New York’s state mammal is the beaver, a fitting symbol for an industrious, hard-working place that loves to build things. We’re not just talking about skyscrapers, subways and bridges. New Yorkers have built rich digital lives around work and play, and for that to thrive, you need fast, reliable internet access.
What is the best internet provider in the state of New York?
Your options for internet service providers in New York State are very location-dependent, but we have some recommendations for you. Whether you’re streaming movies in Ithaca or coding in Brooklyn, we’ve got you covered. Due to the wide availability of its cable internet, Spectrum Internet is CNET’s pick for the best internet provider in New York. Still, we’re also big fans of fiber internet from Verizon Fios if you can get it.
There are dozens of ISPs servicing New York, ranging from big names like Verizon to small, local providers. Let’s make like beavers and get busy checking out the best broadband in the Empire State.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in New York across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what’s available in New York. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet options in the state of New York
300 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
Our take – Charter Communications’ Spectrum home internet service gets the nod for best ISP in New York for one major reason: availability. This honor comes with a big caveat, though. If your address has access to a fiber service like Verizon Fios or Greenlight, then we recommend going that route over Spectrum.
300 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per month
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Our take – Verizon and T-Mobile have shaken up the ISP world in many places across the country by offering 5G wireless home internet. The plans are straightforward and affordable. Verizon gets the nod for New York State thanks to coverage, cost and higher top speeds than T-Mobile offers.
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
$50 – $80 per month
Our take – Some rural homes don’t have much choice at all when it comes to ISPs. It’s satellite or nothing. CNET has recognized Hughesnet as the best satellite provider for reliable speeds. Starlink is working hard to expand and bring faster speeds to more people across the US, but Hughesnet is a solid option when other ISPs don’t reach your address.
$50 – $80 per month
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
Our take – Verizon Fios had a clean sweep as our top-recommended ISP for New York City, Brooklyn and the capital city of Albany. The fiber service earned its place thanks to fast speeds, attractive pricing and a good customer service reputation.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per month
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $200 per month
Our take – Spectrum pretty much has the run of Buffalo, but Greenlight Networks is expanding in the city as a fast fiber alternative to the cable behemoth. If Greenlight doesn’t reach you, be sure to check in with Verizon Fios, which has a limited reach in the Buffalo area.
500 – 5,000 Mbps
$50 – $200 per month
Rural internet options in New York
| Provider | Connection type | Price range | Speed range | Data cap | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambient Broadband | Fixed wireless | $30-$80 | 10-50Mbps | None | Orleans County |
| Empire Access | Fiber | $50-$65 | 500-1,000Mbps | None | Upstate |
|
Frontier Internet Read full review |
DSL | $50 | Varies | None | Widespread |
| Haefele Connect | Cable | $34.50-$110 | 10-250Mbps | Varies | Enfield area |
| Hudson Valley Wireless | Fixed wireless | $25-$100 | 25-200Mbps | None | New York Capital Region |
| OEConnect | Fiber | $60-$100 | 100-1,000Mbps | None | Otsego County |
| Oneida County Telephone Co. | Fiber | $60-$100 | 100-1,000Mbps | None | Oneida County |
| Point Broadband | Fiber | $40-$60 | 200-1,000Mbps | None | Finger Lakes region |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
There’s a lot more to New York than big cities. The state boasts large stretches of scenic small towns and rural areas. Folks living there also need fast, reliable internet. Fixed wireless has typically been a go-to option for rural areas. Verizon and T-Mobile are big national providers of 5G home internet service, but they still tend to service cities more than rural areas. You might get lucky. Otherwise, look to a local or regional provider.
You’ll notice quite a few small fiber ISPs on our list for rural broadband options across the state. New York has a forward-thinking approach to rural internet thanks in part to the New NY Broadband Program and its successor, the ConnectALL initiative. These programs have been funding broadband expansion into underserved areas. This is taking the form of the growth of fiber networks in some counties. Fiber build-outs can take time, so availability is still very dependent on location.
Satellite internet can be slow and expensive, which is why it’s often a last resort for rural homes. The contenders are Starlink, Viasat and Hughesnet. The good news is satellite internet service can reach areas that are otherwise unserved by other ISPs. You’ll need a clear view of the sky and a willingness to pay a premium to get connected. We give Hughesnet a special nod thanks to its reliable speeds, while Starlink is notable for its higher max download speeds.
Head on over to the New York State PSC Broadband Map and plug in your address to find ISPs that service your home. This is a good way to learn about smaller local providers that you may have overlooked.
