Reviews Report

• In 2025, fiber-first providers lead customer satisfaction: Verizon Fios and AT&T Internet top the ACSI with scores of 75 and 72 out of 100, while major cable brands hover near the industry average.
• The FCC now uses 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload as the national broadband benchmark for fixed service; a longer-term goal of 1 Gbps/500 Mbps guides future policy. See the FCC announcement.
• The best internet service providers offer affordable pricing with transparent FCC Broadband Consumer Labels, high-speed, reliable connections, and strong support; in areas without fiber/cable, fixed wireless (5G home internet) plans commonly cost $50–$60/month.

Staying connected to the internet is a necessity, so finding the best internet service provider for the best price is important. When it comes to picking the best internet companies, a handful of factors can set a provider apart: fiber availability, consistently high speeds and low latency, clear pricing, and responsive support. Start by checking your exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map; if fiber is available, it’s usually the best choice. Where fiber isn’t available, compare top cable options and consider 5G home internet for simple, flat-rate pricing.

The 7 Best Internet Service Providers

• AT&T Internet: Best Overall Internet Service Provider (Fiber)
• Verizon: Best Internet Service Provider for Customer Satisfaction (Fiber)
• Frontier Communications: Best Internet Service Provider for Unlimited Data (Fiber)
• Comcast XFINITY: Best Internet Service Provider for Download Speeds (Cable)
• Cox Communications: Best  Internet Service Provider on a Budget (Cable)
• Mediacom: Best Internet Service Provider for Low Data Users
• Charter Spectrum: Best Internet Service Provider for Bundling (No data caps)

Information accurate as of November 2025

*J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

The Best Internet Service Providers, Reviewed

How to Choose the Best Internet Service Provider

Coverage

You might not have much of a choice when shopping for internet service. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance and other independent analyses show many areas still have limited competition, especially outside cities. For the most accurate view of what you can buy at your address, use the FCC National Broadband Map. The FCC also reports that millions still lack access to fixed broadband meeting the current 100/20 Mbps benchmark, with gaps concentrated in rural and Tribal areas (source).

Speed

The FCC’s definition of broadband internet service now uses a benchmark of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload for fixed service per the FCC’s 2024 Broadband Progress Report. For typical households that stream video, game online, and work from home on multiple devices, plans in the 300–500 Mbps range (or higher) provide more headroom; if available, fiber’s symmetrical speeds and lower latency are advantageous for uploads and video conferencing. The best internet providers for gaming pair high speeds with low latency and strong consistency (see Ookla’s U.S. Market Reports). 

Customer service

Internet providers generally have a reputation for poor customer service — frustrating phone calls, billing disputes, and service interruptions. The best internet providers will have a track record of keeping customers happy. In 2025, the ACSI industry average for ISPs is 68/100, with fiber brands leading cable peers (ACSI). Review ACSI scores and J.D. Power’s regional rankings (latest study) to gauge support quality in your area.

Data caps

A growing trend for home internet service is the use of data caps — similar to data caps on smartphone plans. This limits the amount of data used over the course of a month. If you stream lots of content, play games, or do other data-heavy tasks like send or receive large files for work, a data cap may be intrusive and result in fees. Many fiber and fixed wireless plans advertise no caps (for example, Fios and T-Mobile Home Internet), while some cable ISPs still enforce them (e.g., Xfinity’s 1.2TB plan in most areas; Cox 1.5TB). Spectrum markets no data caps. Always verify cap details on the plan’s FCC Broadband Consumer Label.

Price

An internet connection may be a necessity, but it’s also a relatively expensive one. Typical everyday prices cluster around $55–$80 per month for 300–500 Mbps fiber/cable, with gigabit around $70–$100; fixed wireless (5G home internet) is often $50–$60 with taxes/fees included (T-Mobile, Verizon). Use the FCC Broadband Consumer Label to compare the total monthly price (including equipment), promo duration, and any data cap before you buy.

Cable vs. DSL vs. Fiber vs. Satellite Internet

There are different types of internet connections available to customers. Depending on where you live, not every option will be available near you. But it’s important to understand the difference when choosing the best internet service provider.

• Cable: Cable internet uses the same copper cable lines that deliver cable television in your home. If you can get cable TV in your area, there’s a good chance you can get cable internet as well. Spectrum and Xfinity are examples of providers that offer cable internet; gigabit-class download speeds are common, while data cap policies vary by provider.
• DSL: DSL stands for digital subscriber line. It’s a type of internet that connects via a telephone network using a phone wall jack. AT&T, Frontier, and CenturyLink have offered DSL internet, though it’s available in fewer areas each year as fiber expands.
• Fiber: Fiber-optic internet is a type of broadband internet that transfers data using fiber optic cables. The fiber refers to the glass wires within a larger cable. Fiber-optic internet provides one of the fastest internet options on the market. AT&T, Verizon Fios, Frontier, Google Fiber, and regional providers offer fiber internet options.
• Satellite: Satellite internet is a type of wireless internet transmitted using satellites. Just like satellite television, the signal is picked up by a satellite dish and transmitted to your home. Then, you can connect to the internet using a modem. Starlink and Hughesnet offer satellite internet; Starlink’s LEO network provides lower latency than legacy GEO satellite in many areas.

How Much Internet Do I Need?

It can be easy to assume more is better when it comes to internet speeds, but that isn’t always the case. It depends on how you are planning to use your internet connection. The FCC’s current benchmark for fixed broadband is 100/20 Mbps, but your household’s needs may be higher depending on the number of users and applications. If you’re a serious gamer or share an internet connection with multiple people in your household, faster speeds may be necessary. If you’re just planning to use the internet for basic tasks like checking email and browsing the web, you likely don’t need multi-gig speeds.

Light use: emails, web browsing, social media, SD video streaming

Moderate use: music streaming, occasional online gaming, streaming HD video on one or two devices.

Heavy use: multiple devices streaming HD video simultaneously, real-time gaming, video conferencing.

Very heavy use: Multiple devices streaming HD or 4K video simultaneously, large file downloading, real-time gaming, video conferencing.

Internet Provider FAQ

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Methodology

We evaluated internet service providers based on customer satisfaction, data caps, download speed, plans, and customer support to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best internet service provider reviews. To compare internet service providers with other brands across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:

• Customer Satisfaction: Reviews.com uses the latest J.D. Power U.S. Residential ISP Satisfaction Study (regional rankings) and ACSI’s industry results (Telecommunications Study 2024–2025) to benchmark how providers perform with customers.
• Top Download Speeds: We awarded higher scores to internet providers with higher download and upload speeds and strong consistency, using independent reporting such as Ookla’s U.S. Market Reports.
• Number of Plans: Internet providers with more plan options to choose from scored higher in our methodology.
• Data Caps: No one wants to be left without internet for the rest of the month, so we awarded internet providers with higher scores if they had high or no data caps. 
• Customer Support: We reviewed and compared the number of channels that customers could reach each provider’s customer support representatives. The more channels of contact available, the higher the score. We also verified pricing transparency and fee disclosures using the FCC Broadband Consumer Labels.

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