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Dorchester Center, MA 02124
What is the best internet provider in Boston?
CNET’s top recommendations for anyone looking for an Internet service provider in Boston, Massachusetts Verizon Views. The ISP has a 100% fiber network that provides identical upload and download speeds, covering more than 89% of homes in the city. Plans range from $50 to $90 per month, so whether you need basic connectivity or all-around performance, you’ll find a plan worth your money. Verizon Fios also has clear terms of service, which means no surprise fees or confusing fine print.
If you can’t get Verizon Fios where you live, or you’re simply looking to spend less, you have options. It is considered Xfinity. Like Verizon, it also gives you multiple plan options, with top speeds of up to 2,100 Mbps in some neighborhoods.
Do you want the cheapest options available? You are not alone – A Recent CNET poll It found that 63% of US adults pay more for unreliable internet. So, if you need affordable alternatives, consider this Startled and T-Mobile home internet. Both offer plans that range from about $30 to $35, though T-Mobile has faster overall internet speeds of up to 318 Mbps at $35 per month.
Compare all residential internet providers in Boston
The above ISPs aren’t the only options for internet in Boston, but they are the ones I highly recommend and consider if I ever leave the South for Beantown. Here’s a quick comparison of all Boston ISPs, followed by a look at some of the cheapest and fastest plans available in the area.
Compare Internet Service Providers in Boston
| provider | Connection type | Monthly price range | Download speed range (Mbps) | Maximum monthly data | a contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Startled Read the full review |
cable | $30-$70 | 300-1500 | no one | no one |
| T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
5G fixed wireless | $50-70 ($35-55 with qualifying mobile plans) | 87-415 | no one | no one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
5G fixed wireless | $50 – $70 ($35 – $55 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-250 | no one | no one |
| Verizon Views Read the full review |
Fiber | $50 – $90 | 300-940 | no one | no one |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
cable | $35 – $105 | 400-2100 | no one | no one |
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What other internet options are available in Boston?
There aren’t many other options outside of our picks for the best ISPs in Boston. Here’s a quick look at what to expect from other internet services in the region.
T-Mobile home internet: T-Mobile’s 5G rollout has been impressive, covering nearly 50 million homes across the country, including many in Boston. Prices are about the same as Verizon’s 5G home internet service in Boston.
Verizon 5G Home Internet: The terms of service are the same (no data caps, equipment fees, or contracts), so if you’re interested that’s it 5G home internetYou can also use the higher speed capabilities offered by Verizon. However, T-Mobile does offer a $15 discount to qualifying mobile customers, so if you fall into this category, it may be worth considering T-Mobile Home Internet.
Satellite Internet: husnet and Viasat They’re available almost everywhere, so they’re technically options for home internet in the Boston area. The higher-priced, lower-data services are best for rural areas, so I recommend considering other providers unless you plan to live in a remote cabin on Walden Pond. If so, you’ll want to stay there as long as Thoreau did – satellite internet Houston and Viasat Comes with a two-year contract.
Boston broadband at a glance
Almost every household in the Boston area has access to download speeds of 250 Mbps or higher and upload speeds of 25 Mbps or higher.
High-speed coverage comes from various sources, including cable Internet from… Xfinity and Startled And fiber service from Verizon Views. The latter is available to about 89% of Boston addresses, According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).. As a result, Boston residents will likely have at least two or three broadband options to choose from.
Internet prices in Boston
With introductory prices ranging from approximately $20 to $35 per month, depending on the provider you choose and the discounts you qualify for, Boston has some of the lowest prices on high-speed internet anywhere.
The price remains competitive even when you reach higher speed levels. Astound, for example, offers a 300Mbps plan starting at just $30, while Xfinity’s Gigabit plan advertises speeds of up to 1,100Mbps starting at $85 per month.
Cheapest internet plans in boston
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How fast is broadband in Boston?
You won’t find the fastest speeds ever in Boston. Recent Ookla speed test data It shows that the average download speed in Boston is around 290Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Many factors can affect the speed test data, such as Wi-Fi connection usage and distance from the router, not to mention the plan’s maximum advertised speeds, so the data shouldn’t be much of an indicator of the speeds you can get from your service provider.
Fastest internet plans in boston
| provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum download speed | Data ceiling | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read the full review |
$105 | 2,100 Mbps | 306 Mbps | no one | cable |
| Amazing 1500 Read the full review |
$70 | 1500 Mbps | 20 Mbps | no one | cable |
| Amazing 1000 Read the full review |
$60 | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | no one | cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
$85 | 1,100 Mbps | 115 Mbps | no one | cable |
| Verizon Vios 1 gig Read the full review |
$90 ($75 with qualifying mobile plans) | 940 Mbps | 880 Mbps | no one | Fiber |
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Internet in boston recap
Having two or three internet options, plus one or two more in select areas, may not seem like a big deal, but Bostonians have more options than most when it comes to home internet service.
Although there are no providers offering multi-gigabit speeds, single gigabit service is available from up to five providers. Pricing is competitive, with multiple plans starting at $35 or less per month. The terms of service are fair no matter which provider and plan you choose, as most come with unlimited data and no contract requirements, while some, like Verizon Fios and Starry, up the ante with free gear too.
How CNET chose the best ISPs in Boston
ISPs are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest Smartphone, Laptop, Router or Kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by searching for pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider locations, and mapping information from the FCC at FCC.gov.
And it doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To assess how happy customers are with an ISP’s service, we look to sources including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate as of the time 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 answer to these questions is often multi-layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three questions are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, 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 also take into account real-world speed data from sources such as Okla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page at How we test ISPs.
Boston Internet FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Boston?
Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Boston. It’s the only widely available fiber provider in the city, which means it’s the only provider with upload speeds as fast as downloads. Verizon Fios also comes with unlimited data, free equipment, and discounts for mobile customers.
What is the cheapest ISP in Boston?
Astound is the cheapest internet provider in Boston, offering plans starting at just $30 per month with 300Mbps speed. However, Astound comes with several hidden fees, so your price may be lower with Xfinity, which has plans starting at $55 per month.
Which internet provider in Boston offers the fastest plan?
Select neighborhoods can access speeds of up to 2,100Mbps through Xfinity, but most parts of the city can only access the provider’s Gigabit Extra plan. Astound has the fastest download speeds in many parts of the city – up to 1,500Mbps – but upload speeds of only 20Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Boston?
Yes. Fiber-optic Internet service is available to approximately 99% of Boston residents. According to the latest FCC data.. Verizon Fios is the primary fiber internet provider in the Boston area, although Xfinity, Starry, and Astound may also provide fiber connections in parts of Boston.
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Is Astonback or Xfinity better?
You’ll find similar speed levels from the Astound and Xfinity, although the Astound will likely be the cheaper option, at least for the first two years of service until standard pricing takes effect.
Both providers primarily use a cable internet connection, which means upload speeds are much lower than download speeds and are likely to be slower overall during peak usage times. Xfinity’s cable network has the broadest coverage in Boston, making it easier to shop for or transfer Xfinity internet service when moving to or around Beantown.
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Can I get free wifi in Boston?
Boston has Wicked free wifi It is a free Wi-Fi service provided by the city to residents when they are outside. Not intended for use in homes or buildings.
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