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Which Internet Plan Is Right for You? 10 Expert Tips to Help You Decide
Which Internet Plan Is Right for You? 10 Expert Tips to Help You Decide

CNET

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • CNET

Which Internet Plan Is Right for You? 10 Expert Tips to Help You Decide

A good internet connection has become a necessity, but trying to get one can feel like a chore. There are a ton of providers offering different speeds, prices and promotional offers, which can make it difficult to pick the right connection for you. Some homes may have access to only a couple of options, but most US homes can choose from at least three providers that offer various bundles and speeds. Now, setting up your home internet may not seem like the most fun part, but picking the right provider and plan will save you a lot of money and hassle down the line. Here's what you need to know. How do you know which provider and plan is best for your needs? Somethings to look out for: Speed usage How much you want to spend on your internet Internet provider related details: connection type, additional fees, contracts and data caps Read more: Here's How You Can Stop Internet Throttling By Your Broadband Provider. 1. Evaluate your internet speed needs The best place to start is asking yourself these questions: How much internet speed do I currently use? Would I like a better connection? How many people in my home use the internet and how many devices are connected to my network? Is there a gamer or two in the house? Does anyone work from home? Is there more than one smart device connected to the network? Locating local internet providers For basic internet use like online shopping, browsing social media and light TV streaming, download speeds of 100 megabits per second are usually enough (and they meet the Federal Communications Commission's new definition for broadband). But I recommend faster internet speeds for working and learning from home, streaming in HD on multiple devices simultaneously and connecting numerous smart home devices like security cameras, video doorbells and smart speakers. Gigabit and multi-gig plans will all but guarantee you've got enough speed for every person and device in your home, but those are often the highest-priced plans. If you don't want to splurge on gigabit service but still prefer something on the faster side, consider speeds in the 300 to 600Mbps range, assuming they're available in your area. Advertised vs. actual speeds Pro tip here: Keep in mind that advertised speeds and actual speeds are two different things. An ISP's advertised maximum speeds may be 100Mbps, but those are speeds to the home. Actual speeds in the home are likely going to be lower, even more so when using a Wi-Fi connection and adding multiple devices to your network. CNET's Trisha Jandoc discovered this upon facing slow speeds despite being on a gigabit plan. Additionally, if you have an outdated router, you may not be getting the speeds you're paying for. When shopping for internet service, be sure to factor in that speed loss and select a plan with advertised speeds faster than what you'd like your actual speeds to be. For an in-depth examination of how much speed your house might need, you can check out our internet speed guide. Quick tips to help speed up your Wi-Fi at home Quick tips to help speed up your Wi-Fi at home Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:05 / Duration 4:25 Loaded : 15.68% 0:05 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 4:20 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Quick tips to help speed up your Wi-Fi at home 2. Explore all of your ISP options Available internet providers vary by location and possibly by address within the same ZIP code. Even if you aren't moving far, the available internet providers, and the technologies they use, could be different. Your options can understandably feel limited, so know that it's uncommon for one provider to be the absolute only ISP option in an area. In markets where a cable internet provider such as Xfinity or Spectrum is available, there's also likely to be a fiber or DSL service available from providers like AT&T, CenturyLink or Frontier. Additionally, the recent rise of 5G home internet from T-Mobile and Verizon has further increased broadband competition in both rural and urban settings. Serviceability check tools like the one you'll find a bit further up the page are a good way to identify the internet providers in your area and get an overview of potential plans and pricing. I can't speak for all serviceability tools, but CNET's version uses proprietary in-house technology to help ensure your results are accurate and keep your information secure. 