BroadbandSearchBroadbandSearch

Internet Providers in Boston, MA

Over 9,547 people in Boston found the best Internet Provider in the last 30 days.

#1

EarthLink Fiber

96.24% availability
EarthLink Fiber logo

Connection Types:

Fiber
Speed up to:

5 Gbps

User Review:

(2728)

View Plans

Limited-Time Fibermaxx Offer: Lock in Fiber 1 Gig for $39.95/mo

#2

Verizon

68.75% availability
Verizon logo

Connection Types:

Fiber / DSL / Television / Mobile / Phone
Speed up to:

1 Gbps

User Review:

(2718)

Fios customers get upload speeds as fast as their download speeds.

#3

Verizon Fios Fiber

68% availability
Verizon Fios Fiber logo

Connection Types:

Fiber
Speed up to:

2 Gbps

User Review:

(2976)

Compare Verizon Fios Internet Plans with speeds up to 1Gbps starting at $39.99/mo.

#4

Xfinity

87.9% availability

Connection Types:

Cable / Television / Phone
Speed up to:

1 Gbps

User Review:

(2645)

View Plans

Comcast customers get access to millions of WiFi hotspots nationwide!

#5

Viasat

63.73% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

150 Mbps

User Review:

(2975)

View Plans
#6

RCN

42.07% availability

Connection Types:

Fiber / Cable / Television / Phone
Speed up to:

155 Mbps

User Review:

(2629)

View Plans

Award-winning, high-speed internet service with super fast speeds up to 155 Mbps.

#7

HughesNet

58.03% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

100 Mbps

User Review:

(2869)

*24-month commitment and early service termination fees apply. Monthly Fee reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Offer may vary by geographic area.

Unlimited Data – With no hard data limits, if you use the data in your plan, speeds will reduce.

Television Only Providers in Boston, MA

#1Dish Network

  • DISH is ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power for the third year in a row.
  • 2-Year TV Price Guarantee.
  • Free Google Voice Remote and Smart DVR Included.
  • Record up to 16 shows at once.
  • 80,000 On Demand Titles.
  • FREE Standard Professional Installation from a trusted, local expert.
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

#2DIRECTV

  • Best entertainement options for any sports fan over Cable TV, including NFL Sunday Ticket!
  • Includes local channels
  • HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax free for first 3 months
  • Free upgrade to Genie HD-DVR
  • Free professional installation in up to 4 rooms
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

Best Internet Providers in Boston

EarthLink Fiber is the best internet provider in most parts of Boston, if it is available at your address. Fiber internet is one of the fastest and most reliable types of internet and is ideal for remote work, streaming, gaming, and busy households with lots of connected devices. In many areas of Boston, you will see speed tiers from 1 Mbps to 5 Gbps, with pricing generally in the $29.99-$99/mo range.

Xfinity is a solid choice in Boston, if fiber is not available where you live. Cable internet is widely available in many parts of Boston and can support most households with speeds up to 1 Gbps and plans starting at $29.99/mo.

Verizon offers 5G home internet plans starting at $69/mo, and delivers speeds from 1 Mbps to 450 Mbps, depending on your address and signal strength. 5G internet can be a great alternative in many parts of Boston.

What is the fastest internet provider in Boston?

EarthLink Fiber is the fastest internet provider in Boston, MA, with download speeds up to 5 Gbps and upload speeds up to 1 Gbps — available to 96.24% of the city.
ProviderConnectionsMax DownloadMax UploadAvailability
EarthLink FiberFiber5 Gbps1 Gbps96.24%
Verizon Fios FiberFiber2 Gbps940 Mbps68.00%
VerizonFiber / DSL / Television / Mobile / Phone1 Gbps1 Gbps68.75%
XfinityCable / Television / Phone1 Gbps1 Gbps87.90%
RCNFiber / Cable / Television / Phone155 Mbps15 Mbps42.07%
ViasatSatellite / Phone150 Mbps3 Mbps63.73%
HughesNetSatellite / Phone100 Mbps5 Mbps58.03%

What is the cheapest internet provider in Boston?

