Internet service providers (ISPs) are vital to businesses of all sizes and industries, and it is important to have a reliable internet connection with the speed and features to meet your business’s unique needs. Some businesses operate in remote locations, some require powerful wireless connections for mobility, and some rely on ultrafast dedicated internet plans for secure and unshared connectivity. Choosing the internet service provider that’s best suited to your operational needs can make a significant difference in the functionality of your business. Smart businesses choose the provider and plan that make the most sense for their broadband needs.
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The Best Internet Service Providers of 2023
By
Jeff Hale
, Contributing Writer
| Updated Feb 21, 2023
Need an internet service provider for your business? We've researched and analyzed the top providers to help you find the one that's right for you.
Best for Symmetrical Speeds
Great symmetrical speeds
Fiber-optic coverage expansion
Fiber speeds up to 5 Gbps
Best for Enterprise Businesses
Global enterprise service
Customized plans
Download speeds up to 1.25 Gbps
Best for Month-to-Month Contracts
Best for Rural Businesses
Best for Wireless Services
Verizon High-Speed Internet
400 Mbps wireless speeds
10-year price guarantee
Large variety of plans
Need an internet service provider for your business? We've researched and analyzed the top providers to help you find the one that's right for you.
Compare Our Best Picks
| Provider | Editor’s Score | Use Case | Base price | Contracts | Max fiber download speed | Service Type | Customer service | Add-ons | Fiber Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 8.8/10 | Syemtrical speeds | $89/month | Varies by service | 1 Gbps | Dedicated, fiber and wireless | 24/7 | Wireless backup, voice and security | Unlimited |
| Comcast ISP | 8.4/10 | Enterprise Businesses | $49.99/month | 2-year commitment for most plans | 1.25 Gbps | Dedicated, fiber and wireless | 24/7 | Wireless backup, guest WiFi and security | Unlimited |
| Spectrum | 8.8/10 | Month-to-month contracts | $49.99/month | No annual commitment | 1 Gbps | Fiber and wireless backup | Weekdays 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET | Wireless backup, business WiFi and security | Unlimited |
| Viasat ISP | 8.2/10 | Rural Businesses | $50/month | 2-year term commitment and monthly options | 35 Mbps (satellite) | Satellite | Every day 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. CST | Backup internet | Unlimited with soft data caps (satellite) |
| Verizon | 8.8/10 | Wireless Service | $69/month | Varies by service | 940 Mbps | Dedicated, fiber and wireless | 24/7 | Wireless backup, security, video conferencing and voice | Unlimited |
Reviews
AT&T Business: Best Business Internet for Symmetrical Speeds
For small businesses that need reliability and a wide range of connectivity solutions, AT&T offers a variety of options that suit all business types.
With 99.9 percent uptime and constantly expanding fiber-optic coverage, businesses can upload and download at the industry’s highest speeds.
While AT&T Business offers various plans, security options and internet speeds, it's more expensive than competitors.
For businesses that need to upload and download content with demanding speed, AT&T Business is a standout service provider. AT&T Business offers reliability, with 99.9 percent uptime and constantly expanding fiber connection coverage.
Editor’s score: 8.8/10
With AT&T’s Business Fiber and AT&T Phone for Business plans, customers have unlimited access to internet data with included equipment, no annual commitment, and up to 5 Gbps with fiber plans. Dedicated internet plans support large data transfers for e-commerce operations and enable collaboration with 25 times faster upload speeds than cable provides, reaching 1 Tbps in some areas. AT&T Business’s mobility feature allows team members to connect on the go, and the wireless broadband backup gives businesses valuable peace of mind in a power outage.
Businesses that choose AT&T Business as their internet service provider benefit from point-to-point connections that extend outside the United States to global teams. Each plan offers unlimited nationwide calling and supports audio and video streaming. To ensure all customers get the services they need, AT&T works with businesses to determine the best plan for them. You can opt for separate Wi-Fi connections for employees and customers, serve multiple locations according to specific needs, and choose the security products that make sense for your business.
Comcast Business ISP: Best Business Internet for Enterprise Businesses
For enterprises that need customized solutions with reliable global reach, Comcast is a flexible provider.
