Best internet providers in Washington D.C.
Compare Washington D.C. internet providers
| Provider | Starting price* | Speed range | Internet type | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | $24.99/mo. | 50 – 6,000 Mbps | Cable, fiber | 84% |
| Verizon Fios | $49.99/mo. | 300 – 940 Mbps | Fiber | 96% |
| Astound | $25.00/mo. | 300 – 1,200 Mbps | Cable, fiber | 65% |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | $50.00/mo. | Up to 245 Mbps | 5G | 98% |
| Starry Internet | $50.00/mo. | 300 – 1,000 Mbps | 5G | 46% |
| dc access | $49.99/mo. | 25 – 75 Mbps | DSL | 10% |
*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 03/20/24.
Allconnect’s choice for best D.C. ISP: Verizon Fios
Overall, Verizon Fios is our favorite ISP in Washington, D.C. Verizon’s fiber internet has limited availability across the country, but D.C is one of the few places to offer it. With fiber speeds up to 940 Mbps, Verizon offers fast, reliable speeds with great price tags. Its cheapest plan offers 300 Mbps for $49.99/mo. Verizon 5G Home Internet is also a great option that has widespread availability.
Cheapest internet service providers in D.C.
If you’re looking to save money on internet, a few providers offer cheap plans in Washington, D.C. Below are listed plans from Astound and Xfinity that are less than $30.00/mo. and one from Verizon that is less than $50.00/mo.
You’ll pay the amount below for the corresponding plan, but remember that the cost may rise with various equipment and installation fees.
| Provider | Starting price* | Download speed | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astound | $25.00/mo. | Up to 300 Mbps | Cable |
| Xfinity | $25.00/mo. | Up to 200 Mbps | Cable |
| Verizon Fios | $49.99/mo. | Up to 300 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. As of 03/20/24.
Fastest home internet providers in D.C.
While most of Washington, D.C. has access to internet speeds well above broadband standards, at 121 Mbps, the district lacks a bit regarding super-fast internet speeds. According to the FCC, only 3% of Washington, D.C. can access gigabit speeds.
We’ve listed some providers below that have gigabit internet plans, but keep in mind that some speeds may not be available at your location.
| Provider | Download speed | Connection type |
|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | 3,000 Mbps | Cable, fiber |
| Astound | 1,200 Mbps | Cable, fiber |
| Verizon Fios | 940 Mbps | Fiber |
Washington D.C.’s ISP statistics
While most of Washington, D.C., has access to internet speeds well above broadband standards, with an average download speed of 121 Mbps, the district is lacking a bit regarding super-fast internet speeds. According to the FCC, 3% of Washington has access to internet of up to 1,000 Mbps, compared to 27% of the nation.
Speeds of up to 250 Mbps are available to 94% of Washington, D.C., residents — higher than the 89% national average.
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Download speeds 250 Mbps or higher
Washington D.C. – 94%
Nationwide – 89%
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Download speeds 1,000 Mbps or higher
Washington D.C. – 3%
Nationwide – 27%
Source: FCC
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.
Xfinity: Best for high internet speeds
Xfinity delivers speeds of up to 3,000 Mbps, topping the list of best internet providers in Washington, D.C. Pricing starts at $39.99/mo. for 10 Mbps and goes up to $299.95/mo. for the fastest speeds.
Pros
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Fast download speeds
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Contract-free options for flexibility
Cons
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Watch out for hidden equipment and installation fees
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Plan for rate increases after the promotional period is over
Astound Broadband: Best cheap high-speed internet
Astound Broadband is the umbrella company under which cable providers RCN, Wave Broadband, Grande Communications and En-Touch reside as of January 2022. Plans start at $19.99/mo., with 1,200 Mbps available in select ZIP codes for just $50/mo.
Pros
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Affordable high-speed internet plans
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Astound internet does not have data caps, so you don’t have to worry about added fees and throttling for going over a monthly data limit.
Cons
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Astound’s top cable TV package offers about 298+ channels, less that providers such as Verizon or DIRECTV that offer 425+ and 330+ channels respectively.
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High modem-leasing fees of up to $20/mo.
Verizon: Best for simple, inclusive pricing
If you’re looking for reliable internet at an affordable price, then Verizon Fios is the way to go. Verizon uses fiber optic cables to provide speeds from 300 Mbps to 940 Mbps for $49.99/mo. to $89.99/mo. There are no extra fees to worry about either, as equipment charges are all included in the price.
Pros
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Verizon has some of the top speeds in the city, with its fastest plan reaching 940 Mbps.
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No rate increases
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No data caps
Cons
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Verizon isn’t available in all parts of the city.
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Not savings for bundling with YouTubeTV
Washington D.C. internet provider store locations
Overview of internet access in D.C.
The three largest internet providers in Washington, D.C., are Verizon, Xfinity and Astound. With Verizon or Astound, you won’t need to worry about data caps or contracts. Xfinity does offer some plans with contract-free options and some areas of Washington, D.C., may be eligible for their top tier plan featuring 3,000 Mbps in symmetrical download and upload speeds.
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.
Fiber service with Verizon is available throughout most of the District of Columbia, as well as the surrounding Virginia and Maryland area. Verizon service can be found in parts of downtown Washington, D.C., as well as Adams Morgan, Brightwood, Capitol Hill, Cleveland Park, Dupont Circle, Fort Totten, Georgetown, Glover Park, Trinidad, University Heights and Woodley Park.
Cable and fiber internet service with Astound is less widely available throughout the District of Columbia. Areas where you’ll find Astound include parts of Adams Morgan, American University Park, Anacostia, Brookland, Cleveland Park, Lincoln Heights, Shepherd Park, Takoma, University Heights and Woodridge.
5G providers in Washington, DC
5G internet providers T-Mobile and Starry are relative newcomers to the Washington, DC, broadband scene.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers 33 to 182 Mbps in download speeds with no data caps and no contracts. T-Mobile’s home internet service is $50/mo. with taxes included and no price hikes or hidden fees.
Starry offers its unlimited 5G fixed wireless service with speeds up to 200 Mbps for $50/mo.
Verizon also offers a 5G Home Internet service, which isn’t widely available in Washington, D.C. The service is $25/mo. with select Verizon 5G mobile accounts and autopay, and it also offers no contracts, so it’s smart to try to see if it is available in your area.
Internet in Washington D.C. FAQs
D.C. has satellite, fiber, cable and 5G Home Internet options.
Xfinity and Verizon Fios have the fastest internet in D.C.
If you need internet assistance, explore programs like the ACP.
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Written by:
Camryn Smith
Cammy is a writer with Allconnect, growing her broadband industry knowledge for over a year on the internet marketplace. Her expertise lies in home internet and broadband service with a focus on providers, plans…
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Edited by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband Content
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