A Wi-Fi package is the plan plus the hardware that carries it around your home. The speed you buy arrives at a box on the wall; how much of it reaches the far bedroom is down to the router, the layout and the coverage. Below are the internet providers we compare — the Wi-Fi equipment on offer varies by plan, so call us free and we will confirm exactly what is included at your address.
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
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.
Your plan speed and your Wi-Fi speed are not the same number
This is the single most useful thing to understand before choosing. The plan speed is what arrives at your gateway over the provider’s line. Wi-Fi speed is what your laptop or phone gets after that signal has travelled through the air, through walls, and been shared with every other device in the house. Upgrading to a faster plan does nothing for a dead zone caused by distance or brick — that needs better coverage, not more megabits. Paying for a faster tier to fix a Wi-Fi problem is the most common way people overspend on home internet.
What is actually in a Wi-Fi package
- The gateway. Usually a combined modem and router supplied by the provider. On some plans it is included in the price, on others it is a monthly rental.
- Mesh or extenders. Additional units that repeat coverage into parts of the home the main gateway cannot reach. Some providers include one on higher tiers or supply them as needed; others sell them separately.
- Your own router. Many providers let you connect compatible equipment you already own, which removes the rental fee. You then support it yourself.
- Setup. Self-install kits are common and quick. Professional installation is worth it in larger or awkwardly shaped homes, where placement makes more difference than hardware.
Coverage is about the building, not the plan
Home size and construction decide how much hardware you need. A small apartment is usually fine on a single well-placed gateway. A multi-storey home, a long floor plan, or one with thick internal walls, foil-backed insulation or plaster over metal lath will have dead spots no single router can fix, and mesh is the reliable answer. Placement matters more than most people expect: a gateway in a cupboard, in a basement or behind a television is a much bigger handicap than a slightly slower plan.
Wi-Fi standards, briefly
Newer standards — Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 — handle many simultaneous devices better than older ones, which is their real advantage in a busy household. The catch is that your devices have to support the standard to benefit from it, and a phone or laptop a few years old will not. Newer equipment is worth having, but it is not a substitute for coverage, and it will not make a congested older device faster.
Rent the provider’s equipment or buy your own?
Renting keeps support simple: one company is responsible when something stops working, and replacements are usually swapped without charge. Buying removes a recurring fee and typically gets you better hardware and controls, at the cost of supporting it yourself and confirming compatibility first. Over a two-year period the rental fee is often larger than people assume, so it is worth asking what it is before deciding either way.
How we compare
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; equipment terms differ plan by plan and are confirmed when we check your address. We do not cover every provider in the market. See How We Rank and our Advertising Disclosure.
Get the equipment question answered before you order
Whether a gateway is included, whether mesh comes with the plan, and whether your own router will work are the details that decide what you actually pay each month. They are also the ones hardest to pin down from a provider’s website. One free call covers all three, along with live availability at your address.
Does my internet plan include a Wi-Fi router?
It depends on the plan. Some include the gateway in the monthly price, some charge a separate rental fee, and some let you supply your own compatible router instead. Ask before you order — the rental fee is a recurring cost that can change which plan is cheaper overall.
Will a mesh system fix my dead zones?
Usually, yes — dead zones are a coverage problem, and mesh solves coverage by adding units closer to the rooms that are struggling. A faster plan will not fix a dead zone. Before buying hardware, try moving the gateway out into the open and away from a basement, cupboard or television, because placement alone often accounts for the problem.
Can I use my own router instead of the provider’s?
Often you can, and it removes the rental fee. You need to confirm your equipment is compatible with the provider’s network, and you take on supporting it yourself. Call us and we will tell you which providers at your address allow it.
Do I need a faster plan or better Wi-Fi?
If speed is fine near the gateway but poor further away, it is a Wi-Fi coverage problem and a faster plan will not help. If everything slows down at once when the household is busy — particularly on video calls or uploads — the plan is the constraint. Describe what you are seeing when you call and we will work out which one it is.
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 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.