The best internet providers in Providence, Rhode Island

What are the best Internet providers in Providence?

According to CNET Verizon Fios The best internet service provider for most families in Providence, Rhode Island. When choosing an Internet Service Provider, you need to consider your own personal needs. Do you need to provide the fastest service, or if that means paying a lower monthly fee, can you sacrifice some speed? Verizon Fios offers symmetric speeds up to 2,000Mbps without any data caps, contracts or additional fees, which is the best deal in the city.

As a backup, there are Cox Communications that offer high-speed plans, although their speed is asymmetric. T-Mobile’s 5G home internet service is a convenient backup if neither is available.

If you buy the cheapest plan or the fastest speed in the area, then Cox and Verizon Fios are the best choice for you. At $30 a month, Cox customers can reach 100 megabits per second, which is the lowest price for the Internet access price you pay for in Providence (although you must be eligible to develop the plan). Cox also offers up to 2 gigabit guitar speeds for $120 a month. Verizon Fios’ plan is a double-digit plan, and costs $110. While this isn’t cheap, Verizon Fios’ two-gigabit plan costs less than 6 cents per Mbps and offers symmetric upload speeds.

If you need more affordable plans, fixed wireless providers such as Verizon and T-Mobile offer discounted prices for qualified mobile customers.

The best internet in Providence, Rhode Island

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other Internet providers in Providence

• Satellite: This type of internet connection offers slower and steep monthly prices, but it offers the benefits that other ISPs can’t replicate, and that’s its wide availability. Most residents in Providence have limited broadband options, but Hughesnet, Viasat and new kids in the neighborhood, Starlink offers coverage almost everywhere. Satellite connections won’t remind people of the fastest speeds, but Starlink is the fastest ISP of three ISPs, reaching download speeds up to 220Mbps. Starlink is also the most expensive option, with the standard plan priced at $120 per month and the equipment is rented for the expected price of $499. If you want to avoid a two-year contract from Hughesnet, Viasat offers a single plan that features unlimited agreements and speeds up to 150Mbps.
• Verizon 5G home internet: Verizon fixed wireless connections may not get the fastest speeds, but this may be your best bet if you want to avoid satellite internet at all. According to the latest FCC data, coverage across the city is restricted, with only 6% of Providence residents able to use Verizon 5G home internet. If available at your address, Verizon download speeds up to 300Mbps for $70 per month. The plan is also simple: no data cap, no monthly equipment fees, and no contracts.

Cheap Internet Options in Providence

The average monthly price for home internet in Providence is about $47 per month. Cox has a $30 monthly plan for 100Mbps, the cheapest internet plan in the area. However, you must apply for a low-cost program and only families participating in government aid programs that qualify for a qualifying income are eligible. Verizon Fios offers a $50 monthly plan for 300Mbps. Eligible mobile customers can earn $15 to $25 per month bill through fixed wireless providers Verizon and T-Mobile.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Providence

The best internet deals and the highest promotions in Providence depend on the discounts available during this period. Most transactions are short-lived, but we often look for the latest quotes.

Providence Internet providers such as Cox may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Verizon and T-Mobile, run the same standard pricing throughout the year.

For a wider list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is Providence broadband?

In the latest Ookla speed test data, Providence’s fixed download speed is 298Mbps, which is comparable to the overall state of Rhode Island. But nearby Hartford performed much better at 333Mbps. Boston is below fold, with only 273Mbps.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What is good internet speed?

Most Internet connectivity programs can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you are looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming videos, or games, you will get better experience and have a stronger connection. According to the FCC, this is an overview of the minimum download speeds recommended for various applications. Note that these are just guides, internet speed, services and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, see our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to solve the basics: browse the internet, send and receive emails and stream low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps provides you with higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote office, video streaming and online gaming.
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to perform high bandwidth activities for two users simultaneously, such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How to choose the best Internet provider in Providence

There are numerous and regional Internet service providers. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, or kitchen tools, it is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our method? First, draw information, study pricing, availability and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider websites, and fcc.gov FCC’s FCC mapping information.

It doesn’t end: We visit the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we consider all ISPs that provide services in a certain area. We also enter a local address on the provider’s website to find specific options for residents. We look at resources including the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied ISP services have with customers. ISP plans and prices change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once this local information is obtained, we ask three main questions:

1. Can providers access reasonable and fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for the money they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answers to these questions are usually layered and complex, but the three we recommend are closest to the provider of “yes”. When it comes to choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the lowest monthly plan, although we also consider issues such as price increase, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We view upload and download speeds on ads and consider actual speed data from sources such as Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET.)

To explore our process more deeply, visit our test ISP page.

What’s the last sentence of Providence’s internet provider?

Depending on your specific address, you may not have many broadband options. If Verizon Fios is available, place it at the top of the list. Verizon Fios offers unlimited data on Gigabit speed and features, no contracts and no monthly device charges. If you want to avoid the price increase in Cox Communications, Verizon 5G home internet is also a reliable option.

Internet provider of FAQs in Providence