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What is the best internet provider in Reading?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Reading, Pennsylvania. It tops our list because it’s the only practical cable Internet option in the area. Xfinity offers the cheapest Internet in Reading ($25 per month for speeds up to 150 megabits per second) and the fastest speeds, up to 2,000 Mbps for $95. However, if you’re looking for alternatives to Xfinity in Reading, there isn’t much to offer. Frontier offers DSL Internet in parts of Reading, but speeds are likely below what is considered broadband, and at $65 per month, the price is higher than you’d pay for up to 800 Mbps from Xfinity.
Wireless Internet, from Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, is the only reasonable broadband option besides Xfinity in Reading. Verizon 5G Home Internet has better prices, while T-Mobile Home Internet has better coverage. Both providers offer a discount for combining with wireless service.
The Best Internet in Reading, Pennsylvania
Comparison of Internet Providers in Reading, Pennsylvania
| Supplier | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs. | data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Border Read full review | ADSL | $65 | Varies | None | None | None | 6.3 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read full review | Wire | $25-$95 | 150-2000Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | 1 year (optional) | 7 |
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Purchasing suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Reading?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connection Read full review | $25 | 150Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect More Read full review | $35 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Fast Read full review | $45 | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 85Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | None |
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Purchasing suppliers at my address
Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
How to Find Internet Offers and Promotions in Reading
The best internet deals and top promotions in Reading depend on the discounts available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we frequently look for the latest deals.
Reading Internet providers, like T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Verizon 5G Home Internet and Frontier, 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 Reading
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum loading speed | data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read full review | $95 | 2000Mbps | 300Mbps | None | Wire |
| Gigabit Xfinity Read full review | $65 | 1,000 Mbps | 150Mbps | 1.2TB | Wire |
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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 Federal Communications Commission. 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 video.
- 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 Reading, Pennsylvania
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. What is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and customer mapping information. FCC.gov.
It 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?
The answers to those questions are often complex and layered, but the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest Internet service, we look for 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. (Disclosure: 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Reading, Pennsylvania
What is the best internet service provider in Reading?
As the only cable broadband provider available in the area, Xfinity is the best internet provider in Reading, PA. Xfinity has the best availability and variety of plans in Reading, including the cheapest and fastest internet plans in the area.
Is fiber internet available in Reading?
According to the most recent data from the FCC, fiber Internet is not available in Reading, Pennsylvania. Frontier and Verizon, two of the country’s largest fiber internet providers, are available in Reading, but neither offer fiber service in the area. Xfinity also offers fiber Internet in select areas, although Reading is not one of them.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Reading?
Xfinity has the cheapest internet plan in Reading, with service starting at $25 per month for download speeds up to 150Mbps. Xfinity offers two plans with lower starting prices than the standard Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet rates.
Which internet provider in Reading offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity is the only provider offering speeds over 1 Gbps in Reading. The Xfinity Gigabit x2 plan offers up to 2000 Mbps.
