Nobody wants to go through the ordeal of changing their Internet Service Provider (ISP) unless it is necessary. However, when push comes to shove, we must do it.

The fact that you searched something along the lines of the best internet plans on Google which led you here, tells us that you are forced to go through this ordeal too. Don’t worry though, we are here to make this less of an ordeal for you.

Keep reading for the basics of changing your ISP and the best internet plans for your home in the market.

Considerations for Best Internet for Your Home

The area of internet plans and types is a very complicated one. Therefore, the first step of choosing the best internet requires you to understand its basics. These considerations also help you gauge your need better, so you know what to look for.

Moreover, it is humanly impossible to choose an ISP amidst the 50+ options without doubting your decision. So, to avoid that doubt, we start by narrowing down our options. Let us get to this first step, the important factors to consider before finalizing an ISP.

1. Availability

Availability is an important factor because not all ISPs and types of internet will be available in your area. For example, most fiber connections are available in only metropolitan areas. Since it is a relatively new technology, therefore not all areas have the infrastructure to support fiber connections. Moreover, you will be surprised how many big cities just have a handful of options in ISPs. Therefore, the first box an ISP should check for you is availability.

The good thing is that researching an ISP’s availability in your area has become easier than ever. Platforms like Localcabledeals.com allow you to check the availability of a bunch of ISPs in your area. All you have to do is enter your zip code in their provider finder tool and voila! It will list the selective providers available in your area. One disclaimer though, platforms like these do not cover all ISPs, therefore do your due diligence as well.

2. Speed

Speed here refers to internet speed. Yes, we all want a high-speed internet connection but how high? This is the era of gigabyte internet where some fiber internet providers give speeds as high as 8GB. Moreover, high-speed internet may seem very attractive, but it is also heavy on the pocket too. Therefore, before you start narrowing down ISPs and their internet plans, it is important to gauge how much internet speed is suitable for you.

You can gauge your speed requirement by considering your internet activities. Residential internet does not need to be as high-speed as business internet. This is primarily because of the low number of users and less bandwidth-heavy tasks. If you are an online gamer, then you need high-speed internet ranging between 40 – 100MBPs. But if you have a big family, then you might need a plan over 100MBps. However, if you need one for day-to-day internet activities like browsing and streaming, then 5 – 40MBps is more than enough for you.

3. Type

There are many types of internet connection available. Each connection comes with its pros and cons. You should study these in detail before you settle on an internet type. We will explore internet types in detail down below. Some internet types win at cost while others win at availability. This is why to select the type most suited to your needs, you need to pin down what is most important for you.

You can pin down internet type by asking questions like these. Are you looking for a low-cost option? Or do you live in an extremely remote area where the chances of finding an ISP are slim? Are you looking for high-speed internet where the budget is not a worry for you? Or are you looking for a dependable internet connection, resistant to weather outages?

4. Cost

In today’s inflation, internet cost is a major worry for everyone. No average user wants to pay thousands of bucks every year for residential internet. This is why pinning down your monthly budget is important as you get on to finding an internet for your home. Some internet connections are heavier on the pocket than others. Moreover, internet plans range from $25 to literally $300. Now since the price range is so diverse, it is easy for you to find a plan that fits your budget.

5. Customer Support

After choosing an ISP, the two things you will have to deal with are the internet itself and customer support. Therefore, it is crucial to look up an ISP’s customer service before you make a final decision. You can find honest customer service reviews on Quora and Reddit. A pro tip: you can call customer service on your own just to see how long it takes for you to get to the representative.

Types of Internet

Four types of residential internet are used in the US.

1. Fiber

It travels to the user through fiber-optic cables. Fiber cables can transmit huge amounts of data which makes it the fastest internet type with symmetric download and upload speeds. Its speeds can range up to 10GBps!  However, it is heavy on the pocket and has very limited availability.

2. Cable

It transmits the internet through copper coaxial cables which also transmit cable TV. Its speed can easily range between 50 to 1000MBps. Its price ranges from $25 to $80 per month, which is so much more affordable than Fiber. The only probable downside is its availability as it is not available in remote areas.

3. DSL

Digital Subscriber Line uses phone lines to transmit internet to its users. It is slower than cable internet as it provides speeds up to 100MBps. DSL internet can cost between $50 and $65 per month. However, to get dependable internet quality, you need to be close to the provider hub otherwise, the quality can greatly suffer.

4. Satellite

Satellite internet uses space satellites to transmit the internet to users. Due to this, it is available in all 50 US states, including remote areas. Its speeds range up to 150Mbps and has asymmetrical upload and download speeds. Moreover, it is heavy on the pocket too for the speed it provides, ranging between $50 and $200 per month.

The Best Residential Internet Providers in the US

Now let us explore the top internet providers in the US. This is supposed to give you a head start in your search for the best internet plans for your home.

Xfinity

Xfinity Internet is a hybrid internet that uses the fiber-coaxial cable to transmit data to its users. This means it provides high speeds in the cost of cable internet. It is available in 41 states and generally provides dependable and high-speed internet service. It also provides gig speeds (1.2Gbps) in selective locations. The only downside about Xfinity is that it tends to raise prices after the promotional period ends. This, however, is something you will encounter with every other ISP.

Verizon

Verizon’s 5G Home Internet is great for residential homes. It has a maximum speed of 300Mbps. However, to get the highest possible speed you need to be close to Verizon’s provider hub. But still, many of Verizon’s customers are satisfied with its service, due to no data caps, hidden charges, and contracts. Verizon, however, has limited availability in comparison to Xfinity and it does not guarantee consistent speeds.

CenturyLink

Talk about an ISP with no data caps and straightforward pricing.  CenturyLink provides both Fiber and DSL internet to its users, based on their location. While fiber, being fast and dependable, is great at providing value for money, its DSL plans lack the charm. CenturyLink’s fiber internet plans are the only reason it made it to this list. Its fiber plans are also affordable compared to other fiber ISPs. However, CenturyLink’s fiber plans have very limited availability, only in 16 states.

T-Mobile

Yet another 5G home internet, T-Mobile provides a good value for money. It does not have a wide variety of plans. This means potential users do not have to go through a bunch of plans to choose one. Apart from this simplicity, it also does not bind you to long-term contracts. With no equipment fee and data caps, it is a good option for your home internet. You get a 5G gateway and WiFi Mesh with its premium home internet plan. The downside for T-Mobile is that its download speed barely matches those of cable and fiber internet.

The Best Internet Plans for Your Home

Now that you have a fair idea of which ISPs to go for, here are some of their internet plans that are suited to residential needs.

*Prices and speed vary from location to location.

These plans just cover the internet. However, if you are looking an additional value for money, then fiber-coaxial internet providers like Xfinity have plans that bundle TV and internet together. Xfinity’s Fast Internet + Popular TV is a great offering that saves you from the hassle of subscribing to separate plans for Internet and TV. With max speeds going up to 500Mbps, coupled with 125+ TV channels, this plan saves you good money.

Hacks to Optimize Your Internet Performance

This section is for when you have already subscribed to an internet plan.

Occasionally slow internet is a sad reality for all of us. It hits us when we are least expecting it. However, that does not mean we have to suffer in silence. It is smart to have some tricks handy to combat slow speeds. We are here to give you exactly that, hacks to maximize your internet performance.

• Invest in a WiFi 6 router to eliminate WiFi dead zones.

• Move your WiFi router to a central location in your home.

• Regularly clear out your cookies and cache.

• Make sure your browser is updated

• Disconnect devices that are not using the internet.