What is the best internet provider in Cambridge?
The number of wireless Internet service providers outnumbers the wired wires in the area, however Xfinity It is the best ISP for most Cambridge residents. Xfinity cable internet has the best broadband coverage in Cambridge, low introductory rates and some of the fastest download speeds available, up to 1,200 Mbps.
Fellow cable ISP Startled It offers the fastest download speeds of any local provider, up to 1,500Mbps, starting at just $55 a month, but availability is very limited in Cambridge. Better availability would be ideal, as the provider offers the fastest tier and the Cheaper internet Plan in Cambridge – $20 per month for download speeds of up to 300Mbps.
Like Astound, the fiber provider Verizon Views Home internet is offered in Cambridge but with little availability. Aside from Xfinity, your choices for broadband in Cambridge will likely include fixed wireless providers Internet of stars, T-Mobile home internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. Starry Internet provides a simple, low-cost Internet connection if you are moving into a building that is wired for service.
Best Internet in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts, compare internet service providers
provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data ceiling | a contract | CNET Review Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amazing broadband Read the full review |
cable | $20 – $55 | 300-1,500 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7 |
T-Mobile home internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 – $70 ($35 – $50 with qualifying mobile plans) | 72-245 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.4 |
Internet of stars Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $30 – $55 | 200-500 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7 |
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50 – $70 ($35 – $45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-250 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.2 |
Verizon Views Read the full review |
Fiber | $50 – $90 | 300-940 Mbps | no one | no one | no one | 7.6 |
Xfinity Read the full review |
cable | $30-$75 | 300-1,200 Mbps | $15 (optional) | no one | no one | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Cambridge?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Cambridge
The best online deals and best promotions in Cambridge depend on the discounts available at the time. Most offers are short-term, but we frequently check for the latest offers.
Internet providers in Cambridge, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory rates, unlimited data, or other incentives for a limited time. Many of them, including Starry and Verizon 5G Home Internet, operate at the same standard rates year-round.
For a more comprehensive list of promotions, see our guide to Best offers online.
Fastest internet plans in Cambridge
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is 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, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll get a better experience with a more robust connection. Below is an overview of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications, According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).. Note that these are just guidelines – and that internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, see our guide about How much internet speed do you really need.
- The 0 to 5 Mbps speed lets you handle the basics – browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you high-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- A speed of 40 to 100 Mbps should give a single user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern remote work, video streaming, and online gaming.
- Speeds of 100 to 500 Mbps allow one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- The speed of 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best ISPs in Cambridge, Massachusetts
ISPs are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest Smartphone, Laptop, Router or Kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by searching for pricing, availability, and speed information, relying on our own historical ISP data, provider locations, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to verify our data and make sure we take into account every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the US Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with their ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate as of the date of publication.
Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider provide access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting adequate value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three questions are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also take into account things like price increases and equipment and contract fees. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and take into account real-world speed data from sources such as Okla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our website How we test ISPs page.
Internet Service Providers in Cambridge, Massachusetts FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Cambridge?
Xfinity is the best ISP in Cambridge. It has the best coverage of any local ISP, and is available to more than 99% of Cambridge households, according to the FCC.
Along with exceptional local coverage, Xfinity offers low introductory rates on speeds ranging from 300 to 1,200 Mbps. Plans include unlimited data and no contracts, which is not unique to Cambridge ISPs, but Xfinity plans in many other markets may come with a data cap or contract.
Is fiber internet available in Cambridge?
According to FCC data as of June 2024, only about 8% of residential addresses in Cambridge are serviceable with fiber internet. Serviceability is greatest along the Charles River in the communities of East Cambridge and Lechmere Square. Verizon Fios is the main fiber internet provider in the region.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Cambridge?
Astound has the cheapest internet in Cambridge with service starting from $20 to $55 per month for maximum download speeds of 300-1500Mbps. However, Asound is very sparsely available in Cambridge. Xfinity is much more widely available, and while it’s not as cheap as Astound, it offers similarly low prices starting at $30 to $70 per month for speeds of 300 to 1,200 Mbps.
Which internet provider in Cambridge offers the fastest plan?
Astound offers the fastest internet plan with speeds of up to 1,500Mbps starting at just $55 per month, but again, the provider is only available in the region. Xfinity’s Gigabit Extra plan offers almost the same potential download speed, 1,200 Mbps, and is more widely available throughout the Cambridge area.
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