Our data analysts and editors assess and compare internet providers across nearly 40 different metrics that help determine the company’s performance and subsequent score. We look at everything from customer experience and support to pricing, plans and nationwide availability. We analyze several top review platforms for firsthand customer experience and combine those sentiments with other data points to reach our best internet service provider ratings.
We are dedicated to delivering independent, objective ratings and information to our readers. We use data research and expert contributors to advise our content, and our advisory board of licensed professionals helps fact-check and review our pages for precision and relevance. We always strive to offer transparent ratings in all of our best-of methodologies, entirely separate from any affiliate programs. You can take a look at our editorial guidelines on any internet page.
The way we rate internet companies is relatively straightforward. We use close to 40 data points to establish various scoring factors. We also look at customer sentiments and data from our surveys to understand what is essential to a customer seeking out a new internet service provider. Below are the categories we use to rate all the companies for our internet best-ofs.
Each internet best-of has a custom methodology based on the theme of that particular best-of (for example, cheapest internet providers). Based on customer views, expert insights and data collected, the Forbes Home team prioritizes specific categories over others to help consumers make the most informed decision for their unique situation.
For the cheapest internet providers, pricing information, like the lowest-priced plan available, was factored most heavily along with other top data points including:
The most important factor considered for fastest internet companies is the minimum and maximum advertised download and upload speeds along with a few other important considerations including:
For the list of best rural internet providers factors like nationwide availability and whether a data cap was implemented were considered along with other important points like:
We utilize more hyperlocal datasets to create our best local internet provider pages. The Forbes Home team focuses on locally serviced internet companies as well as their customer reviews and sentiments and response time. Our team takes the Bayesian rating approach, in which we consider both average rating and number of ratings on each platform.
The internet company best-of rankings are established by the Forbes Home using strict methodologies guided by the editorial team, which boasts a decade of experience in the home space. The content in these best-ofs is informed by extensive independent data research and gathering, analysis and insights provided by contributors and editors. Each article has several review phases before publication and is regularly revised to retain on-page accuracy, relevancy and freshness.
Sami Allen is the managing editor at Forbes Home, with over seven years of experience in the home space and 10 years of editing experience.
Lexie is a deputy editor at Forbes Home and has over 6 years of professional experience as a writer and editor in the home improvement space. She's previously worked at sites such as HomeAdvisor and Angi (formerly Angie's List).
Lowe is a lead editor, covering all things related to home improvement and good design. She previously worked in the decor and lifestyle spaces for digital publishers such as Hunker, First Media and Ranker and has multiple years of experience creating design and DIY content.
Kristin is a deputy editor at Forbes Home and has nearly a decade of professional experience as a writer and editor. She's previously worked at sites like Talking Points Memo, Insider, Delish, Angi and HomeAdvisor. She has a passion for lifestyle topics and has extensive experience researching and reporting on topics that will help make your house a home.
Cassidy is an updates editor whose main responsibility is to write and edit articles on a range of home improvement topics. Her passion for lifestyle writing began with her editorial apprenticeship at Travel + Leisure magazine. Moving from travel to home, Cassidy now specializes in writing DIY and interior design content.
