Why You Can Trust CNET Best Internet Providers in Philadelphia: Verizon and Xfinity but Little Else
Shopping for home internet in Philadelphia? Here's what to expect.
Table of Contents
- Prices from $50 - $120 per month
- Speeds from 300 - 2,000Mbps
- Unlimited data
- Prices from $20 - $300 per month
- Speeds from 75 - 6,000Mbps
- Data caps on some plans
- Prices from $50 - $70 per month
- Speeds from 85 - 1,000Mbps
- Unlimited data
Internet options in Philadelphia are like many other big cities: one cable internet provider, one fiber internet provider and maybe a few other, less desirable choices to consider but ultimately pass on.
Verizon Fios will be your fiber provider in Philadelphia and is our pick for the best Philly ISP overall. But despite the speed potential of a 100% fiber connection you get with Verizon Fios, Xfinity and its cable internet service actually claims the title as the fastest ISP in Philadelphia.
Either provider is a solid choice for home internet service. Xfinity not only has the faster plan overall, it can also be cheaper than Verizon Fios, at least for the first 24 months. That said, the symmetrical speeds and reliability of Verizon's fiber network, not to mention its unique signup bonuses and stellar customer satisfaction record, make Verizon Fios the service to beat.
There's also Verizon's 5G Home Internet service to consider, which can deliver near-gigabit speeds for as little as $35 per month with the right qualifications. And there are more internet providers in Philadelphia, such as T-Mobile and local fixed wireless provider PhillyWhisper. Astound, a cable internet provider, is also an option for people just over the county line into Yeadon, Lansdowne and Upper Darby Township.
Best internet providers in Philadelphia
When it comes to the best internet providers, the ones that I would recommend and consider if I lived in Philadelphia would be Verizon and Xfinity. You'll find below service details for each provider and what makes them stand out, followed by a rundown of other potential ISP options in Philly and a look at the cheapest and fastest internet plans in the area.
Product details
Verizon Fios checks all the right boxes: fast speeds for the price, a reliable fiber connection with symmetrical or near-symmetrical download and upload speeds, no contracts and no data caps. On top of that, Verizon Fios often throws in a bonus offer, like gift cards, streaming subscriptions or free electronics, just for signing up.
Availability: You'll find Verizon Fios available just about everywhere throughout Philadelphia, though there are a select few neighborhoods in Spring Garden, Grays Ferry, Fishtown and other districts where service may be unavailable. Still, for the most part, you can expect to find Verizon Fios wherever you are or are moving to in Philly.
Plans and pricing: You'll have three plans to choose from with Verizon Fios: 300Mbps, 500Mbps or 1Gig starting at $50, $70 and $90 per month, respectively. Each comes with a two-, three- or four-year price guarantee (also respectively), and there is no set price increase to go into effect after the price guarantee term is over.
Fees and service details: Renting a router from Verizon will add $15 to your bill unless you opt for 1Gig, which includes your rental at no extra cost. There are no data caps and no contracts are required with any Verizon Fios plan.
Product details
Xfinity boasts great availability and multiple high-speed, low-priced plans to choose from in the Philadelphia area. Upload speeds are less impressive, however, and there is a looming price increase to be aware of when considering Xfinity.
Availability: Like Verizon Fios, Xfinity serves the entire Philadelphia area, save for a few random blocks. For the most part, Xfinity is a cable internet provider and, according to the Federal Communications Commission, the only fiber service currently available from Xfinity in the area is on the other side of the Delaware.
Plans and pricing: Philadelphia residents will have five or so Xfinity cable internet plans to choose from, with download speeds ranging from 200 to 1,200Mbps. Pricing ranges from a low $25 per month for speeds up to 200Mbps to $80 for up to 1,200Mbps. That's among the lowest monthly pricing you'll find for high-speed internet anywhere, but expect a sharp increase after 24 months.
Fees and service details: Xfinity's cheapest plan includes a router rental at no extra cost, but renting your equipment with any other plan will add $14 to your monthly bill. There are no contracts or data caps with Xfinity, at least not in the Philadelphia area.
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best 5G fixed wireless solution among internet providers in Philadelphia
Product details
Verizon didn't land on my list of top Philadelphia ISPs twice because I'm partial to the provider -- it's because it currently has the best 5G home internet service in the area.
