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What is the best internet provider in Philadelphia?
Verizon Views review It’s CNET’s top recommendation for Internet service in Philadelphia, and for good reason. It’s the only fiber provider in the city and reaches nearly 95% of addresses, which is great coverage for a major metro area. Plans start at just $50 per month, making it a great option for families or anyone who needs consistent performance – especially at a time when 63% of Americans pay more For worse services. Verizon offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, giving it a clear advantage over cable.
If you are unable to access Fios, Xfinity It remains the most practical alternative, thanks to faster speeds and better reliability than satellite or fixed wireless options. Verizon 5G home internet and T-Mobile Home Internet Review Also worth looking into if you prefer wireless service or don’t have access to other options.
Compare Internet Service Providers in Philadelphia
| provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data ceiling | a contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Read the full review |
cable | $30 – $100 | 100-2,000 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7 |
| PhillyWisper | Fixed wireless | $50 | 25-500 Mbps (varies by location) | no one | no one | no one | nothing |
| T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 – $70 (additional discount available for eligible mobile customers) | 87-415 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$75 | 85-300 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.2 |
| Verizon Views Read the full review |
Fiber | $50 – $110 ($35 – $95 with select mobile plans) | 300-2,000 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.6 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other Internet Service Providers Available in Philadelphia
Satellite Internet: Satellite connection is available almost anywhere, including all of Philadelphia, but it’s pretty convenient Rural Internet communication. Philadelphians will have faster and cheaper internet options than those available husnet or Viasat.
PhillyWisper: Local fixed wireless provider PhillyWisper advertises one residential internet plan starting at $50 per month for minimum speeds of 25 to 500 Mbps. Different speeds will vary by location, but single-family homes can expect at least 100 Mbps, while apartment buildings can expect up to 500 Mbps. Since PhillyWisper doesn’t lock you into a contract, there’s no risk in knowing what kind of speeds are available at your address.
T-Mobile home internet: Another major 5G home internet provider, T-Mobile offers speeds from 87 to 415 Mbps starting at $50 per month (discounts available for eligible T-Mobile customers). Like Verizon 5G, unlimited equipment and data are included, and no contracts are required, but T-Mobile doesn’t offer the same speed potential for the price as Verizon. T-Mobile’s home Internet coverage has improved in recent years, with its fixed wireless services becoming available to approx 85% of the city Now, compared to about a third of Philadelphia before.
Cheap Internet Options in Philadelphia
Xfinity and 5G home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile (if you qualify for a discount with either) will be your cheapest internet options in the Philadelphia area. Regardless of these providers and conditions, expect to pay at least $50 per month for home internet.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Philadelphia?
| provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity 100 Mbps Read the full review |
$30 | 100 Mbps | no one |
| Xfinity 300 Mbps Read the full review |
$40 | 300 Mbps | no one |
| PhillyWisper | $50 | 25-100 Mbps | no one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 300 Mbps (varies by location) | no one |
| T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
$50 (discounts available for qualified customers) | 87-318 Mbps | no one |
| Verizon View 300 Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with select mobile plans) | 300 Mbps | no one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Philadelphia
The best online deals and best promotions in Philadelphia depend on the discounts available during that period. Most offers are short-term, but we frequently check for the latest offers.
Internet providers in Philadelphia, such as T-Mobile, Xfinity, and Verizon, may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Philly Wisper, apply the same standard rates year-round.
For a more comprehensive list of promotions, see our guide to Best offers online.
How fast is broadband in Philadelphia?
Even with the high availability of gigabit plans from Xfinity and Verizon across the region, Average download speeds Slightly lower in Philadelphia (280Mbps) than average Pennsylvania (287 Mbps). Depending on the provider and plan you choose, your speeds may be much faster. Verizon Fios is the fastest ISP in Philadelphia, with average speeds of 276/171 Mbps. For comparison, Xfinity averages 206/24 Mbps.
Fastest internet plans in philadelphia
| provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum download speed | Data ceiling | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Vios 2Gig Read the full review |
$110 ($95 with select mobile plans) | 2,300 Mbps | 2,016 Mbps | no one | Fiber |
| Xfinity 2GB Read the full review |
$100 | 2,200 Mbps | 300 Mbps | no one | cable |
| Xfinity 1 GB Read the full review |
$50 | 1,100 Mbps | 100 Mbps | no one | cable |
| Verizon Views 1Gig Read the full review |
$90 ($75 with select mobile plans) | 940 Mbps | 910 Mbps | no one | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a more robust connection. Below is an overview of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).. Note that these are just guidelines – and that internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, see our guide about How much internet speed do you really need.
- Speeds of 0 to 5 Mbps let you handle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you high-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- A speed of 40 to 100 Mbps should give a single user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern remote work, video streaming, and online gaming.
- Speeds of 100 to 500 Mbps allow one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- Speed of 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best ISPs in Philadelphia
ISPs are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest Smartphonelaptop, Router or a kitchen gadget, it is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? For starters, we leverage a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information drawn from our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the FCC at FCC.gov.
And it doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to verify our data and make sure we take into account every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with their ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate as of the date of publication.
Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting adequate value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three questions are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest ISPs, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also take into account things like price increases and equipment and contract fees. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and take into account real-world speed data from sources such as Okla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our website How we test ISPs page.
What’s the last word for Philadelphia ISPs?
When evaluating the leading Internet providers in Philadelphia, I recommend looking at both Verizon and Xfinity. While Xfinity offers peak speeds comparable to Verizon, Verizon’s fiber service excels in terms of upload speeds, pricing, and quality of service.
If you have Verizon or T-Mobile cellular service, home internet plans from Verizon Fios, Verizon 5G, and T-Mobile can start at $35 per month. Otherwise, the breakeven is basically $50 per month between all local providers — except for Xfinity, which starts at $30.
The fastest plan in the Philadelphia area are the 2GB Verizon Fios and Xfinity plans. However, Verizon Fios has an advantage due to nearly identical upload speeds, while Xfinity’s 1GB and 2GB plans have peak upload speeds of around 120 and 300Mbps, respectively.
Fiber optic connectivity, like Verizon Fios, is the gold standard. Keep in mind that fiber availability may be limited to a smaller percentage of households in the area. Otherwise, connecting from a cable ISP is your best bet. Cable Internet can’t match the speed or reliability of fiber, but it is more readily available and accessible to most Philadelphia households.
I’m all for the reliability and fast upload speeds of a fiber connection 100%, so given the choice between Verizon Fios or Xfinity, I’d probably choose Verizon. This means your upload speeds will be faster by standards with Verizon than with Xfinity, which has a typical upload speed of 120 Mbps. However, don’t take my word for it; Check out our breakdown Verizon vs. Xfinity.