Internet breakdown by city in New York
It’s hard to cover the broadband options of a state like New York and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we also compile lists of the best internet providers in cities across the US, including those in the Empire State. We tackle details such as internet connection types, maximum speeds and cheapest providers. Check back later if you don’t find the location you’re looking for below. We’re working to add more cities every week.
New York broadband at a glance
The broadest broadband coverage across New York comes from cable providers — notably Spectrum and Optimum — but fiber is expanding in the state. In early 2023, Verizon Fios announced the availability of its multi-gig home internet plan in all five boroughs of New York City. Homes with fiber access are most likely to be in the populous big cities, but the state has been pushing fiber build-outs to smaller communities, so you don’t necessarily have to live in a place with skyscrapers to get fast internet.
Photo by Nico De Pasquale/GettyImages
How fast is New York broadband?
FCC data paints a rosy picture of internet access in New York by showing that 100% of residential units can access broadband speeds, but let’s look at that a little closer. For the FCC, 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up qualify as broadband. That speed might drive hard-core gamers and heavy internet users up the wall. Satellite internet also figures into the equation, so rural residents may be able to access that speed level via satellite, but it might not be an appealing option, thanks to the expense.
The FCC data on gig speeds is a bit less rosy. Only about 21% of residences can get at least 1,000Mbps down and 100Mbps up. Ookla’s speed test averages put New York in eighth place for the fastest median download speeds over fixed broadband among US states. New York’s 214Mbps median download makes for a strong showing. The fastest provider is Verizon, our choice for the best ISP in New York City, thanks to its reliable fiber network. If you’re over in the Buffalo or Rochester areas, check in with Greenlight Networks for fast fiber speeds. Large areas of the Empire State will find their best bet for broadband is through Spectrum. It’s not going to hit fiber’s max speeds, but it covers many places where fiber doesn’t reach.
Internet pricing in New York
A typical starting price for home internet service in New York is around $50. Some ISPs edge in below that, like with Astound Broadband’s sweet 600Mbps deal starting at $40 per month in parts of New York City. Rural residents may be looking at premium prices for satellite, but many of the state’s smaller fiber providers start at $60 per month. That’s much preferable to satellite or fixed wireless if your home has access.
Many residents won’t have much choice in ISP. If you’re stuck with a cable provider you don’t care for, then check into T-Mobile or Verizon home internet as an affordable alternative. Both have plans starting at $50 per month and offer generous savings when bundled with an eligible mobile plan. If you’re locked into a provider that hikes your price, then it’s time to make a little noise and try to negotiate your way back down to a more affordable monthly fee. Here are eight ways to save on your internet bill.
- 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 New York
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But 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?
While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, 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, though 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.
The future of broadband in New York
New York is working to bring fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved areas, especially in rural parts of the state. That work will get a boost thanks to New York’s nearly $665 million slice of a $42 billion federal investment through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program. The money is part of the massive Infrastructure Act.
New York maintains its own broadband map of the state, which highlights areas that are lacking in broadband or that have limited choices. The data shows roughly 130,000 locations are still unserved. Those areas will be a focus for broadband expansion. New York has set a higher bar than the FCC for what it considers high-speed internet. The state is aiming to bring speeds of at least 100Mbps down and 10Mbps up to all residents. Funding is a key component of improving New York’s broadband, but it also takes time and effort. Change won’t be instantaneous, but New Yorkers in areas that have typically been overlooked can look forward to a brighter broadband future.
Internet in New York FAQs
Does New York have good internet?
Yes, if you live in the right place. Ookla’s rankings place New York in the top 10 for state fixed broadband speeds. Verizon Fios and its fast speeds help to boost New York into that enviable position. Rural and smaller town residents may not have access to desirable fiber connections, but cable ISP Spectrum is widely available across the state and delivers download speeds up to a gig, making it a decent alternative where fiber is lacking.
Is there fiber internet in New York?
You’re most likely to find fiber internet in New York’s metro areas. Verizon Fios is our top-recommended fiber ISP for the state, but it’s not the only one out there. Optimum has some fiber service in New York City and Greenlight Networks is making waves in Buffalo and Rochester. A handful of smaller, regional providers have fiber networks in less populous areas around the state. Check out our chart above of some rural broadband options.
Is AT&T Fiber in New York?
AT&T Fiber can often be found at the top of CNET’s recommendation lists for cities across the US. Unfortunately for New York residents, it’s unavailable in the Empire State. Verizon Fios is a strong option if you’re looking for fast fiber in places like New York City or Albany.
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