, internet and phone service. But think hard before signing up for these bulk deals because internet providers tend to lock in their customers with more services.

If you don't see yourself using a specific service frequently, then don't sign up for a bundle. You might end up paying more than you should.

Customer Service

You must look for excellent and reliable customer service when you are getting any kind of service. The problem is that it is so hard to find an ISP with good customer service.

If you will use the internet service for business, then this is really essential. You can't say when you're going to experience connection problems. Still, it would be great if you know that once you report it to the customer service, they would take action right away.

Negotiation

If you are low in budget, then you might want to negotiate prices and services with your internet provider. Bundles do not usually get high satisfaction rating from the consumers, but they can still pay off. Consumers who attempt to negotiate with the ISP usually get a new promotional rate, extra TV channels and faster internet speed.

Conclusion

You would probably end up having two or three choices of an internet service provider. It is now up to you to compare and search for their different deals and offers. You must also remember that smaller companies tend to have faster and cheaper internet service since they only provide their service to fewer users compared to big companies.

Top 10 Best internet service provider and Best internet service provider websites

We ranked the best Best internet service provider websites so that you can find what you need.

Last updated: 2024-10-28

Rank

Provider

Description & Features

Site

1

★★★★★

604 Data points

The Best Internet Providers In My Area | Reviews.com
The Best Internet Providers In My Area | Reviews.com
The Best Internet Providers In My Area. The best internet service provider for you depends on which companies are available in your area and how you’ll be using the internet connection. The unfortunate truth of internet providers is that regional monopolies and natural topography prevent providers from being available everywhere.

2

★★★★★

559 Data points

The Best High Speed Internet Service Providers - Reviews.com
The Best High Speed Internet Service Providers - Reviews.com
The Best High Speed Internet Service Providers. With varying coverage, cost, speed, and connection type, there’s no one best internet provider for everyone. To find the best for you, first figure out which are available where you live — the plans offered by any given provider vary by location.

3

★★★★★

518 Data points

Internet Providers by ZIP Code - Internet service provider
Internet Providers by ZIP Code - Internet service provider
We keep a database of which Internet Service Providers offer service in a particular area. To keep the database simple, we define each area by its ZIP code. So, to show you the internet service packages you can actually buy, we need to know which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer service in your area.

4

★★★★

479 Data points

Best Internet Service Providers 2019: Your Best Internet ...
Best Internet Service Providers 2019: Your Best Internet ...
We found the best internet service providers based on speed, prices, and data allowance, with some minor consideration for customer service rankings. We broke it down by the type of connection (fiber, cable, DSL, and satellite), but keep in mind most providers serve different areas with different speeds, prices, and connection types.

5

★★★★

444 Data points

Top 10 Best Internet Service Providers | ConsumerAffairs
Top 10 Best Internet Service Providers | ConsumerAffairs
Internet service providers (ISPs) allow users to connect to the Internet, surf the web, check their emails and use many types of online services. Though each ISP provides services only in certain ...

6

★★★★

411 Data points

How to Find the Best Internet Providers in Your Area ...
How to Find the Best Internet Providers in Your Area ...
How to Find the Best Internet Providers in Your Area. Stephen Layton. Jan. 12, 2017. ... Choosing the best internet service for you depends on what’s available near you, ...

7

★★★★

380 Data points

Compare Internet Providers by Zip Code | Starting at $19.99
Compare Internet Providers by Zip Code | Starting at $19.99
Choosing an internet service provider . Choosing the best ISP for your home is about more than just finding the lowest price. Here are a few tips for choosing the right internet service provider for your home:

8

★★★

352 Data points

Internet Providers In My Area by Zip Code » Compare Deals ...
Internet Providers In My Area by Zip Code » Compare Deals ...
Find internet service with download speeds up to 1 Gbps from Fiber, Cable, DSL, Wireless and Satellite providers. Check availability by ZIP code or address, compare speeds and prices, and pick the best internet provider.

9

★★★

326 Data points

5 Best Internet Service Providers - Nov. 2019 - BestReviews
5 Best Internet Service Providers - Nov. 2019 - BestReviews
With Spectrum internet service, you can enjoy extremely speedy internet (over 940 Mbps on some plans) and no data caps. Boasts a wide coverage area throughout the country. You can bundle services, or choose from internet-only plans. Above average customer service rating for dealing with internet issues. Modem included; no contract plans available.

10

★★★

302 Data points

Internet Service Providers by ZIP Code - November 2019 ...
Internet Service Providers by ZIP Code - November 2019 ...
Another significant consideration as you evaluate available Internet providers by ZIP code is the connection type, which I will go over next. Related: The Best Antivirus Software. Internet Connection Types. One thing you'll want to carefully assess when you search for Internet providers by ZIP code is the type of connection each provider offers.

Best internet service provider videos considered

We analyzed 5,825 hours of the most informative Best internet service provider videos. These videos stood out the most:

Local Best internet service provider near you

Bway

424 Broadway, Ste 405

Honest Networks

299 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

Natural Wireless

1412 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

CMPLTE

535 Fifth Ave, Fl 4

Spectrum

43 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

Polar Tech

40-36 82nd St, Ste 2

Starry

New York, NY 10016

Verizon

581 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Spectrum

177 N 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

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This comparison site is made up of our own opinions and views. The ranking is determined at our discretion and is not to be used for accuracy purposes. We can provide this service at no charges thanks to a combination of referral fees and advertising income we receive from various publishers and service providers. These payments may affect our rankings and the score we assign to websites, products, and vendors. Our ratings do not imply endorsement of any kind. This website's information, rankings, and vendor list is subject to change without notice at any time.