Having the best internet provider you can afford is essential in these days. Much like electricity itself, Internet Services Providers (or ISPs) are a mainstay of your home. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 90% of all houses have a high-speed internet connection. However, as the need for a top internet connection increases, ISPs are still struggling to keep the costumers satisfied.
Despite those “struggles”, some internet providers are better than others. With our partner’s help, we’ve rated the top internet providers of 2021. So, keep reading to learn more about each company!
Top Internet Providers of 2021
1.Xfinity
Xfinity is the overall top internet provider available in United States market and is owned by Comcast, the large the nation’s largest cable provider with coverage in over 39 states. This means that you get good coverage and availability. The company offers six cable and two fiber internet plans. Prices for cable plans start as low as $29.99 per month and goes until $69.99 per month for 600 Mbps download speeds and 20 Mbps upload speeds. Also, fiber internet plans are available in some areas up to 2 Gbps per $299 a month.
2.Verizon Internet
Verizon Internet really shines when comes to performance and reliability, elements there are essential for internet customer satisfaction. It’s plans for fiber internet range from 200 to 940 Mbps, and there are no data caps limiting your monthly data usage.
3.AT&T Internet
AT&T is a big name in United States market but is available in only 21 states. Lider in residential DSL internet provider in the US, it also offers three fiber optic internet plans. AT&T’s customers use to save money by bundling their internet with other services like U-Verse and DirectTV. Both cable providers are owned by the company and offer attractive discounts when bundled together.
4.Spectrum
Spectrum is in our ranking because it supplies internet service for those who wants great speeds and top connection performance. The company’s services are available in 42 states and are a great choice for professionals who work at home, gamers and large households that watches 4K video streaming on multiple devices.
5.HughesNet
HughesNet is the largest satellite provider in the United States, offering nationwide coverage in all 50 states. It’s the best choice for those who lives in rural areas where traditional cable and fiber optic service aren’t available. The company offers simple upfront pricing, with the same packages and services no matter your area. HughesNet offers 25 Mbps with every plan, which is suitable for streaming and medium internet use.
Besides those top companies, there are a few that stands from the most services offered in US. Here are some of them:
- Cox Internet
- RCN Internet
- CenturyLink Internet
- Internet Frontier
- Media with Internet
- Viasat Internet
- Optimum Internet
What Is An Internet Provider?
An internet provider is a service promoted by specialized companies that connect the internet to computers, cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices that use this technology.
In the past, dial-up connections were part of the homes of Brazilians who had the internet at the time. They worked as follows: “calls” were made to the internet provider company, which then made the intermediary of the connection between the telecommunications operators and the users. In other words, it was the provider’s duty to offer the protocols that allowed internet access in homes and businesses.
However, with the arrival of broadband internet, with connections via cable, satellite, radio or fiber, some important changes were made in this structure. Since then, the operator itself can play the role of intermediary and charge its own values so that consumers can hire and use its internet.
Therefore, currently, the provider is the company that offers internet plans to the consumer, as well as making them available, guaranteeing the stability of the connection and making repairs whenever necessary.
Types Of Internet Services
Overall, broadband internet is offered in four different forms – cable, DSL, satellite, and fiber optic – any or all of which may be available where you live. Even though they are all considered high-speed internet connections, each one comes with its own set of benefits, pricing options and features.
DSL
This technology uses the phone line to connect to the internet. The acronym in English stands for “Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line”. This “asymmetric” is meant to indicate that there is a difference between upload and download rates. In other words, the speed to download a file from the internet is greater than the speed available to send that same file.
It is a type of connection that is still quite common in-home use among people who only use the internet occasionally, visiting a website or checking email. ADSL technology suffers a lot of interruptions, due to interference, and it is not the best service for those who cannot stay disconnected for a long time.
Optical fiber
Optical fiber is a unique internet modality. Instead of using electricity to send data, it uses light, which literally turns your internet connection at the speed of light.
In addition to ultra-speed, optical fiber offers symmetrical download and upload rates. This means that you will spend the same amount of time downloading or uploading data. As such, it is an excellent alternative for people who play online games, use streaming services and take part in video calls.
Another benefit of optical fiber is that it doesn’t suffer from external interference, ensuring that you always keep the connection.
Cable
This type of connection uses the same cable TV network for data transmission. It is often used by people who have hired a combo of these services. Here, the rates for sending and receiving data are the same. Cable can reach a higher internet speed than ADSL, but it is still far from the ultra-speed of optical fiber.
Another important detail: the cable network is shared among all residents of a region. So, when you connect to your favorite streaming platform, chances are your neighbors are doing the same thing. This leads to network congestion, reducing your internet speed.
Satellite
In this type of connection, an antenna installed in your home supplies internet by sending and receiving signals emitted by satellites that orbit around the Earth. As it does not require cables or wires, it is often used in areas that do not offer other types of connections, such as rural areas.
Because of the delay in data exchange between the satellite and the antenna, this connection has a slower speed when compared to other services. It is also very sensitive to outside interference. Cloudy weather and even a tree branch in the direction of the antenna can prejudice the service.
How To Pick An Internet Service Provider?
After all that information, it’s perfectly normal if you get a little lost. Luckly, there are companies specialized in finding the best internet service provider available near you. That’s a great, simple and cheap way to help you in your decision.
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