Source: CNET analysis of provider data
How many members of your household use the internet?
You may have noticed a theme to this Miami ISP guide: location, location, location. The high density of apartment and condo buildings in The 305 means some places are hooked up with fiber and some aren't, so provider options are available on a case-by-case basis. Most residents will be covered by cable or DSL from the likes of Xfinity or Breezeline. Others may have access to fast fiber plans from AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber Webpass or Hotwire. And if those aren't appealing, or if you're looking to bundle phone service for a bargain, check out Verizon or T-Mobile's fixed wireless plans.
You could pay very little (Breezeline's $20 promo deal) or a lot (AT&T Fiber's 5 gigs for $245) for home internet. The average starting price for residential internet in Miami is just under $50. Bundling phone service with a fixed wireless provider can get you connected cheaply, but some heavy internet users will be more attracted to pricier fiber plans or speedier cable offerings.
Breezeline ($20 for 100Mbps) and Xfinity ($30 for 150Mbps) offer inexpensive plans for connecting to the internet. They don't have blazing speeds, but they should be fast enough for most normal internet demands like streaming video.
Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
Breezeline | $20 (12-month promo price) | 100Mbps | $15 (for the first year) | None |
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $30 (12-month promo price) | 150Mbps | $15 | 1-year |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 72Mbps | None | None |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($40 for eligible mobile customers) | 72Mbps | None | None |
Show more (0 item)
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 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 FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
Ookla (of Speedtest.net fame) tracks internet speeds for the 100 most populous US cities. Miami doesn't have the greatest showing. It sits with a median download speed of just over 124Mbps and a median upload speed of just over 11Mbps. However, some residents can tap into a fiber firehose with AT&T's 5-gigabit option or Xfinity's Gigabit X2 plan, which can deliver up to 2,000Mbps, provided your residence is hooked up for it.
Your most likely bet for blazing-fast fiber will be with AT&T and its top-of-the-line 5,000Mbps plan. If Breezeline's Gigafast plan is an option, you could get impressive speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. Multi-gigabit fiber can make sense for households with multiple heavy internet users or gamers. Otherwise, look to Google Fiber Webpass or Xfinity for plans in the 1,000Mbps range.
Provider | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber 5,000 Read full review | 5000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | $250 | None | None |
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | $150 | None | None |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | $95 (for the first two years) | 1.2TB | Varies |
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 100Mbps | $75 (for the first two years) | 1.2TB | Varies |
Hotwire | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | Varies | None | Varies |
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $80 | None | None |
Google Fiber Webpass Read full review | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | $70 | None | None |
Breezeline GigaFast | 1,000Mbps | 50Mbps | $60 (varies by location) | None | None |
Show more (3 items)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data
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. So 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.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.
When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service -- the criteria are relatively simple. We look for the service package with the lowest monthly fee, though we also take into consideration promotional rates and price per megabit.
As for choosing the fastest internet service, we look at provider throughput. Most often, that means a fiber-optic service. That said, fiber availability may be limited to a smaller percentage of addresses.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page explaining how we test ISPs.
It might feel a little overwhelming with fiber, cable, DSL and fixed wireless scattered all over Miami. How do you find the best ISP for you? It all starts with your address. Your building may be hooked up with one or more service providers already. Want fiber? Check with AT&T or Hotwire. Otherwise, plug your details into Xfinity or Breezeline's availability checkers. Still not where you want to be? Check with Verizon or T-Mobile for a fixed wireless alternative.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Miami?
Multiple Miami ISPs offer internet within the $20 to $70 range. Breezeline's one-year deal of $20 for the 100Mbps plan is about as cheap as it gets. The Xfinity Connect plan will run you $30 for 150Mbps. T-Mobile and Verizon offer bargains on fixed wireless if you bundle it with an eligible phone plan.
Show more
Which internet provider in Miami offers the fastest plan?
AT&T's Fiber 5000 offers matching download and upload speeds of up to 5,000Mbps with no data cap and contracts. This is more widely available, though it comes at a monthly cost of $245.
Show more
What is the best internet connection type for Miami?
A fiber-optic connection such as AT&T Fiber or Google Fiber Webpass can offer the best internet connection. AT&T's Fiber 5000 offers the best speeds of up to 5,000Mbps for $245 per month. On the other hand, Google Fiber Webpass is not as fast, offering speeds of up to 1,000Mbps but it is a cheaper alternative at $70 per month. That noted, fiber availability may be limited to a small percentage of households in the area. Otherwise, a cable internet connection is your best bet. Cable internet can't match fiber's speed or reliability, but it's far more accessible and available to most households in Miami.
Show more
Is fiber internet available in Miami?
Yes. Several fiber providers are servicing the greater Miami area, with AT&T Fiber having the widest reach. AT&T plans range from $55 for 300Mbps service to $245 for 5,000Mbps. That top speed tier is only available at certain addresses. If you want to balance budget and speed, check into a midlevel AT&T Fiber 1000 plan offers speeds of up to 1,000Mbps for $80 per month. Depending on your location, you may also be able to sign up with Hotwire Communications.
Show more
Is AT&T or Xfinity better in Miami?
AT&T and Xfinity are two of the most widely available ISPs in Miami. AT&T uses both fiber and DSL technology, while Xfinity uses cable. Picking a winner isn't necessarily simple. AT&T Fiber delivers blazing speeds, but the top tiers have high price tags. Xfinity slims in with a budget option at just $30 per month, but the speed won't blow you away. For each ISP, consider shopping around in the mid-tier ranges for a good combination of price and speed. The decision as to which one to go with might come down to availability and whether you need the fast upload speeds of fiber. Get a more detailed analysis with our comparison of AT&T and Xfinity.
Show more
Source: cnet.com