List of Best Internet Providers in the United States

A country known for its large landscape and a versatile population spread across 50 states, the USA is home to so many wonders all at once. It has the most beautiful beaches, the most iconic islands, and houses the most luxurious cinema in the world, Hollywood. New York stands tall as one of the biggest metropolitans rich with arts and culture, while Chicago is known for its outstanding architecture, which reflects in the Chicago Bean! Then, of course, there is the capital city of Washington, DC, and the ever-glamorous Los Angeles. And let’s not forget one of the most populated cities in the world, and the ideal example of wild nightlife, Las Vegas!

All in all, America has one thing or another to offer to its citizens. If you are already residing in the country or planning to move there, you are in for a great variety of flavors in life!

Today, the US has one of the strongest, most influential economies in the world. It is no surprise that tech giants like Amazon, Tesla, and Apple not only take birth in this powerful country but also become household names globally, making great innovations and changes in the world. It is reported that there are more than 557,000 tech businesses in the country, with more than 13,000 tech startups emerging in 2019 alone. For all the young people of America, choosing a tech-related field of work is highly recommended as it is the fastest growing industry here!

While all of these stats about how technologically advanced the US is and how many tech job opportunities are available, let’s not forget the most basic necessity of adapting to this tech-dominated environment: the internet.

In 2021, there were more than 302 million users of the internet. This number is expected to grow to a whopping 321 million users by 2025. Not just this, but multiple types of internet connections are available in the US that enables users to access what’s readily available. Even though the digital gap is quite significant for rural communities, technologies like satellite and fixed wireless internet are deployed to compensate them. Meanwhile, fiber optic internet is becoming the new normal compared to basic cable and DSL internet. In America, 5G is being tested and experimented on thoroughly. Right now, there are limited but reliable providers for  5G internet that include AT&T and Verizon. The efforts made by these internet providers are endless. They are consistently trying to cover up the digital divide because they have identified the tech industry’s fast pace and the need for high-speed internet with good technical support. Americans are in dire need of a reliable internet connection. Between 2020 and 2021, social media users in the US had drastically increased by over 10 million!

Right now, in the US, there are more than 2900 internet providers that offer a variety of internet services along with other communications and entertainment solutions such as TV and phone. Providers such as Spectrum, Mediacom, Xfinity, and AT&T are known for the variety of internet plans they have to offer and their phenomenal speeds. In general, the US has an average internet speed of 55 Mbps (2020). Meanwhile, Colorado is one of the most well-connected states in the US, followed by Utah and Maryland. In fact, Maryland has a state average internet speed of 65.02 Mbps!

Types of Internet Services in the United States

Before you go into the details of internet providers in the country, it is important that you first understand the internet technologies available. There are different ways through which internet signals are delivered in your home.

While some providers might use copper wires, others could use fiber optic cables. Meanwhile, hybrid fiber-coaxial connections are also becoming increasingly common. But you cannot and should not settle for just anything. The type of connection determines the speeds you will be getting and also changes the internet availability based on location. For example, fixed wireless internet is more concentrated in rural areas, while fiber internet is scattered mostly in urban and metropolitan cities.

In the United States, there are many different types of internet connections available. Some of the most common ones include the following:

• Fiber

Fiber internet is one of the latest internet technologies that are all the rage these days. It is popular for delivering symmetrical download and upload speeds along with the robust infrastructure that is used to deliver high-speed signals.

Fiber internet is capable of accommodating high-res videos and games, along with HD video calls, work-from-home requirements, and much more, all at the same time! It uses light signals, as compared to the electric signals used in copper or basic cable internet connections. As a result, the light signals travel faster and are able to cover long distances without any major data loss. However, these things about fiber are very attractive, but here is a catch – its availability is not as widespread and common as other technologies. In fact, only 43% of the country can actually access fiber internet in their homes.

If you want to find out whether you have fiber internet in your area or not, use the online ZIP tool at BuyTVInternetPhone or speak to an expert at 1-855-349-9328.