The price is right, and 5G's potential to shake up the broadband industry is exciting, but for Philadelphia residents, I'd still recommend a cable or fiber connection versus 5G. That said, if you're ready to cut the broadband cord with a simple wireless connection and qualify for the 50% discount, Verizon 5G Home Internet is certainly worth a look.
Availability: Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband service spans much of Philadelphia, but you'll find the best coverage in Girard Estate and Grays Ferry neighborhoods.
Plans and pricing: If service is available at your address (it may not be even if your phone can get 5G service), you'll have two plan options: Verizon 5G Home with speeds in the 85 to 300Mbps range starting at $50 a month and Verizon 5G Home Plus with speeds ranging from 300 to 1,000Mbps starting at $70 a month.
Qualifying Verizon mobile customers can get 50% off Verizon 5G Home Internet plans, meaning you could get a high-speed broadband connection in Philadelphia for $25 or $35 a month, depending on the plan you choose.
Fees and service details: Both plans include your equipment and unlimited data at no extra cost and do not require a contract.
All Philadelphia internet providers
As mentioned above, Xfinity and Verizon aren't the only ISPs in the Philadelphia area, just the ones I'd recommend most. You'll find details on other potential providers below.
Top Philadelphia internet providers by availability
| Provider | Starting price | Download speed range (Mbps) | Equipment cost | Approximate availability | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | $25 to $300 | 200 to 6,000 | $14 (skippable) | 99% | 7 |
| Verizon Fios | $50 to $90 | 300 to 940 | None | 96% | 7.6 |
| Verizon 5G | $50 to $70 | 300 to 940 | None | 40% | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile 5G | $50 | 35 to 182 | None | 30% | 7.4 |
| Astound | $15 to $45 | 300 to 1,200 | $7 (skippable) | 4% | 7 |
| PhillyWhisper | $50 | 25 or higher | None | No FCC data available | N/A |
Top Philadelphia ISP honorable mentions
These internet service providers may also be available in the Philadelphia area, but lack the availability or value to be considered among the "best." Still, if you're looking for alternatives to Verizon or Xfinity, these ISPs may be worth checking out.
Astound: Formerly known as RCN, Astound is available primarily to the west of Philadelphia and east/south of Springfield in areas such as Yeadon, Darby and Ridley Park. If Astound is available at your address, it'll be your best bet for cheap internet. The provider's overall cheapest pricing can be found in the Philadelphia area, with plans ranging from 300Mbps starting at $20 a month to 1,200Mbps starting at $60 a month. The intro pricing is tempting, but be prepared for steep price increases after the second year of service.
HughesNet: Satellite internet is available pretty much anywhere, including throughout Philadelphia, but is best suited for rural internet connections. Philadelphia residents will have faster, cheaper internet options than HughesNet, which advertises speeds of just 25Mbps starting at $50 a month.
PhillyWhisper: Local fixed wireless provider PhillyWhisper advertises a single residential internet plan starting at $50 monthly for minimum speeds of 25Mbps. Speeds faster than 25Mbps are common, according to the provider's website, but I seriously doubt they will be able to match what $50 will get you with Verizon or Xfinity.
T-Mobile: Another major 5G home internet provider, T-Mobile offers speeds ranging from 33 to 182Mbps starting at $50 per month ($30 for qualifying T-Mobile customers). Like Verizon 5G, equipment and unlimited data are included, and no contracts are required, but T-Mobile doesn't quite deliver the same speed potential for the price as Verizon. T-Mobile home internet coverage is also somewhat spotty throughout Philadelphia, covering only about a third of homes in the area.
Viasat: Like HughesNet, Viasat is available pretty much anywhere in the US, including Philadelphia. Also, like HughesNet, Viasat is much more of a rural internet solution than a viable option for home internet in a city like Philly. If you're interested in exploring all your internet options, Viasat will likely be one, but expect relatively slow speeds along with high prices and data caps from the provider.
Philadelphia internet details at a glance
Virtually all Philly residents will have two broadband options to choose from. Again, those are likely to be Xfinity and Verizon, but other providers may be available depending on your address.
