Explore top internet options in Boston, MA
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Most available service
Best fiber option
Prices from
$49.99
per month
Speeds up to
1,000
Mbps
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.
No-contract plans
Why trust our broadband experts
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.
Boston, MA, is home to five top internet providers with monthly plans starting at $20/mo. Boston exceeds the Massachusetts median speed of 106 Mbps with a median speed of 122 Mbps, according to Speedtest.net. However, several providers, including Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Starry and Astound Broadband, offer faster plans of 500 Mbps or more.
Read on to learn more about Boston’s high-speed internet and choose a home Wi-Fi plan from the options in your area.
Best internet providers in Boston
- Xfinity: Most available service
- Verizon Fios: Best fiber option
- T-Mobile: No-contract plans
- Astound Broadband: Fast plans
- Starry Internet: Simple pricing
Browse providers by region or enter your address for specific internet deals near you.
Boston internet provider comparison
Boston internet deals are cheaper than other areas of the country, with multiple plan options at $40 or less. Similarly, several providers offer fast speeds with different connection types. Cable internet, fiber-optic and fixed wireless all offer high-speed home internet in the city. Surrounding areas can get rural internet with Hughesnet, Viasat or Starlink satellite service.
Provider | Starting price range* | Download speed range | Connection type | Availability** |
---|---|---|---|---|
Xfinity | $25–$110/mo. | 200–2,000 Mbps | Cable | 100% |
Verizon Fios | $49.99–$89.99/mo. | 300–940 Mbps | Fiber | 92% |
T-Mobile | $60/mo. | 72–245 Mbps | 5G | 56% |
Astound Broadband | $20–$55/mo. | 300–1,500 Mbps | Cable | 43% |
Starry Internet | $40–$60/mo. | 200–500 Mbps | Fixed wireless | 36% |
**Source: FCC Broadband Map.
Methdology
We rated the largest internet providers in the U.S. for 2024. 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.
How to choose an internet provider in Boston
Find the best internet service provider (ISP) in Boston with the following tips:
- Determine which Boston internet providers offer internet service at your address.
- Consider how many devices you connect to the internet simultaneously.
- Take note of your online activities, such as streaming, gaming, work, social media, email, etc.
- Choose a suitable plan based on speed, devices and budget.
Use these guidelines to match your internet needs with an appropriate speed.
- Light internet use — email and web browsing on 1–2 devices: 5–50 Mbps
- Light/medium internet use — web browsing and occasional streaming on 3–5 devices: 50–100 Mbps
- Medium internet use — streaming and occasional gaming or video meetings/work from home on 5–10 devices: 100–300 Mbps
- Medium/heavy internet use — consistent streaming, gaming or online school/work, social media or content creation on 10–20 devices: 300 Mbps–1 GB
- Heavy internet use — constant gaming, streaming, social media, uploading files or photos and more on 20 devices or more: 1 GB and up
Boston internet provider reviews
The best aspect of Boston internet is reasonable prices from nearly any provider you select. At times, Boston’s high number of historical buildings has made upgrading to home and business internet challenging. Now, multiple high-speed options are commonplace with the addition of 5G internet and fixed wireless service in the city.
Xfinity – Most available service
Overall score: 3.9 out of 5.
Read our full Xfinity review.
Xfinity has the most coverage in Boston and is available at nearly every residence and business. Cable internet is good for fast download speeds, but upload speeds are between 10 and 35 Mbps. The following table shows the Xfinity Boston internet plans you can choose from. Additional discounts between $10 and $20/mo. are available if you add Xfinity Mobile or bundle TV and internet. Equipment with Xfinity will add $15–$25/mo., but you have the option to use your own modem and Wi-Fi router to avoid the fee.
