Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Make sure you look at the cost per megabit per second of the provider's plans to better understand whether you're getting a good deal. A cost per Mbps between 10 to 20 cents is pretty good, but the most cost-efficient plans cost around 5 cents per Mbps or lower. While it's fantastic to avoid having to sign a contract (and escape the looming threat of early termination fees), you still want to do your homework and make sure you're not paying a premium for the freedom of not having a term agreement.
How many members of your household use the internet?
Also, look into the type of internet connection offered by the ISP. While some households -- especially those in underserved or rural areas -- may not have many options, the general rule is that 5G and satellite home internet is better than DSL, cable internet is better than satellite and 5G internet but fiber internet trumps them all. As you may have already noticed, the cost per Mbps of fiber internet plans are generally pretty low because fiber speeds outpace the speeds offered by other internet connection types.
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 answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Sometimes, it feels like you must sign away your firstborn child -- or at least the next two years of your life -- to get internet service in your area. It's easy to be swayed by slimmed-down introductory prices, but lurking behind that first-year cheer can be a hefty bill increase and unrelenting extra fees if you dare change your mind or (shudder!) have to move.
Thankfully, that's changing. Competition is brewing among internet service providers as we become more dependent on broadband connections. That's one reason why some ISPs have dropped their contract requirements. You may even find internet deals offering to buy you out of your contract to get you to switch. That's good news for anyone looking to effectively explore their home internet options.
What does "no-contract internet" mean?
"No-contract internet" -- sometimes called month-to-month internet service -- refers to broadband service that doesn't require you to sign a term agreement with your internet service provider. For example, with some ISPs, you must commit to a two-year contract to get broadband coverage. That's not no-contract internet. True no-contract internet means you should be able to cancel service at any time without penalty (notwithstanding the return of any leased equipment, of course).
Can I get Wi-Fi at home without a contract?
We get this question quite often, as many assume they must pay for Wi-Fi separately from their internet service. That's not the case, generally. You often get Wi-Fi when you sign up with an internet provider, as many will provide you with a gateway. That's a combination of a modem (which connects your home to the internet) and a router (which takes that internet signal from the modem and broadcasts it wirelessly to the other devices in your home). Even if your ISP only provides the modem, you can rent a router or use your own. If you can get an internet connection at your address without signing a contract, you should have options to have Wi-Fi at your home without committing to a contract.
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What is the best no-contract internet service provider?
It may sound like a cop-out, but the best no-contract internet provider for you is the one that's serviceable at your address. As we've mentioned many times in our ISP reviews, all things being equal, if you can get fiber internet at your location, that's the way to go. It'll give you the best performance of all the internet connection types -- you'll get symmetrical download and upload speeds -- and will often be the most affordable in terms of cost per megabit per second. Google Fiber, which includes all equipment costs and fees in your monthly rate, is the cheapest, averaging just over 4 cents per Mbps. Its availability pales compared to the fiber plans of AT&T, for example. If you live in one of the metro markets where it offers service, Google Fiber is an easy choice, but AT&T Fiber might be everyone else's top option.
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Can I get internet without paying upfront?
Unfortunately, none of the major internet providers offer buy-now-pay-later plans. However, you can turn to ISPs like Xfinity and Cox, which offer plans that are free of contract through prepaid internet or low-cost internet plans.
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Source: cnet.com