RCN offers the cheapest internet in Boston starting at $29.99/month with speeds up to 155 Mbps. EarthLink Fiber offers the next lowest price at $39.95/month.
ProviderStarting PriceSpeedContractData Cap
EarthLink Fiber$39.95Up to 5 GbpsYesUnlimited
Verizon Fios Fiber$69.00Up to 2 GbpsNoUnlimited
Verizon$69.00Up to 1 GbpsNoUnlimited
Xfinity$50.00+Up to 1 GbpsNoUnlimited
RCN$29.99Up to 155 MbpsNoUnlimited
Viasat$49.99Up to 150 MbpsNoUnlimited
HughesNet$74.99*Up to 100 MbpsYes100-200 GB

What type of internet connection is best in Boston?

Boston has 5 main types of internet connections. Your best option depends on where you live and what you need.

Fiber

3.57%

Fastest, most reliable. Symmetrical speeds. EarthLink Fiber is the best available for gaming and WFH.

Cable

39.54%

Most widely available wired option. Xfinity covers 87.90%, RCN covers 42.07%. Up to 1 Gbps download. Good for most households.

DSL

46.64%

Verizon, max 1 Gbps. Being phased out for fiber. Only consider if no other options exist.

5G Wireless

17.64%

No contracts or data caps. Verizon leads at 68.75%. Typical 15 Mbps - 450 Mbps. Great for renters and budget-conscious users.

Satellite

100.00%

Viasat (150 Mbps), HughesNet (100 Mbps). Higher latency. Last resort for most Boston residents.

Boston, MA - Internet Connection and Coverage Map

Boston, MA has a total of 19 internet providers including  11 Fiber providers, 5 Cable providers, 8 DSL providers, 7 Fixed Wireless providers and 2 Satellite providers.

Compare Internet Providers in Boston, MA by Coverage Area

All 19 internet providers serving Boston by coverage area. This is the most comprehensive provider comparison available for the city — no competitor lists more than 10 providers with coverage data.

ProviderMax DownloadMax UploadInternet ConnectionCoverage
1.EarthLink Fiber5 Gbps1 GbpsFiber96.24%
2.Xfinity1 Gbps1 GbpsCable / Television / Phone87.90%
3.Verizon1 Gbps1 GbpsFiber / DSL / Television / Mobile / Phone68.75%
4.Verizon Fios Fiber2 Gbps940 MbpsFiber68.00%
5.Viasat150 Mbps3 MbpsSatellite / Phone63.73%
6.HughesNet100 Mbps5 MbpsSatellite / Phone58.03%
7.Cyberonic11 Mbps11 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Fixed Wireless46.75%
8.RCN155 Mbps15 MbpsFiber / Cable / Television / Phone42.07%
9.netBlazr500 Mbps500 MbpsFixed Wireless17.64%
10.Global Capacity8 Mbps1 MbpsDSL4.68%
11.Sovernet Communications1 Mbps1 MbpsFiber / DSL0.05%
12.FairPoint Communications50 Mbps10 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Fixed Wireless0.01%
13.ALTIUS Communications50 Mbps50 MbpsFixed Wireless0.01%
14.Birch Communications1 Mbps~Fiber / DSL / Fixed Wireless0.01%
15.Access Media 310 Mbps10 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL~
16.Cogent Communications~~Fiber~
17.Level 3 Communications~~Fiber / DSL~
18.USAi.net~~Fixed Wireless~
19.T-Mobile~~Fixed Wireless / Mobile~

Is there financial assistance for internet service in Boston?

Yes. Boston residents may qualify for free or discounted internet service through the federal Lifeline program, or provider-specific, low-income, affordable internet plans.

Federal Program

Lifeline

An FCC program that provides up to a $9.25/mo discount on internet service to eligible low-income households at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Provider Program

Xfinity Internet Essentials

$14.95/month for up to 75 Mbps for qualifying households. Xfinity Internet Essentials includes xFi Gateway (modem + Wi-Fi) and discounted PCs.

Provider Program

Verizon Forward

Up to $30 off/mo for eligible Fios or 5G home for qualifying households. Verizon Forward includes 12 months of job resources & skills training.

Provider Program

Astound Broadband Internet First

$9.95/mo for 50 Mbps for qualifying households. Astound Broadband Internet First includes modem & Wi-Fi and no contracts or install fees.

