The Internet Enthusiasts Awards of 2025

Best internet plan for streaming

There are several reasons why we chose T-Mobile’s All-In Home Internet plan as the best for streaming.

First, it includes Hulu (With Ads) and Paramount+ Essential. That’s a savings of $18 per month right off the bat. Not too shabby, right?

Second, T-Mobile doesn’t raise your internet rate for five years (excluding taxes and fees). That’s a long-term savings you could use to rid yourself of those pesky ads on Hulu and Paramount+.

Third, 5G home internet doesn’t require a wired connection or a smelly technician to set it up. Simply get the kit, shove the gateway near a window, and you’re good to go. We even deemed T-Mobile’s service as the Easiest Internet Switch of 2025!

Check out our guide on how to install T-Mobile 5G Home Internet to see how crazy simple it is. Also, be sure to read our review of T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for more hands-on information.

Astound is the best for gaming based on the latency numbers we recorded for our 2025 Annual Review. It’s one of the few internet providers that actually speaks to gamers.

So, why the gigabit plan? It provides adequate bandwidth for livestreaming on Twitch and other platforms. We say go with fiber if you can (even in your diet), as you get equal download and upload speeds.

Not into sharing your gameplay? No problem! Gigabit internet still gives you more than enough bandwidth to game online without other data hogs in your home causing you hair-pulling latency. The 600Mbps plan works, too, if a gigabit seems like overkill.

Finally, Astound is hip to the latest wireless connectivity. All plans are backed by Eero’s mesh system, delivering fast Wi-Fi no matter where you’re gaming at home. Some plans even support the latest Eero Max 7 system (and we love Wi-Fi 7). W00T!

Consult our review of Astound’s cable and fiber internet for more information about the service.

Xfinity is normally our top internet provider for students because of its exclusive deals. For example, a recent promotion for college students included unlimited data, a gift card up to $200, and one line of Xfinity Mobile for the first year. Plus, there was no monthly fee to use Xfinity’s WiFi Gateway.

Sure, most students don’t need a lot of speed for school-related tasks—25Mbps at the most. But Xfinity’s 300Mbps plan is ideal for handling those tasks, plus all the other non-school active and passive activities that can interfere with schoolwork. Having a little buffer just in case doesn’t hurt either.

For more information about Xfinity, be sure to read our Xfinity internet review.

First, Verizon provides an exclusive discount for new and existing military customers who are on active duty, are veterans, or have retired from service. The discount also applies to current or former National Guard reserves. Customers must verify their military status using ID.me to qualify for the discount.

Second, the 300Mbps plan is a good amount of speed for the money, but the cheap internet price we show above is solely based on bundling home fiber with mobile. Otherwise, the plan is $45 per month. Don’t need internet? No problem! Verizon offers a discounted rate per mobile line for up to four lines.

But wait! There’s more! Verizon offers verified veterans and military families 25% off select accessories when they shop on Verizon’s website. Not too shabby!

Picking the best budget plan is tricky because you absolutely must look beyond the promotional pricing. Sure, a plan can be super cheap in the first year, but it could double, maybe triple in price per month, after that.

So, why did we choose AT&T? Well, for a couple of reasons.

First, it’s cheap for the speeds you get, and the cost doesn’t skyrocket after the first year. Second, AT&T has more fiber availability than the competition, so chances are high that it’s available in your area. Plus, customers get a discount on internet when they bundle fiber with AT&T Wireless.

But is 300Mbps enough? Think of it this way: That amount equates to 12 devices streaming 4K video simultaneously. Since that will probably never happen, you have plenty of buffer for passive devices like smart stoves, thermostats, speakers, and so on.

For more information about AT&T, be sure to read our AT&T internet review.

Sure, the TP-Link Archer BE230 isn’t the beefiest Wi-Fi 7 router we’ve tested to date in terms of throughput and features, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. Like, kapow!

For starters, the Archer BE230 packs VPN tools for secure connections. It also provides up to seven different Wi-Fi networks (SSIDs) you can create for better device management, like isolating your IoT devices from your game consoles.

But that’s not all. It supports EasyMesh, too, so theoretically you could purchase three of these routers and create a whole-home Wi-Fi network cheaper than you’d pay for a pricey mesh networking system.

The key takeaway is that you don’t need Wi-Fi 7 devices to see the speed benefits you get. Wi-Fi 7 is simply better at handling interference according to our tests, so you may experience slightly improved speeds even using Wi-Fi 6 and older devices, especially in areas where radar interference is an issue.

Read our review of the TP-Link Archer BE230 to see why it’s such a great router, especially if you’re pinching pennies.

Out of all the cloud storage services we investigated, MEGA provides the most for free at 20GB. Sure, Google One serves up 15GB, but Gmail uses it for storage. Bummer.

The big callout with MEGA is the extra services you get when you sign up for a Pro subscription. All three plans include MEGA VPN and MEGA Pass, the latter of which is a password manager. The only difference between the three plans is the storage amount: 3TB, 10TB, and 20TB.

In addition to the VPN and password manager, MEGA includes a built-in chat tool for secure messaging, calls, and video meetings. You don’t need a subscription to use this feature, but calls and meetings are limited to one hour—they’re unlimited when you sign up for a premium plan.

We looked at the impact a VPN has on your internet speeds, and NordVPN is a great choice for keeping a fast internet connection. Plus, it really packs a punch when it comes to security features—what could be more important when it comes to finding a great VPN?

While NordVPN has a higher price point compared to other VPN services, it’s the best option for those who want to take their home networking security to the next level, with features like malware scans for downloads and alerts about leaked credentials.

But that’s not all. The value and additional security perks are worth a few extra bucks. You even get a 30-day money-back guarantee with NordVPN, giving you the opportunity to try it out risk-free before fully committing to a monthly or even multi-year subscription.