Best Internet Providers in Massachusetts – CNET

What is the best internet service provider in Massachusetts?

Xfinity isn’t available everywhere. The mix of good speeds, reliability, and affordable pricing makes Xfinity CNET’s top choice for internet service providers in Massachusetts. If you’re in eastern Massachusetts, Verizon Fios might also be a decent alternative. Rural dwellers might have to get on board local fiber networks.

We’ve also found the top options if you’re hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds. The cheapest internet in Massachusetts comes from cable providers Xfinity and Astound. Xfinity’s $20-per-month plan comes with 150Mbps downloads, while Astound offers 300Mbps. The fastest widely available internet speed in Massachusetts is Xfinity’s 1,200Mbps plan, but some areas can pull down a 2,000Mbps top speed from the cable provider.

Best internet in Massachusetts in 2024

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Rural internet options in Massachusetts

• Fiber Connect of the Berkshires: Parts of Monterey, Egremont, New Marlborough and downtown Great Barrington can access fiber internet through local provider Fiber Connect of the Berkshires. The $99-per-month residential plan comes with 1,000Mbps downloads and 250Mbps uploads with a one-year agreement. There’s a $1,000 installation fee if fiber internet hasn’t yet been run to your address. There are no data caps, and a modem is included. 
• Municipal broadband: Some Massachusetts towns have taken fiber internet into their own hands to provide broadband to unserved and underserved areas. Prices and speeds vary by location. One example of this municipal broadband effort can be found in Leverett. Also, check in with WiredWest, a cooperative of towns in western Massachusetts that includes Becket, Heath and Washington. WiredWest manages the municipal broadband, while Whip City Fiber operates the networks as an ISP. Whip City’s gig plan in Westfield costs $70 per month with no contracts, plus equipment is included.
• Verizon Home Internet: Verizon offers fiber and 5G internet options, but it also maintains its legacy DSL network in some areas that aren’t covered by more modern technology. That means some rural residents may be able to get online with outdated DSL. Connection speeds can vary and may be excruciatingly slow for the $60 monthly price tag. For example, an address I ran in Holyoke maxed out at 15Mbps, which doesn’t even qualify as broadband in the eyes of the FCC. Verizon also requires a $35-per-month phone line. Consider alternatives before signing up for Verizon DSL.

Finally, Starlink, Hughesnet and Viasat are the big three names among US satellite internet providers. Satellite has some drawbacks. It can be expensive, and speeds may be slow. Some rural households may have no other satisfactory choice for getting online. Check with wired providers if cable, DSL or even a local fiber company reaches your address. If you settle on satellite, compare contracts, monthly fees and speeds. Starlink doesn’t require a contract and has the potential for higher top speeds than its peers, but it also requires a $599 upfront equipment cost.

Internet breakdown by city in Massachusetts

It’s hard to cover the broadband options of an entire state and still give individual cities the attention they deserve. For that reason, CNET has also put together lists of the best internet providers in towns across the country, including some in Massachusetts. If you don’t see your city below, check back later. We’re working to add more coverage each week.

Cheap internet options in Massachusetts

Some of the cheapest home internet plans in the state come from cable companies Xfinity and Astound. They both offer $20-per-month plans. Xfinity has 150Mbps downloads (equipment not included), while Astound has 300Mbps (modem included). That’s about as cheap as you’ll find for wired broadband but be prepared for an unwelcome price hike down the line with either company. 

A trick for lowering your monthly internet cost is to bundle with an eligible phone plan from Verizon or T-Mobile. That can net you a substantial discount on your home internet bill. 

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Massachusetts?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promos in Massachusetts

The best internet deals and top promotions in Massachusetts depend on what discounts are available during a given period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Massachusetts internet providers, such as Xfinity or Spectrum, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including Whip City Fiber and Starry, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Massachusetts broadband?

Massachusetts clocked a median download speed of around 225Mbps in a recent Ookla speed test report. That was good enough for the Bay State to rank in 14th place in the US. Ookla logged Xfinity as the fastest provider in the state. Xfinity offers a top speed of 2,000Mbps (in some areas) and is the most widely available ISP. FCC data shows speeds of 250Mbps down and 25Mbps up are accessible to over 98% of homes in Massachusetts. Some rural households will still be dealing with DSL or satellite as options. A group of towns in the west have launched municipal fiber projects to bring gigabit speeds to their residents. If you’re looking for small-town life but still need fast internet, check into places like Rowe, Leverett or New Salem.

Fastest internet plans in Massachusetts

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s 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 videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Massachusetts

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. 

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication. 

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions: 

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? 
• Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying? 
• Are customers happy with their service? 

The answers to those questions are often layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet in Massachusetts?

The best Massachusetts ISP for your home will depend on where you live. Xfinity has the widest wired coverage, so chances are good it services your address. That means a variety of plans and affordable introductory rates, but you’ll probably need to budget for equipment rental and can expect the price to go up. Eastern Massachusetts residents should compare with Verizon Fios for fast upload speeds and straightforward plans. Check with cable provider Spectrum if you’re outside Xfinity and Fios territory.

Getting online in rural areas can be a little trickier. You may face less than satisfactory options like satellite internet or DSL. If you’re in a pinch, look at Starlink, which allows you to test-drive the service to see how well it works for you. Some small towns in Massachusetts offer fiber hookups, so do your research if you plan to move to a quiet spot away from the big cities. 

Internet providers in Massachusetts FAQs