2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS
2017 Guide: Finding the Best High-Speed Internet Service Providers
If you’re reading this article right now, you’re using the Internet. What used to be almost nonexistent decades ago has now become a focal point of our daily lives. Sometimes you don’t even realize that you’re using the Internet—that’s how common it is.
You get up in the morning and check the weather on your smartphone, you are using the Internet. When you get to work and check your emails—or even check them in the car on your way to work, which you shouldn’t do!—you’re using the Internet.
When you use your smartphone as a GPS on a road trip with your friends, you’re using the Internet.
Now that we’ve established how important the Internet is in our daily lives, it is easy to realize why we need the top Internet service providers.
If the Internet suddenly drops out, you realize how much you miss it when trying to research online. If you are binge-watching Netflix and your Internet speed isn’t high enough to give you high-quality images, you’ll easily become frustrated.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Cheap Internet Service Providers
Finding Internet service providers that can give you superior service is important so that you don’t run into any of the circumstances above.
Unfortunately, great Internet service often comes at a high price. Even the lower tier Internet plans can cost around $20 to $30 a month, which can quickly add up.
If you’re paying that much for Internet, you want to make sure that you have the best Internet service providers. But how do you choose the right wireless Internet service providers? There are countless options, and they are always vying for your business.
With so many options, it is quite easy to become overwhelmed and frustrated. Reading Internet service provider reviews is really the only way to truly understand what you are paying for. If you compare Internet service providers, you can get a better idea of what the best providers actually are.
That isn’t always easy to do, especially if you don’t know what you should be looking for in Internet service provider reviews. When doing an Internet service provider comparison, you likely have many questions, including:
- What should you look for when you compare Internet service providers?
- How much do top Internet service providers charge per month?
- Do wireless Internet service providers offer multiple plans?
- What do Internet service provider reviews reveal about services?
Throughout this 2017 guide, we will answer the questions you have surrounding high-speed Internet service providers. We will explain what you should look for when doing an Internet service provider comparison. Finally, we will provide a detailed review of the six best Internet service providers.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of Top 6 Best Internet Service Providers
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the Internet service providers below to go directly to the detailed review section for that Internet service provider comparison):
Top 6 Best High-Speed Internet Service Providers | Brief Comparison & Ranking
High-Speed Internet | Maximum Download Speed | Cheapest Plan (without discounts) |
| AT&T | 45 Mbps | $29.95 |
| Charter | 100 Mbps | $29.95 |
| Comcast | 150 Mbps | $29.99 |
| Cox | 15o Mbps | $39.99 |
| Time Warner Cable | 50 Mbps | $14.99 |
| Verizon | 500 Mbps | $19.99 |
Table: Top 6 Best Cheap Internet Service Providers | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Detailed Overview: What to Look for When You Compare Internet Service Providers
There are countless Internet service providers out there offering various features to you. Every week you get offers in the mail from providers claiming to be the top Internet service providers with the best prices. Do you actually know if you are getting what you pay for?
When you are going through your Internet service provider comparison, there are certain features to look for. Do you know what features you should be looking for? If not, you need to keep reading.
Image Source: Pixabay
When you are looking at Internet service provider reviews, it is important to consider the following features:
Speed: This is one of the most important factors to consider when you are looking for Internet providers, because speed is what determines how long it takes to provide certain tasks on your computer.
This means how long it takes to download your email, or how well your Netflix streams during your Saturday night. Be sure to look at both upload and download speeds.
Availability: This should be the first search criteria when looking for high-speed Internet service providers. First, you need to make sure that the provider you are looking into offers services in your area.
If they don’t, there is no sense considering them in your Internet service provider comparison.
Services: Many cheap Internet service providers offer service tiers according to different types of customers. There are residential, commercial, small businesses, and even bundling options. Services generally vary by pricing, speeds, and other options.
Cost: Cost is another important feature to consider, because you obviously want to get the best price possible for the services you need.
Look at bundling options that allow you to buy TV and Internet together, because you can usually save a few dollars. Some companies also offer sign-up discounts for your first year, so shop around a bit.
Special Features: In order to attract customers to their Internet offerings, high-speed Internet service providers offer various special features. From Wi-Fi access with different hot spots, to email addresses and even anti-virus software, check to see what your provider is offering aside from just Internet.
Support: We all know what happens when your Internet service goes out. You can’t stream shows, check your email, or even visit Facebook. That is why the support that different cheap Internet service providers provide is essential.
You want a reliable company that will show up quickly for repairs and can answer any questions that you might have.
When you are looking for the best Internet service providers, it is important to consider the factors listed above. Find an Internet service provider that offers services in your area, with high speeds and fantastic support. Additional special features are a bonus!
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Advisory HQ’s Selection Methodology
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Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review—Top Ranking Best Internet Service Providers
Below, please find the detailed review of each wireless Internet service providers on our list of top Internet service providers. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these Internet service providers to score so high in our selection ranking.
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AT&T Review
AT&T is one of the best Internet service providers that you will find. Though most widely known for their cell phone network, they also have a wide range of Internet services.
With a maximum download speed of 45 Mbps, and a max upload speed of 1 Mbps for their basic plans, you will get high-speed Internet, though there are some other high-speed internet service providers that offer better speeds. However, AT&T offers three different plans to choose from, which gives you some options.
