Best Internet Providers in Ithaca, New York
What is the best internet provider in Ithaca?
spectrum Voted Best Internet Service Provider in Ithaca, New York by CNETthanks to its high availability, fast speeds, and simple pricing. Spectrum’s two plan options in Ithaca—500 megabits per second and 1,000 Mbps—offer the best value of any ISP in the area and come with unlimited data and a free modem (router not included).
Verizon Fios The value is also very good, with free device rentals, unlimited data and a long-term price guarantee on every plan, but availability in Ithaca is very limited. Verizon’s wireless home Internet service has wider coverage and offers many of the same perks as Verizon Fios, but the speeds available are less consistent.
If you are looking for high speed internet substitute or shop Internet in rural areas Outside of Ithaca, T-Mobile Home Internet May be your best choice. Service includes free devices, unlimited data and no contracts, and your price is locked in for as long as you stay on service.
Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon service all start at $50 per month, but you get faster speeds with Spectrum, making it a better choice for: cheap internet. Spectrum also offers Ithaca’s fastest download speeds, up to 1,000Mbps, although Verizon Fios’ plan is closer to 940Mbps, and upload speeds are significantly faster, up to 880Mbps, compared to Spectrum’s 35Mbps.
Ithaca, NY Internet Providers Comparison
| provider | Internet technology | monthly price range | speed range | Monthly equipment cost | data cap | contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| spectrum Read full review |
cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | without any | without any | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | without any | without any | without any | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read full review |
fiber | $50-$90 ($25-$65 with eligible mobile plans) | 300-940Mbops | without any | without any | without any | 7.6 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What are the cheapest internet plans in Ithaca?
| plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon Fios 300 Read full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | without any |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | without any |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | without any |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to Find Ithaca Internet Deals and Promotions
Ithaca’s best internet deals and top promotions depend on the discounts available during a specific time. Most offers are short-lived, but we’re often on the lookout for the latest deals.
Ithaca Internet providers such as Verizon Fios may offer lower introductory prices or promotional giveaways for a limited time. However, many companies, including Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, use the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide Best Internet Deals.
The fastest internet plans in Ithaca
| plan | starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Performance Read full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | without any | cable |
| Verizon 5G Home + Internet Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | without any | fixed wireless |
| Verizon Fios 1Gig Read full review |
$90 ($65 with eligible mobile plans) | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | without any | fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Read full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | 20Mbps | without any | cable |
| Verizon Fios 500 Read full review |
$70 | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | without any | fiber |
| T-Mobile Home Internet All-Inclusive Read full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 415Mbps | 55Mbps | without any | fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a stronger connection. The recommended minimum download speeds for various applications are outlined below, According to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Please note that these are guidelines only – Internet speeds, service and performance vary based on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide How much internet speed do you really need?.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to handle the basics—browse the Internet, send and receive email, stream low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide one user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote working, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
CNET How to choose the best internet provider in Ithaca
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. different from the latest cell phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolsit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a specific city. So what is our approach? We started by looking at pricing, availability, and speed information, using our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and map information from the Federal Communications Commission: fcc.gov.
But it didn’t end there. We went to the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP offering service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We evaluate customer satisfaction with ISP services by looking at sources such as the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices may change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication time.
Once we have localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting value for money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the provider that comes closest to a “yes” on these three questions. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also consider factors like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from the following sources: Okla and Federal Communications Commission Report. (Ookla and CNET are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our processes in more depth, visit our How we test ISPs Page.
FAQs for Internet Providers in Ithaca, NY
What is the best internet service provider in Ithaca?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Ithaca, primarily because of its high-speed availability throughout the area, but also because of its fast pricing and simple service terms that are competitive. Ithaca’s spectrum speeds range from 500 to 1,000 Mbps, and both plans come with free modem rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements.
Is there fiber optic internet in Ithaca?
According to the most recent data, fiber availability is limited to about 20% of the city, or about 1,000 Ithaca homes. Federal Communications Commission data. Availability is highest in communities in southeast Ithaca, along Six Mile Creek and south of Cornell University. Verizon Fios is Ithaca’s leading fiber optic internet provider.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Ithaca?
The top internet providers in Ithaca all start at $50 per month. Spectrum offers the fastest prices, up to 500Mbps, but renting a router will add $10 per month. While Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet have slower maximum speeds than Spectrum, both offer mobile discounts that can bring the cost down to $35 per month. Plus, there are no device fees, and both providers have longer price guarantees than Spectrum—T-Mobile’s monthly rates are locked in as long as you stay on service.
Which internet provider in Ithaca offers the fastest plans?
Spectrum has Ithaca’s fastest speed tier, offering download speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet also claims a maximum download speed of 1,000Mbps, but that’s only the high end of the range, which is likely to be between 50 and 1,000Mbps.
Verizon Fios offers 940Mbps plans in Ithaca. While slightly slower than Spectrum’s fastest plans in terms of maximum download speeds, Verizon Fios’s 940Mbps plan has a maximum upload speed of 880Mbps, which is much faster than Spectrum’s 35Mbps top speed.
