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 Cheapest internet service and Cheapest internet service websites as ranked by people like you

The Community ranked the best Cheapest internet service websites so that you can find what you need. Help improve the ranking by voting too.

Last updated: 2024-11-11

Rank

Provider

Description & Features

Site

1

324

Best Cheap Internet Providers 2019 | Internet Plans from $28
Best Cheap Internet Providers 2019 | Internet Plans from $28
The Best Cheap Internet Service Providers. The best internet service provider (ISP) will be different for everyone. Monthly price is directly linked to regional availability, data caps, and speed. Bundled services can also affect the final price, as most internet providers offer discounts if you get your TV, phone and internet service together.

2

300

Cheap Internet
Cheap Internet
Cheap internet service providers offer high-speed broadband internet to Americans from $5/month Thanks to many U.S. internet providers, public and private broadband initiatives, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and expanding array of cheap internet plans are available to millions of low-income Americans suffering through a ...

3

278

Low Income Internet Service Providers - $5 a month
Low Income Internet Service Providers - $5 a month
Low-Income Internet Service Providers. Cheap broadband internet plans have been created by public-private partnerships, to bring high-speed, wireless internet access to those on government assistance or who are low-income. There are several major, “competing” low-income internet service programs designed for financially-struggling Americans ...

4

257

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. We have helped millions save money every month on the services they use to connect with the people (and content) they love. Let NetZero help you save money, starting today!

5

238

Tips for Getting Cheap Internet Service - The Simple Dollar
Tips for Getting Cheap Internet Service - The Simple Dollar
As with any type of monthly service, one of the easiest ways to lower your internet bill is to shop around and compare prices occasionally. Just because the service provider you signed up with had the best price a few years ago doesn’t mean they still hold the title for the cheapest Internet service in your community.

6

221

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!

7

204

Compare Internet Providers by Zip Code | Starting at $19.99
Compare Internet Providers by Zip Code | Starting at $19.99
Monthly costs for internet service is likely one of the main things you’ll want to consider when choosing an ISP and plan. If you’re looking for the cheapest internet service, there are a few high-speed internet service providers with plans starting at $30 or less. Starting prices for the cheapest plans from other internet providers ...

8

189

How to Get Cheap or Free Internet Access at Home | HuffPost
How to Get Cheap or Free Internet Access at Home | HuffPost
FreedomPop is a non-contract service that provides 1 gigabyte (GB) of data per month for free, which is adequate for sending and receiving emails and surfing the web. If, however, you want more data for things like watching Internet videos or sharing photos you can pay $10/month for 5 GB or $18/month for 10 GB. Cheap Internet

9

175

Best Cheap Internet Providers (In Your Area) | WhistleOut
Best Cheap Internet Providers (In Your Area) | WhistleOut
All the cheapest internet providers in your area right here. We sort through the best and cheapest internet services so you can take your pick from Fios, Spectrum, ATT, Cox, and more. If you need stronger, bigger, faster bandwidth at speeds at least 200Mbps, get plans starting at $25/month

10

162

Cheap Internet Providers in 2019 | Base Plans at $29.99/mo.
Cheap Internet Providers in 2019 | Base Plans at $29.99/mo.
Cheap internet comes in many forms, but be realistic with your needs. In the vast majority of situations, it’s going to be worth spending an extra ten dollars or so a month to get a decent speed and service quality from a bundled cable or fiber provider than to simply settle for a DSL or wireless option.

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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.