Best Internet Providers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Estimated read time 7 min read


What is the best internet provider in Lancaster?

The best internet provider often comes down to simply what’s available in your area. That may be the case for many in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Xfinity is CNET’s pick for the best internet service provider overall

In addition to the best high-speed internet coverage throughout the area, Xfinity offers the best plan variety, including the cheapest internet and fastest plans in Lancaster. Xfinity Connect More starts at $25 per month for speeds up to 300 megabits per second, while the Gigabit X2 plan offers up to 2,000Mbps starting at $90.

If Xfinity doesn’t float your boat, Brightspeed may bring fiber internet to your area soon. Otherwise, potential broadband alternatives in Lancaster include fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet. Verizon has better fixed wireless coverage in Lancaster, along with cheaper service and faster max speeds than T-Mobile, but the latter may provide a better option for broadband in rural areas.

Finally, DSL internet from Verizon or Frontier may be available in Lancaster but are options hardly worth considering and not ones that I would recommend. With slow speeds and high pricing, there are better choices for home internet in Lancaster.

Best internet in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, internet providers compared

Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score
Brightspeed DSL, fiber $50-$59 20-100Mbps DSL, up to 940Mbps fiber $15 None None N/A
T-Mobile Home Internet
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Fixed wireless $55 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) 72-245Mbps None None None 7.4
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review
Fixed wireless $60-$80 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) 50-1,000Mbps None None None 7.2
Xfinity
Read full review
Cable $25-$90 200-2,000Mbps $15 (optional) 1.2TB or unlimited 1 year or none 7

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s the cheapest internet plan in Lancaster?

Plan Starting price Max download speed Monthly equipment fee
Xfinity Connect More
Read full review
$25 300Mbps $15 (optional)
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read full review
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) 300Mbps None
Brightspeed Internet $50 20-100Mbps $15
Brightspeed Fiber $49 200Mbps $15
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read full review
$55-$70 ($40-$50 with eligible mobile plans) 245Mbps None

Show more (1 item)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

View of Lancaster, Pennsylvania at sunset View of Lancaster, Pennsylvania at sunset

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How to find internet deals and promotions in Lancaster

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

How many members of your household use the internet?

Lancaster internet providers, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or other promotions for a limited time. Many, however, including Brightspeed and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

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

Fastest internet plans in Lancaster

Plan Starting price Max download speed Max upload speed Data cap Connection type
Xfinity Gigabit x2
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$90 2,000Mbps 200Mbps Unlimited data included Cable
Xfinity Gigabit Extra
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$70 1,200Mbps 35Mbps Unlimited data included Cable
Brightspeed Fiber $99 2000Mbps 2000Mbps None Fiber
Xfinity Gigabit
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$50 1,000Mbps 20Mbps 1.2TB Cable
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet
Read full review
$80 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) 1,000Mbps 75Mbps None Fixed wireless

Show more (1 item)

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, 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 Lancaster

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:

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

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to 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.

Internet providers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, FAQs

What is the best internet service provider in Lancaster?

Xfinity is Lancaster’s best internet service provider due to its wide availability, low introductory pricing and fast speeds. Xfinity is available to nearly every Lancaster household and offers the cheapest plan and fastest max download speeds in the area.

Is fiber internet available in Lancaster?

Recent FCC data shows that fiber internet is slowly becoming available in Lancaster. Fiber providers, including Frontier, Kinetic by Windstream and Verizon Fios, offer service around Lancaster, but not within city limits. Brightspeed is actively building fiber networks in Lancaster County, but availability is currently limited.

What is the cheapest internet provider in Lancaster?

Xfinity is the cheapest internet provider in Lancaster. The cheapest plan, Xfinity Connect More, starts at $25 monthly for download speeds up to 300Mbps. Depending on your area, Xfinity Fast which 500Mbps may also be available. Other Lancaster internet service providers, including Brightspeed, Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, start from $55 or higher per month and may come with slower speeds than you’d get from Xfinity’s cheaper plans.

Which internet provider in Lancaster offers the fastest plan?

Xfinity’s Gigabit x2 is the fastest internet plan in Lancaster, offering download speeds up to 2,000Mbps. Max upload speeds are also fast, considering the cable internet connection, at 200Mbps. At $90 per month, Gigabit X2 is the most expensive plan from Xfinity, but the provider offers two other gig options with download speeds up to 1,200 and 1,000Mbps, starting at $70 and $50 per month, respectively.





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