3. Consider the connection type Speed and cost are among the most important considerations when it comes to choosing an internet service, but you may want to start by comparing the internet connection type each provider uses. There are some exceptions, but if we're ranking connection types in order of most to least desirable, I'd start with fiber-optic, cable and 5G home internet. Keep DSL, fixed wireless and satellite as a last resort. Fiber-optic internet is the best bet for fast, consistent speeds, low latency and greatest overall value. Service also comes with the advantage of symmetrical or close to symmetrical upload speeds. Cable internet is not far behind in terms of speed and value, and is often a good choice for cheap internet, especially since you can often get a cheap cable TV and internet bundle from some providers. Meanwhile, 5G home internet is quickly proving to be a convenient alternative to cable and even fiber connections in rural areas. In fact, customers are reported to be more satisfied with a wireless 5G connection due to it's affordability and accessibility. The new technology could also provide much-needed upgrades to broadband in rural areas where less speedy or reliable DSL, fixed wireless and satellite internet services are often the only options. 4. Compare speeds, not just pricing Here's where the bulk of your internet shopping takes place: comparing plans from each available provider. It's tempting to look at the price first and speed second, but I'd suggest focusing on speeds first, then price. Opting for a cheaper plan that doesn't quite meet your household's speed demands, especially one that comes with a contract, may end up costing you more when you need to upgrade to a faster plan or provider anyway. Look for plans with the speeds you want, or higher, then compare the prices among those options. Find the one that best fits your speed demands and your budget. Price vs. value Pro tip here: A low price is nice, but is it a good deal? To get an idea of a plan's value, consider the cost per Mbps by dividing the cost by the advertised speed. For example, Xfinity's cheapest plan is available for as low as $40 a month for speeds up to 400Mbps -- that's a cost of around 10 cents per Mbps. Not bad, but one of Frontier Fiber's cheapest plans costs $50 a month, more expensive than Xfinity's cheapest plan. Frontier's plan comes with speeds up to 1,000Mbps for a cost per Mbps of just 5 cents. Although Xfinity's plan is cheaper, Frontier is the better deal. 5. Beware of set price increases Spectrum hikes it's prices after a year once the promo period ends, as seen through it's broadband labels. Spectrum/screenshot by CNET So you've identified potential providers and plans. Let's take a closer look at the monthly cost. Will it be the same a year down the road? Or are there steep price increases and hidden fees waiting for you? On average, internet costs around $78 a month in the US, but your monthly bill could be more than that once the promo period ends. I know that low pricing can be tempting, but a cheap plan can lose its value entirely from one bill to the next when the price goes up by 50% or more. Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox and others have competitive introductory pricing but a looming monthly hike of $20, $30 or more after 12 months. Carefully examine the FCC-mandated broadband labels for each plan. Check for hidden infrastructure fees or equipment fees you could bypass by buying your own equipment. The good news is that providers have to be fairly transparent about price increases as far as when you can expect them and how much they'll inflate your bill. Additionally, many providers don't require a contract, so if the price hike is too steep, you can cancel without penalty. Not all providers have a planned price increase. AT&T, Frontier, Verizon Fios and a handful of others, including EarthLink, don't have promotional or introductory pricing, so you won't have to worry about a guaranteed price increase. Your bill may still go up at some point, which understandably happens, but it won't go up as drastically or quickly. 6. Know your (data) limits Some ISPs enforce data caps and will charge extra fees or throttle internet speeds when you go over. Be aware of the data cap, if any, before signing up for an internet service. Those considering satellite internet will have to be the most mindful of data caps and usage. Although none of the major satellite internet providers impose overage fees for data used, unless you upgrade to an unlimited data plan, your speeds will significantly slow after going over your priority data allotment. Data caps are less of a problem with every other connection type, but they're still there. Fixed wireless internet like what you may find from AT&T or Rise Broadband in rural areas often comes with a data cap of 250 to 350GB. Select cable and DSL providers also have data caps, although typically much higher, between 1 and 1.5TB per month. That's a generous amount of data and much higher than the average household will use, but still, a plan with unlimited data is preferred. You don't want to have to watch your data usage all month, and you certainly wouldn't want to suffer slowed speeds or added fees for going over. 7. Weigh all Wi-Fi options in your new home Viva Tung/CNET You'll need a router to create a home Wi-Fi network. Most, if not all, ISPs offer a router either for rent, to purchase or for free. If you plan on renting your equipment, take a look at what the rental fee is ahead of time, then go ahead and tack that onto the monthly price. Some rental fees are better than others, but anticipate it to add anywhere from $5 to $20 extra to your bill. In some cases, that means an appealing $20 rate may jump up to $35 or even $40 after equipment costs, so make sure you take a look at the fine print before securing a promotional internet rate. Many providers have