Internet services have become more of a need rather than a want. Amid the pandemic, a majority of students and workers have been shifted to remote learning and work from home. As a result, the demand for internet services went up.
A vast majority is still looking for better internet connections for their homes, the ones that can match the speeds and reliability of a commercial internet connection.
To help with that, we have finalized a list of the best internet service providers for residential usage that offer better speeds, more reliability, and cost-effectiveness compared to a lot of options available in the market.
Moreover, we have also considered a very important factor, which is the wider availability of these service providers in order to finalize this list.
Best Internet Service Provider for Homes in 2021
In our list of best internet service providers for residential usage in the year 2021, we have included names such as CenturyLink, Spectrum, Xfinity, and Optimum.
Although there are several other internet providers that offer good speed, they are generally not available in all the areas. Moreover, their cost of equipment and installation is higher compared to these service providers, which is something customers get to know only when they are in the process of signing up.
So without further ado, let’s have a look at these internet service providers and see what makes them the best choice for our list.
- CenturyLink
CenturyLink internet is among the best internet service providers that offer services through its widely available DSL connection and fiber optics. The best part about its services is that most of the plans come with a price for life guarantee.
So, as long as the customer stays at the same address and keeps the package as purchased, the price will not go up. This is the peace of mind that customers actually go for, and something that makes CenturyLink better than other service providers.
Besides that, its fiber network delivers a download speed of up to 940 Mbps at a monthly price of $65 while the qualified customers can also get the equipment and installation for free (promotion is limited to specific areas and is subject to change).
Customers also get the opportunity to add a landline phone along with their internet service that offers unlimited local and local distance calling. The bundle only costs $85 per month with a price for life guarantee.
DSL customers can get a download speed of up to 100 Mbps with about 1000 GB of data per month at a monthly price of $49. In case the 100 Mbps is not available in the area, they will get the highest available speed at the same price
- Spectrum
Spectrum is another great choice when it comes to finding internet services for the home. It is not just widely available, but also offers great speeds and multiple plans based on customer needs.
With Spectrum, the download speeds start from up to 30 Mbps and go up to 940 Mbps. In between, customers have the option to go for the download speed of up to 200 Mbps and 400 Mbps. Moreover, the prices for these plans start from $14.99 and go up to $109.99 per month.
Meanwhile, what makes Spectrum so special is actually the service features offered along with the internet services. No customers are bound in any sort of contracts, there is truly unlimited data without any additional data charges, Spectrum offers the modem for free, and above all, pays up to $500 in terms of contract buyout if you want to switch to Spectrum and get a qualified service bundle.
- Comcast/ Xfinity
Xfinity by Comcast is so far the largest cable internet provider in the US with services in over 39 states and access to millions of customers. It also offers internet services through a fiber connection with a download speed of up to 2000 Mbps but that is something not affordable for everyone.
With Xfinity internet plans, there are various speed options that start from less than 100 Mbps and go up to 2000 Mbps. So, customers get a lot of options to choose from. Moreover, the price for 100 Mbps starts from $34.99 and goes up to $84.99 per month for the 1000 Mbps.
However, some of these plans require contracts if you want to benefit from the lower prices. If you opt-out of the contract, the same plan costs way more. So, customers have to choose between paying a higher price or getting stuck with it for the next year or two.
On the other hand, it is reliable and trusted by millions which makes it worth a shot.
- Optimum/ Altice
Optimum is another one of the best internet options for residential customers with reasonable prices and several speeds to choose from.
It is a combination of fiber and cable internet where the download speed of up to Gig is delivered through the fiber while the other speed options such as 100 Mbps, 300 Mbps, and 400 Mbps are delivered via cable. Meanwhile, for areas where fiber is currently not an option, the download speed of up to 940 Mbps is also delivered through its cable network.
As for prices, they are generally based on promotions but customers can get a download speed of up to 300 Mbps for about $39.99 per month while the gig plan costs about $69.99 per month.
Final Take
A good internet service provider means a good experience of services. You might have used any of these internet service providers in the past and would know that they are totally worth it. Whether we look at them in terms of outages or the ease to reach out whenever there is an issue, they certainly are among the best.