Comcast provides global secure networks accompanied by robust cybersecurity features.
Comcast requires a two-year agreement to get a reduced monthly rate on services.
With the largest ISP and gig-speed network in the United States, Comcast is an ideal internet service provider for enterprises. Every Comcast solution includes around-the-clock customer support, online installation, scheduling and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Comcast Business, which is backed by a service-level agreement, is a true dedicated internet enterprise service with non-shared internet and different bundles to meet local market pricing and needs. Comcast’s cloud-based cybersecurity, backup internet services, and advanced Wi-Fi access points also give enterprises the power they need to operate smoothly, and the Preferred bundled plan is the most popular, with $25 to $45 off internet, phone and TV.
Editor’s score: 8.4/10
Comcast team members work with customers to customize options based on their needs and specific industry. When businesses choose Comcast, they receive global secure network solutions, like advanced security, SD-WAN services and highly rated cybersecurity features. With its acquisition of Masergy, Comcast helps bolster channel distribution to over 100 countries.
Comcast can help your business get up and running with services within 10 business days and frequently offers complimentary installation. Although email is not included in plans, Comcast provides unlimited data and internet. Download speeds can reach up to 1.25 Gbps, and automatic internet backup services help ensure your business functions even when the internet goes down.
Spectrum Business: Best Business Internet for Month-to-Month Contracts
Spectrum offers contract-free monthly plans to allow businesses the flexibility they need.
Spectrum has a unified communications solution partnership with RingCentral to help businesses operate anywhere.
The top upload speed is relatively low, at 35 Mbps.
Sometimes a business is bound for change and thus multiyear commitments or contracts don’t make sense. Spectrum offers its business customers month-to-month solutions with no contracts, and prices are locked for at least one year. Spectrum also provides its business customers with unlimited data, free email addresses and a free domain name.
Editor’s score: 8.8/10
We were impressed with Spectrum’s commitment to providing flexible services. If your business is stuck in a contract with another service provider and you switch to Spectrum’s contract-free plan, you could receive $1,000 to assist with early-termination fees. Spectrum also offers free installation to its customers.
Many businesses that need the flexibility of a plan without a contract also need the flexibility to work efficiently in a variety of places. Spectrum Business Connect is the provider’s all-in-one communication app that allows teams to work from anywhere. To support different devices and help teams function smoothly, Spectrum provides internet speeds up to 1 Gbps (wireless speeds may vary). Equipped with RingCentral (learn more in our full RingCentral review), Spectrum’s app supports phone calls, messages, videos and file transfers, as well as a seamless transition between phones, tablets and computers. When you bundle Spectrum Business Internet with Spectrum Business Connect, you’ll receive a free unlimited mobile line.
Viasat: Best Business Internet for Rural Businesses
For businesses in remote locations, Viasat Business Internet uses satellite connections with speeds up to 35 Mbps.
Viasat is available to 96 percent of the U.S. population and will soon be a global provider.
As a satellite internet provider, Viasat’s service is slightly more expensive and sometimes results in latency.
For businesses located in areas where other internet options are slow or unstable, Viasat offers reliable satellite internet. Rural businesses need quality internet services just like their urban counterparts do, and Viasat provides more satellite bandwidth than many of its competitors. It is currently one of the top federal government contractors and offers affordable internet plans for rural businesses through the Connect America Fund federal grant program. Viasat Business Internet service is available to 96 percent of the U.S. population, which makes it a great option for those who need remote internet service with speeds up to 35 Mbps outside other providers’ service areas.
Editor’s score: 8.2/10
Currently, Viasat has five satellites in orbit and plans to add two more satellites to expand its coverage area around the planet. Businesses that provide commercial Wi-Fi or require far-reaching mobility, like airlines and cruise ships, often choose Viasat for its reliable connection in less-populated spaces. Within the next year, Viasat will serve all 50 states, and the company plans to become the first global ISP by 2025.
