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#1 Recommended Plan
1. AT&T 
Speeds Up To300 MbpsIn rare cases, if your usage is contributing to congestion on the network, AT&T will greatly reduce your speed for a min. of 30 min.Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 76.8%Why AT&T? AT&T Internet Air makes buying internet easy for customers by offering one plan with straightforward pricing and reliable 5G speeds. -
2. EarthLink 
Speeds Up To940 MbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: FiberAvailability: 62.5% -
Spectrum 
Speeds Up To2 GbpsSpeeds up to 2G in Select Markets.Connection: CableAvailability: 3.5%Washington speed tests confirm high speeds for Spectrum -
4. Verizon 
Speeds Up To2 GbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: DSL, Fiber, 5G InternetAvailability: 100%Washington speed tests confirm high speeds for Verizon Fios -
5. Xfinity 
Speeds Up To2 GbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: Cable, FiberAvailability: 99.1%Washington speed tests confirm high speeds for Xfinity -
6. Viasat 
Speeds Up To150 MbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
7. T-Mobile 
Download Speeds:87 Mbps - 415 MbpsRely, All-In, and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 133 Mbps – 415 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. T-Mobile Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. See https://t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for additional details.Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 64.3%Washington speed tests confirm high speeds for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet -
8. Mint Mobile 
Download Speeds:133 Mbps - 415 MbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 63.5%LIMITED TIME OFFERIntroducing 5G Home MINTernet powered by T-Mobile starting at $30/month -
9. Astound Broadband 
Speeds Up To2 GbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: Fiber, CableAvailability: 66.5% -
10. XNET WiFi 
Speeds Up To2 GbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: Fixed WirelessAvailability: 62.5% -
Believe Wireless Broadband 
Speeds Up To1 GbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: Fixed WirelessAvailability: 1.5% -
DC Access 
Speeds Up To200 MbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: Fixed WirelessAvailability: 13.7% -
Starry Internet 
Speeds Up To1 GbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: Fixed WirelessAvailability: 3.4% -
13. Starlink 
Speeds Up To350 MbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
14. Hughesnet 
Speeds Up To100 MbpsNot all internet speeds available in all areas.Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100%
Internet Providers in Washington, DC
Refine your search for better results:
Popular Washington Internet Deals
| Provider | Featured deal | |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Get Spectrum Internet® with a free modem, free antivirus software and no data caps! |
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| Verizon | Get a 43" Class QF QLED Samsung TV or Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 5G on us! |
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| Xfinity | Get reliable 300 Mbps internet with an Unlimited mobile line for $40/mo for 5 years! With no term contract — Wi-Fi equipment included |
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| Viasat | Get $30 off for your first 3 months! Price shown includes promotion; Get $30/mo. off for the first 3 months. For new customers only. You must mention this offer when ordering service to receive the discount. |
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| T-Mobile | Limited time. Get a $300 rebate (via virtual prepaid Mastercard) when you activate a new T-Mobile Internet line on an eligible All-In Home Internet plan! |
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Washington Home Internet Providers
| Provider | Plans starting at | Speeds up to | Connections | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 2 Gbps Speeds up to 2G in Select Markets. | Cable |
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| Mint Mobile | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 133 Mbps - 415 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | 5G Internet |
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| Starry Internet | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 1 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
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| Verizon | $35/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | DSL, Fiber, 5G Internet |
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| Hughesnet | $39.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 100 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite |
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| Xfinity | $40/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Cable, Fiber |
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| Astound Broadband | $40/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber, Cable |
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| DC Access | $49.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 200 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
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| T-Mobile | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 87 Mbps - 415 Mbps Rely, All-In, and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 133 Mbps – 415 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. T-Mobile Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. See https://t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for additional details. | 5G Internet |
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| EarthLink | $54.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 940 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber |
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| AT&T | $65/mo Price is per month, plus taxes. Price after discounts: $13/mo w/elig wireless svc. and $5/mo w/elig Autopay & Paperless bill. Discounts start w/in 2 bills. | 300 Mbps In rare cases, if your usage is contributing to congestion on the network, AT&T will greatly reduce your speed for a min. of 30 min. | 5G Internet |
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| XNET WiFi | $65/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
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| Viasat | $69.99/mo Price shown includes promotion; Get $30/mo. off for first 3 months. For new customers only. You must mention this offer when ordering service to receive the discount. | 150 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite |
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| Starlink | $80/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 350 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite |
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Best Internet Providers in Washington, D.C.
Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Washington, D.C., and it is also the biggest fiber provider in the area. Fiber uses physical cables to connect you to the internet, resulting in a more stable connection with symmetrical speeds and unlimited data. Verizon Fios offers speeds up to 2 Gbps, with plans starting at $49.99. Our data indicates customers are also very satisfied with Verizon Fios customer service.