Frequently Asked Questions about Boston

EarthLink Fiber is the best internet provider in Boston, MA, based on speed and pricing. It's Fiber internet reaches speeds up to 5 Gbps, and plans start at $39.95. When comparing providers and plans, keep in mind how you use the internet and how many others in your household use it. High-demand activities, like streaming and working from home, and multiple users will require faster speeds to avoid buffering and poor performance.

There are 19 internet providers in Boston, MA. Residents have a variety of service options, including fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless and satellite.

RCN offers the cheapest internet plans that start at $29.99. Note that some pricing may be promotional or tied to autopay and paperless billing. If it is promotional pricing, your monthly bill will likely go up when the promo ends.

EarthLink Fiber has the fastest speeds in Boston, with a top download speed of 5 Gbps. Faster speeds provide more bandwidth for work-from-home activities (like video conferencing), online gaming, 4K video streaming, and households with multiple users and devices.

Yes, fiber internet is available in Boston. We recommend fiber internet for its fast symmetrical (equal) download and upload speeds, low latency for real-time activities like gaming and video calls, and its stability and resilience to interference. Fiber availability varies by address.

Yes. Boston residents could get assistance to reduce internet costs through various programs. Xfinity Internet Essentials offers up to 75 Mbps for $14.95/month. Verizon Forward has eligible Fios or 5G home with up to $30 off/mo. Astound Broadband Internet First offers $9.95/mo for 50 Mbps. Since the ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) ended in 2024, eligible households may take advantage of the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25/month in discounts.

If it's available in Boston, fiber internet is the best internet option for online gaming. Fiber offers the fastest download and upload speeds, but more importantly, it offers very low latency, which is important for fast-paced games that rely on stability and quick response times.

Yes, 5G home internet is available in Boston. 5G home internet offers competitive pricing and easy self-installation, since it doesn't rely on new or existing wired infrastructure. Average download speeds for 5G home internet are between 200 and 300 Mbps, which is plenty for remote work, streaming HD and 4K content, and households of 2-4 users, depending on activity.

The average download speed in Boston is 130 Mbps. For comparison, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband internet as having a download speed of 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 20 Mbps. Go to TestMySpeed and run an internet speed test to see how fast your internet connection is compared to speeds in Boston, MA.

EarthLink Fiber, Xfinity, Verizon, Verizon Fios Fiber, and Viasat offer internet in Boston, MA.

  • EarthLink Fiber: Offers speeds up to 5 Gbps starting at $39.95/mo.
  • Xfinity: Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps starting at $50.00+/mo.
  • Verizon: Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps starting at $69.00/mo.
  • Verizon Fios Fiber: Offers speeds up to 2 Gbps starting at $69.00/mo.
  • Viasat: Offers speeds up to 150 Mbps starting at $49.99/mo.

Internet Providers in Nearby Cities

Brookline, MA Cambridge, MA Milton, MA Somerville, MA Watertown Town, MA Newton, MA Dedham, MA Everett, MA Chelsea, MA Quincy, MA Medford, MA Belmont, MA Winthrop Town, MA Arlington, MA Malden, MA Needham, MA Waltham, MA Revere, MA Wellesley, MA Randolph, MA Winchester, MA Braintree Town, MA Melrose, MA Dover, MA Lexington, MA

Free wireless internet access points in Boston

Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 536-5400

How We Research Internet Providers

BroadbandSearch is committed to providing accurate and current internet provider data so you can choose the provider and service in your area that best suits your needs and budget. Here is how we source and verify the information we provide:

Data Sources

We pull provider data from FCC Broadband Data Collection filings, the NTIA National Broadband Map, U.S. Census Bureau data, and direct provider disclosures.

Coverage

Availability percentages represent estimated households that can order service, based on FCC Form 477 data and provider-reported service areas.

Reviews

Aggregated reviews from verified BroadbandSearch users. Ratings are based on speed performance, reliability, customer service, and value.

Updates

We review pricing monthly and coverage is updated quarterly with new FCC data. Last updated: March 22, 2026.

BroadbandSearch earns commissions from some providers. These partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial recommendations. Learn more about our data sources →