What is the best internet provider in Boston?
CNET experts recommend Verizon Fios as the best recommendation for those looking for an Internet provider in Boston, Massachusetts. We chose it for its lightning-fast symmetrical speeds and 100% fiber optic network. Not only that, but it also offers a wide range of plans ranging from $50 to $90, meaning everyone can find a plan that suits their needs and budget. The provider also offers clear terms of service, which means there won't be any unexpected headaches. Verizon Fios also has excellent coverage, reaching more than 89% of Boston households.
If you're outside of Verizon Fios' coverage area or want a cheaper alternative, you might want to consider Xfinity. This is a great alternative because, like Verizon, it has a fairly wide selection of plans and you can get speeds of up to 2100 Mbps, depending on the region where you live.
Residents looking for cheaper internet providers should consider Hit And T-Mobile Home Internetas both offer plans priced around $30-$35, although T-Mobile generally offers faster internet with speeds of up to 318 Mbps at $35.
Comparison of all Boston home internet providers
The ISPs described above are not the only options for Internet access in Boston, but they are the ones I would recommend most and would consider if I had to move from the south to Beantown. Here's a quick comparison of all of Boston's internet providers, followed by a look at some of the cheapest and fastest plans available in the area.
Boston ISP Comparison
| Supplier | Connection type | Monthly price range | Download speed range (Mbps) | Monthly data limit | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hit Read full review |
Cable | 30-70 dollars | 300-1500 | Nobody | Nobody |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless 5G | $50 – $70 ($35 – $55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415 | Nobody | Nobody |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless 5G | $50 – $70 ($35 – $55 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-250 | Nobody | Nobody |
| Verizon Fios Read full review |
Fiber | 50-90 dollars | 300-940 | Nobody | Nobody |
| Xfinity Read full review |
Cable | 35-105 dollars | 400-2100 | Nobody | Nobody |
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What other internet options are there in Boston?
Besides the best internet providers in Boston, we don't have many other options. Here's a quick overview of what to expect from other internet services in the area.
T-Mobile Home Internet: The rollout of T-Mobile's 5G network has been impressive, reaching nearly 50 million homes nationwide, including many in Boston. Prices are about the same as Verizon's 5G home internet in Boston.
Verizon 5G Home Internet: Terms of service are the same (no data caps, hardware fees or contracts), so if you're interested 5G home internetyou might as well take advantage of Verizon's higher speed potential. However, T-Mobile offers a $15 discount to qualifying mobile customers, so if you fall into that category, it might be worth considering T-Mobile Home Internet.
Satellite Internet: Hughesnet And Viasat are available almost everywhere, so they are technically home internet options in the Boston area. Expensive, low-data services are best suited for rural areas, so I would recommend considering other providers unless you plan to live in a remote cabin on Walden Pond. If so, you'll want to stay about as long as Thoreau did – satellite internet from Husnet and Viasat comes with a two-year contract.
A Brief Overview of Broadband in Boston
Almost every household in the Boston area has access to download speeds of 250 Mbps or faster and upload speeds of 25 Mbps or faster.
High-speed coverage is provided by various sources, including cable Internet from Xfinity And Hit and fiber optic from Verizon Fios. The latter is available to approximately 89% of Boston addresses. according to the FCC. As a result, Boston residents will likely have at least two or three, but possibly more, broadband options to choose from.
Internet prices in Boston
With starting prices ranging from $20 to $35 per month, depending on the provider you choose and the discounts you qualify for, Boston has some of the lowest prices for high-speed Internet in the world.
Prices remain competitive even as you upgrade to higher speed levels. Astound, for example, offers a 300 Mbps plan starting at just $30, while Xfinity's gigabit plan advertises speeds of up to 1,100 Mbps 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 in Boston. Data from the latest Ookla speed tests ranks Boston 79th out of the top 100 U.S. cities for average download speeds, at about 261 Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Speed ​​test data can be affected by numerous factors, 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 too much of an indicator of what speeds you can get from your provider.
Fastest Internet Rates in Boston
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum download speed | Data limitation | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review |
US$105 | 2100 Mbit/s | 306 Mbit/s | Nobody | Cable |
| Astounding 1500 Read full review |
70 US dollars | 1500 Mbit/s | 20 Mbit/s | Nobody | Cable |
| Astounding 1000 Read full review |
US$60 | 1000 Mbit/s | 20 Mbit/s | Nobody | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read full review |
US$85 | 1100 Mbit/s | 115 Mbit/s | Nobody | Cable |
| Verizon Fios 1 GB Read full review |
$90 ($75 with eligible mobile plans) | 940 Mbit/s | 880 Mbit/s | Nobody | Fiber |
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Internet in Boston: results
Two or three internet options, plus maybe another one or two in select areas, probably isn't much, but Boston residents have more choices than most when it comes to home internet.
While no single provider offers multi-gigabit speeds, up to five providers can provide single-gigabit service. Prices are competitive, with several plans starting at $35 per month or less. Terms of service are fair no matter the provider and plan you choose, as most provide unlimited data and no contract requirements, and some, like Verizon Fios and Starry, also offer free hardware.
How CNET chose Boston's best ISPs
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latter smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen toolIt is not practical to personally test every ISP in a particular city. What is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information using ISPs' own historical data, ISP websites, and FCC mapping information at: FCC.gov.
It doesn't end there: we go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we're counting every ISP providing service in a given region. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP, we look to sources like the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. Internet service providers' plans and prices may change frequently; All information provided is correct at the time of publication.
Once we have localized information, we ask three basic questions:
- Does your provider offer access to high enough internet speeds?
- Are customers getting a decent price for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
The answer to these questions is often layered and complex, but we recommend the service providers that come closest to answering yes to all three questions. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also consider factors such as price increases, hardware fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest Internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and also take into account actual speed data from sources such as Okla And FCC reports.
To explore our process in more detail, please visit our page at how we test internet providers.
Boston Internet Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet provider in Boston?
Verizon Fios is the best internet provider in Boston. It's the only widely available fiber provider in the city, which means it's the only provider whose download speeds are as fast as its upload speeds. Verizon Fios also offers unlimited data, free hardware, and discounts for cell phone customers.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Boston?
Astound is the cheapest internet provider in Boston, offering plans as low as $30 per month for 300 Mbps. However, Astound has a lot of hidden fees, so your price may be lower with Xfinity, whose plans start at $55 per month.
Which ISP in Boston offers the fastest rate?
In some areas, you can access speeds of up to 2,100 Mbps through Xfinity, but most of the city only has access to the provider's Gigabit Extra plan. Astound has the fastest download speeds in many parts of the city, up to 1500 Mbps, but the maximum upload speed is only 20 Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Boston?
Yes. Fiber internet 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 offer fiber connections in parts of Boston.
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Which is better Astound or Xfinity?
You'll find similar speed levels between 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 cable internet connections, which means significantly slower download speeds than upload speeds and potentially slower overall during peak periods. Xfinity's cable network has broader coverage in Boston, making it easy to purchase or transfer Xfinity internet service when moving to Beantown or the surrounding area.
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Can I get free Wi-Fi in Boston?
Boston has Wicked free wifi program, which is free Wi-Fi offered by the city to residents when they are outside. It is not intended for use in homes or buildings.
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