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 Internet providers and Internet providers websites as ranked by people like you

The Community ranked the best Internet providers 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

231

Search All Internet Providers by Zip Code ...
Search All Internet Providers by Zip Code ...
Compare plans from over 1200 internet providers by zip code, from large providers such as Verizon and Xfinity, down to local providers available only in your area.

2

214

AT&T Internet Service Deals - High Speed Internet Providers
AT&T Internet Service Deals - High Speed Internet Providers
Get reliable, fast, and safe Internet service from AT&T, your local Internet Service Provider (ISP). View Internet plans, prices and offers in your area!

3

198

High Speed Internet Service Providers In My Area By Zip Code
High Speed Internet Service Providers In My Area By Zip Code
Main Types Of Home Internet Providers By Zip Code. Your choices for residential broadband are divided into four main types. Usually, cable or DSL will be available, but other options exist in more rural zip codes.

4

184

Compare Internet Providers by Zip Code | Plans Starting at ...
Compare Internet Providers by Zip Code | Plans Starting at ...
Compare multiple internet providers all in one place. In the U.S., 94% of residents have access to 2 or more broadband providers, so comparing available providers can be an important part of the shopping process. Along with availability, price and speeds, here are a few things to look for when comparing home internet service providers.

5

170

High Speed Internet Services Provider Verizon | DSL & Fios®
High Speed Internet Services Provider Verizon | DSL & Fios®
Pick the best High Speed Internet service for your home. DSL or Fiber, all Verizon broadband plans come packaged with home phone. Get two great products at an amazing value.

6

158

EarthLink Internet Services - Unlimit Your Options | Say ...
EarthLink Internet Services - Unlimit Your Options | Say ...
EarthLink is a leading Internet Service provider, offering reliable high-speed internet, safe and affordable. No matter the usage or device, we have you covered. Find the service right for you. Earthlink offers all internet services you need, none of the bundles you don’t.

7

146

Internet, Cable TV, and Phone Service | Spectrum
Internet, Cable TV, and Phone Service | Spectrum
Get the best triple play deals on Cable TV, High Speed Internet, and Home Phone Service for a low monthly price - includes Free HD and no contracts.

8

135

Find Internet Providers in Your Area | BroadbandNow.com
Find Internet Providers in Your Area | BroadbandNow.com
Find all of the internet service providers in your area. Enter your zip code to quickly see which of the 2,645 internet providers in the US service your area. The easiest place to research, compare, and shop for internet service in your neighborhood.

9

125

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.

10

116

Find Internet Providers In My Area | Enter Your Address ...
Find Internet Providers In My Area | Enter Your Address ...
Compare the best internet speeds in my area. Internet speeds vary by type of internet, location and ISP provider. The fastest internet speeds come with fiber internet from providers such as AT&T, Verizon and CenturyLink, and can reach up to 1,000 Mbps or higher. Unfortunately, these speeds are only available in select markets for now.

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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.