Speed | Starting price* | Price guarantee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|
200 Mbps | $25/mo. | 1 year | No |
400 Mbps | $35/mo. | 2 years | No |
800 Mbps | $60/mo. | 3 years | 1 year |
1,000 Mbps | $70/mo. | 3 years | 1 year |
1,200 Mbps | $80/mo. | 3 years | 1 year |
2,000 Mbps | $110/mo. | None | No |
Verizon Fios – Best fiber option
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Read our full Verizon Fios review.
Verizon’s three internet plans are listed in the following table. Because Verizon Fios is a fiber-optic internet service, the connection is extremely reliable, and network congestion does not affect speeds. Upload speeds are virtually the same as the download speeds, making this provider a great choice if you need to upload many photos, videos or other large files.
Additional charges include a one-time $99 setup fee, which is waived if you sign up for the fastest plan. If you bundle Verizon Fios with a qualifying Verizon wireless plan, you can a $20–$25/mo. internet discount.
The Verizon Wi-Fi router is included for free on all plans. Larger homes can add Whole-Home Wi-Fi with one Wi-Fi extender for $10/mo. or Whole-Home W-Fi Plus with three Wi-Fi extenders for $15/mo. However, purchasing your own Wi-Fi extenders is cheaper than renting the devices over time.
Speed | Starting price* | Price guarantee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|
300 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | 2 years | No |
500 Mbps | $69.99/mo. | 3 years | No |
940 Mbps | $89.99/mo. | 4 years | No |
T-Mobile 5G – No-contract plans
Overall score: 4.1 out of 5.
Read our full T-Mobile review.
T-Mobile 5G Home offers one no-contract plan that uses fixed-wireless technology. The internet signal requires no cable or fiber optic lines, instead using radio tower signals transmitted to your provided T-Mobile gateway. T-Mobile works well for apartments, homes or rural areas with up to 10 connected devices, and you can try the service for free with T-Mobile’s 15-day test drive. T-Mobile also offers prepaid internet plans through Metro by T-Mobile.
Speed | Price* | Price with wireless bundle | Price guarantee |
---|---|---|---|
72–245 Mbps | $60/mo. | $40–$50/mo. | None |
Astound Broadband – Fast plans
Overall score: 4 out of 5.
Read our full Astound Broadband review.
Astound Broadband is a cable internet provider available to less than half of the greater Boston area. Astound has fast plans rivaling Xfinity’s internet deals, plus additional perks, including a free gateway and installation. Adding a Wi-Fi extender costs $5/mo. each.
Other package deals include unlimited mobile for $50/mo. or cable TV for around $30–$107/mo., plus taxes and fees. Astound also offers a home phone with unlimited local and long-distance calling for just $1 /mo.
Speed | Starting price* | Price guarantee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|
300 Mbps | $20/mo. | 1 year | No |
600 Mbps | $35/mo. | 2 years | No |
1,000 Mbps | $45/mo. | 2 years | No |
1,500 Mbps | $55/mo. | 2 years | NO |
Starry Internet – Simple pricing
Overall score: 3.8 out of 5.
Starry’s three internet plans have a one-year price guarantee, no contract and free equipment. The only thing you need to decide on is what download speed you want. Upload speeds on all plans are 50 Mbps, or you can pay an additional $5/mo. to double your upload speed. The Wi-Fi router is included, but there is an option to upgrade to the Starry Gravity Wifi 6 Router, which offers faster Wi-Fi speeds, premium customer support and 3,500 sq. ft. of coverage.
Starry Internet in Boston is primarily found in multi-dwelling buildings like apartments and condos. It is a fixed wireless service that can connect an antenna to the roof and provide access to numerous units in the complex. Starry Internet comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Speed | Starting price* | Price guarantee | Contract |
---|---|---|---|
200 Mbps | $40/mo. | 1 year | No |
300 Mbps | $50/mo. | 1 year | No |
500 Mpbs | $60/mo. | 1 year | No |
Cheap internet in Boston
Although Boston is among the top 10 most expensive urban areas to live, cheap internet is easy to find. Astound Broadband, Xfinity and Starry Internet have cheap plans for $40/mo. or less. T-Mobile 5G also offers an internet plan starting at $40/mo. if you bundle with a qualifying wireless plan.
