CNET’s best advice for the best internet providers in Pittsburgh is Verizon Fios Thanks to its extensive coverage and fast speed. If you’re not out of Verizon Fios’ coverage, Xfinity and T-Mobile Home Internet are reliable options, although they may increase price increases or slower.
When choosing the best internet service in Pittsburgh, CNET evaluates high-speed options, pricing, customer service and overall value. Our approach includes checking the local address of availability, analyzing the provider terms and conditions, and contacting the ISP directly to verify details if necessary.
It is important to note that pricing and speed data may vary depending on your address, and some locations are eligible for different service tiers or discounts. To find your exact options, enter the address on the provider’s website.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Top Internet providers in Pittsburgh
On the internet in Pittsburgh, there are three main options: Verizon Fios, Xfinity, or T-Mobile Home Internet. The only ISP available in the city are Verizon 5G home internet (not very extensive) and satellite providers (not very good).
Pittsburgh Internet Provider Comparison
| Provider | Internet Technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment cost | Data cap | contract | CNET Comment Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xfinity Read the full review |
cable | $30-$95 | 300-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | Nothing | Elective | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with qualified mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.4 |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
fiber | $50- $90 | 300-1,000Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.6 |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualified phone plan) | 85-250Mbps | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | 7.2 |
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Source: CNET Analysis of Provider Data
Other available Pittsburgh residential internet providers
Apart from the three providers highlighted above, there aren’t many other options in Pittsburgh’s internet. Here are all other ISPs that operate in the city:
- Satellite Internet:Satellite Internet is always an option no matter where you live in the country – this is not a great option. Hughesnet and Viasat are slower, with data caps and high costs, but are available everywhere in Pittsburgh. Starlink will bring you faster speeds and lower latency, but it’s more expensive: You have to spend $249 on your device, while the plan starts at $120 per month.
- Verizon 5G home internet: Like the T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon uses its massive 5G network to provide wireless Internet plans. In Pittsburgh, it’s not very wide, but it’s worth a look if you hit the dead somewhere else.
Pricing information for Pittsburgh home internet services
Pittsburgh’s five internet plans start at $50 or less, which is comparable to nearby Cleveland, Columbus and Philadelphia. Xfinity’s $30 per month plan is one of the cheapest plans you’ll find anywhere in the country, but that’s only temporary – the price jumps to $93 a year later. T-Mobile and Verizon’s introduction plan isn’t affordable every month, but the price has been locked in at least two years.
Cheap Internet Options in Pittsburgh
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee | contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
$30 ($93 after one year) | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) | Nothing |
| xfinity fast Read the full review |
$45 ($108 in one year) | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) | Nothing |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 for eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | Nothing | Nothing |
| Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 for qualified phone plan) | 250Mbps | Nothing | Nothing |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | Nothing | Nothing |
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Source: CNET Analysis of Provider Data
How fast is Pittsburgh broadband?
Pittsburgh offers three performance speed plans, which are comparable to other cities of its size. According to Ookla speed test data, Pittsburgh ranks 73rd among the 100 most populous cities in the United States in terms of average internet speed. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET. Verizon Fios is the fastest provider in the city with an average download speed of 234Mbps.
Pittsburgh’s fastest internet plan
| Provider | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read the full review |
2,000Mbps | 300Mbps | $95 ($123 after one year) | Nothing | Elective |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
1,000Mbps | 100Mbps | $60 ($118 after two years) | Nothing | Elective |
| Verizon Fios 1 show Read the full review |
940Mbps | 880Mbps | $90 | Nothing | Nothing |
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Source: CNET Analysis of Provider Data
What is the last sentence of a Pittsburgh internet provider?
No matter where you live in Pittsburgh, you should have access to some great internet providers. Verizon Fios is the best. It gives you symmetric upload and download speeds, no extra charges for your device, and you don’t have to worry about price increases in a year. Xfinity offers fast download speeds, but upload speeds are extremely low, and prices have risen sharply one to three years after all plans. T-Mobile is an affordable backup option, but having a home that exceeds a few people may require more bandwidth.
How CNET chooses the best internet provider in Pittsburgh
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? We begin by looking at pricing, availability and speed information, leveraging our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and information from the FCC.Gov FCC.
It’s not over. We visit the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure that we are considering 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. To evaluate customer satisfaction for ISP services, we examined resources including the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. 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:
- Can providers access reasonable and fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for the money they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
Although the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, the three we recommend are closest to the provider of “yes”.
To explore our process more deeply, visit our test ISP page.
Internet providers in Pittsburgh FAQs
What are the best Internet service providers in Pittsburgh?
Verizon Fios is the best internet provider in Pittsburgh. It can make your symmetric speeds up to 2,000Mbps and unlimited data, and the device is included in the price. Xfinity is almost available in cities, but its lower upload speed and price increase make it less attractive. The T-Mobile Home Internet is another nice backup with up to 415Mbps download speeds and no data cap.
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Is it possible to use fiber internet in Pittsburgh?
Yes, Pittsburgh has access to fiber optic internet. Verizon Fios offers three fiber internet plans in the city, with speeds up to 1,000Mbps and unlimited data.
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Who is the cheapest internet provider in Pittsburgh?
Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Pittsburgh, with 300/100Mbps speeds starting at $30 per month. That said, the price of the plan increased to $93 a month after one year. Both Verizon Fios and T-Mobile offer monthly prices of $50, but eligible mobile customers offer additional discounts.
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Which internet provider in Pittsburgh offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity and Verizon Fios offer the fastest plans in Pittsburgh, up to 2,000Mbps. However, Verizon Fios is uploading faster as a fiber provider.
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