Viasat can also be used as a backup or redundancy plan, with an entry-level cost of $50. Installation can be completed in three to five days. The provider rotates through three potential IPs and receives a prioritized connection over residential customers. Viasat offers an internet option that works efficiently in inclement weather
Verizon High-Speed Internet: Best Business Internet for Wireless Services
Verizon High-Speed Internet
Verizon provides 5G wireless internet access for increased mobile speed.
The company offers self-setup for its 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps wireless plans.
Verizon business internet is fast, but its service territory is limited.
Wireless internet access is a vital part of business operations, and Verizon Business Technology provides some of the best 5G services to enable efficient and functional mobility. For $69 per month, you’ll have 100 Mbps speeds with self-setup or professional installation through the 5G Business Internet plan and a 10-year price guarantee. Verizon also offers an LTE Business Internet plan that connects temporary sites, enables large-scale deployments, and gives businesses the capacity to back up critical operations.
Editor’s score: 8.8/10
If a business wishes to upgrade its 5G service, it can opt for the Fios Business internet plan that uses an ultrafast fiber-optic network with 99.99 percent reliability and near-symmetrical speeds up to 940 Mbps. The Fios plan requires professional on-site installation, which is included with the plan along with 24/7 business-class support.
While the Fios plan enables speeds close to 1 Gbps, there are a variety of options that provide lower speeds for differing business needs. If your connectivity needs go beyond internet service, you can take advantage of Verizon’s internet and voice bundles to combine high-speed internet and phone service. Customers can upgrade their Fios plan with standard phone and digital voice add-ons.
To ensure customer satisfaction, Verizon offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, up to $1,500 in contract elimination assistance, and one month free with the 200 Mbps and 400 Mbps speed tiers of the 5G Business Internet plans.
Internet Service Provider Pricing
Although pricing is structured differently for each provider, it is typically determined by a few factors. Because there are so many speed and service options, it is a good idea to talk with a service provider representative about your options so you have a thorough understanding of the plan, the exact speeds and features you will receive, and the costs of add-ons. Hidden costs can be detrimental, especially to a small business, and no business should be cost-burdened by the need to function online. Upstanding internet service providers will be candid and explicit about their prices.
Although month-to-month plans may appear less intimidating, the monthly costs are often higher than the costs associated with a two-year contract. Your service provider representative can help you assess the benefit of bundling services such as phone and internet, which often helps to lower the overall costs.
Before you sign any contracts, it is important to note any cancellation fees, whether the provider offers a price lock to guarantee a solid rate, installation fees, and the costs to upgrade or add features to your plan. Ask yourself if the provider throws in free features because it values its customers or if the provider demands a fee for every change or addition to your plan.
FYI
Depending on the service provider you choose, starting costs typically range from $50 to $90 per month.
What to Expect in 2023
While different internet service providers are tailored to specific types of businesses, they are still highly competitive. The best providers continuously work to improve their services by increasing the speed and strength of their internet connections and the breadth of their plans’ features. Choosing an internet provider with a commitment to improving its services can be pivotal, especially when many providers require their customers to enter a two-year contract.
Before choosing a provider, you may want to inquire about upcoming improvements. Some companies may not currently offer service in all the areas you need, but they might be expanding their reach to provide higher-quality, broader service in the near future. Many providers have committed to spending billions to expand their fiber networks across the country. Viasat is already available almost everywhere in the United States, and the company plans to be a global provider within the next two years after it adds more satellites. Other companies are continuously working to strengthen their dedicated, wireless and fiber-optic connections. The potential for improved access to high-speed internet service in the next few years may influence the success of businesses across all industries.
Integrations, partnerships and acquisitions are also important to consider. Spectrum’s recent partnership with RingCentral has significantly improved its mobile communication capabilities and allows businesses to more effectively operate with mobility. Online communication is complex, and providers that demonstrate their ability to integrate helpful technologies into their services should be recognized by business customers.
Jeff Hale
Contributing Writer
Jeff Hale is a writer and editor based in San Diego with a background in business development and marketing. He has identified new market opportunities for Fortune 500 companies and developed communications strategies and digital branding for tech startups and small businesses. Jeff covers emerging technologies and business solutions with a focus on efficiency and growth. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Irvine, and an MBA from Chapman University.