Best Internet Service Providers

Speed

For many users, speed is the most important factor when considering ISPs. Connection speed determines how much time it takes to perform various tasks on the Internet, how long it takes to load images and whether audio and video arrive in little bursts or stream in real time. In general, browsing websites requires a lower connection speed than tasks like watching a video or listening to audio files.

• Upload speed: When users send data from their computer to the Internet, the speed of the transfer is called the upload speed.
• Download speed: When users receive data from the Internet to their computer, the speed of the transfer is called the download speed. Download speed is normally many times faster than upload speed.

Services

The services provided by an ISP can vary greatly, with service offerings based on pricing tiers, speed or business needs. Some companies offer the same services to all of their customers, while others specialize in online access only or specialty services like cloud storage and security software.

• Residential: Most ISPs offer service to homeowners or renters.
• Commercial: In general, ISPs usually offer different packages to commercial customers such as corporations or nonprofit organizations.
• Small Business: While many ISPs lump small business customers together with other commercial customers, some offer distinctive packages at a lower price to small businesses.
• Bundling: Internet service providers that also offer telephone or television services often offer bundled packages of multiple services at a discounted rate.

Support

There are many reasons why customers may need support, including slow speeds, pages that won't load and unusual charges on their bills. Most ISPs prefer to communicate by email or chat, though some still offer customer support over the phone. Great customer support refers to both helpful agents and experienced troubleshooters who can fix problems remotely, reducing the need for technician visits. Sometimes a contractor must be dispatched to the customer's home to look at hardware issues.

• Installation process: The installation process is usually quick and efficient; many ISPs provide this at little or no cost with a qualified contract. Each connection type has a different installation process. For example, dialup usually does not require any installation of hardware or software. Cable often requires drilling holes through outside walls and pulling in new wires, in addition to setting up the router and a modem inside the house. Satellite connections need a dish installed outside and synced up to a precise angle. The process can take several hours.
• Email, phone or chat support: There are various ways to connect with each ISP support service, and some are quicker and easier than others.

Reliability

Reliability refers to both the signal, which is sometimes lost and has to reconnect, and the speed, which varies greatly depending on usage. ISPs that use dedicated lines, such as copper cables, fiber optics and DSL, are very rarely completely unavailable. Dial-up and satellite connections are more prone to outages. Dedicated lines also usually offer unlimited data or generous data limits, while dial-up and satellite generally have bandwidth limits.

• Connection quality: A good Internet connection has strong signal strength, and outages are rare.
• Data caps: Some ISPs cap data at a certain level each billing cycle; others allow unlimited data usage.

Availability

Not all Internet service providers are available in all areas of the country. Customers should check with a provider to determine if coverage is an option at their home or business address. Even within the same city, there are different providers and package options according to zip codes. Often, the first step for the customer is to go to provider websites and put in their zip code to see what is available at their address.

• Coverage area: Most areas have a limited number of ISPs available; some areas may only have one or two.
• Connection types: The different connection types include, dial-up connections using existing phone lines, cable which requires installation of new broadband wires, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) uses existing copper telephone lines and satellite which requires a dish to be installed outside the house. As well as, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) which is for high speed connections requiring and adapter for existing phone lines and optical fiber which is cable that used spun glass instead of copper for ultra high bandwidth connections.

Extra features

Often an ISP offers extra features for an additional cost; sometimes these features are included free with any Internet plan.

• Anti-virus software: Anti-virus software helps protect computers from malicious attacks from other Internet users.
• Personal or business website: Many providers offer services to help build and maintain personal or business websites.
• Email address: One or more email addresses are often included with the Internet service.
• Wi-Fi access: Some ISPs offer unlimited Wi-Fi access through various hot spots across the United States.

Access

Most ISPs fall into this category. Access ISPs offer Internet access to customers through a specific type of connection, such as broadband or dial-up. Some access ISPs offer additional services like email hosting.

Hosting

Hosting ISPs offer space online for a website or provide a place to store various services like email accounts, websites, virtual machines and servers.

Mailbox

These ISPs offer a place to store email accounts and messages. They also provide services for sending and receiving emails.

Transit

Transit ISPs provide services to connect access ISPs with mailbox or hosting ISPs.

Virtual

Virtual ISPs let customers access or use the hosting services of a large ISP under a different company name.

Business owners

Internet access is important for any business owner's success. The Internet is a great resource for advertising, research and conducting business transactions.

Students

Students use the Internet extensively for research and entertainment. Many college students can take courses online, which requires an Internet connection.

Work-at-home employees

Employees who have the option to work from home usually require Internet access to perform their duties effectively when they are away from the office.

Online gamers

Gamers can play video games online, either alone or by connecting with other gamers through the Internet.