• Cable

For cable internet, Xfinity and Spectrum are the largest providers, with their services available in more than 40 and 44 states, respectively. While the footprint is extremely large, note that speeds and prices vary by location. Mediacom Internet is also a good alternative for people who need affordable bundling options with TV services. It has powerful gigabit internet plans that are competitively priced for everyone to afford!

Cable internet is ideal for medium-sized homes, where basic streaming, social networking, and some media sharing are required. It uses the TV connections that are already installed to deliver internet to your homes. For this reason, it is much easier to find cable internet in the majority of the cities and states as compared to fiber internet that requires an installation of new fiber cables from scratch. There are issues like “peak times” and shared bandwidth with cable internet, so you might want to subscribe to a higher speed plan. As of now, more than 195 million Americans have access to cable internet.

• Fixed Wireless

Fixed wireless internet in the US is mostly considered to be rural internet. The reason for this is the way that fixed wireless internet works and delivers internet signals to your home. Basically, fixed wireless internet uses pre-existing cell towers and a backhaul mechanism to drive internet signals in your home through the receiver that is installed by the provider. It uses the line of sight technology, where radio waves are transmitted between the source and the receiver. Since this type of internet connection does not use any cable infrastructure, it is much easier for it to be available wirelessly in underdeveloped rural areas. You can expect internet speeds ranging between 5 and 50 Mbps with fixed wireless internet. As a resident of rural America, you might want to explore phenomenal fixed wireless internet plans from Rise Broadband.

• DSL

In contrast with cable internet that uses cable TV infrastructure to deliver internet to your homes, DSL uses telephone lines. The biggest advantage of DSL internet is that it gives you a dedicated subscriber line (DSL) and does not share the bandwidth or internet speed with your neighboring users. AT&T, Verizon, and Frontier are some of the most popular providers of DSL internet. It is relatively slower than cable and fiber internet, with speeds maxing out at 100 Mbps or so. It is perfect for single-person users, small families, or for basic internet uses, such as using social media and checking emails.

• Satellite

Virtually, satellite internet is available everywhere! And satellites are not only used for the internet, but also for providing conventional-style satellite TV connection to your homes. DirecTV is one of the largest satellite TV providers in the country and is known for its versatile channel lineup, thanks to the technology it uses. You can learn more about DIRECTV packages by calling its customer service at 1-855-925-2541.

Coming back to satellite internet, it is the most reliable type of internet connection in rural areas. If you subscribe to any satellite internet provider like HughesNet, the provider will install a receiver dish on your house. This satellite dish is used to receive the internet signals broadcasted from one or more satellites in space. All this happens within the blink of an eye, wirelessly!

List of Best Internet Providers in the United States

• AT&T – the Best Gigabit Internet Connection

AT&T has such a huge name in the industry that it does not need any introduction. Not only in the US, but it is also a very well-known provider globally and is known for its large scale of operations. It is no surprise that all AT&T Internet packages are rich with value for your money, including many top-tier extra features that you might not find with any other internet provider in the US.

Precisely, these are the benefits you can enjoy with AT&T internet:

• Many affordable bundling options with DIRECTV and DIRECTV Stream for a complete entertainment and communications bundle.
• Unlimited data with select plans, while 1 TB of generous data allowance with others.
• A much-needed security suite that is powered by McAfee to protect your smart devices from cyber threats.
• Advanced Wi-Fi 6 technology that provides better signal reception and coverage in your home.
• Whether you choose fiber or IPBB internet, you are not compelled to sign any long-term contract.
• Symmetrical download and upload speeds as high as 1000 Mbps with AT&T Fiber plans.

• Earthlink – the Best Provider With No Data Caps

Earthlink has been providing unrivaled internet services in America since 1994. It has now become a household name for a large population, thanks to its well-reputed, glitch-free internet backed by its reliable customer service. It is one of the most straightforward, simple, and uncomplicated internet providers you will find. Its pricing is transparent and simple and does not shock you with sudden price hikes out of nowhere.

