Best Internet Service Providers in Providence, Rhode Island

What is the best internet provider in Providence?

According to CNET, Verizon Views It is the best Internet service provider for most households in Providence, Rhode Island. When choosing an Internet service provider, you will need to consider your individual needs. Do you need the fastest service available or can you sacrifice some speed if it means paying a lower monthly price? Offering symmetrical speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps without any data caps, contracts, or additional costs, Verizon Fios is the best deal in town.

As a backup, there is Cox Communicationswhich offers high-speed plans, although their speeds are not the same. 5G Home Internet from T-Mobile The service is a handy backup in case none are available.

If you are shopping for Cheaper Plan or Faster speeds In the area, Cox and Verizon Fios are your best options. For $30 a month, Cox customers can access speeds of up to 100 Mbps, which is the lowest price you’ll pay in Providence for Internet access (although you’ll have to qualify for the plan). Cox also offers speeds of up to 2Gb at $120 per month. Verizon Fios has a 2GB plan for a similar price of $120. While $120 a month isn’t cheap, Cost per Mbps For the Verizon Fios gigabit plan, it comes in at less than 6 cents per Mbps and offers symmetrical upload speeds.

If you need more affordable plans, use fixed wireless providers such as Verizon and T-Mobile Offering discounted rates to eligible mobile phone customers.

Best Internet in Providence, Rhode Island

Compare Providence ISPs

provider	Internet technology	Monthly price range	Speed ​​range	Monthly equipment costs	Data ceiling	a contract	CNET Review Score
Cox Communications Read the full review	Cable/Fiber	$30 – $120	100-2,000 Mbps	$15 (optional)	1.25 TB	no one	6.2
T-Mobile home internet Read the full review	Fixed wireless	$50 – $70 ($40 – $50 for eligible mobile customers)	72-245 Mbps	no one	no one	no one	7.4
Verizon Views Read the full review	Fiber	$50 – $110 ($35 – $85 with select 5G mobile plans)	300-2,000 Mbps	no one	no one	no one	7.6
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review	Fixed wireless	$50 – $70 ($35 – $45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans)	50-300 Mbps	no one	no one	no one	7.2

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other ISPs available in Providence

• Satellite: This type of Internet connection offers slower speeds and higher monthly rates, but it offers an advantage that other ISPs cannot emulate: it is widely available. Most Providence residents have limited broadband options, but connections are… husnet, Viasat And the new kid on the block, Starlinkoffering coverage almost everywhere. A satellite connection won’t provide the fastest speeds, but Starlink is the fastest ISP of the three, reaching download speeds of up to 220Mbps. Starlink is also the most expensive option, with the Standard plan costing $120 per month, and equipment rentals will cost you $499 up front. If you want to avoid Hughesnet’s two-year contract, Viasat offers a unique plan that features open-ended agreements and speeds of up to 150 Mbps.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: You may not get the fastest speeds with Verizon’s fixed wireless connection, but if you want to avoid satellite internet altogether, this may be your best bet. Coverage is limited throughout the city, According to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).only 8% of Providence residents have access to Verizon 5G Home Internet. If available at your address, Verizon offers download speeds of up to 300Mbps for $70 per month. The plans are straightforward, too: no data caps, no monthly equipment fees, and no contracts.

Cheap Internet Options in Providence

The average starting monthly price in Providence is about $47 per month. Cox has a $30 a month plan for 100 Mbps, which is the cheapest internet plan in the area. That’s not all. Verizon Fios offers a $50 per month plan for 300 Mbps. Eligible mobile customers can shave $15 to $25 off their monthly bill with fixed wireless providers Verizon and T-Mobile.

What is the cheapest internet plan in Providence?

provider	Starting from the monthly price	Maximum download speed	Monthly equipment fees
Cox 100 Read the full review	$30	100 Mbps	$15 (optional)
Verizon View 300 Read the full review	$50 ($35 with select 5G mobile plans)	300 Mbps	no one
Cox 250 Read the full review	$50	250 Mbps	$15 (optional)
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review	$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan)	100 Mbps	no one
T-Mobile home internet Read the full review	$50 ($40 with eligible mobile plan)	245 Mbps	no one

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

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How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Providence

The best online deals and best promotions in Providence depend on the discounts available during that period. Most offers are short-term, but we frequently check for the latest offers.

Providence ISPs, such as Cox, may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Verizon and T-Mobile, apply the same standard rates year-round.

For a more comprehensive list of promotions, see our guide to Best offers online.

How fast is Providence Broadband?

In the latest Ookla Speed ​​test dataProvidence came with a consistent average download speed of 284 Mbps. That’s not bad, but nowhere near Hartford Performance was much better at 329Mbps. while, Boston It was at the bottom of the page, arriving at just 256Mbps. However, Providence did not fare well compared to its home state, rhode islandat a speed of 285 Mbps.

Fastest internet plans in Providence

provider	Starting price	Maximum download speed	Maximum download speed	Data ceiling	Connection type
Cox 2 GB Read the full review	$120	1,180 Mbps	112 Mbps	1.25 TB	cable
Verizon Vios 2 gig Read the full review	$110 ($85 with select 5G mobile plans)	2,300 Mbps	1,500 Mbps	no one	Fiber
Cox 1 gig Read the full review	$80	1,000 Mbps	35 Mbps	1.25 TB	cable
Verizon Vios 1 gig Read the full review	$90 ($65 with select 5G mobile plans)	940 Mbps	880 Mbps	no one	Fiber

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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What is good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a more robust connection. Below is an overview of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).. Note that these are just guidelines and that internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.

For more information, see our guide about How much internet speed do you really need.

• Speeds of 0 to 5 Mbps let you handle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
• 5 to 40 Mbps gives you high-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• A speed of 40 to 100 Mbps should give a single user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern remote work, video streaming, and online gaming.
• Speeds of 100 to 500 Mbps allow one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
• The speed of 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best ISPs in Providence

ISPs are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest Smartphone, Laptop, Router or Kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We start by researching pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider locations, and mapping information from the FCC at FCC.gov.

And it doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to verify our data and make sure we take into account every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with their ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Are customers getting adequate value for what they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also take into account things like price increases and equipment and contract fees. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and take into account real-world speed data from sources such as Okla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our website How we test ISPs page.

What’s the last word for ISPs in Providence?

Depending on your specific address, you may not have many broadband options. If Verizon Fios is available, put it at the top of your list. Verizon Fios offers gigabit speeds and features unlimited data, no contracts and no monthly equipment fees. If you want to avoid price increases with Cox Communications, Verizon 5G Home Internet is also a solid alternative.

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