The other fiber provider in the city is EarthLink Fiber, which also has speeds up to 940 Mbps. EarthLink Fiber's internet plans are competitively priced, starting at $54.95 per month. Washingtonians will have to shop based on what is available in their particular area (to narrow down your results, just use the ZIP code check on this page).
If you don't have access to a fiber internet provider in your area, you'll likely want to turn to D.C.'s biggest cable internet provider, Xfinity. Xfinity's download speeds are even better than its fiber competitors, up to 2 Gbps. Although its reputation in the metro area is mixed, customers keep coming back for the impressive speeds and competitively priced internet plans, starting at $40 per month. Xfinity also offers some of the best bundle options that include phone and TV, starting at $45 per month. It's available just about everywhere in D.C., making it an important source of fast internet for folks who don't have access to one of the capital's fiber providers.
One more option to consider is Astound Broadband Powered by RCN, which is another cable provider offering gigabit-or-faster speeds and good coverage in the D.C. area.
Finally, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers a solid alternative for those who prefer wireless service. Utilizing cell towers, it can deliver speeds up to 415 Mbps, with installation being as simple as plugging in the device. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $70 per month, depending on your plan.
| Provider | Why they're great | Who they're great for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | No annual contracts | AT&T Internet Air is ideal for renters and flexible households who want high-speed internet without being locked into an annual contract. |
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| Spectrum | Fastest provider | Tech-heavy households and gamers who need high-speed service to handle multiple 4K streams and large downloads will be thrilled with Spectrum. |
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| Verizon | Symmetrical fiber speeds | Verizon Fios is the premier choice for remote professionals needing matching upload and download speeds for lag-free video conferencing. |
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| Xfinity | Generous sign-up perks | Xfinity is an excellent choice for new customers looking to maximize savings and entertainment with plans that include free premium streaming. |
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| T-Mobile | Straightforward pricing | Customers who hate hidden costs and want straightforward pricing with no equipment fees and taxes included will love T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. |
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Washington Cheapest Internet Plans
Budget-minded shoppers in Washington, D.C., will find the area's lowest rates with Spectrum, starting at $30 per month. This comfortably undercuts our top overall pick, Verizon Fios, which starts at $49.99 per month. If coverage is limited, Verizon 5G Home Internet provides a great alternative from $35 per month.
| Provider | Plan name | Price | Speeds up to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Spectrum Internet® Advantage | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 100 Mbps Speeds up to 2G in Select Markets. |
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| Mint Mobile | 3-month w/ Mint Phone Plan | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 415 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. |
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| Starry Internet | Starry 200 | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 200 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. |
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| Verizon | Verizon Home Internet Lite | $35/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 25 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. |
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| EarthLink | EarthLink Fiber 1 Gig | $39.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan. | 1 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. |
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Fastest Internet Providers in Washington, D.C.
The fastest internet service provider inside the Beltway is none other than Spectrum, which offers speeds up to 2 Gbps.
Fiber connections are usually better for overall speed, even when cable competitors offer comparable download speeds. Fiber internet has "symmetrical" upload and download speeds, which becomes very important for tasks like gaming, streaming, or making video calls. Comparing D.C's major providers; Verizon Fios offers upload speeds the same as its download speeds, up to 2 Gbps, but Xfinity only has upload speeds up to 200 Mbps. Cable and DSL connections can also be susceptible to traffic overload during busy periods.
For most customers, you won't be able to tell the difference between 1 Gbps and 5 Gbps unless you are doing data-heavy work. Any speed above 1 Gbps will feel very fast to the average customer. With faster-than-gigabit speeds, make sure that your Wi-Fi router is fast enough to handle your plan or you may end up with slower speeds than advertised.
Data caps can also affect your internet speed, or incur extra charges if you go over your download data limit. Fiber customers don't have to worry about caps, because fiber providers don't have them. But if you go with a cable broadband provider like Xfinity, you will be subject to data caps unless customers pay extra for unlimited data.
| Provider | Speeds up to | Connection type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | 2 Gbps Speeds up to 2G in Select Markets. | Cable |
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| Verizon | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber |
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| Xfinity | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Cable |
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| Astound Broadband | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber |
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| XNET WiFi | 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless |
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Compare Top Providers in Your Area
- AT&T Internet vs. Xfinity
- AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum
- AT&T Internet vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- AT&T Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- EarthLink vs. Verizon High Speed Internet
- EarthLink vs. Xfinity
- EarthLink vs. AT&T Internet
- EarthLink vs. Spectrum
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat Internet
- Hughesnet vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- Hughesnet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Spectrum vs. Verizon Fios
Check Your Current Speed
What's a Good Internet Speed?
| Internet speed | Appropriate for | Providers in your area offering this speed | Availability in your area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Mbps |
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100% |
| 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) |
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100% |
Internet Availability in Washington, DC
D.C. is well-served by broadband internet companies, but shopping can be tricky because of the patchwork coverage provided by the city's [count-providers] different internet service providers.
