Using our database of 1,200+ internet providers, we've pulled a list of the best internet service providers available in your area. Check out all your options, and remember, satellite internet is great—but if you happen to have cable or fiber in your area, we recommended signing up for that.
Other internet providers in your area
Types of Nationwide Internet Service Providers
Satellite
Satellite internet uses either geostationary (GEO) satellites or low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in the earth’s atmosphere to deliver internet signals to subscriber dishes on the ground. Satellite internet offers decent speeds and wide coverage, so it’s an excellent choice for rural areas. But due to the long transmission distance, it usually also has slower speeds and higher latency.
Pros:
Up to 99% availability, even in rural areas
Up to 100Mbps speeds Cons:
Unavoidable lag
Data Restrictions 5G Home Internet
5G internet leverages the cellular networks that power your phone to provide high-speed internet at a competitive price. 5G internet is becoming more and more widely available thanks to T-Mobile and Verizon’s wide cell coverage, but isn’t available everywhere yet.
Pros:
Fast speeds
Afforable prices Cons:
Unpredictable speeds
More limited availability 4G LTE Home Internet
Similar to 5G, 4G LTE Internet uses cellular networks to deliver internet. But where 5G is fast with more limited availability, 4G LTE internet has slower speeds—and much wider availability. Some 4G providers even cater specifically to rural users and digital nomads because of its impressive network coverage.
Pros:
Unlimited data options
Wider availability Cons:
Slower speeds
Unpredictable speeds Fixed Wireless
Fixed wireless technology operates by transmitting a wireless signal over radio waves, directly connecting to an antenna installed in your home. This technology is also what makes 5G and 4G internet possible, and it’s a great option in rural areas where land-based infrastructure like cable internet can be limited or nonexistent.
Pros:
Faster than satellite
Cutting-edge technology Cons:
Limited availability
Unfamiliar technology DSL
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) internet uses your home phone lines to deliver internet connectivity without tying it up like dial-up used to. DSL offers a maximum speed of only 140 Mbps, which is more impressive than dial-up speeds, but significantly slower than the majority of cable and fiber plans available.
Pros:
More reliable connection than satellite or wireless
Widely available in rural areas Cons:
Limited upload and download speeds
Less reliable than fiber and cable Cable
Cable internet connects homes with internet service using the same copper coaxial cable lines used for cable television. Cable delivers internet speeds anywhere from 50Mbps to 1,200 Mbps, and it’s the most widely available land-based internet. Unfortunately, cable lines can be expensive to install, so there are only a few cable providers in rural areas, which makes availability outside of cities more limited.
Pros:
Fast download speeds
Widely available Cons:
Less reliable than fiber
Limited availability in rural areas Fiber
Instead of using coaxial cables or phone lines, fiber internet transmits internet signals through glass fibers, which is so much more efficient that it can reach speeds up to 10,000 Mbps. Unfortunately, this infrastructure is expensive, so fiber is the least available out of all internet service types; you probably won’t find it outside of big metropolitan areas.
Pros:
Faster than satellite
Cutting-edge technology Cons:
Limited availability
Unfamiliar technology Frequently Asked Questions
What satellite internet is available in my area?
HughesNet and Viasat each have 99% satellite internet coverage across the USA, so you’re almost guaranteed to have both satellite providers in your area. If you don’t live in the southeastern US, you might also have Starlink Internet available in your area. Starlink has fast speeds and larger data caps than HughesNet and Viasat, but it has trouble handling its oversold network
How much is T-Mobile Home Internet?
T-Mobile Home Internet costs $40 to $50 a month when bundled with a mobile plan, and you don’t have to worry about a contract or equipment costs either. T-Mobile handles it all for that one month-to-month price.
How much is Hughesnet internet?
Hughesnet satellite internet plans cost $74.99 to $89.99 a month, and Hughesnet Fusion costs $119.99 per month. Hughesnet plans provide download speeds of 50Mbps to 100Mbps.
How much is Viasat internet?
Viasat internet costs $99.99 a month, but those are just introductory prices. Viasat has unlimited high-speed data and speeds up to 150Mbps depending on your location and network congestion.
How to use a phone for home internet?
We generally recommend getting a standalone internet service like HughesNet or Viasat, and only using your phone as a backup for the most consistent internet connection. But if you want the mobile phone life, you can do it by signing up for an unlimited data plan and using your phone as a hotspot for your other devices.
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