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Your choice for Internet service provider He became more personal than ever. We depend on Internet In almost everything, including work, My neighborAnd shopping Social media. There’s a lot that goes into trusting your ISP. Factors such as cost effectiveness and satisfaction speed Customer support is important. But Joe Subban, senior broadband writer at CNET, says A Reliable connection is crucial.
A lot has changed since the days of dial-up Internet. There are several types, including 5G, cable, Satellite And the gold standard– Fiber.
Even if fiber internet isn’t available in your area, there are still plenty of reliable and cost-effective options. We surveyed our readers to find out how they really feel about their ISP. We asked which factors matter most – such as cost, reliability, speed and customer service. Here’s what they said and what we didn’t expect to find out.
Winners of CNET’s Popular Picks for Internet Service Providers
GFiber, formerly known as Google Fiber, is a household name among ISPs and a popular fiber internet option. CNET readers give it high marks, making it an overall top choice among ISPs. GFiber received an overall satisfaction score of 4.72 out of 5, and also received high scores for reliability (4.70) and planning speed (4.82). GFiber also scores 4.28 out of 5 for the price,
Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber are close contenders to GFiber. Both received high scores for reliability (4.39 and 4.48, respectively) and planning speed (4.41 and 4.49, respectively). But GFiber wins overwhelmingly for its customers’ support. Most CNET readers who contacted customer support over the past year rated their experience as “excellent,” while other GFiber customers say customer service was “good” and have no negative reviews for the fiber ISP.
Winner for: Fiber Internet, customer service, price, reliability and speed
T-Mobile is often known as a popular mobile service provider, but it won CNET’s People’s Picks for 5G Internet. T-Mobile scored 4.20 out of 5 for customer satisfaction, the highest score among 5G ISPs.
CNET readers say that T-Mobile’s Internet connection rarely drops, only a few times a year. There is no noticeable difference in speed during peak hours. T-Mobile readers haven’t seen unexpected price hikes over the past year and many won’t switch providers if a new provider moves to their area.
T-Mobile’s 5G Internet is a close competitor to GFiber in terms of price. Verizon’s 5G internet is right behind T-Mobile, with a price score of 4.10 out of 5. T-Mobile narrowly wins 5G internet over Verizon in speed and reliability.
wins for: 5G Internet
Starlink wins among the major internet companies with a high overall satisfaction rating of 4.47 out of 5, compared to Verizon Fios and T-Mobile, which have scores of 4.16 and 4.20, respectively. It has the second highest reliability score among the major winners. Starlink has a reliability score of 4.59 while GFiber has a score of 4.70.
“A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable for a satellite company to be considered this reliable,” Subban said. “This really reflects the tremendous technical improvements Starlink has made.”
Satellite Internet also scores fairly high for plan speed (4.41 out of 5), with no noticeable changes during peak hours. However, Starlink falls short of pricing compared to other major ISPs because it traditionally requires a $349 upfront payment for a satellite dish. However, it recently switched to a $10 monthly fee.
“Starlink isn’t particularly fast or affordable, but it serves customers who didn’t have modern internet options before it came along,” Subban said.
wins for: Rural satellite internet, overall satellite satisfaction, satellite reliability and satellite speed
Regional ISP winners from CNET’s People’s Picks
We combed through our readers’ responses to find the best ISP in each region based on the Internet service features you rely on every day. Here’s how each regional winner compares to other ISPs in your area and what to know before choosing one.
West: Sonic
wins for: Customer service, overall satisfaction, price, reliability and speed
Sonic It is a California-based fiber optic Internet service provider that wins in several CNET categories compared to other Western providers. It gets high marks for price (4.65 out of 5), speed (4.80 out of 5), and overall satisfaction (4.85 out of 5) – the highest among other Western providers. It even outperforms national ISPs jiveber and Verizon VOS For its reliability.
Sonic received almost flawless feedback from CNET readers. Many readers have never experienced an Internet outage or needed to reset their router. They also reported no noticeable differences in speed during peak hours. And when it comes to customer service, no readers reported poor or unfair customer service.