started including your equipment at no extra cost. AT&T, Verizon Fios, Google Fiber and 5G home internet providers T-Mobile and Verizon, for example, have no added equipment fees. Others, like Spectrum, CenturyLink and Xfinity, may include either a free modem (but not the router needed for Wi-Fi) or all of your equipment at no extra cost with select plans. You may also have the option of using your own router and skipping the equipment fee altogether. CNET's Joe Supan saved close to $1,000 in yearly fees by deciding to by his own router, for example. Although the upfront costs may be high, including the potential optimizations like mesh Wi-Fi, supplying your own may pay off in a year or two if you can save $15 per month in equipment fees. The option to purchase your router is a little less common, but you may come across it with satellite internet or prepaid internet services. This can add to your upfront costs, especially in the case of satellite internet, but you may save money in the long run. 8. Consider any lengthy contracts Your internet provider may lock you into a contract, sometimes disguised as a "term agreement." Breaking your contract by canceling service or failing to pay your bill before the term is up could result in early termination fees and problems if you want to sign up for service again in the future. Some providers require a contract, typically of one or two years, with all plans and services. Others may require a one-year contract to qualify for the lowest introductory rate or special offers. Most ISPs require no contract at all. Term agreements aren't much of an issue if you plan on keeping the service for the length of the contract, but if you think you may move or want to switch providers at some point, it's nice to know you can do so without penalty. Also note that if you decide to switch providers and you rented equipment from a previous provider, you return your equipment within the designated timeframe to avoid any other fees (often up to $300). 9. Consider customer satisfaction ACSI It's no secret that most of us aren't particularly fond of our internet provider. Customer satisfaction ratings, such as those from sources like the ACSI and J.D. Power, shed some light on which providers fare better than others and why. In most cases, customer satisfaction numbers will fall somewhere in the middle of the road and not indicate much one way or the other. In others -- like Optimum's consistently low customer satisfaction score, Frontier's improving numbers or Verizon's consistently high marks -- may be a bit more telling. Do a little social research. Ask neighbors and friends who they have and why, what they like and don't like. Check out Reddit, and other media sources for further insight. Take the feedback for what it's worth, but don't believe everything you hear or read. 10. Watch out for promotional offers There's a reason I'm mentioning this tip last. Signup bonuses, much like low introductory rates, are tempting, but they're never incentive enough to commit to an ISP or plan that isn't the right fit for your needs. Gift cards, free months of internet service or streaming subscriptions eventually expire or lose their value. When that happens, you don't want to be stuck with an expensive plan that is faster than you need or a cheap ISP that doesn't deliver the speeds you want. Additionally, you may have to sign a term agreement when accepting promotional offers to prevent you from canceling as soon as you get the reward. Still, promotional offers like Verizon's streaming bundles which comes with a free Netflix and Max subscription for a year and then $10 a month after, may be worth investigating. Bottom line: finding good internet service is worth the effort There can be a lot to consider when signing up for an internet service. Along with the cost and speeds, be sure to evaluate the fine print -- price increases, data caps, equipment fees and contract requirements -- so you know what to expect when you get the bill each month. It can be overwhelming, but ultimately, your research and knowledge of the internet provider you settle for will pay off in the long run. 10 expert tips to finding your ideal ISP FAQs How do I choose the right provider and plan for me? In order to find the ideal internet service provider and plan for you and your household requires considering these key things: Speed, how much you want to spend on your internet and internet provider-related details such as connection type, additional fees, contracts and data caps. Considering these things can help narrow your search for internet service. What are the best internet providers? This may not be the most exciting answer, but the best ISP will all boil down to what's available at your address. The top providers in the country that offer the widest coverage are EarthLink, T-Mobile Home Internet, Spectrum, AT&T, Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home Internet. EarthLink's unique use of a variety of connection types makes it one of the most available ISPs in the country. T-Mobile comes at a close second with coverage available to more than 60% of the country. There are spots in the Midwest and the West that will have very little to no coverage for T-Mobile. In that case, Spectrum and Xfinity's cable coverage offer wide availability throughout the country.

