Editorial note: This post may contain links to internet offers and services from which Allconnect receives a commission. Broadband partners and the associated compensation do not influence our editorial decisions. Read more about our advertising policy.
*Price after $10/mo discount (starts within 2 bills) w/ paperless billing & Autopay if enrolled w a debut card or bank account. Discount reduced to $5/mo if enrolled w/ credit card. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies
Allconnect’s team of broadband experts regularly reviews the top internet service providers in the U.S., scrutinizing each company under a rigorous scoring system to help our readers make informed internet purchases. We keep our data points accurate and up to date based on thorough research and partnership communications. Our content is not directed by partners. Visit our full methodology page and advertising disclosure to learn more.
Key takeaways
The best Wi-Fi options for your home will depend on your location, budget and home internet habits.
To choose the best home Wi-Fi plan, consider the number of devices you have connected and the amount of streaming, gaming or remote work you tend to do.
Be sure to consider additional equipment and installation costs when comparing home internet providers.
How to get home Wi-Fi
Home Wi-Fi is a local network within your residence that connects all your wireless devices to the internet. A fast and reliable broadband connection is key to good in-home Wi-Fi service. Narrow down the best home Wi-Fi providers by considering a few important details:
Availability: Provider availability varies widely by location. What’s available at your address will determine your choices for home wireless plans. Finding internet options near you is the first step when shopping for home Wi-Fi.
Budget: The starting price of home Wi-Fi can range from around $25–$90.
Internet activities: Faster speeds will benefit households that stream, game and work remotely. If you do demanding online activities for several hours a day, make sure your Wi-Fi service has unlimited data or a high data limit of 1 TB or more.
Number of devices: The number of devices actively connected to your home’s wireless network will affect everyone’s online speed. The more devices you use, the higher your plan speed should be.
Cheap internet deals under $30/mo. for home Wi-Fi include Frontier and Xfinity. If those providers are unavailable at your address, T-Mobile 5G is another affordable option with widespread coverage.
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Price may include autopay and paperless billing discounts. Speeds may vary.
**When bundled with a qualifying mobile plan.
♱Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. See offer details. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.
We rated the largest internet providers in the U.S. for 2025. Each provider was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on over a dozen factors, including speed, cost, availability, fees, customer satisfaction, connection type and more. We also used data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to compare the average speed offered by internet companies in the U.S. to set a baseline for what is considered a good internet speed. Additionally, we analyzed data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) to understand how each internet service provider (ISP) fares in customer service and perceived value.
Home Wi-Fi providers breakdowns
Whether you’re searching for cheap internet, a no-contract provider or fiber home internet, there is a whole home Wi-Fi solution for you. Find out more about the cheapest plans without hidden fees and other highly-rated features here.
AT&T
Home Wi-Fi with no extra fees
Prices: $55.00 per month
Speeds up to: 5,000
Mbps
Price after $10/mo discount (starts within 2 bills) w/ paperless billing & Autopay if enrolled w a debut card or bank account. Discount reduced to $5/mo if enrolled w/ credit card. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
Price after $10/mo discount (starts within 2 bills) w/ paperless billing & Autopay if enrolled w a debut card or bank account. Discount reduced to $5/mo if enrolled w/ credit card. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
AT&T home Wi-Fi’s starting price is slightly higher than other providers, but you don’t have to pay extra for equipment or installation. AT&T’s best home Wi-Fi plans use a fiber-optic connection, which is ideal for ultra-connected homes. AT&T Fiber also gives you symmetrical upload and download speeds, a feature you won’t find with cable or 5G services. Plus, AT&T provides a booster for mesh Wi-Fi if you need broader Wi-Fi coverage. AT&T home Wi-Fi speeds are 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, 1 GB, 2 GB or 5 GB,* but plan availability varies by location.
Pros
All-in-one pricing, including equipment.
Super-fast upload and download speeds.
Cons
Taxes and surcharges still added to your monthly bill.
*Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101. As of 03/20/25.
Frontier has great introductory pricing for getting fiber internet on a budget. Fiber plans start at $29.99/mo. and include free installation. Home Wi-Fi on a fiber connection is faster and more secure than shared connections like cable or 5G. Because fiber internet is a dedicated line, network congestion will not affect your speeds. Frontier Fiber includes unlimited data and no contracts or early termination fees (ETFs).
Pros
Plans include a Wi-Fi 6E router, which cuts down on interference in the home.
Very affordable starting rates.
Cons
Price goes up by $20 after 12 months for most plans.
For cable internet, Spectrum is one of the best home Wi-Fi providers due to its no-contract, unlimited internet. Spectrum has coverage in 41 states, and you can bundle your home internet with TV and Mobile. There is a small charge for equipment of $10/mo. for the router, but you can avoid this fee by using your own device.
