Top 4 Internet Service Providers in the U.S.

(Newswire.net — June 26, 2020) — Hunting for the best internet service provider can be quite difficult or just a matter of a few clicks. It all depends on which area you live in because not every ISP is available at every location. 

Some people may have several choices in their neighborhood, while others might have to struggle with only a few options – not getting the best deal and compromising on their needs. 

The process can be time-consuming, but once you make a wise decision, it’ll go a long way to benefit you. You may come across big names including Xfinity, Cox, Frontier, AT&T, Spectrum, and many more while searching for the best providers in your area. Let’s dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of all these top-ranking service providers. Stay tuned, sit back, and read on. 

Cox Communications 

Cox has almost everything for everyone. Offering download speeds starting at 10 Mbps for $29.99 per month up to 940 Mbps for $99.99, Cox is one big deal for low to medium and high-income households. 

Normal users who aren’ fans of streaming movies or playing online games can find no other internet service better than Cox. For email checking, socializing, and surfing the internet, Cox is a budget-friendly option. 

If the lower tier plans aren’t fitting your needs, there is nothing to worry about. Cox has your high-end requirements covered with its upper-tier plans offering 150 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and even 940 Mbps speeds. 150 Mbps and 500 Mbps are more than enough for a normal household with a bunch of gamers and movie nerds. Plus you can control your other home devices connected to the internet without any disruption. 

Cox comes with a flexible data limit that allows you to watch 400 hours of HD TV in your own time. The monthly data limits are set at 1TB, and if you are worried about consuming that much, you will not be able to, unless you try extra hard to cap the limit by force. 

Most of the Cox internet plans have a one-year contract – a sad thing for those who plan to move frequently. But here is the catch. The contract is only for one year. Most of the service providers keep you restricted for longer and you can’t do anything about it. 

Cox equipment and service fees are similar to other internet service providers. For instance, the installation fee is just $20, and the router’s rent is charged at $10.99 per month. Just buy your equipment rather than paying rent for a piece of equipment that can be purchased for less. 

Diversity of plans aside, Cox’s customer service isn’t exactly up to the par and needs improvement. But that’s a norm, and other ISPs are just on a similar track. 

Charter Spectrum™ 

If Charter Spectrum™ is available in your area, you don’t need to look for anything else. Generally, you can subscribe to Spectrum internet for $49.99 with a download speed of 100 Mbps. Unlike Cox, you will get unlimited data without annual contract bindings. This means you will not have to pay early termination fees, whether you opt-out after a month or a year. 

If the 100 Mbps plan hasn’t gained your attention, you can quadruple the speed to 400 Mbps for $20 extra. It would cost you $69.99 per month. Keep in mind that Spectrum offers unlimited data across its speed upgrades too. No matter how intensive your daily internet usage is, you won’t have to worry about running out of data. Moreover, Spectrum offers a free modem along with its internet plans, which would cost you $10 to $20 extra per month with other ISPs. 

Spectrum also offers a 940 Mbps plan that costs $109.99 per month. Normally it is too much speed for regular household usage, but the plan is worth every penny if you’re an advanced internet user living in a house full of gamers. Before you subscribe to any of the Spectrum internet plans, just make sure to evaluate your requirements. 

On the other hand, Spectrum’s pricing isn’t as bright as it seems to be. The advertised prices are applicable for one year. After one year, there would be an increase in the prices as much as $35 per month! Be ready before the bill jolts you with high voltage. But the increase in prices isn’t just limited to Charter Spectrum™. Almost every other cable company charges you more than what was advertised after a year or so.  

Though it tries earnestly, Spectrum’s customer service hasn’t won the hearts of customers. If you are thinking of calling the customer service, make sure that you don’t have any important work to do. 

Xfinity 

Xfinity is one of the largest cable providers in the U.S. with a reliable and seamless internet that goes up to gig speed. The prices aren’t the lowest but they are surely competitive. Make sure to check Xfinity’s availability and prices in your locality, because they vary largely from one area to another. 

One of the things that set Xfinity apart from the rest is its variety of internet speeds starting from 15 Mbps and going all the way up to 2000 Mbps. The tiers are designed to meet the needs of internet users from students to freelancers, and gamers to streamers. 

All the other plans except Gigabit Pro (which offers 2000 Mbps downtime with unlimited data) come with a 1 TB data cap. But rest assured, 1 TB is enough to support your usage, whether you spend most of the time binge-watching shows on Netflix or killing enemies in Call of Duty. If you reach the data limit before the month ends, just pay $10 for an additional 50 GB and continue surfing.

Xfinity offers no-contract plans in some areas, which is good news for users who relocate from time to time and can’t afford to pay termination fees along with the advertised prices. But if you live in an area where you are eligible for Xfinity’s contract plan, you need to pay $10 for the remaining months left on the contract. That’s how it goes.

Xfinity also charges a one-time professional installation fee of $89.99, while the self-installation kit costs around $29.95. If you are a good negotiator, you can even get a free Xfinity self-install kit. Equipment charges are $14 extra per month. However, you can skip this cost by bringing your equipment. 

Xfinity’s customer service is similar to other service providers such as Cox and Spectrum. Don’t expect too much from the customer representatives, if you have any problem with the services. But that shouldn’t stop you from buying Xfinity internet plans. 

AT&T Internet 

AT&T is one of the most reliable, trusted, and oldest telecom companies in the United States. Its plans, pricing, and other nitty-gritty are straight forward. The service provider currently covers as much as 58% of the country. 

The plans offered by AT&T internet are unbeatable. The 100 Mbps plan is just what you need without breaking your bank. Whereas, AT&T Fiber is the best so far, compared to other ISPs. None of them can compete with AT&T Fiber’s affordable price tag. 

When it comes to speed, AT&T offers two main choices – 100 Mbps and 940 Mbps. However, the 100 Mbps plan might fall a little short if you’re a heavy internet user, though the price offers a good value for each penny you pay. If AT&T 940 Mbps Fiber is available in your area, you are one of the lucky folks. Imagine the speed you would get with AT&T when streaming, surfing, gaming, socializing, or downloading without limits!

The 100 Mbps AT&T internet plan comes with a 1Tb data limit, while the Fiber plan offers unlimited data. In case you are short of data due to extra usage, you can simply get 50 GB additional data for just $10. 

Unlike Spectrum, you need to sign a one year contract. It is not an ideal deal for most of the users, but getting high-speed connectivity with AT&T internet is worth every commitment. AT&T charges $10 for equipment every month. Moreover, you also need to pay $35 for activation in case you install it all by yourself. Otherwise, let the technical team handle all the stuff for $99. As you need is to sign a contract with AT&T and $15 will be deducted for the remaining months left on your contract. 

By far, AT&T’s customer service is better than that of service providers, and it scored an amazing 69 out of 100 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index in 2019. 

Wrapping Up

Although finding an internet service provider in your area is easier said than done, the aforementioned top-ranking options can help you reach an informed decision in the shortest time possible.