My Simple Steps for Negotiating a Better Deal With Your Internet Provider
My Simple Steps for Negotiating a Better Deal With Your Internet Provider

CNET

time27-05-2025

  • Business
  • CNET

My Simple Steps for Negotiating a Better Deal With Your Internet Provider

Internet service isn't cheap, with the average monthly internet bill coming to around $78. And that often doesn't count equipment rental fees. On top of that, a recent CNET survey revealed that 63% of US adults are paying more for internet than they did last year. Yet, much of what we do -- including remote work, school, telehealth and staying connected with family -- relies on having a solid internet connection, so it's a necessary expense many of us just accept. But what happens when your bill starts creeping up and you don't qualify for low-income internet programs like Lifeline? One way to fight back is by negotiating with your provider, an old-school tactic that can still save you money. My wife is the champion negotiator and dealmaker of our household. Before we met, she'd already crushed significant life moments, including buying a house, hammering out a great deal on a new car, and getting the best possible salary offer for a new job. So when it came time to gather guidance for negotiating with your internet service provider, you'd better believe I started with her. "Kindness is key," she said. "Always be friendly and courteous." Why? Because the person on the other end of the phone (or online chat, as the case may be) is much more likely to work with you if met with decency and patience. Your customer service rep isn't doing an easy job and they want to help, so why not start on the right foot? I could fill a whole column with my wife's negotiating tips and tricks, but I've also sought professional advice from internet provider employees. As you might imagine, some gave me standard company lines about how every customer gets the same high-value offers or how each agent works tirelessly to ensure everyone gets the best possible price daily. You know the drill. Locating local internet providers We all know that's not 100% true, or providers wouldn't constantly be changing their promotions and deals. So, after sifting through the best ideas from the pros, here are five steps you should take when negotiating with your internet service provider. 1. Take the time to do your research "I think the first thing is to try to be knowledgeable before you make the call," according to EarthLink CEO Glenn Goad. From his perspective, most people aren't familiar enough with their options when contacting an ISP. That puts them at a disadvantage and can lead to getting roped into add-ons or more speed than they actually need. Here's how you can avoid pitfalls like that. Look in the mirror Spend part of your preparation building a case for yourself as a desirable customer. How long have you been with your ISP? If you're two months into a 24-month contract, you're less likely to get any traction on carving out a better deal: Providers often collect an early termination fee if you bail on your existing contract. On the other hand, if you've been with the same ISP for several years, there's a much better chance of finding a flexible attitude. In that case, the provider should be much more motivated to keep you as a subscriber because there's no financial benefit claimed from your loss. Either way, having this basic information handy will help you better make your claim. You can also do yourself a favor and set the stage for a more profitable exchange by paying your bills on time. Once you've built up months or years of steady, on-time payments, the sales agent will likely see you as a valuable customer and one worth keeping happy. Decide what you actually need Don't be an impulsive internet shopper. Before negotiating with your ISP, determine your goals for the call. Keep in mind it's not always just about cutting a deal for a lower monthly bill. Yes, knocking a few bucks off each month's bill is great, but it might not ultimately be the best approach to your household internet needs. For instance, many of us discovered that our previous internet plan was insufficient for increased work-from-home or remote schooling duties during the pandemic. To keep more people (and devices) online simultaneously, a faster internet option is the way to go. An AT&T spokesperson said she advises customers to turn to a fiber network if possible to deal with bandwidth-heavy applications. "However, when fiber isn't available, we recommend choosing the fastest option available based on the customer's need," she said. "With the average number of connected devices continuing to grow, most households would benefit from fast and more reliable speeds." Keep in mind that, according to findings from OpenVault, the average household uses more than 500Mbps a month. If you signed up for a plan with less speed than that, but you have a fair number of devices and moderate internet users in the house, you should consider an upgrade. Guidance like this CNET speed test tutorial can help determine how much internet speed you really need, so start there. Perhaps when you signed on with your provider, you chose a starter plan with 100Mbps download speed, but now your family needs much more than that. Focus on securing a faster speed -- maybe more like 300Mbps -- and aim to get more for your money and decrease your cost per Mbps. A plan with faster speeds may boost your network capabilities, and if you consider cost per Mbps, it may also be a better value. Google/CNET On the flip side, perhaps you signed up for a multi-gigabit speed plan because your ISP touted it as the fastest residential plan available. But do you and the rest of your household really use that much? You might find significant savings by downgrading to a plan that lets you do all the same activities without any discernible difference in performance. For instance, many homes won't notice much difference between a gigabit plan and 500Mbps. 2. Craving the speediest plan? Not so fast While download speed is undoubtedly essential in figuring out what type of plan best fits you, it's not the only factor. An Xfinity spokesperson said it's best to look into the total value of an internet service rather than simply stopping at speed. Can you get mobile service included? How about access to Wi-Fi hotspots? Value can come in multiple ways, not just in your download speed. The AT&T spokesperson agreed. "What discounts or special offers are available to you? There may be discount offers for qualifying customers that you should inquire about. Some providers may also offer subscriptions for streaming and other services that could make a package more enticing," she said. You can help yourself out by putting in just a little work before the call. For instance, look beyond download speed and consider your data usage. Are you paying extra for unlimited data and not using it? Or, perhaps more commonly, do you tend to exceed your data limit and incur additional charges? Consider if there's an unlimited add-on option that'll save you money in the long run. Also, gather your facts about what you're currently paying. Do you already have a promo rate? Are there any deals you're taking advantage of right now? You can check out our round-up of some of the best deals, TV bundles and mobile bundles for internet customers. Don't get caught flat-footed, or you'll risk losing a reasonable price in the hunt for a better bargain. If you're not taking advantage of any deals or offers, look up the promotional discounts offered to new customers and ask your ISP to match that. It's also worthwhile to check for online-only deals so you can ask for the equivalent for your existing account. 