Here at LocalCableDeals, we regularly review and rate internet service providers across a range of relevant factors such as pricing, performance, reliability, customer satisfaction, and overall value. Why? So, you can have a complete picture of where each ISP stands and choose the best internet option in your area.
LocalCableDeals is led by industry experts with decades of telecom sector experience and featured contributions to leading publications worldwide. We’ve partnered up with 30+ providers so you can easily get a good deal regardless of where you are located in the States.
Reviewing internet service providers (ISPs) is anything but easy. Network technologies, service features, and availability can greatly vary; even the difference of a street can alter the results.
For a comprehensive analysis and near-perfect rating, ideally, we’d have to test a provider’s connection against the entire breadth of online activities carried out by all the customers in its footprint. Not to forget the performance on a plethora of apps and a range of devices from every operating system.
Given the complexity of that scenario, we go for a more practical and realistic process for our ISP assessment. One that’s broadly applicable, repeatable, and can adapt to the latest industry trends and evolving consumer preferences.
We believe in the power of people-led data. Our reviews systematically combine survey results, customer feedback collected from service pages and sales calls, and our team’s unbiased impression of an internet service provider with YOU at the core.
Here's a brief walkthrough of our process:
By comparing customer feedback data with a thorough analysis of provider offerings, informed by industry standards, we ensure our reviews are both accurate and helpful.
Going the extra mile, our team performs a series of tests on each ISP connection, which range from traffic bearing to claim validity.
Here are the different protocols we follow:
For this particular test, we ensure no intense activities are running on the network outside the normal. This scenario measures how a connection performs under different traffic conditions.
We, then, simulate a busy network by streaming a 4K movie on multiple laptops, downloading a large file on a personal computer, or playing multiplayer games to evaluate how a connection sustains..
We also test whether a network is protected from unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential threats to determine its core security level.
In the end, we compare all our findings with FCC regulations, broadband labels from the providers, and the official claims on their websites to give a verdict on their accuracy and reliability.
You can trust us because we value transparency above all else. Our approach is intended to be fair, methodical, and most importantly, helpful. This is why we’ve explained our review process in great detail for your understanding.
LocalCableDeals is a free website and doesn’t charge a subscription fee. We do, however, make money when you purchase through our links. This helps us keep the platform running and up-to-date. We invest in newer technologies and infrastructure to provide maximum support to users across the US.
This, in no way, affects our independent reviews or influences the way we score providers. Our reviews are ethically sourced and expert-verified.
The ZIP code you enter to view available options in your area is only used to show local options and is neither stored nor shared with anyone. All our practices are compliant with applicable state privacy laws and data privacy regulations.
Price, performance, and customer satisfaction are some common metrics we consider for our provider review. We also take into account providers’ customer engagement efforts for a more holistic rating.
We believe that while shopping for an internet service, average customers are more concerned about costs and what they’re getting out of their purchase. So, we’ve given the greatest weightage to pricing and subsequently, real-world performance.
We’ve followed that line of inquiry with how well ISPs design their services, ranging from bundle discounts and rewards to term contracts, money-back guarantees, and customer support. The customer satisfaction score coupled with the American Customer Satisfaction Index gives the final finish to the overall review.
| Category | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Pricing | 40% |
| Performance | 30% |
| Value-Added Features | 10% |
| Customer Satisfaction | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Technically, we’ve broken down each category into multiple sub-categories. Each sub-category unfolds into a spectrum of 1 to 5 – where “1” denotes the least attractive and “5” represents the most attractive part of the service.
Leveraging years of industry knowledge and feedback from millions of customers, we have come up with a scoring scheme to rate internet service providers objectively.
Let us explain each category one by one.
Based on our findings, price is the most important aspect for most users when choosing a provider. Hence, we’ve given it a 40% weightage in our testing criteria.