Plan | Starting price* | Download speed | Connection type | Price guarantee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Astound Broadband 300 Mbps | $20/mo. | 300 Mbps | Cable | 1 year |
Xfinity Connect More | $25/mo. | 200 Mbps | Cable | 1 year |
Xfinity Fast | $35/mo. | 400 Mbps | Cable | 2 years |
Astound Broadband 600 Mbps | $35/mo. | 600 Mbps | Cable | 2 years |
Starry 200 | $40/mo. | 200 Mbps | Fixed wireless | 1 year |
**When bundled with a qualifying mobile plan.
Fast internet in Boston
Boston has a few high-speed internet plans with speeds between 1 and 2 GB. However, finding multi-gig plans in the area is harder than in other larger cities. Many metropolitan areas now have speeds up to 5 GB or more from providers like AT&T, Google Fiber or Kinetic by Windstream.
The fastest plan in Boston is 2 GB from Xfinity, but availability varies by location. Still, not many households will need speeds over 2 GB. Extreme home internet speeds are typically only needed for ultra-connected households with over 40 connected devices doing activities such as competitive online gaming.
Plan | Starting price* | Download speed | Connection type | Price guarantee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Verizon Fios 1Gig | $89.99/mo. | 940 Mpbs | Fiber | 4 years |
Astound Broadband 1000 Mbps | $45/mo. | 1 GB | Cable | 2 years |
Xfinity Gigabit | $70/mo. | 1 GB | Cable | 3 years |
Xfinity Gigabit Extra | $80/mo. | 1.2 GB | Cable | 3 years |
Astound Broadband 1500 Mbps | $55/mo. | 1.5 GB | Cable | 2 years |
Xfinity Gigabit X2 | $110/mo. | 2 GB | Cable | 1 year |
Boston internet technologies
Boston-area internet technologies have a wide scope, from slower speeds and rural internet options to the fastest cable and fiber-optic connections. The pros and cons of each type of service and availability are listed in the following table. Cable, fiber, 5G and fixed wireless services are the most popular types of internet in Boston.
Technology type | Pros | Cons | Boston availability** |
---|---|---|---|
Cable internet | Easily accessible in cities and suburban areas | Pricing goes up year over year | 100% |
Fiber internet | Great for streaming and gaming | Typically has an installation fee | 70% |
5G/fixed wireless internet | Good for multi-unit buildings | Speeds vary by area | 67% |
Satellite | Available in all rural communities | Expensive monthly price | 100% |
DSL internet | Good for light internet use | Slow speeds | 19% |
Boston internet FAQs
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Boston?
The cheapest plan in Boston is $20/mo. for 300 Mbps with Astound Broadband. This cable internet plan is guaranteed for one year before increasing to the standard $60/mo rate. However, over two years, the Xfinity Fast plan is a better value at $35/mo. for 400 Mbps. With the second-year increase, the Astound plan costs $960 over 24 months, but the Xfinity plan is $840 over the same period if you provide your own equipment.
Does Boston have fiber optic internet?
Boston’s only fiber-optic network is from Verizon Fios. Verizon Fios has plans with no contracts or equipment fees ranging from $49.99–$89.99/mo. for speeds between 300 and 940 Mbps. Verizon Fios has a good customer satisfaction rating, according to the ACSI. Its high marks are partly due to the long price guarantees on its fiber plans, ranging from two to four years.
Is Xfinity available in Boston?
Xfinity is Boston’s primary internet provider because the company has coverage over 100% of the city, according to the FCC. Xfinity has six available high-speed plans starting at $25/mo. Available Xfinity speeds in Boston are between 200 and 2,000 Mbps, depending on your location.
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.
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