Figuring out which cable provider you'll have access to is relatively simple: Xfinity covers 99.1% of the city, and that's that. But fiber providers are trickier, and savvy shoppers will want to find out which ones are available in their particular neighborhood.
In D.C., 62.5% of the city has access to fiber internet from EarthLink Fiber, and 62.0% of the city has access to fiber internet via Verizon Fios. But which areas have access to these fiber options?
The good news is that the most underserved areas of Washington, D.C., are the ones that you're least likely to be living in. Verizon Fios doesn't serve much of the city's core. There are a handful of notable addresses that have its service, including the National Museum of American History and Ford's Theater (but, curiously, not the White House), according to our data. Tourists milling around the National Mall and Penn Quarter won't, for the most part, find Verizon Fios speed when they hop onto a coffee shop's Wi-Fi. The busy professionals of K Street are also often cut off from Verizon Fios' coverage area.
In more residential areas of the city, however, Verizon Fios offers extensive coverage. It's available in Bellevue and Southeast Washington, up in Lincoln Heights and Northeast Boundary, and in Central Northeast. Back across the Anacostia River, you'll find Verizon Fios in the areas surrounding Lincoln Park and all along the border with Maryland. Verizon Fios covers neighborhoods on both sides of Rock Creek Park, including Chevy Chase. The area around American University is covered well, and so is all of Georgetown.
This gives D.C. residents a better chance at signing up with Verizon Fios than certain statistics like 62.0% of the city might imply. When it comes to the neighborhoods where long-term residents actually live in, Verizon Fios is pretty widely available.
| Connection type | Provider with most coverage | Washington availability | Starting price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSL | Verizon High Speed Internet | 100% | $40/mo |
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| Satellite | Hughesnet | 100% | $39.99/mo |
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| Cable | Xfinity | 99.1% | $40/mo |
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| Fixed Wireless | XNET WiFi | 62.5% | $65/mo |
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| Fiber | Verizon Fios | 62% | $49.99/mo |
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| 5G Internet | Verizon 5G Home Internet | 36.5% | $35/mo |
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Washington Internet Stats
| Average internet monthly cost | Available speed ranges | Available price range | Available connection types |
|---|---|---|---|
| $67.39 | 12 Mbps - 2 Gbps | $20/mo - $205/mo | 5G Internet, Cable, DSL, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, Satellite |
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Fastest Speed
SpectrumCable
Spectrum Internet® 2 Gig$70/mo*Taxes & fees extra and subj. to change. See disclaimer for details. Restrictions apply. See offer details
One-year price guarantee | Advanced WiFi included-
Download Speeds up to 2 Gbps
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Perfect for smart homes and online gamers
Show Details -
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Best Value
AT&T Internet Air5G Internet
Internet Air$65/mo*Price is per month, plus taxes. Not available in all areas. Price after discounts: 20% w/elig wireless and $5/mo with AutoPay. Discount applied w/in 2 bills. See offer details
$100 Visa Reward Card | Save 20% with Eligible AT&T Wireless Plan-
Download Speeds up to 300 Mbps
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Perfect speeds for most families
Show Details -
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Lowest Price
SpectrumCable
Spectrum Internet® Advantage$30/mo*Taxes & fees extra and subj. to change. See disclaimer for details. Restrictions apply. See offer details
One-year price guarantee-
Download Speeds up to 100 Mbps
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Reliable Internet at a budget-friendly price
Show Details -
Internet Coverage Map and Store Locations for Washington, District of Columbia
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Washington, D.C.
Methodology
Our provider rankings rely on a rigorous, data-driven framework evaluating over 100 million rows of FCC data to bring transparency to local internet options. We track 8,000+ active plans from 2,000+ providers to cut through marketing jargon. We weigh technical factors against real-world experiences to match you with the best connections actually available at your address:
- Tested Technology: We utilize a fiber-first ranking system, prioritizing high-performance, structurally sound technologies (like fiber and cable) over slower legacy connections.
- Realistic Coverage: We filter out "ghost ISPs" with near-zero availability and actively flag providers that only cover a fraction of neighborhoods, ensuring you don't waste time on unavailable options.
- Transparent Pricing: We track base rates and downgrade providers that rely on hidden fees or sudden price hikes, exposing the true long-term cost beyond initial marketing promotions.
- Verified Speeds: We look beyond deceptive "up to" marketing claims to evaluate the actual download and upload speeds delivered, prioritizing the balanced, symmetrical performance necessary for seamless video calls and heavy streaming.
- User-Driven Personalization: We don't just look at the tech; we look at what people actually prefer. By analyzing millions of local connections, user reviews on downtime, and validated J.D. Power scores, we tailor our rankings to highlight the providers proven to satisfy users in your area.
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Data valid as of 03/23/2026