How to Find the Best Internet In My Area

Each day thousands of people take to the Internet to ask, “What’s the best Internet in my area?” The truth is that the answer to that simple question can be rather complex.

The best Internet service provider for you depends on many factors, including:

• How much you use the Internet
• The importance of fast Internet speeds to you
• Your location and the types of broadband Internet available
• Your budget for Internet plans

Don’t have time to read? That’s okay. We’ve done the research for you. Enter your address here to find the best Internet in your area right now.

Continue reading to learn how to determine your Internet usage needs and find the best Internet service and pricing in your area.

What Internet Speed Do You Need?

Generally, a 100 Mbps download speed and a 10 Mbps upload speed are good enough WiFi Internet speeds for an individual user. However, if a household has 5 – 6 Internet users who simultaneously:

• Stream HD and UHD videos
• Stream music
• Work from home
• Video conference
• Play online games
• Download a lot
• Etc.

That household is more likely to need an Internet package with 500 Mbps or more. On the other hand, a single retiree who checks email, streams videos, and plays online solitaire can get away with far fewer Mbps.

Continue reading to learn how to calculate your Internet speed needs.

Calculating Your Internet Speed Needs

You can determine what Internet speed you need by using a bit of math and educated guesswork, but an easier method is to use SmartMove’s Speedtest Quiz.

Listed below are a few types of Internet activities, and their corresponding recommended Mbps usage.

Light Internet Use

Activity: Email, browsing the web, low-definition video streaming, making online payments, music streaming, etc.

Number of Devices: 1 – 5

Recommended Internet Speed: 300 – 500 Mbps

Regular Internet Use

Activity: HD video streaming, social media use, video calls, multi-person zoom chats, etc.

Number of Devices: 3 – 5

Recommended Internet Speed: 500 – 1000 Mbps

Heavy Internet Use

Activity: High-Definition online gaming, streaming 4K video, heavy downloads, large file sharing.

Number of devices: 5+

Recommended Internet Speed: 1000+ Mbps

The type of Internet service that’s best for you depends on where you’re located, how much you use the Internet, and your budget. Learn more below.

The Types of Internet Services Offered Depend on Your Location

Where you live — in a suburb, a rural area, or a major urban center — will often determine the type of Internet connections available to you. The three most common types of Internet service are DSL, Cable Internet, and Fiber.

Each option provides unique benefits and drawbacks. For the most part, DSL Internet is the least fast Internet service but may be suitable for light Internet users. However, if you need more bandwidth at any time, it may not be the best option.

Cable Internet is the second fastest Internet option. It usually provides good Internet speed for most types of casual and professional Internet use. Lastly, fiber optic Internet (offered on a limited basis) offers the fastest download speeds and upload speeds of currently available Internet technology.

However, it is also the most expensive and least available Internet service.

Continue reading to learn how to set your monthly Internet budget.

Know Your Budget For Internet Services

Most high-speed Internet providers offer affordable Internet-only packages as well as bundles. Generally, you can expect the following costs for Internet service:

• DSL Internet is the most affordable Internet service. Average costs hover around $29 – $49 per month.
• Cable Internet is a bit more expensive but usually worth the extra expense if you can afford it. The average cost for cable Internet is $49 – $99 per month.
• Fiber Internet is the most costly Internet service, but it also provides very fast speeds. You can expect costs to start at $69 – $99 per month for the lowest tier of service.

It’s okay to shop around for a bargain while searching for the “best Internet in my area.” Just keep in mind your true needs. It’s not recommended to get a slower speed Internet plan than you need, or one with data caps if you really need an unlimited data plan. Slow Internet and Internet with capped data usage may be cheaper, but they can be more costly for you long-term (i.e., dropped business calls, inability to download large files, overage fees, latency issues, etc.).

Who Are The Top Internet Providers in My Area?

It’s difficult to say which Internet service provider is the best in your area without knowing where you live. Generally, if you're looking for the best, we recommend the following Internet service providers (availability depending on location):

• Comcast Xfinity
• Spectrum
• Optimum
• GCI
• Cox
• Sparklight
• Mediacom
• Armstrong
• Fidelity
• MCTV
• Suddenlink

If you’re unsure which ISP offers the best Internet service in your area, we can help. Continue reading to learn how.

What’s The Best Internet Service in My Area?

Finding the best home Internet in your area is not as easy as it used to be. With so many companies, Internet technologies, and packages to choose from, it can be overwhelming to even find out what your options are, let alone pick the best choice for your household’s needs.

At SmartMove, we quickly connect you to the best Internet and cable TV services in your area.

Let us help you find the best Internet in your area today.