Their plans start at just $29.95 and scale up to $59.00. AT&T offers Fiber, DSL, and Dial-Up Internet options and is available across 21 different states. As a nice feature you can also bundle with television and television for a cheaper price.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for cheap Internet service providers, you may find other options a better choice if you are highly concerned about speed. However, AT&T might be a good choice if speed does not concern you and if you already have your phone plans with this company, as you may benefit from bundling.
Charter Review
If you like having a wide variety of plans to choose from, Charter is one of the best cheap Internet service providers.
They offer Internet services throughout 29 different states through their cables. These services can reach up to 100 Mbps, with a 4 Mbps upload speed. This is higher than offered by AT&T for the same price.
The only drawback is that there is only one plan offered by Charter, and it runs you $29.95 per month. However, if you are stuck in a plan, Charter will actually buy it out for you up to $500. That does mean getting into a two-year contract with Charter, though.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for simple—which means just one plan to choose from—then Charter might be one of the better cheap Internet service providers for you.
Comcast Review
Comcast is another one of the best high-speed Internet service providers that you can find. They offer Internet in more than 40 states, which is more than most other Internet service providers out there.
Comcast can provide an impressive 150 Mbps download speed, with a 10 Mbps upload speed. The best thing about Comcast is that they offer a staggering number of plans. With 10 plans to look through, you are sure to find something that suits your specific needs.
Plans start at just $29.99 and can reach up to $49.99 for the higher services. One great thing about Comcast—also known as Xfinity—is that they offer low-income plans, parental controls and service-hosted emails.
Bottom Line
When it comes to variety, Comcast—or Xfinity—offers an impressive array of options. They are one of the top high-speed Internet service providers with more than 10 plans and many special features to choose from.
Cox Review
Cox is another service provider, but to some they won’t qualify as one of the cheapest Internet service providers. With plans starting at $39.99 and running to $79.99, Cox is actually one of the more expensive Internet service providers.
This service provider offers 150 Mbps and 2 Mbps download and upload speeds, respectively, with four different plans to choose from. Cox provides a low-income plan option, as well as Internet security, parental controls, and service-hosted emails that house up to 10 GB each.
They also offer more than 500,000 Wi-Fi hot spots, which is nice for people who are on the move often and don’t want to use up their Internet data plan.
Bottom Line
More than 3 million households throughout the United States utilize the Internet services offered by Cox. It’s easy to see why they are considered one of the best Internet service providers when you look at the speeds and extra features offered.
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Time Warner Cable Review
Time Warner Cable, also known as Spectrum due to a recent merger, is a hot name when it comes to cheap Internet service providers. With their lowest plans starting at just $14.99, if you don’t have the need for a very fast Internet speed, Time Warner could be a good, cheap option for you.
The company offers services throughout twenty states, which is a lot when it comes to wireless Internet service providers. Their most basic plan offers 15 Mbps download speed and 5 Mbps upload speed, and they have six different plans to choose from.
You will need to sign up for a one-year plan with Time Warner, but they do offer Internet-only plans and have a very useful and helpful app to assist with any service issues. Plus, if you decide to bundle, you can save even more.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for the best cheap Internet service providers, then Time Warner Cable is definitely one to consider, if they offer services in your area.
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Verizon Review
Last but not least, we bring Verizon into the mix of Internet service provider reviews. Verizon, like AT&T, is most known for its cell phone services, but the company also offers superior Internet services.
Though you will need to sign a two-year contract for their basic plan, you will see the true value in Verizon when you discover that they can provide up to 500 Mbps download speeds. Though this is mostly used for business purposes, for intense gamers and those running operations that need strong Internet from home, Verizon might be one of the best Internet service providers.
Verizon plans start at just $19.99, which is lower than everyone listed besides Time Warner Cable, though their maximum plans run up to $274.99. Again, those plans are mostly utilized by businesses needing fast Internet. There are 10 plans to choose from, which makes this one of the best Internet service providers for those looking for options.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for fast Internet, especially for business purposes, be sure to check out Verizon as one of your high-speed Internet service providers.
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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Cheap Internet Service Providers
The Internet is such a crucial part of our lives, almost embarrassingly so. Families can’t even go on vacations to a destination without Wi-Fi without struggling. How do you look up the weather, get around without a GPS, or contact relatives and friends?
It is important to have the best Internet service providers so that you can move about your daily life seamlessly. Without breaks in service, you can enjoy your streaming shows, playing Xbox Live, scrolling through Instagram and Facebook, and even check your emails.
Image Source: Pixabay
When you are going to compare Internet service providers, it is important to know what you are looking for. Do you know what speeds of Internet service are offered and what prices certain providers charge? Be sure to ask the following questions:
- What high-speed Internet service providers offer services in your area?
- What type of Internet speeds, both upload and download, do you need to have?
- Does the provider you are looking into offer satisfactory support options?
- What do they charge per month for Internet services?
After asking these questions and making sure that you know exactly what services you want, then you can proceed with choosing your Internet service provider. Once you choose your provider, be sure to utilize discounts that may be offered and utilize their support services as well.
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