An internet package is more than a headline speed: it is the plan, the equipment, the installation and the term, priced together. Below are the internet providers we compare, listed alphabetically, with the cheapest residential price we have on file for each. What you can actually order depends on your address — call us free and we will check live availability while you are on the line.
Fiber and fixed wireless across 21+ states
Fiber and DSL plans over partner networks — one of the widest footprints in the US
Fiber in 25 states with symmetrical upload speeds.
Satellite internet — available virtually nationwide
Kinetic fiber and DSL across 18 states
Low-orbit satellite internet — nationwide, no landline needed
5G fixed wireless — wide nationwide footprint, availability is address-by-address
Available in 39 states — the largest cable footprint in the US.
What counts as an internet package
Providers advertise a speed and a monthly price. The package is everything attached to that price: the modem or gateway, whether installation is professional or self-install, whether the rate is a promotional one that steps up later, and whether you are signing a term. Two packages at the same advertised speed can differ by a lot once the equipment and setup are counted, so compare the whole package rather than the number in the ad.
Start with the connection type, not the speed
The connection available at your address sets the ceiling on everything else. Ordered alphabetically, the providers we compare fall into these types:
- Fiber — Astound, AT&T, CenturyLink, Cox, EarthLink, Frontier, Kinetic (Windstream), WOW! and Xfinity offer fiber in parts of their footprints. Fiber is the one type that usually gives you upload speed comparable to download, which matters for video calls, cloud backups and uploading large files.
- Cable — Astound, Cox, Spectrum, WOW! and Xfinity. Widely available and fast on download, with upload typically well below download.
- 5G home and fixed wireless — T-Mobile for 5G home internet, and AT&T for fixed wireless in parts of its footprint. Both run over a wireless network rather than a line to the house, so they are usually self-install and contract-free, with performance that varies by how well your address is covered.
- DSL — CenturyLink, EarthLink, Frontier and Kinetic (Windstream) still serve areas fiber has not reached. Slower, but often the only wired option.
- Satellite — HughesNet, Starlink and Viasat. Available almost anywhere, and the practical choice in rural areas without wired service.
Several providers appear in more than one row above because the technology changes street by street. That is exactly why an address check beats a comparison chart.
Match the plan to how your household actually uses it
The useful question is not “how many megabits” but “how many things at once, and doing what”. A household streaming on several screens while someone works from home needs more headroom than one person browsing. Upload speed deserves as much attention as download if anyone in the house takes video calls, uploads footage or backs up to the cloud — that is the number cable and DSL plans skimp on, and the reason fiber often feels faster than its headline figure suggests.
Also check whether the plan has a data allowance. Most wired plans no longer meter usage, but some satellite and legacy plans still slow you down after a threshold.
The costs that are not in the headline price
- Equipment. A rented gateway is a recurring monthly charge. Some plans include it; on others you can supply a compatible router of your own.
- Installation. Professional installation may carry a one-off fee. Self-install is usually cheaper and quicker where it is offered.
- Promotional pricing. Many advertised rates apply for a fixed period and then move to the standard rate. Ask what the rate becomes and when.
- Term and early termination. Some plans are month-to-month, others carry a contract with a cancellation fee.
- Taxes and fees. Quoted prices usually exclude taxes and surcharges.
How we compare packages
Providers are listed alphabetically and table position is never sold. The “from” price is the cheapest qualifying residential plan we have on file for that provider; where we cannot state a reliable figure the table says to call rather than guessing. We do not cover every provider in the market. Our full policy is on How We Rank, and how we make money is set out in our Advertising Disclosure.
Why a call settles it faster
Availability, current promotions and installation dates are all address-level and all change. One free call gets you the packages that genuinely serve your address, the real monthly cost including equipment, and an install date — without filling in forms on several provider sites to find out which ones can even reach you.
Which internet package is the best one?
There is no single best package, because the providers that reach your address decide the shortlist. Fiber is usually the strongest option where it is available, cable is the most widely available fast option, and 5G home or satellite fill in where wired service is thin. Call us free and we will tell you which of these actually serve your address and what each one costs.
Do I have to rent the provider’s router?
Not always. Some plans include the gateway in the price, some charge a monthly rental, and some let you connect a compatible router you already own. It is worth asking, because a rental fee over a two-year period can outweigh the difference between two plans.
What happens when the promotional rate ends?
The plan moves to the provider’s standard rate, which is often meaningfully higher. Ask what that rate is and on what date it starts before you order — we will tell you when we check your address, and it frequently changes which package is cheapest over the life of the plan.
Does it cost anything to compare or order through HomeLinkd?
No. Comparing and ordering through HomeLinkd is free. You pay the provider directly, at the provider’s advertised price.
Talk to an expert — it’s free
We’ll check live availability at your address and line up today’s best offers.
Call Now (888) 404-0084Homelinkd is an independent comparison service, not Xfinity, Cox, Frontier, Dish, DIRECTV or any other provider. Provider names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Plans, pricing and availability vary by location and are subject to change; confirm details with the provider at time of order.