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What is the best internet provider in Cambridge?
Wireless Internet providers outnumber wired ones in the area, but Xfinity is the best Internet service provider for the majority of Cambridge residents. Xfinity cable Internet service has the best broadband coverage in Cambridge, low introductory prices, and some of the fastest download speeds available, up to 1,200 megabits per second.
Cable ISP Astound offers the fastest download speeds of any local provider, up to 1500Mbps, starting at just $55 a month, but availability is very limited in Cambridge. Better availability would be ideal, as the provider offers the fastest tier and cheapest internet plan in Cambridge: $20 per month for download speeds up to 300Mbps.
Like Astound, fiber provider Verizon Fios offers home Internet in Cambridge but with limited availability. In addition to Xfinity, your broadband options in Cambridge likely include fixed wireless service providers Starry Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon 5G Home Internet. Starry Internet provides a simple, low-cost Internet connection if you move into a building with wired service.
The Best Internet in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Comparison of Internet Providers in Cambridge, Massachusetts
| Supplier | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs. | data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing broadband Read full review | Wire | $20-$55 | 300-1500Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| crashed internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $30-$55 | 200-500Mbps | None | None | None | 7 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| VerizonFios Read full review | Fiber | $50-$90 | 300-940Mbps | None | None | None | 7.6 |
| Xfinity Read full review | Wire | $30-$75 | 300-1200Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Cambridge?
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Purchasing suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
How to Find Internet Offers and Promotions in Cambridge
The best internet deals and top promotions in Cambridge depend on the discounts available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we frequently look for the latest deals.
Cambridge Internet providers, like T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices, unlimited data, or other incentives for a limited time. Many, including Starry and Verizon 5G Home Internet, have the same standard price year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.
The fastest internet plans in Cambridge
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Purchasing suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What is a good Internet speed?
Most Internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can support video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Below is an overview of the minimum recommended download speeds for various applications. according to the FCC. Please note that these are only guidelines and Internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, check out our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you tackle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allow one or two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to perform high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, or kitchen utensils, it’s not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We began by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, based on our own historical ISP data, carrier sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But the thing doesn’t end there. We visited the FCC website to verify our data and make sure we considered all ISPs serving an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We analyzed sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to assess how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this information located, we ask ourselves three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast Internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
- Are customers happy with your service?
While the answers to those questions are often complex and layered, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest Internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly rate, but we also take into account things like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest Internet service is relatively simple. We analyze advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources such as ookla and FCC Reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our page on how we test ISPs.
Internet Providers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet service provider in Cambridge?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Cambridge. It has the best coverage of any local ISP, available to more than 99% of Cambridge homes, according to the FCC.
Along with exceptional local coverage, Other markets may come with a data cap or contract.
Is fiber internet available in Cambridge?
According to FCC data from June 2024, only about 8% of Cambridge residential addresses have fiber optic Internet service. Service capacity is greatest along the Charles River in the communities of East Cambridge and Lechmere Square. Verizon Fios is the area’s leading fiber internet provider.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Cambridge?
Astound has the cheapest internet in Cambridge with service starting between $20 and $55 per month for maximum download speeds of 300 to 1500 Mbps. However, Astound has very little availability in Cambridge. Xfinity is much more widely available, and while it’s not as cheap as Astound, it offers similarly low introductory rates of $30 to $70 per month for speeds of 300 to 1200 Mbps.
Which internet provider in Cambridge offers the fastest plan?
Astound offers the fastest internet plan with speeds up to 1500 Mbps starting at just $55 per month, but again, the provider has limited availability in the area. Xfinity’s Gigabit Extra plan offers almost the same download speed potential, 1200 Mbps, and is much more available throughout the Cambridge area.
