Table of Contents
Among the first things you’ll need to do when you move into your new home is set up your internet network. But with so many options out there, choosing an internet provider can be a deceptively tricky process. Here are the facts to consider when selecting the best internet provider for your home.
Featured Partners
1
T-Mobile
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
27
2
Xfinity
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
36
3
AT&T Internet
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Number of States Covered
21
1. Determine Which Providers Are Available in Your Area
Many internet providers offer service nationwide, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that their services are available in all zip codes. So determine which internet providers offer services in your zip code before you make any other internet-related decisions. Remember that prices can vary from area to area, so even if the internet provider you used in your previous home is available at your new home, it may cost more at the new location. That means that switching providers could be the best choice in the long run even if it seems like a hassle now.
2. Identify Your Needs
The internet provider and plan that you choose should depend on what exactly you’re planning to use the internet for. If you’re just surfing the web and checking email, for example, you probably can get away with using the lowest-speed internet available to you. If you’re going to be streaming videos and/or playing games, you’ll want to select a higher-speed internet option.
Keep in mind that the more people who useg the internet at once, the more speed you are going to need. So if you live in a busy, high-tech household, you’ll want to choose one of the higher-speed internet options available to you. Note that these plans can often be easily changed, so if you find you need more speed than you originally signed up for, you can likely amend that by calling your provider.
You’ll also want to determine whether your provider has a data cap or not, and if so, whether that data cap can accommodate the amount of data you use monthly. If you’re not sure, talk to a representative from the provider in question about your day-to-day internet habits. Additionally, you can read reviews on sites like Yelp and Consumer Reports to learn about other people’s experiences with given internet providers.
3. Assess the Prices
Now that you’ve identified your internet-based needs, use the data you’ve collected to compare the prices of each plan that meets your criteria. You should consider the cost per month, but also fees that might be less obvious upon first glance like the costs of equipment, set-up, installation and exceeding your data cap if there is one. You might also look into the possibility of bundling your internet plan with your phone plan and/or your TV plan. This could cost you significantly less in the long run.
Additionally, you’ll want to determine whether there will be any cancellation fees should you decide that the internet plan you’ve selected isn’t right for you. Look out for these particularly if you’re not familiar with the internet provider and its services.
4. Look Into Special Features and Add-Ons
Some internet service providers offer free wireless routers instead of forcing you to buy new equipment. This could save you some serious cash. Other service providers might offer freebies like online backup services, personal website hosting, antivirus program subscriptions and Wi-Fi hotspot access to go with their internet plans. If these are services you were already intending on paying for, it might be worth it to go with an internet plan based on the special features it offers.
Featured Partners
1
T-Mobile
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
27
2
Xfinity
Customer Reviews
Great
Number of States Covered
36
3
AT&T Internet
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Number of States Covered
21
5. Get a Sense of Customer Service
Especially if you’re depending on the internet for work-related purposes, it’s important to ensure the connection is reliable, and that if something goes awry, a trusty customer service team can have you up-and-running again in no time. Try reading reviews of internet service providers on websites like DSLReports. You can also get a sense of customer service yourself by calling the number of your potential internet service provider and talking through your assessment with a representative.
Keep in mind that for many internet service providers, customer service and reliability can vary in different parts of the country. So be sure to be zip code-specific when doing your research.
