Internet Providers in Boston, Massachusetts
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Home Internet in Boston, MA
-
1. Xfinity 
Speeds Up To2 Gbps
Connection: CableAvailability: 99.7%Boston speed tests confirm high speeds for Xfinity -
2. Viasat 
Speeds Up To150 Mbps
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 99.9%Boston speed tests confirm high speeds for Viasat Internet -
3. HughesNet 
Speeds Up To100 Mbps
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
Norwood Light Broadband
Speeds Up To400 Mbps
Connection: CableAvailability: 1.5% -
4. RCN
Speeds Up To1.5 Gbps
Connection: CableAvailability: 42.6% -
5. EarthLink
Speeds Up To940 Mbps
Connection: FiberAvailability: 56% -
6. Starry Internet
Speeds Up To1 Gbps
Connection: Fixed WirelessAvailability: 4.1% -
7. Starlink
Download Speeds:50 - 220 Mbps
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
Verizon
Speeds Up To1 Gbps
Connection: 5G Internet, FiberAvailability: 68.4%Boston speed tests confirm high speeds for Verizon
Best Internet Providers in Boston, MA
The best internet provider in Boston is Verizon Fios, the top fiber provider in the city. Fiber is the fastest and most reliable connection type. Boston has two fiber providers, the other being Earthlink.
Comparing the two, customer favorite Verizon Fios offers symmetrical fiber speeds of up to 2 Gbps Fios’ internet plans start at $49.99 per month, and many customers choose to get more value out of the service by bundling Fios TV, mobile, and home phone services. Bundles start at $34.99 per month. Earthlink has comparable speeds reaching 5 Gbps and similar coverage to AT&T as well. Earthlink’s prices start at $54.95 per month. Earthlink is the more affordable option if you can choose from either fiber provider. Most likely, the decision will come down to which is available in your neighborhood.
If you don’t have access to fiber, your best fallback option is cable internet. Xfinity is the most widely available in Boston, offering download speeds of 1 Gbps. Though sometimes maligned by locals for its monopoly status, Xfinity remains undeniably popular for its high speeds and great customer service. Xfinity internet plans start at $30 but many customers choose to bundle phone and TV. Bundles start at $55. If you want cable internet and you’re not a fan of Xfinity, look at Astound Broadband Powered by RCN (formerly known simply as “RCN”). It offers speeds comparable to Xfinity, though not as fast, but has a solid reputation for customer service, albeit in a limited geographic footprint.
Get the best deals on internet in Boston by checking out promotions from internet providers, especially for new customers. Major national providers like Verizon Fios and Xfinity usually offer deals that can make a big difference to your internet bill. Currently, Verizon Fios offers free professional installation. Xfinity is offering discounted Apple TV+, Peacock Premium, and Netflix subscriptions through its Xfinity StreamSaver program. Deals change frequently, sometimes more than once a month, so check back regularly for updated promotions.
Fastest Internet Providers in Boston, MA
Boston’s fastest internet company is Xfinity, which offers speeds of up to 1 Gbps. But that’s not your only option: There are several providers in the city offering gigabit speeds more than sufficient for the average user.
Fiber customers will usually get the better deal, even at the same download speeds as a cable competitor, due to “symmetrical” speeds. Fiber upload speeds are just as fast as download speeds, unlike cable internet which prioritizes download speed. That’s why Verizon Fios is able to offer gigabit upload speeds as well as download speeds, while its biggest competitor Xfinity only has upload speeds that reach 35 Mbps and can sometimes be as low as . If you’re online gaming, streaming, or making video calls, this can make a noticeable difference. Fiber internet is also more reliable at peak traffic times.
Don’t forget about data caps, which most cable providers have, but fiber providers don’t. Data caps can restrict your internet speed and trigger extra charges when you exceed your limit. Verizon Fios customers don’t have to worry about it, but Xfinity and Astound Broadband Powered by RCN do enforce them. You can often pay extra for unlimited data, although regular data allowances are usually more than enough for most users.
