So you decided you need a new internet plan, and you’re now looking for an ISP to switch to. Perhaps your current connection isn’t fast or reliable enough or maybe you just realized you’ve been paying too much for internet service. Whatever the reason, you must weigh all your options carefully to find the one ISP that suits your unique needs the best.

For this article, we reached out to the experts at BuyTVInternetPhone.com, an ISP retailer that shows you all the internet, TV, and phone services available in your area. It partners with the largest broadband companies in the US as well as some local ISPs such as Grande Communications in Texas. Its customer support can help you through the entire process of finding and subscribing to the best internet service plan for you. 

Here’s what we learned from their team:

1. Choose the Fastest Service Type Available

Fiber Internet

The reliability of an internet connection ultimately depends on the service type. Fiber is arguably the most reliable service type available right now. Fiber-to-the-home internet uses optical fiber in the middle and last mile communications. All-fiber internet service is generally faster than other types of service, and the speeds stay high even during peak usage hours. Fiber-to-the-home is also the only type of internet service that currently has symmetrical speeds, i.e. the same upload and download bandwidth.

The downside of fiber is that it requires considerable initial investment on the part of the ISP, the local government, and often the subscribers. This is why all-fiber internet is only available to less than 50% of the homes in the US. If fiber isn’t available where you live, cable internet service is the next best option.

Cable Internet

Cable internet is practically just as fast as fiber, with some ISPs offering speeds up to 2 Gbps in some areas. Speeds are still not symmetrical, but most users don’t need high upload speeds anyway. The cable industry is currently developing the 10G network powered by new technologies such as DOCSIS 4.0 and AI. 10G will make the internet more reliable and bring symmetrical speeds to more areas, making cable a future-proof option.

Other Service Types

Other service types such as 5G home internet and DSL are only recommended where cable or fiber internet is not an option. Speeds with 5G currently vary greatly from advertised speeds because the bandwidth is shared among a large number of subscribers. Speeds with DSL max out at 100 Mbps, which isn’t quite fast enough for modern homes. Satellite is the least preferred option with the lowest reliability and the slowest speeds.

To sum up, choose internet service type in the following order of preference:

1. Fiber Internet
2. Cable Internet
3. 5G Home Internet
4. DSL Internet
5. Satellite Internet
6. Consider the Cost per Mbps

One way to measure the value-for-money of an internet plan is the cost per Mbps: You take the monthly cost of a plan and divide it by its max speed. Generally, plans with higher max speeds have a lower cost per Mbps, but these plans may not be ideal for you if you don’t download much or stream in 4K. A more affordable plan may be better for smaller homes even if it has a higher cost per Mbps rate. 

Residential internet service always has a lower cost per Mbps than cellular service. So if you ever find yourself switching to mobile data when your home internet is acting up, you might save more by investing in a faster and more reliable home internet service. 

Cost per Mbps rates typically range from $0.5/Mbps for the slowest plans and $0.07/Mbps for the fastest ones. Grande Communications has some of the lowest cost-per-Mbps rates starting at $0.08/Mbps (300 Mbps for $25/mo.) and going down to $0.05/Mbps (1200 Mbps for 60/mo.). If you live in Texas, Grande Internet is the best value for money.

3. Read Local Reviews Online

The service quality and reliability of most ISPs vary by location. It can depend on the health of their network, the number of subscribers per node, and competition in the area, among other factors. The overall service quality and reliability may not tell you how good an ISP is in your area. 

That said, some ISPs are actively working on keeping their service quality and reliability consistent throughout their service areas. For instance, Astound Broadband has implemented a campaign to reduce its number of subscribers per node to around 125 according to Fierce Telecom. A low number of subscribers per node means the bandwidth is shared among fewer users and each home gets high speeds throughout the day. So in Texas, Astound Broadband powered by Grande is more reliable than other ISPs.

You can read reviews by subscribers on different ISPs in your area to get a more specific idea of which ISPs are the best. You’ll find local reviews and discussions about ISPs in your area primarily on Reddit.

4. Consider Data Caps

Data caps are not a concern today for most subscribers. Many ISPs offer unlimited data. Some still have data caps but the allowance is generally more than 1 TB (1000 GB). This is almost twice as much data as an average home consumes. 

Still, if you download too much on a capped plan and exceed the monthly allowance, you may have to pay monthly overage fees. Some ISPs may charge extra per month if you decide to upgrade to an unlimited plan when your data usage increases in the future. The safest option is to choose an ISP that markets unlimited plans like Grande Internet.

5. Take Term Contracts and Price Locks into Account

Promotional internet service offers often have term contracts, especially those in which the ISP considerably lowers the price to convert new customers into permanent ones. Still, plans with term contracts aren’t always the most affordable. If you have the option, choose a plan that you can switch from any time you want without having to pay an early termination fee. 

Internet service rates may increase after the promotional period because of inflation. Some ISPs offer price locks that guarantee the same low price for 1 to 2 years. An ISP that doesn’t require a term contract but offers price locks is the safest option.

6. Take Full Advantage of Promotional Offers

Most ISPs have promotions for new customers that make their plans much more affordable for the first 12 to 24 months. But some also have additional promotional offers that you can benefit from. For instance, you can get free installation with Grande Internet if you use the coupon “FREEINSTALL,” a $79.95 value. With Gig and 1.2 Gig internet from Grande Communications, you’re eligible for a free subscription to Max for 12 months. 

Similarly, with Cox Internet, you’re eligible for Cox Mobile Unlimited Intro for $45 a month which includes 20 GB of 5G data. Even after you run out of 5G data, you can use unlimited internet at reliable max speeds of 1.5 Mbps down and 750 Kbps up. Contact Cox customer service to learn more about Cox Internet and Mobile. 

7. Consider Buying Your Own Router

It’s often better in the long run to buy your own modem and router. A rental gateway will cost you around $15 per month, amounting to $180 a year. You can get a decent router for this amount. However, you will miss out on services exclusive to customers who rent the ISP’s Gateway, such as Advanced Security with Xfinity xFi. 

Some ISPs include the gateway for free. For instance, you get a free Panoramic Gateway with 100 Mbps Cox Internet. Spectrum Advanced WiFi is also included with Spectrum Internet at no extra cost for 12 months. 

Grande Internet partners with the leading mesh WiFi company, eero, to offer customers a leased Enhanced Whole Home WiFi system powered by eero for $15 per month. But for new customers, it’s just $5 a month for 2 years. We recommend leasing eero with Grande Internet to see if it’s worth it in your home and buying the system later. 

8. Prefer a Local ISP

Local ISPs are often more competitive than ISPs that provide countrywide service. For instance, Grande Internet is better in Texas than other ISPs. The service quality of local ISPs is also more reliable as any bad reviews affect their entire market. It’s also easier to read relevant reviews on local ISPs as everyone using their services lives in nearby areas. If a local ISP is available in your area, consider them among the major ISPs.

In a Nutshell

Fiber and cable are the fastest and most reliable types of internet service. Prefer internet service plans with a price lock that don’t require a term contract and buy your own router unless the rental rate of the leased gateway is discounted. Consider promotional offers that you can take advantage of and compare your local ISPs to countrywide ones. Use an ISP retailer such as BuyTVInternetPhone to find the ISPs serving in your area.