3. Know your options before you call Sorry to mix metaphors, but if you plan on playing hardball, don't bluff if you have no hand. Before you threaten to cancel your subscription, ensure your address is serviceable for other providers by using tools like the FCC broadband coverage map to see what internet options are available at your address. Otherwise, your ISP will know that you don't have other options. On the other hand, you can politely but squarely use this to your advantage if you do have options. At face value, you might have a cheaper plan than what you found on a competitor's site. But as you consider that alternative option, you might discover it's a fiber connection with much faster upload and download speeds. You could get a faster, better online experience at a lower cost per Mbps for just slightly more per month. But such a pivot might not be available to all. In addition to serviceability, you also have to answer another question. Is switching to another ISP even an option? For instance, if you live in an apartment complex, does your leasing company have an exclusivity agreement with your provider? My wife and I learned this the hard way. When we moved to the Charlotte area, we were excited about ditching our old ISP, but our hopes were dashed when we learned that our housing development had a contract with the same provider, so we didn't have the same range of choices as other city residents. Consider the different internet connection types available at your address. Is satellite internet an option? It's often cast as the only viable alternative for rural or suburban customers. But be aware of satellite dish installation regulations in your area, set by your homeowners association or in your lease rules. Lastly, is 5G home internet an option at your address? Verizon and T-Mobile are aggressively expanding the coverage areas for their respective services and looking to lure new customers. These services offer better download speeds than satellite and much more affordable rates. (Unlike satellite services, there are no equipment rental or purchase fees to add to your monthly costs.) Slow internet? We've got tips to speed it up Slow internet? We've got tips to speed it up Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 1:32 Loaded : 6.43% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 1:32 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Slow internet? We've got tips to speed it up 4. Ask for what you want before you give up You've researched, collected your facts and jotted down your goals for the call. Preparation is the key to success, but now it's time to seal the deal. To get the best deal for your budget, you need to call and ask for what you want. "Any customer has the right to seek changes to their plan if they choose to do so," the AT&T spokesperson said. "There's not really a specific time of year for deals, but customers should check ISPs' websites regularly for any new updates or offers they can take advantage of." Goad offered that moving season from May to October is a prime time to find offers, incentives and promotions. That said, it's also a time when your customer experience might not be as good as if you called during a different time. "If you think about it, if you're going to shop on Black Friday, it's a different experience than if you shop on March 12," Goad said. "So maybe you do your research in the first and second quarter of the year and do your buying in the third quarter when you're fully prepared." If you decide to make your move during the busy season, strongly consider not calling during the busiest time of the day: the lunch hour. Whenever you choose to leap, it's worth repeating: always be courteous. That is foundational to having a good call. Try to be friendly, speak of your length of time with the provider, and highlight your excellent payment history. 5. If at first you don't succeed, try again Here's another tip from my wife: If she gets an agent who doesn't seem willing to work with her or share the same courteous approach, she'll politely end the conversation and try again. If you forget the first four steps, don't get what you need and the conversation goes south, you can try again with a new customer service rep. One colleague I spoke with echoed this advice and shared a story about her customer experience. She was so frustrated with her bill increases that she decided to get on the phone and threatened to cancel. Her hope was the provider would beg her to stay and offer a new promotion. Instead, the provider canceled her service. She sheepishly called back later and spoke with a different representative. Figuring honesty was the best policy, she shared her story and ended up with a new deal and the advice to call and just ask next time. Be prepared that it might not go your way the first time, but don't give up. You might need to call a few times to find an agent willing to work with you or find the right promotions to suit your goals. If it means a lower bill or a better plan, it's well worth the effort.

Reproductive rights advocates sue Arizona over laws regulating abortion
Reproductive rights advocates sue Arizona over laws regulating abortion

Washington Post

time23-05-2025

  • Health
  • Washington Post

Reproductive rights advocates sue Arizona over laws regulating abortion

PHOENIX — Reproductive rights advocates sued Arizona on Thursday to unravel several laws regulating abortion in the state. The lawsuit was filed by two providers in the state and the Arizona Medical Association. It comes more than six months after voters enshrined in the state constitution access to abortions up to fetal viability, which is the point at which a fetus can survive outside of the uterus.

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