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 Wireless internet and Wireless internet websites

We ranked the best Wireless internet websites so that you can find what you need.

Last updated: 2024-12-02

Rank

Provider

Description & Features

Site

1

★★★★★

231 Data points

AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet - Rural Internet Without a ...
AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet - Rural Internet Without a ...
Whether you’re off the grid or just outside of town, with AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet you can get fast Internet speeds of at least 10Mbps.

2

★★★★★

214 Data points

Wireless Internet Providers By Zip Code | 2019 ISP Guide
Wireless Internet Providers By Zip Code | 2019 ISP Guide
The hottest topic in broadband these days is wireless Internet. With the launch of new 4G LTE networks by Verizon and AT&T in 2011, Americans gained access to mobile broadband connections at speeds which can compete with DSL or cable. This guide will explain your options for getting a high speed wireless Internet providers by zip code in the United States.

3

★★★★★

198 Data points

Home WiFi Plans from Fios | Verizon Wireless Internet ...
Home WiFi Plans from Fios | Verizon Wireless Internet ...
Get Wi-Fi with Verizon Fios. Learn about wireless plans and deals for your home. Fios is the fastest in wireless internet and with over 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, you will always be connected.

4

★★★★

184 Data points

NetZero
NetZero
NetZero, recognized as the pioneer of free internet access in the late 90s, has been providing high quality, low cost internet services for over 20 years.

5

★★★★

170 Data points

FreedomPop
FreedomPop
Get free internet or free cell phone service. Service plans start at $0.00/month. Find cheap mobile wifi hotspots, smart phones, SIM-only service, tablets, and more!

6

★★★★

158 Data points

Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless
Top Reasons to Choose Cricket. No annual contract for cell phone service - Cricket's prepaid phones aren't tied to an annual contract, so you have freedom to change your service at any time ; Unlimited talk & text - No need to worry about going over your minutes, talk and text to your heart's content

7

★★★★

146 Data points

XFINITY® WiFi by Comcast | Wireless Internet on the Go
XFINITY® WiFi by Comcast | Wireless Internet on the Go
XFINITY® WiFi by Comcast offers wireless internet service at millions of hotspots. Enjoy the fastest hotspots with the most Internet on the Go coverage.

8

★★★

135 Data points

AT&T Internet Plans - Home Internet - AT&T® Official Site
AT&T Internet Plans - Home Internet - AT&T® Official Site
Our fastest speeds are available over our 100% fiber optic network. If our Fiber network hasn’t made it to your neighborhood yet, you may be eligible for one of our alternative internet services, which operate via a copper-based or fixed-wireless network.

9

★★★

125 Data points

Fixed Wireless Internet Providers by Zip Code ...
Fixed Wireless Internet Providers by Zip Code ...
Fixed Wireless vs. Satellite Internet vs. Mobile Broadband vs. 5G. Although fixed wireless is often confused with other terms associated with wireless communication, it is different from satellite internet, Wi-Fi, wireless broadband, and 5G.

10

★★★

116 Data points

High Speed Fiber-Optic Internet Services Provider ...
High Speed Fiber-Optic Internet Services Provider ...
Fios Internet - No annual contract Visa: $50 Verizon Visa Prepaid Card issued by MetaBank®, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 12 months, funds do not expire and may be available after card expiration date; fees may apply.

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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.