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4 min readAre you dreading getting the internet set up at your new home? We’ve compared prices, plans, and installation for more than 21 internet service providers (ISPs) across the US to help you find the fastest, most affordable, and easiest internet to set up in your area.
Let’s dig into ways you can find the best internet for your new home and check that task off your moving to-do list.
Finding the best internet service for your new home should be simple. You shouldn’t have to hijack your neighbor’s Wi-Fi to use your phone, computer, and other devices. We’ll break it down into four easy steps so you end up with the best possible internet connection at your new address:
First things first: your internet choices primarily depend on the location of your new home.
For example, you’ll see internet providers like AT&T and Spectrum in Chicago, Illinois. But if you’re moving to Bellevue, Washington, you’ll see Xfinity and CenturyLink. And that doesn’t even cover smaller, local internet providers.
This may seem daunting, and we don’t blame you. That’s why we built this easy internet provider search tool to help you find the ISPs available in your area. It uses your new zip code to check which internet providers offer service in that area.
Once you’ve figured out which ISPs are available in your area, you can compare them with our list of the most common internet providers.
After you zoom in on which internet providers are in your area, you’ll have a handful of plans with different download speeds to choose from. Your first instinct might be to go with the fastest plan that sticks with your budget, but this could leave you high and dry in one of two ways:
Neither of those is a great scenario, but you can easily avoid them by getting an idea of how much internet you need for your household with these general bandwidth (internet speed) recommendations:
Data as of 11/9/2020.
If you prefer to get more specific and do the math, you can tally up the number of people and devices that use your internet.
If you need some ideas of who or what might be using your internet, here’s a list of ideas to get you started:
Next, we’ll add up the bandwidth, or download speed, you need per person and device.
For each person in your household, add 25 Mbps. For each device, a safe starting point is 10 Mbps—unless it’s a 4K device, then you’ll want to allot 25 Mbps.
For example, let’s say you have a home with three people and a handful of connected devices:
Add up people and connected devices to get recommended Mbps
The recommended internet speed for this household is 175 Mbps. But keep in mind, that’s if every single person and every single device is online at the same time. So, if this family has a lot of offline time, they can likely get away with purchasing around 100 Mbps.
Okay, now that you’ve got an idea of which ISPs you can choose from and what kind of internet speed you need, it’s time to make a decision. Here’s a quick look at some of the more common internet providers in the US, how they stack up for price, and what range of speeds they offer.
Provider | Promotional price | Download speeds | Learn more |
 | $35.00–$60.00/mo.* | 300–940 Mbps | View Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $50.00–$65.00/mo.** | Up to 100–940 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $19.99–$99.99/mo.† | 25–940 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $49.95–$99.95/mo.†† | 3–1,000 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $49.99–$74.99/mo.‡ | 500–1,000 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $70.00–$100.00/mo.‡‡ | 1,000–2,000 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $59.99–$149.99/mo.§§ | 25 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $19.99–$79.99/mo.¶ | 60–1,000 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $35.00–$80.00/mo.° | 300–940 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $49.99–$109.99/mo.◊◊ | Up to 100–up to 1,000 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $39.99–$89.99/mo.ΔΔ | 200–up to 940 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $30.00–$150.00/mo.*** | 12–100 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $27.00–$85.00/mo.††† | 25–1,000 Mbps | View Plans |
 | $34.99–$94.99/mo.§§§ | 50–1,200 Mbps | View Plans |
Data as of 9/2/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
We also recommend checking reviews for the internet providers you’re considering. We regularly update our lists of the best internet providers, the fastest internet providers, and even the best satellite ISPs so you can get an idea of what to expect.
If you work from home, study at home, or just download a lot of videos, songs, and games (legally, of course), you’ll want to keep an eye on your internet data.
Unlimited data is best—it means no worries. We’ve got a list of all the major ISPs with no data caps, plus ways to add data if you’re stuck with a cap.
Every ISP’s installation process is different, but more and more internet providers are offering self-installation kits.
Of course, getting your hands dirty may not sound appealing, especially when you just did all that moving into your new place. Here’s some general reasons why self-installation might be your best choice—or not.
Often cheaper than pro installation
No waiting for a technician
May be less time-consuming
Done on your own time 
May be more difficult to troubleshoot
Not available for certain internet types, like satellite and some fiber
An expert handles connecting your main device
Instant support if something goes wrong
A technician does the heavy lifting, like wiring or installing equipment
Usually more expensive
Done by appointment, which can involve high wait times
Not always available when you need it Our recommendation? Use the self-installation kit if you feel comfortable setting up your modem and router. If that’s not your cup of tea, spending the extra money and waiting the extra time for professional installation is well worth it.
Still stuck in the rabbit hole that is deciding on the best internet service for your new home? We might be able to help you find a way out:
*For the first 12 months plus taxes and equip. fee.
**New customers only. Rate requires paperless billing and excludes taxes. Additional fees apply.
†For the first 12 months with a 1-year term agreement.
††With a 12-month contract.
‡For 24 months with 2-year agreement. Actual speeds may vary. Installation, equipment fees, Internet Infrastructure Surcharge, early term, taxes & other fees apply. Services subject to availability and all applicable terms and conditions.
‡‡Plus taxes and fees. Service not available in all areas.
§§Requires 24-month agreement.
¶For the first 12 months.
°w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill plus taxes, fees & charges.
◊◊Wireless speeds may vary.
ΔΔw/Auto Pay + taxes. Equipment charges may apply.
***For the first 3 months.
†††For the first 12 months.
§§§For the first 12 months. Some packages require a 1- or 2-year contract.
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