South: EPB (Electrical Power Board)
wins for: Customer service, overall satisfaction, price, reliability and speed
Electric Power Board is a fiber-optic ISP based in Chattanooga, Tennessee that scores highly compared to other ISPs in the South. Rated 5 out of 5 for overall satisfaction, speed and reliability, and 4.5 out of 5 for price satisfaction, beating national ISPs AT&T FiberGFiber, Comcast Xfinity, and GFiber range.
CNET readers also give EPB an “excellent” customer satisfaction rating with no lower ratings. They do not experience connection drops or speed lags, and they will not change providers if another ISP comes to their area.
Northeast: T-Mobile Home Internet 5G
wins for: Overall satisfaction and price
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet It scores the highest overall satisfaction score in the Northeast — at 4.40 out of 5. Verizon Fios comes in as a close competitor with 4.19. CNET readers also give T-Mobile’s 5G home internet a 4.60 out of 5. T-Mobile continues to have strong customer satisfaction scores (4.20), with many readers noting no noticeable difference in speed during peak hours and no unexpected price spikes.
Midwest: Quantum
wins for: Overall satisfaction, reliability and speed
Quantum fiber It wins among Midwest ISPs with a satisfaction score of 4.67 out of 5. Quantum has a 5 out of 5 for reliability. CNET readers say the connection rarely drops — just a few times a year and they don’t experience a speed lag during peak hours, giving Quantum another 5 out of 5 for speed.
AT&T acquired Quantum Fiber earlier this year. Although customers still see Quantum on their bills, they now enjoy some AT&T perks and benefits like bundling wireless discounts.
GFiber comes in second after Quantum with an overall satisfaction score of 4.64. It lacks reliability, plan speed, and price.
The top 4 features of ISPs are the most important
Plan speed
Speed and price are the two most important factors when shopping online. “The more people and connected devices you have in your home, the more speed you’ll need,” Subban says.
Subban adds that although ISPs generally highlight their download speeds, Download speeds It’s arguably just as important, especially if you work from home or play games online.
for you Home internet speed It will vary depending on your needs and usage. CNET has Internet speed guide To help you determine if you are getting the right amount of speed for your home. GFiber plans and prices vary based on availability in your area.
Plan price
Choosing an affordable Internet service provider can be difficult as prices continue to rise due to improvements in Internet technology and equipment. The amount you can expect to pay depends on the speed of your plan, connection type, and the providers available in your area.
Subban says pricing isn’t always clear because many ISPs, especially cable providers, will raise the price after a year or two. However, providers are required to include increases in A Broadband naming So you can know exactly how much your bill will increase and when, he says. It’s also worth noting that some providers charge fees if you exceed your plan Data ceiling. Your price may change if the introductory promotional period ends.
T-Mobile Home Internet doesn’t charge equipment fees, data caps or contracts, making its home Internet service a more flexible and cost-effective option. Pricing starts at $50, depending on your plan.
credibility
Earlier this year, CNET found that 86% of US adults have experience Wi-Fi connections are wonky Or drops. 1 in 5 (19%) regularly experience Wi-Fi problems. Internet reliability can depend on a number of factors that may or may not be the fault of your ISP.
Some types of Internet connection may be more susceptible to drops or disconnections, but your ISP may still be able to help, Subban says. You may be able to replace your router, or switch your Internet channel from 2.4GHz to 5GHz. Connection reliability may also depend on where your router is located in your home or what type of router you are using. Larger homes can usually benefit from a Network routing system To expand your connection and reduce dead zones.
CNET readers highly recommend GFiber for reliability. He offers mesh network and Wi-Fi 7the latest and fastest generation of routers, with no data limits or… stuffy.
Customer support
Trying to troubleshoot Internet problems on your own can be difficult. The right customer support can help – whether that’s extended live help hours, online assistance, or text message notifications about service outages. Some providers even allow you to schedule in-person appointments online and provide updated articles.
When choosing a service provider, review support options to make sure you’re comfortable with availability and resources should you need them. CNET readers give GFiber high marks for fast and helpful customer support.
G Viber Customer support page It offers several ways to get help, including scheduling a call or online chat. There’s also a list of FAQs covering topics like billing, internet support, and self-installation.
Did you like these results? People’s choices at CNET are community-based and help us spread the word about the technology and services you love. Take our running TV poll Tell us what you like about your personality.