A final score in the pricing category contains an average of multiple accompanying factors like average price per Mbps, starting price, installation and activation fees, early termination fees, and more.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per Mbps (per month) | $0.99 - $1.99 | $0.60 - $0.80 | $0.30 - $0.50 | $0.10 - $0.20 | $0.00 - $0.09 |
| Starting price (per month) | ≥$100 | $75.00 - $99.99 | $50.00 - $74.99 | $25.00 - $49.99 | $0.00 - $24.99 |
| Equipment lease fee (per month) | $30.00 - $40.00 | $20.00 - $29.99 | $10.00 - $19.99 | $0.10 - $9.99 | $0.00 |
| Setup fee | $150.00 - $200.00 | $100.00 - $149.99 | $50.00 - $99.99 | $0.10 - $49.99 | $0.00 |
| Data overage fee | $15.00 - $19.99 | $10.00 - $14.99 | $5.00 - $9.99 | $0.10 - $4.99 | $0.00 |
| Internet security fee (per month) | $15.00 - $19.99 | $10.00 - $14.99 | $5.00 - $9.99 | $0.10 - $4.99 | $0.00 |
| Early termination fee | $400.00 - $500.00 | $200.00 - $399.99 | $100.00 - $199.99 | $0.10 - $99.99 | $0.00 |
As per our industry research and customers’ feedback, real-world performance is the second most important factor when shopping for internet deals.
So we’ve divided it into three sub-categories; speed tiers for each connection type, and the difference between download and upload speed (for example, fiber with symmetrical download and upload speeds will rank higher than cable with limited upload speed). The last factor is the data allowance or data caps, where providers with unlimited data will score higher than capped ones.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed per connection type (Mbps) |
DSL: 0 - 25 Cable: 0 - 50 Fiber: 0 - 100 Satellite: 0 - 30 |
DSL: 26 - 50 Cable: 51 - 100 Fiber: 101 - 500 Satellite: 31 - 60 |
DSL: 51 - 75 Cable: 101 - 500 Fiber: 501 - 1,000 Satellite: 61 - 90 |
DSL: 76 - 100 Cable: 501 - 1,000 Fiber: 1001 - 2,000 Satellite: 91 - 120 |
DSL: 101 - 150 Cable: 1,001 - 2,000 Fiber: 2,100 - 8,000 Satellite: 126 - 150 |
| Difference between download & upload (Mbps) |
DSL: 150 - 120 Cable: 2,000 - 1,500 Fiber: >50 Satellite: >140 |
DSL: 119 - 90 Cable: 1,499 - 1,000 Fiber: 49 - 35 Satellite: 139 - 105 |
DSL: 89 - 60 Cable: 999 - 500 Fiber: 34 - 15 Satellite: 104 - 70 |
DSL: 59 - 30 Cable: 499 - 100 Fiber: 14 - 5 Satellite: 69 - 35 |
DSL: 29 - 0 Cable: 99 - 0 Fiber: 4 - 0 Satellite: 34 - 0 |
| Average Latency (ms) | Above 70 | 51 – 70 | 36 – 50 | 21 – 35 | 5 – 20 |
In this category, we’ve grouped different features like reward cards, bundle discounts, and other customer-centered benefits. In addition to quantifying the value proposition of a provider, all this tells you what to expect from your internet service post-purchase.
In the table below, a higher score in each sub-category denotes a more favorable outcome.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back guarantee | None | 7-day | 14-day | 30-day | ≥30-day |
| Bundle discount | $0.00 | $0.10 - $25.00 | $26.00 - $50.00 | $51.00 - $75.00 | $76.00 - $100.00 |
| Customer Support Options | SMS | Phone | Phone + live chat | Phone + live chat + forum | Phone + live chat + forum + mobile app |
To finish our review process, we’ve included customer satisfaction ratings from reputable bodies like the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and our own surveys. While some margin of error may be expected, these ratings effectively show how a provider is viewed on a national scale.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACSI Rating 2024 | 0 - 20 | 21 - 40 | 41 - 60 | 61 - 80 | 81 - 100 |
| Customer Survey Rating | 0 - 20 | 21 - 40 | 41 - 60 | 61 - 80 | 81 - 100 |
Having partnered with 30+ providers with multiple services, we’ve incorporated a comprehensive update regime, curated by our quality assurance department. We pride ourselves on regularly updating the information across all verticals of our platform down to even a $1 change in price.
The quality assurance team leads the updates through brand communication directly from our partners, FCC data and regulations, and regular site-wide audits so you can get reliable and accurate information year-round.
To increase transparency, we also include the last-updated date on blogs and resources and attribute the actual author.
We want you to easily find all the available options in your area, compare them, and have a smooth purchasing process after making an informed decision.
Our readers and customers are the main driving force behind our business, and we’re always open to your feedback. It helps us get better and tailor our platform for a better user-centric experience.
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