Pros
Simple plan options.
Widespread availability throughout the U.S.
Cons
Charges for both professional installation ($65 fee) and self-installation ($30 activation fee).
Extra fees can quickly increase your monthly price.
T-Mobile is 5G home internet, a type of fixed wireless service, available in parts of every U.S. state. T-Mobile starts as low as $35/mo. when you bundle services, and there are no extra fees for equipment and installation. Plus, there are no contracts with T-Mobile home Wi-Fi. T-Mobile has two-day shipping for its wireless gateway, making it one of the quickest and easiest Wi-Fi installations available.
Pros
Ranked as best in customer satisfaction by 2023 ACSI.
Bundling with T-Mobile wireless saves up to $15/mo.
Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install charge may apply.
Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install charge may apply.
Overall score: 4.1 out of 5.
Verizon Fios has no contract, ETF, or data limit. Prices are around the same as other top home Wi-Fi ISPs but don’t increase for at least 24 months. With reasonable pricing and fast fiber-optic speeds, Verizon Fios earns a decent customer satisfaction rating from the ACSI.
Pros
Price guarantees range from two to four years (all plans).
Reliable service earns consistently good customer reviews.
Cons
Standard installation is $99 unless it is waived during a promotion.
with a mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. With Auto Pay + Paperless billing.
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Xfinity has some of the best Wi-Fi deals for cable and fiber lines, depending on where you live. Like other ISPs, Xfinity’s promotional rates increase after 12 months, so the cheap starting price doesn’t last forever. Still, there are typically about seven different Wi-Fi plans to choose from, so you can upgrade or downgrade your plan if needed. The cheapest Xfinity plan is $9.95/mo. for 50 Mbps in the Northeast Xfinity coverage area, but it’s only available for qualifying households.
Pros
Range of cheap home Wi-Fi plans available.
Multiple high-speed internet options to suit every home.
Cons
Pricing varies regionally, so the lowest prices are not available everywhere.
Equipment fees can add $15/mo. or more to the price.
Home Wi-Fi requires an internet connection and a router. Depending on your ISP, you may need to install additional equipment or take other steps to get wireless internet at your home.
What Wi-Fi equipment do you need?
Your ISP will likely provide you with the proper equipment to get started with home Wi-Fi. Some home Wi-Fi providers give you the option to buy your own router. Here’s what you may need for wireless internet:
Modem and router: A modem establishes an internet connection between your home and your ISP. The router connects to the modem to convert your internet connection into a wireless signal. You can access the internet with just a modem, but a router without a modem will not provide an internet connection.
Gateway: Many ISPs combine the modem and router into a single device called a gateway. This all-in-one unit makes it simpler to set up service and connect all your devices.
Wi-Fi extender or booster: These boxes can pick up your Wi-Fi signal and make it travel farther. While not necessary to get service, you can add them around a larger home to help make your internet faster or more reliable in every room.
Satellite: You’ll need a home satellite dish for satellite internet connections with providers like Hughesnet, Viasat or Starlink. Satellite is often the best Wi-Fi option for rural internet. Typically, you’ll install the satellite on your roof with an unobstructed view of the southern sky.
ONT box: If you have fiber internet, you will connect your modem or gateway to the ONT (Optical Network Terminal). The ONT box connects the fiber lines to the inside of your home and is typically installed on a wall or in a closet.
Coaxial wall connection: Cable internet services use a coaxial connection to connect to the modem. From there, you transmit the signal to a Wi-Fi router, which sends it to your devices.
Phone jack: A digital subscriber line (DSL) is a copper-line internet connection you tap into through a wall phone jack. Not to be confused with dial-up, DSL can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
Home Wi-Fi installation
In some cases, you can choose between professional or DIY home Wi-Fi installation. Self-installation is usually cheaper (or often free), but you’ll need to consider whether you’re set up for this option. Professional installation may be necessary if:
You are in a newly-built home or one that has never had internet installed.
You need to install a satellite dish.
You live in a rental property or have a homeowners association with restrictions on self-installation.
You’re uncomfortable working with internet equipment or troubleshooting technical issues on your own.
Professional installation may require a fee ($50–$100 for cable, fiber and DSL or $100–$500 for satellite) depending on the provider and current promotions. Keep this in mind when comparing home Wi-Fi plans.
How to get the best speed out of your home Wi-Fi
Even if the Wi-Fi provider you want is unavailable at your address, there are ways to improve your internet service. Consider the following actions to fix slow Wi-Fi or find solutions if your home Wi-Fi is not working:
Restart your router, modem and connected devices.
Move your router to a more central location so the signal can reach all your connected devices. Try to limit the number of walls, ceilings and other barriers the signal must pass through.
