Our Top Picks for the Best Internet Providers in New York, NY
Xfinity Internet
With internet speeds of up to 1000 Mbps, Xfinity offers connectivity over a super-fast cable network. Almost every section of Detroit has access to Xfinity that covers southwest Michigan from Detroit to Ann Arbor and Flint. But, residents of locations like Wyandotte, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and Farmington may have to look for other ISPs. Further, you might find that Xfinity packages are somewhat more expensive when compared to similar services.
Spectrum
Spectrum is one of the top-most ISPs in the city, offering plans without any caps on data usage or the need for entering into a contract. Not only does the company offer the fastest internet in the city at speeds of 1000 Mbps, but it also permits subscribers to log into the network of Wi-Fi hotspots across the city so you can continue to surf outside your home.Other Providers
- RCN offers efficient data relay with minimum latency periods.
- EarthLink provides different service types.
- Atlantic Broadband offers subscriptions without any early termination charges.
- Consolidated Communications, formerly known as Fairpoint Communications, has the most affordable internet services at $24.95 per month for speeds of more than 10 Mbps.
- Viasat delivering satellite internet services
- Optimum known for its reliability and efficiency
- HughesNet ideal for rural and remote locations
Internet Service Providers in New York, NY
Whether you are moving from Downtown to the Upper East Side or from Upstate New York to New York City, one thing you will certainly need is a reliable internet service, preferably broadband. With a plethora of options available, whether it is the type of service, Cable, DSL, Fiber or Satellite, or the internet service provider (ISP) the sheer range of choices available can be daunting. A small consolation is that not every service is available everywhere, which acts as a natural filter for a new customer.
It is always a good idea to understand your usage requirements. That will enable you to zero in on the most suitable provider and plan. Simultaneous users and primary activities are the two main considerations, apart from your budget of course. Gaming and video conferencing are typically the biggest consumers of bandwidth. Social media browsing and checking and sending emails do not consume much bandwidth.
We provide here a high-level view of the marketplace, based on the parameters people usually look for in an ISP. The objective is to help you quickly shortlist down to a few that you can research and choose from.
Evaluate Your Needs Before Picking Out the Right Provider
Even if you have an internet connection, scouting around for better, more economical plans is always a smart idea. You might just find a better network with perhaps, higher reliability, better customer service, or advanced features that better suit your needs. When selecting the best network in your area, you might want to consider factors such as the typical number of users in your household or commercial establishment.
Larger families with members who intend to use the internet for video conference meetings, gaming, streaming movies, and perhaps, uploading and downloading media files will likely find that a subscription with 200 Mbps is adequate for their needs. This bandwidth also works well for students attending remote classes. Smaller families using a couple of devices simultaneously could go with 25 Mbps or low-speed plans that will allow them to surf, shop, and watch movies without a problem.
Interestingly, NYC has exceptionally high-speed services with an average speed of 415.35 Mbps, which is much higher than most cities in the country. Though, you can expect to pay around $150 or more for speeds of 940 Mbps. If you go with starter plans, they are economical and available at $40 to $60. In some areas, these starter packs can also provide high speeds that can go up to 1000 Mbps.
Price
Consolidated Communications (Fairpoint Communications earlier) offers a plan for $25 per month. However, what you get for that does not qualify as broadband. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a minimum download speed of 25 MBPS and upload speed of 3 MBPS is required for a service to qualify as broadband.
Paying between $40 and $60 can get New Yorkers download speeds of almost 940 MBPS. Most plans top out at $150 a month, which will give you the fastest download and upload speeds.
Speed
New Yorkers, it seems, are addicted to speed. The average speed in New York clocks in at 415.35 MBPS, more than three times the national average.
Spectrum, with its 1000 MBPS download speed, cable-based internet service, qualifies as the fastest.
Bundles
Bundled services get you better deals. They work out better than the cost of the bundled services taken separately and added together. Internet bundles are usually available with TV and home phone services. At least four of the ISPs operating in the city offer attractive bundles.
Best for gaming
You need the best speeds for a gaming experience that does not suffer from lag. Besides, you receive as well as send information while gaming, hence both download and upload speeds need to be good. Fiber networks offer good download speeds with upload speeds to match. Verizon’s FIOS network is one of the highly rated providers that would serve this need well.
Best for working from home
For a friction-less non-freeze experience, while supporting multiple people, your network needs to support both downloading and uploading large packets of information. Fiber is the recommended network, with Verizon’s FIOS network among the best. RCN and Spectrum are other reliable options for this need.
Best for streaming
You don’t need a gig (1000 MBPS) network only for streaming movies. Even for ultra-HD streaming, all you need is a download speed of 25 MBPS, according to Netflix. Add in a couple more devices streaming movies simultaneously, you should still be good with download speeds of 100 MBPS.
Best for multiple devices
Modern households are packed with devices connected to the internet; PCs, gaming consoles, TVs, smart home devices are all a part of this great network. The greater the number of devices and the more the internet applications used, the faster the network you will need to have. In general, fiber and cable internet services should be preferred over DSL and satellite.
In most areas, you will have a choice. Verizon’s FIOS fiber network and Spectrum are regarded as the best providers, with download speeds of 940 MBPS. Both are widely available. Spectrum does not generally insist on contracts and also offers a wide network of hotspots that act as an expansion of your wi-fi access area, across the city.
Among others, Earthlink has multiple service types, RCN is known for low latency and Atlantic does not levy fees for early termination. And, if you are off the grid, you have satellite networks of Viasat and HughesNet.