What’s a good internet speed?
Take our quiz to find out how much internet speed you need. Or use our internet speed test to test your current speeds.
0–5 Mbps
Works for:
- Checking email
- Streaming music on one device
- Searching on Google
5–40 Mbps
Works for:
- Streaming video on one device
- Video calling with Skype or FaceTime
- Online gaming for one player
40–100 Mbps
Works for:
- Streaming HD video on a few devices
- Multiplayer online gaming
- Downloading large files
100–500 Mbps
Works for:
- Streaming video in UHD on multiple screens
- Downloading files quickly
- Gaming online for multiple players
500–1,000+ Mbps
Works for:
- Doing a lot of almost anything
What is the cheapest home internet provider in New York City?
Astound and Starry are the cheapest home internet providers in New York City. Both Astound and Starry offer plans for just $30 a month —both awesome deals considering the speeds you get on either plan.
Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are two other great options for cheap internet in the city. While both providers technically charge more (literally by a penny) than Verizon Fios and Spectrum on baseline plans, you end up getting a much better deal because you don’t have to worry about extra fees for installation or equipment. You also get unlimited data and lots of promotions and deals.
But if you prefer fiber or cable, no worries, because Verizon Fios and Spectrum also have solid fiber-optic and cable plans at cheap prices. We recommend going for Verizon if either has fiber internet in your area, but all these providers can get you reliable performance even on the cheapest internet plans.
Optimum also has cheap prices, but Optimum imposes price hikes on all of its plans after a year of service. So while you’re getting a great discount upfront, you end up paying more in the long run.
Cheapest home internet plans in New York City
Plan | Price | Speed | View plans |
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Astound 300 Mbps Internet | $30/mo.† | 300Mbps | View Plans for Astound Broadband |
Optimum 300 Mbps Internet | $35/mo.* | 300Mbps | View Plans for Optimum |
Verizon Fios 300 Mbps | $49.99/mo.‡ | 300Mbps | View Plans for Verizon Home Internet |
Spectrum Internet® Premier | $50/mo.§ for 1 year | 500Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plans for Spectrum |
Verizon 5G Home | $50/mo.║ w/ AutoPay | 300Mbps | View Plans for Verizon Home Internet |
T-Mobile Rely Internet | $50/mo.†† w/ AutoPay, plus taxes & fees. | 113–415Mbps | View Plans for T-Mobile Home Internet |
Starry 100 | $30/mo.# w/ Debit Discount | 100Mbps | View Plans for Starry Internet |
Free internet opportunities in NYC
Qualifying residents can enroll in Big Apple Connect for either Optimum or Spectrum internet service. New customers at participating NYCHA properties can order through Big Apple Connect services for a free cable plan up to 300 Mbps. Existing customers can have their monthly bill reduced to $0.
Home internet deals and promotions in New York City
Provider | Deal | View on provider's site |
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| Get the Deal |
What fiber internet providers are available in New York City?
Verizon and Optimum are the two major fiber internet providers in New York City. Regional providers Flume Internet and Hotwire Communications also offer fiber internet on select plans.
We always recommend fiber internet as the best type of internet you can get—with fast speeds, a super reliable connection, and symmetrical uploads, you simply can’t beat it.
Fiber internet providers in New York City
- Verizon — Fiber speeds up to 2,300Mbps
- Optimum — Fiber speeds up to 8,000Mbps
- Flume Internet — Fiber speeds up to 1,000Mbps
- Hotwire Communications — Fiber speeds up to 1,000Mbps
Customer reviews of internet providers in NYC
Herbert Z | 12-09-2024
Verified User
Their Evo converter provides terrible access to cable TV. And only one can be connected - so the remote has to be passed around to different users. I recommend going elsewhere if possible.
Was this review helpful?Akamee S | 08-15-2024
Best internet I’ve ever had in my life
Was this review helpful?Juan R | 08-16-2023
Verified User
Unfortunately I don't have that many options living in the New York area when it comes to Internet providers. So i'm very much stuck with Spectrum. Overall their biggest problem is they have so many outages that it becomes a problem with reliability. When I tried calling they didn't seem to know what the outage was, or when it would be done. Rerouting internet to impacted users seems so trivial and like a simple task for a company of that size, but the support team didn't seem to have much answers to how to fix issues. Their solution was a credit of $1 and some change.
Was this review helpful?FAQ about home internet in New York City
What is the best internet provider in New York?
What is the cheapest internet provider in New York City?
How do you get free internet in New York City?
How much is Verizon Fios internet only in New York?
What's the fastest internet provider in New York City?
What is the average internet speed in New York City?
How much is internet service per month in New York City?
Does New York City have fiber internet?
Methodology
HighSpeedInternet.com compares internet providers within cities and metro areas to give customers the most relevant insights into their internet options. When comparing providers, we consider the following:
- Provider coverage areas
- Advertised speeds
- Real-world speeds (speed test data)
- Customer feedback
- Other relevant localized data
We source localized coverage data displayed on our coverage maps from the FCC coverage database, which is updated every six months. For the most current summary of providers in your area, we recommend you use our zip code search tool, which offers the most recent coverage data straight from internet service providers (ISPs).
Our city overviews compare advertised provider speeds. We may also include real-world speed data gathered from millions of annual speed test results. To process our speed test data, we first filter out outliers and providers with low test counts. We then calculate speed averages with every ISP subject to the same parameters.
We gather ISP customer feedback data from our comprehensive annual surveys and direct customer feedback submitted to HighSpeedInternet.com. Unless stated otherwise, average ratings are calculated nationally.
Disclaimers
* w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill w/unlimited mobile plans. Terms apply. Not available in all areas.
† Regional price differences may apply. 24 Month Internet Pricing. No contract required. Equipment priced separately. Includes $5 discount for 12 months w/ ebill & autopay. Experienced speeds may vary. New residential customers only.
‡ w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
§ Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
║ w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
** w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
†† w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
# Available in select areas only. Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees.