Best internet providers in NYC
Spectrum
- Speeds – 300-1000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $49.99/mo.*
- Data caps – None
Verizon Fios
- Speeds – 300 – 940 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $49.99/mo.*
- Data caps – None
Optimum
- Speeds – 300 – 5,000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $40.00/mo.
- Data caps – None
T-Mobile
- Speeds – Up to 245 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $40.00-$60.00/mo.
- Data caps – None
Starry
- Speeds – 200 – 1,000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $50.00/mo.*
- Data caps – None
New York City internet provider comparison
Provider | Starting price* | Speed range | Internet type | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Verizon Fios | $49.99/mo. | 300 – 2,000 Mbps | Fiber | 82% |
Spectrum | $49.99/mo. | 300 – 1,000 Mbps** | Cable | 45% |
Astound | $25.00/mo. | 250 – 1,200 Mbps | Cable, fiber | 40% |
Starry Internet | $50.00/mo. | 200 Mbps | Fixed wireless | 48% |
Optimum | $40.00/mo. | 300 – 5,000 Mbps | Cable, fiber | 36% |
Verizon 5G Home Internet | $35.00/mo.*** | 85 – 300 Mbps | 5G | 82% |
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $50.00/mo. | 72 – 245 Mbps | 5G | 96% |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 04/12/24.
**Speed based on wired connection. Wireless speeds may vary. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem.
***For existing 5G Do More, 5G Play More or 5G Get More mobile customers who then add and maintain a home internet plan. Availability varies. Price guarantee applies to base monthly rate only. Auto Pay & paper-free billing req’d. Add’l $10/mo. w/o Auto Pay. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Other terms may apply. Wired speeds advertised. Wireless speeds may vary due to device limited, multiple users, networks & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. Updated 04/12/24.
What speed do you need?
Before locking down an internet plan, consider what speed you need. For a small household of one to two users, a 75 to 100 Mbps plan will allow you to stream on one device at a time, check emails, shop and browse your social media.
A slightly faster 200 to 400 Mbps plan will keep a family of four or five seamlessly online, with the ability to stream or game on multiple devices. Sometimes, these intermediate plans are within $10/mo. or even cheaper than some of the advertised “cheapest” plans, so check plan speed before you buy. You might not need to go with the lowest price for the least speed.
If you live in a connected smart home with four or more heavy internet users, you’ll most likely need a 500 Mbps plan and over. Gamers and work-from-home users in a large household should consider at least 800 Mbps.
Allconnect’s choice for best ISP: Verizon Fios
Overall, Verizon Fios offers the best value for internet service in New York City. Fiber optic is not available everywhere in the city, but if it is an option for you, it is your best bet for fast, reliable speeds at a good price. Verizon Fios’ cheapest plan ($49.99/mo.) offers speeds up to 300 Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet is also a great option if you can get fiber where you live.
Cheapest internet providers in NYC
Looking to save money on your internet bills? It can be hard to know where to start, especially in a place like New York City, where there are many providers available. Astound, Optimum, Verizon Fios and Spectrum are the cheapest internet service providers in NYC.
The amount below is what you’ll pay for the corresponding plan, but keep in mind that there are other fees and costs that come with the internet, including installation charges and equipment rentals, that can range from $15 to $100 on average for these services. Be sure to inquire about this when you set up so that you’re not surprised by hidden fees, or on the other hand, you can choose to pay for a service you feel like you need.
Provider | Price | Download Speed | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|
Astound | $25.00/mo. | Up to 300 Mbps | Cable |
Optimum | $40.00/mo. | Up to 300 Mbps | Cable |
Verizon Fios | $49.99/mo. | Up to 300 Mbps | Fiber |
Spectrum | $49.99/mo. | Up too 300 Mbps** | Cable |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 04/12/24.
**Wireless speeds may vary.
Fastest home internet providers in NYC
High-speed plans in New York City start at $60/mo. and can reach $200/mo. Fiber plans are your best bet for fast internet. Smart homes with five or more heavy internet users or small businesses can benefit from the symmetrical download and upload speeds, but be careful not to buy more speed than you really need.
Provider | Price | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|
Verizon Fios | $119.99/mo. | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | Fiber |
Spectrum | $89.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps** | 35 Mbps | Cable |
Optimum | $80.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | Cable |
Astound | $60.00/mo. | 1,200 Mbps | 20 Mbps | Fiber |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 04/12/24.
**Speed based on wired connection. Wireless speeds may vary. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem.
Allconnect Rating
4.31 / 5
Verizon Fios: Best overall
If you’re looking for great, reliable internet at an affordable price with no hassles, then Verizon Fios is the way to go. Verizon Fios uses fiber optic cable where you can get gig speeds starting at $89.99/mo. If you don’t want to spend this much, you can get a 300 Mbps plan starting at $49.99/mo. Verizon Fios rolled out a 2 gig plan in NYC last year as well.
Pros
-
Verizon Fios has some of the top speeds in the city, hitting gig speeds.
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You won’t have to worry about rate increases with Verizon Fios.
Cons
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Verizon’s equipment rental fees are on the high side.
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Fios isn’t available in all parts of the city.
Verizon Fios speeds and pricing available on Rawlins Avenue, The Bronx:
2 Gig for $119.99/mo.
1 Gig for $89.99/mo.
500 Mbps for $69.99/mo.
300 Mbps for $49.99/mo.
Local feedback on Verizon Fios:
Michelle M. of New York switched ISPs after dealing with dead spots in her home.
The four heavy internet users in the house were using cable internet as part of an internet and phone bundle.
The family switched to the Verizon Fios 1G service with whole-home Wi-Fi. They now receive the promised high download/upload speeds at 940/880 Mbps throughout their home.
Verizon Customer Reviews:
Astound: Most affordable plans
For the most affordable Internet in NYC — and the best bang for your buck — we recommend Astound. Not only do they have a very inexpensive starting plan, they also offer some of the highest speeds for that price and no contracts. Astound introduced 1.2 gigabit internet to many areas in 2022.
Pros
-
No contract required and installation is included with select plans.
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Cheap starting plans.
Cons
-
Serviceability can vary from block to block.
-
Plan costs can vary depending on your address.
Astound speeds and pricing available on 31st Avenue, Flushing:
300 Mbps for $25.00/mo.
600 Mbps for $40.00/mo.
940 Mbps for $50.00/mo.
1500 Mbps for $60.00/mo.
Astound Customer Reviews:
Spectrum: Low-equipment fees
Spectrum charges $5/mo. for router rental — the modem is free — whereas most providers charge around $10-15/mo.
Pros
-
Spectrum has no data caps.
-
There are no data caps with Spectrum internet plans.
Cons
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Slower upload speeds than other options in New York City
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Spectrum typically increases prices after 12 months.
Spectrum speed and pricing available on Thollen Street, Staten Island:
Up to 500 Mbps for $39.99/mo.
Up to 1 Gbps for $59.99/mo.
Multiple TV and internet packages starting at $84.99/mo.
Spectrum Customer Reviews:
T-Mobile: Best for availability
T-Mobile is available to nearly all of New York City with one affordable plan starting at $40/mo. if you bundle cellphone services.
Pros
-
You can start or stop your T-Mobile service anytime since there is no contract requirements.
-
T-Mobile doesn’t impose data caps.
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T-Mobile is available to nearly all of NYC.
Cons
-
You must be near a T-Mobile tower to get service.
-
Speeds only go up to 245 Mbps.
T-Mobile Customer Reviews:
Our methodology
We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.
For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of one to five, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between three and four. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.
We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.
Compare internet providers near New York City
NYC internet service availability by zz code
Overview of internet access in NYC
There are dozens of internet providers operating in New York City, and you should have a choice between at least two. For example, Verizon and Spectrum share a similar footprint in NYC.
If you can get Verizon Fios at your address — or any fiber internet — you should. It’s the fastest and most reliable technology by far, and it usually costs about the same as cable, which is a step down in speed. DSL service is also widely available, but it should be viewed as more of a last resort.
Keep in mind that not all providers are available in every neighborhood which is why we ask for your address. With an exact location, we can give you the most accurate results of internet service providers for your home.
Internet availability by connection type
When it comes to getting the internet into your home in New York City, there are different types of connections. NYC customers have access to many different types of internet, including fiber, cable, satellite and DSL. The most common types are cable internet at 99% coverage and DSL at 95%. About 83% of NYC internet customers can access fiber.
NYC’s ISP statistics
Verizon Fios users get the fastest internet in New York City by a long shot. Its average download speed is over 212 Mbps — enough to stream Netflix in 4K on 10 TVs at once — but its upload speed is where it stands out, at nearly 152 Mbps.
Verizon’s fiber internet gets you double what any other provider does, a key consideration for online gamers and houses with multiple people working or learning from home.
Astound is a close second, with download speeds over 202 Mbps. Spectrum, Optimum and Starry range from 130 to 175 Mbps, with T-Mobile back at 77 Mbps.
NYC internet speed compared to the national average
New York City gets pretty average internet speeds compared to the state and country. Its 154.3 Mbps download speed is above average and plenty for most households — while its upload speeds are a little faster due to fiber internet in New York, which provides the same upload and download speeds.
-
Download speeds
New York City – 154.5 Mbps
New York State – 154.5 Mbps
U.S. – 134.3 Mbps
-
Upload speeds
New York City – 87.3 Mbps
New York State – 77.5 Mbps
U.S. – 48.0 Mbps
Source: The average speeds listed above are based on over 5 million real speed test results taken in NYC over a six-month window from the M-Lab NDT Data Set from July 1 to December 31, 2022. Measurement Lab is an open-source platform aimed at advancing Internet research.
NYC internet provider store locations
New York City internet FAQs
Yes, Verizon 5G Home and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are available to nearly all areas of New York City.
Yes, about 41% of NYC residents have access to a fiber connection up to 1,000 Mbps.
Astound has plans starting at $25.00/mo.
Yes, NYC government provides resources for residents to apply for federal assistance programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30/mo. to qualifying households. Once you sign up with a participating provider, you can pick their 100 Mbps plan for $30/mo., making your bill zero.
Internet speeds in NYC can reach beyond 2,000 Mbps.
Other than satellite internet providers, T-Mobile is the most available provider in NYC with 96% coverage.
Allconnect: Let us compare providers for you
Why should you choose Allconnect? We’re the #1 broadband marketplace in the U.S, meaning you can trust us to search, compare and order internet and TV service for your home.
Get startedWritten by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband Content
Robin Layton is an editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing for four years on the site, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMOVE.com. … Read more
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