Broadband availability
Most available internet technology
Internet pricing in Philadelphia
Astound, and 5G home internet from Verizon 5G or T-Mobile (if you qualify for a discount with either), will be your cheapest internet options in the Philadelphia area. Aside from those providers and circumstances, expect to pay at least $40 to $50 a month for home internet. Here's a look at the cheapest internet plans available in Philadelphia.
Cheapest internet plans in Philadelphia
| Plan | Starting monthly price | Equipment fee | Max download speeds (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astound 300Mbps | $20 (Philadelphia only) | $7 (skippable) | 300 |
| Xfinity Connect More | $25 | None | 200 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | $25 (with 50% discount) | None | 85-300 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $30 (with $20 discount) | None | 33-182 |
| Verizon Fios 300 | $50 | None | 300 |
| PhillyWhisper | $50 | None | 25 or higher |
Affordable internet options for low-income households in Philadelphia
The Affordable Connectivity Program grants qualifying households a monthly credit of $30 towards home internet service. Once approved, you can apply the credit to internet service from Philadelphia internet providers, including Verizon, T-Mobile and Xfinity.
Xfinity also offers an affordable internet program, Internet Essentials, with speeds up to 100Mbps starting at $10 a month. No credit checks or contracts are required, and service is free when combined with the ACP credit.
Verizon does not have a similar low-income plan, but the provider does offer prepaid internet options that, when combined with ACP, could get you speeds of up to 300Mbps for around $20 a month with no contracts, credit checks or monthly equipment fees.
Internet speeds in Philadelphia
Despite high availability of gigabit plans from Xfinity and Verizon throughout Philadelphia, average tested speeds are lower in Philly than the rest of Pennsylvania and the entire nation. These are just averages, however, meaning your potential speeds could be much higher depending on the provider and plan you choose.
Download speeds
Upload speeds
Xfinity will be the faster Philadelphia internet provider whether your address is eligible for fiber service or not. Xfinity's fastest plan, Gigabit Pro, advertises max download and upload speeds of up to 6,000Mbps over a 100% fiber connection in the Philly area. Serviceability is limited (and the plan is expensive), but even over a cable connection, Xfinity is the fastest provider in the area, with download speeds up to 1,200Mbps.
Astound also offers a 1,200Mbps plan and a lower starting price than Xfinity, but the provider is primarily available just outside Philadelphia.
Fastest internet plans in Philadelphia
| Plan | Max download speeds (Mbps) | Starting monthly price | Data cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit Pro | 6,000 | $300 | None |
| Xfinity Gigabit Plus | 1,200 | $80 | None |
| Astound 1,200Mbps | 1,200 | $45 | None |
| Verizon Fios Gig | 940 | $90 | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Plus | 940 | $70 | None |
Philadelphia home internet FAQs
Does Philadelphia have fiber internet?
Yes. According to the most recent FCC data, more than 96% of Philadelphia residents are eligible for fiber service. Verizon Fios is the largest fiber internet provider in Philadelphia, though Xfinity also has a small fiber presence in the area.
How do I get free internet in Philadelphia?
Select Philadelphia internet plans are available for a net cost of $0 when combined with the Affordable Connectivity Program credit. Xfinity Essentials, for example, is a low-income internet plan available to qualifying customers starting at $10 per month, a cost that would be completely covered by the $30 monthly credit available from the ACP. Similarly, Verizon 5G or T-Mobile home internet may be available for free when combined with provider discounts and the ACP credit.
Is Verizon or Xfinity better?
I'm partial to the reliability and fast upload speeds of a 100% fiber connection, so given the choice between Verizon Fios or Xfinity, I'd likely go with Verizon. Additionally, Verizon Fios plans come with equipment and unlimited data included at no extra cost whereas you may be paying for both with Xfinity. Don't just take my word for it, though, check out our breakdown of Verizon versus Xfinity.
Table of Contents
- Best Internet Providers in Philadelphia: Verizon and Xfinity but Little Else
- Best internet providers in Philadelphia
- Verizon Fios: Best Philadelphia internet provider overall
- Xfinity: Fastest internet provider in Philadelphia
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Best 5G fixed wireless solution among internet providers in Philadelphia
- All Philadelphia internet providers
- Philadelphia internet details at a glance
- Internet pricing in Philadelphia
- Internet speeds in Philadelphia
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