What is the best internet service provider in Massachusetts?
According to CNET, is the best online supplier in Massachusetts, cheers to its strong speeds, competitive prices and reliability. You have more choices than one, so you have to chose from, and isn’t applicable in every state. For people in southeast Massachusetts, is a powerful alternate, offering quick speeds at affordable rates. In remote areas, native fibre systems may give better service.
If affordability or top-tier speeds are your priority, Massachusetts offers plans starting as low as$ 20 per month from Astound. Xfinity’s$ 30 strategy includes speeds up to 300 megabits per second, while Astound offers 300Mbps for half that. Xfinity offers a commonly available 2, 000Mbps plan for the fastest speeds, but some neighborhood fibre providers may provide even faster multigig options.
Our approach
CNET considers speeds, costs, customer service and total value to propose Massachusetts’s best internet service provider across several categories. Our evaluation includes references to a specialized database created from years of internet service reviews. We spot-check native addresses for support availability to compare that against company information. We also thoroughly read the terms and conditions of the companies ‘ agreements and, as necessary, request ISPs to check the details.
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Despite our best efforts to provide the most recent and reliable data, our procedure has some limitations that you should be aware of. Prices and speed data are changing: Some addresses may qualify for various service levels, and monthly costs may vary, yet within a city. The best way to find out what options are available is to enter your target into the site of the provider.
Additionally, the company cards below and the prices, velocity, and other details listed above may not match what we found in our analysis. According to our database of strategy information provided instantly by ISPs, the cards show the complete range of a company’s pricing and speed across the US. At the same time, the word is certain to what’s attainable in Massachusetts. The costs referenced in the text of this article are based on our research and include relevant discounts for setting up monthly automated payments, which is a common industry offer. For terms of service agreements or the bundling of multiple companies, discounts and promotions might also be attainable.
Visit our entire strategy page to learn how we evaluate digital providers.
Massachusetts ‘ best online service in 2024
Origin: CNET analysis of supplier data.
Rural online choices in Massachusetts
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Fiber Connect of the Berkshires: Pieces of Monterey, Egremont, New Marlborough and central Great Barrington can get fibers internet through local service Fiber Connect of the Berkshires. The$ 99-per-month domestic program comes with 1, 000Mbps downloads and 250Mbps files with a one-year deal. There’s a$ 499 installation fee if fiber internet hasn’t yet been run to your address. There are no files caps, and a router is included.Provincial bandwidth: Some towns in Massachusetts have begun offering broadband to underserved and underserved areas. Rates and speeds vary by site. Leverett is just one instance of this provincial bandwidth initiative. Also, check in with Designed West, a joint of cities in northern Massachusetts that includes Becket, Heath and Washington. Whip City Fiber runs the sites as an ISP while WiredWest manages the provincial bandwidth. Whip City’s gig plan in Westfield costs$ 70 per month with no contracts, plus equipment is included.Verizon Home Internet: Verizon offers grain and 5G internet choices, but it also maintains its identity DSL community in some places that aren’t covered by more modern technology. That implies that some rural people may be able to use outdated DSL to access the internet. For the$ 50 to$ 70 monthly price tag, connection speeds can vary and possibly be agonizingly slow. For example, an address I ran in Holyoke maxed out at 15Mbps, which doesn’t even qualify as broadband in the eyes of the FCC. Before signing up for Verizon DSL, consider other options.
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Finally, Starlink, and are the big three names among . Satellite has some drawbacks. It can be expensive, and speeds may be slow. Some rural households might not have other viable options for online access. If cable, DSL, or even a local fiber company reaches your address, check with wired providers. If you settle on satellite, compare contracts, monthly fees and speeds. Starlink requires a$ 349 upfront equipment cost, but it also has the potential for higher top speeds than its competitors.
Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images
Internet breakdown by city in Massachusetts
It’s challenging to include all of a state’s broadband options while also giving individual cities the attention they deserve. For that reason, CNET has also put together lists of the best internet providers in towns across the country, including some in Massachusetts. If you don’t see your city below, check back later. Every week, we’re attempting to add more coverage.