Limit the number of devices using heavy bandwidth at a given time (e.g., multiple shows streaming, online gaming or video conferencing).
Add a Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal to distant parts of your home. Your provider may offer a limited number for free.
Plug important devices directly into your router.
Ask your provider to update your modem, router or Wi-Fi gateway.
Ensure any equipment you purchase meets the specifications for your type of internet connection (fiber, cable, DSL, etc.) and is compatible with the number of devices you are connecting.
Time your internet usage strategically. More people are usually online during evenings and weekends, which can slow your connection on shared lines like cable or fixed wireless. Direct internet connections, such as fiber, won’t have this issue.
How to choose your home Wi-Fi plan
The table on this page can help compare and contrast wireless internet plans. Here’s a step-by-step checklist you can use to assess your home Wi-Fi needs and compare providers:
1. Assess your household’s internet needs
Number of devices: Count all internet-connected devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles and smart home devices. More devices require higher speeds.
Internet activities: Identify how you use the internet (e.g., streaming, gaming, remote work). High-bandwidth activities need faster speeds.
Daily usage: If you spend hours online, ensure the plan has unlimited data or a high cap (at least 1 TB).
2. Determine the right internet speed
Basic browsing and email: 25–50 Mbps (suitable for 1–2 users).
Streaming, video calls, light gaming: 100–300 Mbps (ideal for 3–5 users).
Heavy streaming, online gaming, large file transfers: 500 Mbps–1 GB (recommended for five or more users as well as smart homes).
3. Check internet plan availability
Provider options: Use your address to check which ISPs offer service in your area.
Connection type: Fiber is the fastest and most reliable type, followed by cable. DSL and satellite are slower but available in rural areas.
Service reliability: Read customer reviews for reliability and consistent speeds.
4. Set your budget
Monthly cost: Choose a plan within your budget, factoring in long-term price increases and equipment fees.
Promotions and bundles: Search for discounts or bundles with TV and phone services.
5. Compare contract terms
Contracts: Some ISPs require long-term commitments, while others offer month-to-month plans.
Early termination fees: If signing a contract, check the penalty for canceling early.
6. Evaluate customer support and additional features
Customer service ratings: Search for ISPs with responsive support and strong customer reviews.
Extra features: Consider parental controls, security features or included Wi-Fi equipment.
Upgrade flexibility: Choose a provider that allows you to upgrade (or downgrade) speeds as needed.
Home Wi-Fi FAQs
Can you get home Wi-Fi without internet?
No. Wi-Fi service is always dependent on an internet connection. If you do not have an internet service provider, you can get home Wi-Fi using a hotspot that broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal from your cellphone’s internet connection.
Can you get free home Wi-Fi?
Check with the ISPs in your area to find out how to qualify for cheap internet. You can also often access free Wi-Fi outside your home at many local restaurants, coffee shops or businesses.
How do I set up my Wi-Fi?
Set up your Wi-Fi by connecting your router to your modem with an Ethernet cable and then plugging it into an electrical outlet. Turn the router on, then set up your Wi-Fi network. You can set up the Wi-Fi name and password by downloading your ISP’s app or entering your IP address into the address bar on your computer browser.
How do I connect devices to my Wi-Fi?
After your Wi-Fi is set up in your home, go to the settings function on your cellphone, tablet, or computer, find the “Wi-Fi” tab, select your network name, and enter the password. Once connected to your home Wi-Fi network, your device should automatically connect to your network whenever you are in range.
What’s the cheapest way to get home Wi-Fi?
The cheapest way to get home Wi-Fi is to find a new-customer internet deal in your area. Xfinity, Frontier and Spectrum are all known for offering cheap starting prices. Providers like Verizon Fios and T-Mobile 5G offer significant discounts on home Wi-Fi if you bundle with their wireless service.
This content is produced through an alliance between USA TODAY and Allconnect.com. Under the alliance, Allconnect publishes articles about broadband-related topics upholding strict editorial integrity standards in line with USA TODAY’s Principles of Ethical Conduct. The opinions, analyses, reviews and recommendations expressed are those of the Allconnect editorial staff alone. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Read more about our Allconnect Advertising Disclosure.
Lisa Iscrupe is a senior writer helping readers understand the complexities of broadband, internet and other home services, including energy and renewable products. Her work appears on SaveOnEnergy.com and CNET.com, with national sources such as CNN, The Daily MBA and The Media Bulletin referencing her articles.
Hannah Whatley is an editor who enjoys collaborating with writers to offer readers the most relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information for their home purchases. She has previously edited for The Motley Fool, The Modest Wallet, Grammarly, JoinCake.com and SaveOnEnergy.com, gaining expertise in several industries. Hannah has a B.A. in English from Thomas Edison State University. When she isn’t editing, she enjoys studying linguistics and languages.