What’s a Good Internet Speed?
| Internet Speed | Appropriate For | Providers in your Area offering this Speed | Availability in your Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Mbps |
|
|
100% |
| 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) |
|
|
99.7% |
Learn more about internet speeds:
Internet Availability in Boston, MA
Boston has a fair number of internet providers (9, technically, though that number includes wireless providers); however, most residents will find themselves deciding between just a couple of options.
One option is sure to be Xfinity, which is Boston’s dominant cable provider. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the North End, South Boston, Back Bay, or anywhere else in town (or anywhere in Brookline or Cambridge, for that matter) — you’re going to have Xfinity as one of your options. Xfinity covers 99.7% of Boston, which is just about everything other than some parkland and industrial sites.
What will change depending on where you live within Boston is which providers you’ll be able to compare to Xfinity. The most important ones to look out for are Verizon Fios (68.4% availability) and EarthLink’s fiber internet plans (56.0% availability).
So, where can you get fiber internet in general (and our top pick, Verizon Fios, in particular)? Let’s start out on the city line, near Boston College. North of BC, in Brighton, Verizon Fios is widely available. That trend continues all the way into Allston — as long as you’re to the north of Commonwealth Avenue. South of Comm Ave is a different story: Coverage dries up after a few blocks. Verizon Fios’s availability seems to strictly follow the border with Brookline (which, as many Bostonians know, is technically not a part of Boston). You won’t find Verizon Fios in Coolidge Corner, we’re afraid.
Back in the parts of town that are technically, actually, truly Boston, Verizon Fios is once again widely available; the company serves just about every address in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Upham’s Corner, and down in Dorchester.
Verizon Fios is pretty widely available along the eastern side of the Brookline border, too. They’re missing a few spots near Boston Children’s Hospital and Northeastern University, but for the most part they do a great job of covering Mission Hill and Back Bay. Availability is great in the South End; however, it gets a little spotty in the Chinatown area before regaining great coverage in the North End.
Verizon Fios serves South Boston, too — from the heart of Southie up into the up-and-coming Seaport area. Charlestown and East Boston are also covered very well.
It’s worth noting that Verizon Fios’s tendency to follow the city limits is not just a Brookline thing. Somerville and Cambridge residents will find themselves largely cut off from Verizon Fios, too. How do you like them apples?
Internet Provider Store Locations in Boston, MA
Provider Connection Types in Boston, MA
| Connection Type | About this Connection Type | Availability in Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite |
|
100% |
| DSL |
|
9.139999999999999% |
| Cable |
|
99.4% |
| Fiber |
|
56.99999999999999% |
List of Internet Providers in Boston, MA
| Provider | Type | Top Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | Cable | 2 Gbps | |
| Viasat | Satellite | 150 Mbps | |
| HughesNet | Satellite | 100 Mbps | |
| Norwood Light Broadband | Cable | 400 Mbps | |
| RCN | Cable | 1.5 Gbps | |
| EarthLink | Fiber | 940 Mbps | |
| Starry Internet | Fixed Wireless | 1 Gbps | |
| Starlink | Satellite | 220 Mbps | |
| Verizon | 5G Internet, Fiber | 1 Gbps |
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
- Roxbury, MA
- Dorchester, MA
- East Boston, MA
- Roxbury Crossing, MA
- Dorchester Center, MA
- East Cambridge, MA
- Charlestown, MA
- Cambridge, MA
- Mission Hill, MA
- Chelsea, MA
- Winter Hill, MA
- Somerville, MA
- Everett, MA
- Allston, MA
- Squantum, MA
- Jamaica Plain, MA
- Winthrop, MA
- Brookline, MA
- Brighton, MA
- North Cambridge, MA
Internet Providers in Boston, MA
| Provider | Plans Starting At | Speeds Up To | Connections | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 2 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Cable | |
| Viasat Internet | $119.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 150 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| Hughesnet | $49.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 100 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| Norwood Light Broadband | $39.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 400 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Cable | |
| Astound Broadband Powered by RCN | $20/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 1.5 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Cable | |
| EarthLink Fiber | $54.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 940 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber | |
| Starry Internet | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 1 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fixed Wireless | |
| Starlink | $120/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 220 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| Verizon | $49.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 1 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | 5G Internet, Fiber |
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Boston, MA
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