Earthlink Internet plans are also known as HyperLink plans, which are available in 4 speed-tiers. Each tier comes with unlimited data caps, mandatory contracts and ranges from DSL to fiber connection based on your location. The most impressive part is its highest speed tier, where you not only get 1 Gig download speed but symmetrical upload speeds too! While many people would consider the mandatory contract to be a pain, it is actually beneficial. With Earthlink’s contracts, you will not have to worry about any changes in the pricing for the next 12 months.

Your subscription to one of Earthlink’s Internet plans will be topped off with many additional perks and benefits. One of which is the powerful security system you get for free, powered by NortonLifeLock. Its security features are essential for family homes with many smart devices. Similarly, all internet subscribers get a free Earthlink app on their phones, so they can manage their bill payments and other things more closely.

• Rise Broadband – the Best Rural Internet

Since we talked about fixed wireless internet and how it’s the most viable option for rural communities in America, let’s not forget to talk about the biggest provider of this internet type. Rise Broadband is the largest provider of fixed wireless internet. It is based in Colorado and offers residential and business internet to users in more than 16 states.

One thing you need to be mindful of when subscribing to a Rise Broadband internet plan (or any other provider, too) is that the internet speeds and their availability change from location to location. It is important to learn about what speeds are available in your area from Rise Broadband customer service or just use the online ZIP tool at BuyTVInternetPhone.

Moving on, Rise has some of the most generously designed internet plans that you can also pair up with DISH TV to get the ultimate entertainment bundle. This makes it ideal for family homes in rural America. You get to choose between monthly bases subscriptions or opt for 1 to 2 years of a long-term contract that can actually lead you to some additional benefits.

Although the speed offered by Rise vary between 5 and 50 Mbps, its most common and popular plans are as follows:

• 25 Mbps with limited data:

250 GB data allowance, 4 Mbps upload speed

• 50 Mbps with limited data:

250 GB data allowance, 5 Mbps upload speed

• 25 Mbps without data caps:

Unlimited data, 4 Mbps upload speed

• 50 Mbps without data caps:

Unlimited data, 5 Mbps upload speed

• HughesNet – the Best Satellite Internet

HughesNet is among the handful of internet providers in America that use satellite technology. Using radio waves and no wired connections makes satellite internet virtually available everywhere, along with very easy and quick installation. As a subscriber of HughesNet satellite internet, you can enjoy seamless streaming in HD, along with medium-sized file sharing, online gaming, and many such activities. Keep in mind that HughesNet has a slightly different way in which its internet plans are designed, so you might need to go through this without any distractions:

HughesNet utilizes Gen5 advanced technology to provide your homes with reliable internet. However, instead of dividing the internet plans based on different speed tiers, it has divided the plans based on varying data allowance. So, you will be able to get 25 Mbps of internet, with multiple options in terms of data allowance. You get to choose between 4 data allowances, including:

• 15 GB
• 30 GB
• 45 GB
• 75 GB

You can expect download speeds as high as 25 Mbps and upload speeds to be 3 Mbps no matter which data tier you choose. Also, you don’t have to worry about paying an overage fee with HughesNet. It also provides all its internet subscribers with powerful and advanced Wi-Fi technology that can ensure excellent Wi-Fi signal coverage in your home. Last but not least, the provider has services in more than 50 states as we speak!

Summary

It is safe to say that Americans have a good variety of internet providers to select from. Each provider has something unique to offer: HughesNet with its data allowance tiers, AT&T with its symmetrical gigabit speeds, Earthlink and its straightforward pricing, and Rise Broadband with its precious services to the rural communities in the US. There are many more providers you might want to check out, too, such as Spectrum and Mediacom. You can, and must, discover all your options from BuyTVInternetPhone to find the most valuable internet service for your home in the US!