Optimum, from Altice, offers cable and fiber internet services to four states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Optimum does not have contracts or data caps and offers life-long pricing. Plans start at .99 per month for 300 Mbps. The 1 GB plan is .99 per month.
Ziply Fiber launched in 2020 after acquiring DSL and fiber networks in the Northwest from Frontier Communications. The company has no contracts or data caps and offers 2 and 5 GB speeds. The monthly cost is for 50 Mbps, 0 for 2 Gbps, and 0 for 5 Gbps.
Top ISPs of 2022
Verizon offers Fios (“Fiber Optic Service”) and DSL. In 2022, Verizon launched its 5G Ultra Wideband network, now available to homes in approximately 900 cities in 10 states along the East Coast. Plans range from .99 per month for 300 Mbps downloads to .99 for 940 Mbps.
Cox Communications is the third-largest cable television provider in the U.S., serving 18 states, with the most coverage in Arizona and California. Cox offers cable TV, internet, phone, and fiber services. Plans range from .99 per month for 25 Mbps to .99 for 1 Gbps.
Starlink is the new satellite internet developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Its low-orbit satellites mean a faster connection with less latency than other satellite internet networks. Starlink offers unlimited data and rural availability, though it has high upfront costs for equipment. Plans start at per month for up to 200 Mbps.
Xfinity is Comcast’s brand for consumer cable TV, internet, and phone services. Comcast is one of the largest cable providers, offering services to residential and commercial customers in 39 U.S. states. Xfinity provides download speeds ranging from 50 to 3,000 Mbps. Xfinity has a monthly data cap of 1.2 TB, more than enough data unless you’re a very active user. Plans range from to 0 per month.
Consolidated Communications offers DSL and fiber internet services to consumers and businesses across 23 states, with plans to extend fiber to 70% of its footprint by 2025. Prices start at per month with no contracts and no data caps.
Google Fiber, part of the Access division of Alphabet, is fiber internet and TV. It offers straightforward pricing across two plans, plus mesh Wi-Fi networking to ensure high-speed access throughout the home. Google Fiber provides 1 Gbps speed at per month and 2 Gbps at 0 per month with no data caps or annual contracts.
Spectrum, the consumer brand of Charter Communications, became one of the U.S.’s largest internet providers via the acquisition in 2016 of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. Spectrum provides cable internet, bundled with TV and phone, and download speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Plans start at .99 per month for 200 Mbps with no data caps. Spectrum’s internet service is available in 44 states.
WOW
T-Mobile
Rise Broadband is the U.S.’s largest fixed wireless broadband service provider, delivering high-speed internet and digital voice services to residential and commercial customers across 16 states. The company’s fixed wireless offers broadband coverage in previously under-served rural areas. Rise Broadband provides speeds up to 25 Mbps for per month and 50 Mbps for .95.
Starry Internet offers fixed wireless internet service that uses millimeter-wave bands to send large amounts of data over short distances. Plans start at per month for 50 Mbps and per month for a 1 Gbps plan — with no contracts or data caps.
Frontier Internet offers DSL and fiber internet plans in 25 states, primarily along the West Coast, Midwest, and South. Fiber is available in 19 of those states. Plans start at .99 per month with three fiber plans with speeds up to 940 Mbps for .99. Frontier Internet has no data caps.
Viasat is a provider of satellite internet that may be the best choice for rural areas where fiber, cable, or DSL options aren’t available. Viasat offers download speeds up to 100 Mbps. All plans offer unlimited data, but the speed may slow after using 40-150 GB. Plans start at .99 per month and go up to 9.99.
Here is a list of large ISPs in the U.S for 2022. These providers offer internet service through DSL, copper, fixed wireless, cable, and fiber. Prices and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
Xfinity
WOW (“WideOpenWest”) provides cable, fiber, and DSL internet access across 10 states in the Central and Southeast regions. WOW offers plans with no data caps and no contracts, from .99 per month for 100 Mbps to .99 for 1 Gbps.
Starlink
Ziply Fiber
Mediacom was founded in 1995 to bring advanced TV, internet, and phone services to America’s smaller cities and towns. It’s the fifth-largest cable provider and offers services in 22 states, with its best coverage in the Midwest. It recently completed a three-year billion reinvestment project to expand its fiber network. Plans start at .99 per month for 100 Mbps. The 1 Gbps plan is .99 per month with a 6,000 GB data cap.
Internet service providers offer online access with a variety of technologies, speeds, and prices. That means plenty of choices for consumers.
