Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
CNET has covered the best ISPs in several major cities in Maryland. We’ve compiled information on internet connection types, data caps, maximum speeds and more. If you don’t see your hometown below, don’t worry -- we’re working to add more city lists each week.
Most ISPs in Maryland have plans that cost around $50, but there are ways to slim that down. Xfinity’s widely available 200Mbps Connect More plan runs $30 monthly for the first year of service. It’s an especially good deal if you have your own equipment and don’t have to add $15 per month for an xFi Gateway rental. Verizon mobile customers with an eligible phone plan can pull down some pretty sweet home internet savings. With Verizon 5G Home Internet, for example, you can get $15 off, bringing the lowest-price internet plan down to $35 a month.
Bethesda, Gaithersburg or Anne Arundel County residents with access to Astound Broadband’s network can get a one-year intro price of $20 a month for 300Mbps cable service. Breezeline’s cable plans start at $20 monthly for 100Mbps for the first year.
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Plan | Starting monthly price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
---|---|---|---|
Astound Broadband 300 Read full review | $20 | 300Mbps | None |
Breezeline 100 | $20 | 100Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Point Broadband 300 | $39 | 300Mbps | None |
Verizon Fios 300 Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps | None |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 100Mbps | None |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $65 | 1,000Mbps | $15 (optional) |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
The best internet deals and top promotions in Maryland depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Maryland internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Verizon Fios and Point Broadband, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Maryland does pretty well when it comes to broadband speeds. A recent Ookla ranking put Maryland in 11th place for fastest median download speeds among the states and Washington, D.C. The Old Line State logged a median download speed of 227Mbps. That general peppiness of home internet speed is thanks in part to wide coverage by Verizon Fios and Xfinity across the state. Both offer plans in the gig range, making fast internet available to most households.
The speeds you get at home will depend on many factors, including which ISPs are available and the internet technology you choose. Fiber has the advantage of fast uploads, which makes a difference if you move large files around. Maryland’s cable providers offer plans at the gig level or above, making them solid options for fast downloads.
Plan | Starting price | Max download speeds | Max upload speeds | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|
Choptank Fiber Ultra Gigafast | $279 | 2,500Mbps | 2,500Mbps | Fiber |
Shentel Glo Fiber | $140 | 2,400Mbps | 2,400Mbps | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $120 | 2,000Mbps | 50Mbps | Cable |
Astound Broadband  Read full review | $20 | 1,500Mbps | 50Mbps | Cable |
Antietam Broadband | $90 | 1,300Mbps | 1,300Mbps | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $75 | 1,200Mbps | 35Mbps | Cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $50 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | Cable |
Point Broadband | $60 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | Fiber |
Astound Broadband 940 Read full review | $50 | 940Mbps | 20Mbps | Cable |
Verizon Fios 1 Gig Read full review | $90 | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, 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 FCC. 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.
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites 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 also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for 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. 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:
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 also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Verizon Fios and Xfinity are the home internet heavyweights in Maryland. Thanks to reliability and fast upload speeds, fiber is nice if you can get it. That’s why we picked Fios as the top ISP in the state. With cable providers like Xfinity, you can typically get great introductory rates and access to gig speeds or above, but you’ll find yourself wrestling with a price hike down the line. Be sure to check which other ISPs are available at your address. For example, you might want to explore 5G home internet service as an affordable alternative. You may also find service from a local or regional ISP or another cable provider that works well for your speed needs or pocketbook.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Maryland?
Cheap internet options will depend on which ISPs service your address. Xfinity and Verizon are the most broadly available ISPs in Maryland. Of the two, Xfinity has lower-cost introductory plans, notably a 150Mbps plan for $20 per month, with that pricing good for a year. You’ll need to factor in renting or buying equipment. Bundling an eligible phone plan with Verizon home internet service can net you big savings, knocking your 100Mbps 5G plan down to just $35 monthly. If Breezeline or Astound Broadband service your address, you can take advantage of some low-cost promotional rates.
Which internet provider in Maryland offers the fastest plan?
Of the widely available Verizon Fios and Xfinity plans, Xfinity offers faster downloads with a top speed of 2,000Mbps in some areas but uploads max out at 200Mbps. Verizon’s top-end Fios plan comes with 940Mbps downloads and 880Mbps uploads. There are faster plans to be found in some pockets of the state. Glo Fiber, for example, is available in areas of Frederick County and goes up to 2,400Mbps. Choptank Fiber delivers 2,500Mbps service to parts of the Eastern Shore.
Is fiber internet available in Maryland?
Verizon Fios is the fiber provider you’re most likely to run into around Maryland, but there are some ISPs with smaller fiber footprints around the state. Choptank Fiber, for example, delivers speeds up to 2,500Mbps to the Eastern Shore. Point Broadband brings gig fiber to Hagerstown, and Antietam Broadband offers fiber in parts of Washington County.
What internet provider has the best coverage in Maryland?
The most recent FCC National Broadband Map data crowns Xfinity as the widest-reaching wired ISP in Maryland. It’s accessible to nearly 87% of homes in the state.
Source: cnet.com