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New York has no shortage of internet providers, but only a few truly deliver that mix of speed, reliability and value that residents demand.
What is the best internet provider in New York?
With extensive testing behind us, Verizon Fios comes out on top as the best internet provider in New York, according to CNET experts. A recent CNET survey revealed that 63% of Americans are paying more for unreliable internet connectivity. However, Verizon delivers fast, symmetrical fiber-optic speeds and competitive pricing, making it a well-rounded choice. However, if Verizon isn’t available at your address, Optimum, Astound and Spectrum offer solid alternative choices.
If pure speed is what you’re after, Optimum offers up to 8,000Mbps speeds in select areas. Verizon Fios too has 2,000Mbps connectivity at most addresses. For something easier on the wallet, you may consider Astound Broadband’s excellent $30 a month offering for 300Mbps speeds. That’s an impressive deal.
To help you decide, we’ve broken down the best internet providers in Manhattan. If you’re in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island, check out our specialized guides for internet options in those boroughs.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in New York City across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also closely read providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what’s available in New York City. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
New York City internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment cost | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 300-1,500Mbps | Free modem | None | None | 7 |
| Optimum Read full review |
Cable/Fiber | $25-$60 | 200-1,000Mbps (varies by location) | None | None | None | 6.2 |
| Spectrum Read full review |
Cable | $30-$70 | 100-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $10 router rental (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($55-$35 with eligible mobile plans) | 133 – 498Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$75 ($35-$60 with eligible mobile plans) | 100-300Mbps (varies by location) | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read full review |
Fiber | $50-$110 ($35-$95) | 300-2,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.6 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in New York City
- Optimum: The second-largest cable internet provider in the greater New York City area, Optimum is available to much of Brooklyn and the Bronx but not Manhattan. Optimum speeds and pricing are comparable to Astound, including a gigabit plan starting at $60 monthly. Optimum also employs a fiber network throughout much of New York City, with 100% fiber connections available to roughly 2.7 million households across the country.
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Like Verizon’s 5G home internet service, T-Mobile’s coverage area reaches a good portion of New York City, save for the dead zones between and inside tall buildings. Although the two are in a similar price range and share roughly the same service features, T-Mobile isn’t as fast as Verizon 5G, with maximum speeds ranging from 87 to 498Mbps. Verizon 5G covers more of the city overall than T-Mobile Home Internet, around 89% to T-Mobile’s 85%, according to the latest data from the FCC.
- Skywire: Coverage is scattered throughout New York City and with limited availability in Midtown Manhattan, SoHo and Queens. You will find the most coverage in certain parts of Brooklyn. Skywire primarily uses a fixed wireless network, but fiber or DSL service may also be available at select addresses. Pricing and speeds will vary by location.
- Satellite internet: To truly cover all your internet options, satellite internet from Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat belong here. Technically, they are available, but there are too many other faster, cheaper and all-around better internet options in New York City to seriously consider satellite internet.
Cheap internet options in New York City
The average price for broadband in New York City is around $40, but there are a few cheaper options if you’re looking for more affordable home internet. Astound Broadband offers the cheapest plan in the city: 300Mbps starting at $30 a month.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in New York City?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in New York City
The best internet deals and top promotions in New York City depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
New York City internet providers, such as Astound Broadband, Spectrum and Optimum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Verizon Fios, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
How fast is New York City broadband?
Ookla’s latest speed test data reports New York City ranks 4th for internet speed among the 10 most populous cities in the country. With median download speeds of 290Mbps and upload speeds of nearly 42Mbps, NYC’s broadband is slightly slower than the state’s average speed of 298Mbps. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
If you’re looking for the speediest plan in New York City, Optimum offers speeds up to 8Gbps in select areas for $140 per month, but it isn’t commonly available. Customers may also access Optimum’s other gig speed offering for $60 per month, respectively. Elsewhere, Astound Broadband offers speeds up to 1.5Gbps for $70 per month and Verizon Fios tops out at 2Gbps for $120 monthly before auto pay or cellular incentives.
Fastest internet plans in New York City
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Internet providers in popular cities near NYC
See all results for internet providers in New York state
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in New York City
Internet service providers are numerous. regional and often offer confusing plans or hidden fees. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents and we look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in New York City?
NYC has a few reliable broadband options, but your best bet is any provider that offers fiber connection, like Verizon Fios. If fiber is unavailable in your area, other providers like Astound Broadband and Spectrum offer fast speeds and decent pricing as well.
Internet providers in New York City FAQ
Does New York City have fiber internet?
Yes. Approximately 75% of Manhattan residences are wired for fiber-optic internet service, according to the FCC. Verizon Fios is the largest fiber internet provider in New York City, although some addresses are eligible for fiber service from Optimum.
Can I get free Wi-Fi in New York City?
Several public places throughout New York City offer free Wi-Fi service. In addition to cafes, restaurants, hotels and other businesses with complimentary Wi-Fi, all NYC public library branches and several locations in Manhattan, including Central Park, Bowling Green, The High Line and Tompkins Square Park, have free public Wi-Fi access.
If you’re looking for free home Wi-Fi, you’ll need a wired internet connection to get Wi-Fi in your home. While some NYC internet service providers and plans are cheaper than others, no outright free home internet services are available in the city. Depending on your location and needs, a temporary free internet connection may be available from Spectrum, Optimum or Xfinity. Learn more at nyc.gov.
Is Verizon Fios or Spectrum better?
Verizon Fios has an advantage over Spectrum thanks to its 100% fiber-optic network. You’ll get symmetrical or near-symmetrical download and upload speeds with Verizon Fios, whereas Spectrum’s maximum upload speeds fall far short of its download speeds. Spectrum starts at $30, which is less than Verizon Fios unless you have a mobile discount, but that price increases by around $30 after one year and charges an equipment fee of $10 if you want to lease your router. As a cable internet provider, Spectrum is also a great choice for bundling internet and TV.
In short, both providers have their pros and cons, but the fiber network that Verizon Fios offers makes it a better choice. In any case, it’s always a good idea to fully evaluate your home internet needs and the available options in your area before committing to a particular internet provider.
