Which internet provider is best in my area

Fixed wireless internet doesn't require a cable or phone line to your home, making it ideal for rural internet service. Consequently, rural areas are where you're most likely to find Rise Broadband, especially those in the central US or rural parts of Idaho, Nevada and Texas. Getting broadband service to rural areas can be a challenge, but Rise Broadband does a decent job. If Mediacom provides internet in your area, expect a cable connection that can deliver gigabit download speeds.

Kinetic internet may be available in your area if you live in a rural or suburban area in the South or Midwest, but Kinetic coverage does reach as far west as New Mexico. If Kinetic internet is available near you, it's likely to be DSL service as fiber makes up just over a quarter of the Kinetic network. That's the fastest DSL service you're likely to find from any provider. A dozen or so internet providers make up the majority of internet serviceability, but there are literally thousands of smaller ISPs that operate in hyperlocal markets.

Providers such as RCN , Ziply Fiber and WideOpenWest , among many, many others, do a great job of serving their local communities, but there are simply too many to list here.

If you didn't see a provider you know to be available in your area in the search tool towards the top of the page, don't worry. We're working to get them in there to give you a full, accurate picture of the best internet providers in your area.

The available internet tech type can make a big difference in available speeds and performance. Fiber internet is the preferred option, as it comes with the best upload and download speed potential, not to mention superior reliability, but availability is still relatively low. Unless you live in or near a large city, it's unlikely that fiber internet will be available near you. Cable internet is another popular choice for high-speed internet in many areas, boasting much higher availability than fiber internet but without the fast upload speeds or same reliability.

DSL and fixed wireless internet are excellent rural internet options, but can't compare to the speeds or reliability of fiber or cable connections. The costs of expanding to and operating in a new area, especially one that is already serviced by a competing ISP, is the main factor that prevents providers from offering service in more areas. As a result, it's common for households to have availability to just one provider of a particular service type.

Multiple provider options are even more limited with fiber-optic service. It's difficult to say if the largest cable and fiber providers will continue expanding into new service areas, but smaller providers -- and those with potentially industry-disrupting technologies -- could lead the broadband expansion efforts in coming years. Satellite internet from SpaceX's Starlink is also set to improve broadband options in rural and suburban areas in coming years, as is Amazon's Project Kuiper.

That's exciting news for rural areas, but what about more options in metro areas, where residents typically have the choice between a cable or fiber provider? Providers like Starry Internet, which uses a fixed wireless network, already offers an affordable, high-speed alternative to the traditional established providers in five major markets and intends to begin service in new cities in the near future. So in short, I wouldn't look to the big providers and established technologies to bring new internet options to your area anytime soon.

The exception there could be fiber internet, which has almost doubled its availability in the last five years. However, fiber availability has only increased by one or two percent per year since , indicating that fiber expansion is slowing. There are a number of factors that can contribute to slow internet speeds, but if the internet in your area -- not just your home -- is slow, it's likely due to the technology.

Satellite and DSL internet, common internet options in rural areas, are slower than most other connection types, typically maxing out at 25 to Mbps. Internet shopping tips from our experts How much should I pay for internet?

Find your speed Speed is one of the most important considerations when choosing an internet service. Avoid overpaying Finding affordable internet goes beyond comparing plan pricing.

Optimize your service Make the most of your internet connection. Lastly, satellite is a common go-to internet service in rural areas where fiber and cable are not available. Residents of rural areas may want to consider fixed wireless providers since they often have lower latency and higher data allowances than satellite internet.

Read the fine print. Almost all providers charge extra fees for equipment rental and installation, but many also raise prices after the first year.

Consider buying your own equipment. Look at promotions for new customers. You can often find perks like rewards cards or free streaming subscriptions when you activate service. Factor in the dollar value for these extras before you make your final decision. Internet technology types Not all internet connections are the same. Cable Cable providers. Available speeds max out at around Mbps with DSL service. Fiber Fiber providers. Satellite Satellite providers. Fixed wireless Wireless providers.

Why are so few internet providers available in my area? Are there new internet options coming to my area? We value your feedback.

Was this page helpful? Tell us what helped most on this page. Type your response here. Thanks for your feedback! What to read next Read more. Internet speed classifications: What counts as fast internet? David Anders — 6 min read. What is the digital divide? Ari Howard — 5 min read.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for internet news and promos. Sign me up By subscribing, you agree to receive Allconnect newsletter and promotional emails. Thanks for subscribing! Thanks for signing up. Check your inbox and stay tuned for deals, news and more. Want to stay connected with the latest deals? Email address. Fibre-optic cables can transmit more data in a much shorter time period, which is why average FTTC broadband speeds are often several times faster than ADSL.

Some providers' fibre broadband offers are even the same price as their ADSL ones, since fibre uptake is now very common and copper cables are being phased out of the telephone network.

Its network makes use of the same fibre-optic cables from the broadband exchange to street cabinets, but from there it connects to individual homes with its own 'coaxial' cables, instead of traditional copper phone lines. This makes it much faster than FTTC connections. And thanks to upgrades Virgin Media is making to its network in , more of its connections are becoming as fast as full fibre broadband too.

Use our Virgin Media postcode checker to see if its ultrafast deals are available in your area. A number of providers are also rolling out full fibre connections. This technology is also called fibre-to-the-premises, or FTTP broadband. As the name suggests, this involves fibre-optic cables running all the way from the broadband exchange to your home, which can offer speeds in excess of Mbps 1Gbps.

The government recently announced Project Gigabit to speed this process up though. Adding this to providers' efforts to grow their own FTTP networks means that full fibre will likely be available to you in the next couple of years. Simply put, checking your postcode to see exactly what's available in your area is the best way to find out how you can get the right broadband for your needs.

Our own research at Uswitch discovered that nearly one fifth of homes achieve speeds of less than 10Mbps, while one in ten can be as slow as 5Mbps. Ofcom has pointed out this is very unlikely to be enough to cover the average family's demand for internet, especially when accounting for music and TV streaming.

Thankfully, there has been a big push in the last couple of years to provide gigabit broadband speeds for as many UK homes as possible this decade. This is an ambitious target, but it should hopefully mean that soon those suffering on slow connections will get faster, more reliable speeds in the coming years. Get more from your internet. Have a better, faster, more secure experience with your internet. More about the best internet service providers. Check Availability Zip.

Unavailable in Zip Check New Zip. View Plans Available in Zip. Which internet providers are available where you live? What is the fastest available internet in my area? Types of nationwide internet service providers. Pros Affordable package options Widely available service. Cable Cable internet uses the same coaxial cable lines that deliver cable television, making it easy to bundle with TV. Pros Fast download speeds Widely available.

Cons Limited upload speeds Slower speeds during high-traffic times. Fiber laser pulses through glass fibers that translate into data. Pros Ultrafast download speeds Phenomenal upload speeds. Cons Limited availability Can be more expensive than other connection types. Satellite Satellite internet uses transmitters orbiting Earth to beam internet to subscriber dishes on the ground.

Pros Widely available, even in rural areas Good customer service. Cons Unavoidable lag Data restrictions. Pros Fast speeds Affordable prices. Cons Extremely limited availability Unpredictable speeds. Pros Unlimited data options Availability in rural areas. Cons High prices Unpredictable speeds. Fixed wireless Fixed wireless operates over radio waves, sending a wireless signal directly to an antenna set up in your home.

Pros Fast download speeds Cutting-edge technology. Cons Limited availability Unfamiliar technology. FAQ about internet providers. Which internet provider has the best internet service?

Why do you need my zip code before I can see the available internet services?