Cheap internet options in Massachusetts
Cable providers Astound and Xfinity offer some of the state’s lowest home internet plans. They offer plans ranging between$ 20-$ 40 per-month. Astound has 300Mbps downloads ( equipment included ), while Xfinity has 300Mbps ( modem not included ). That’s about the same as what you can get for wired broadband, but be prepared for a price increase with either company down the road.
Combining your monthly internet bill with a Verizon or T-Mobile plan is a good way to lower your monthly costs. That could save you a sizable amount on your home internet bill.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Massachusetts?
Origin: CNET analysis of supplier data.
How to find internet deals and promos in Massachusetts
What are the best online coupons and top promotions in Massachusetts that are available at any given time? Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
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Massachusetts internet providers, such as Xfinity or Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Whip City Fiber and Starry, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the .
How fast is Massachusetts broadband?
In a , Massachusetts recorded a median download speed of around 225Mbps. The Bay State placed in 14th place in the US because of that. Xfinity was cited by Ookla as the state’s fastest provider. Xfinity is the most widely used ISP and has a top speed of 2, 000Mbps ( in some areas ). FCC data shows speeds of 250Mbps down and 25Mbps up are accessible to over 98 % of homes in Massachusetts. Some rural households will still have to choose between DSL and satellite as options. A number of towns in the west have begun municipal fiber projects to increase gigabit speeds for their residents. If you’re looking for small-town life but still need fast internet, check into places like Rowe, Leverett or New Salem. ( Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis. )
Fastest internet plans in Massachusetts
Origin: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most modern internet connection plans can now handle simple tasks like communication and productivity. 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, . Please take note that these are only general guidelines and that each connection type, provider, and address affects internet speed, performance, and service.
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For more information, refer to our guide on .
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0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
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5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
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40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
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100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
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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 Massachusetts
There are numerous and local Internet service providers. Unlike the latest , , or , it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we utilize a proprietary pricing, availability, and speed database based on our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping data from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC. gov.
We visit the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we take into account every ISP that offers service in a given area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find out what options are available to residents. 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. All information provided is current and accurate at the time of publication. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
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Does the provider provide access to reasonably quick internet speeds?
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Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
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Are customers happy with their service?
The providers we recommend often have layers and layers of answers to those questions, but those that answer all three come closest to saying “yes” to each of them. We look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee when choosing the least expensive internet service, taking into account costs like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We consider sources like and for advertised upload and download speeds and take actual-world speed measurements into account.
Visit our page to learn more about our process.
What’s the final word on internet in Massachusetts?
The best Massachusetts ISP for your home will depend on your location. Xfinity has the widest wired coverage, so chances are good it services your address. That implies a variety of plans and reasonable introductory rates, but you’ll likely need to budget for equipment rental and can anticipate paying an increased price. For quick upload speeds and simple plans, eastern Massachusetts residents should use Verizon Fios. If you’re outside of Xfinity and Fios territory, check with your cable provider Spectrum.
Rural areas can be a little trickier to access the internet. Alternatives like satellite internet or DSL may be less than satisfactory. If you’re in a pinch, look at Starlink, which allows you to test-drive the service to see how well it works for you. If you want to relocate to a quieter part of Massachusetts away from the big cities, do your research. Some small towns offer fiber hookups.
Massachusetts internet service providers FAQs
What is the cheapest internet provider in Massachusetts?
Cable providers Astound and Xfinity Broadband both offer$ 20-$ 40 per-month introductory rates. With Xfinity, that means download speeds of 300Mbps, along with an optional$ 15-per-month gateway rental. If you bring your own equipment, you can skip the rental. Although it has a much smaller coverage area than Xfinity, it also offers 300Mbps downloads.
Which Massachusetts internet service provider offers the quickest plan?
Quite a few ISPs in Massachusetts offer gig-level home internet, but there aren’t many options for multi-gig plans. Xfinity’s Gigabit X2 plan with 2, 000Mbps downloads is available in some parts of its coverage area.
Is fiber internet available in Massachusetts?
Verizon Fios is a renowned top ISP in the Boston metro area and has wide fiber internet coverage on the state’s eastern side. Look to local fiber providers for local broadband initiatives in other parts of the state.
What internet provider has the best coverage in Massachusetts?
Looking at wired internet, Xfinity has the widest coverage across the state. Check with Spectrum for cable internet in areas that are not served by Xfinity.