What is the best internet provider in Ithaca?
Spectrum is CNET’s Pick for Best Internet Service Provider in Ithaca, New Yorkthanks to its high availability, fast speeds and simple pricing. Spectrum’s two plan options in Ithaca – 500 megabits per second and 1000 Mbps – offer the best value among all ISPs in the area and come with unlimited data and a free modem (router not included) .
Verizon Fios is also great value, offering free equipment rental, unlimited data, and a long price guarantee with each of its plans, but availability is very limited in Ithaca. Verizon’s wireless home Internet service is more widely available and offers many of the same benefits as Verizon Fios, but the available speeds are less consistent.
If you’re looking for a high-speed Internet alternative or shopping for Internet in a rural area outside of Ithaca, T-Mobile Home Internet is probably your best choice. The service includes free equipment, unlimited data and no contracts, and your price is locked in for as long as you keep your service.
Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet, and both Verizon services have a starting price of $50 per month, but you’ll get more speed for the price with Spectrum, making it the best choice for cheap Internet. Spectrum also offers the fastest download speeds in Ithaca, up to 1,000 Mbps, although Verizon Fios is close with a 940 Mbps plan that includes significantly faster download speeds, up to 880 Mbps versus 35 Mbps from Spectrum.
Ithaca, New York, Internet Service Providers Compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly Equipment Costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET Review Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $50 to $70 | 500-1000 Mbps | $10 (optional) | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless | $50 to $70 ($35 to $55 with eligible mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless | $50 to $70 ($35 to $45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1000 Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review | Fiber | $50 to $90 ($25 to $65 with eligible mobile plans) | 300-940 MBops | None | None | None | 7.6 |
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Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Ithaca?
| Plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Monthly Equipment Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Spectrum Read the full review | $50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon Fios 300 Read the full review | $50 | 300Mbps | None |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | None |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | None |
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Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
How to find Internet deals and promotions in Ithaca
The best Internet deals and promotions in Ithaca depend on the discounts available at any given time. Most deals are short-term, but we frequently check for the latest deals.
Internet providers in Ithaca, such as Verizon Fios, may offer lower introductory prices or promotional gifts for a limited time. However, many, including Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, charge the same standard rates year-round.
For a more comprehensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best Internet deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Ithaca
| Plan | Initial price | Maximum download speed | Maximum download speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Concert Read the full review | $70 | 1000 Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1000 Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
| Verizon Fios 1 concert Read the full review | $90 ($65 with eligible mobile plans) | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | None | Fiber |
| Internet Spectrum Read the full review | $50 | 500Mbps | 20Mbps | None | Cable |
| Verizon Fios 500 Read the full review | $70 | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | None | Fiber |
| T-Mobile Home All-in-One Internet Read the full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 415Mbps | 55Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
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Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.
What is 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 accommodate video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s a look at the minimum recommended download speeds for various apps, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only and Internet speed, service and performance vary depending on connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed you actually need.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you tackle the basics: browsing the Internet, sending and receiving emails, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one or two users to participate in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming simultaneously.
- 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Chose the Best Internet Service Providers in Ithaca
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers or kitchen tools, it is not practical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and Federal Communications Commission map information at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t stop there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we are accounting for all ISPs that provide service in an area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often complex and complicated, the providers who come closest to “yes” in all three areas are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, but we also consider things like price increases, equipment fees, and contracts. Choosing the fastest Internet service is relatively simple. We review advertised download and upload speeds and take into account actual 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 How We Test ISPs page.
Internet Providers in Ithaca, New York, FAQ
What is the best internet provider in Ithaca?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Ithaca, largely because of its high-speed availability throughout the region, but also because of its competitive pricing on fast speeds and easy service terms. Spectrum speeds range from 500 to 1,000 Mbps in Ithaca, and both plans include free modem rental, unlimited data, and no contract requirements.
Is fiber internet available in Ithaca?
Fiber availability is limited to about 20 percent of the city, or about 1,000 Ithaca homes, according to the latest report. FCC Data. Ease of maintenance is greatest in southeast Ithaca, in neighborhoods along Six Mile Creek and south of Cornell University. Verizon Fios is the leading fiber optic internet provider in Ithaca.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Ithaca?
The best internet providers in Ithaca all have a monthly starting price of $50. Spectrum offers the fastest speeds for the price, up to 500 Mbps, but renting a router will add $10 to the monthly cost. Although Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet have slower maximum speeds than Spectrum, both offer a mobile discount that could reduce the cost to $35 per month. Plus, there are no equipment fees, and both providers have a longer price guarantee than Spectrum: T-Mobile’s monthly rate is locked in for as long as you keep your service.
Which internet provider in Ithaca has the fastest plan?
Spectrum has the fastest speed tier in Ithaca, offering maximum download speeds of 1,000 Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet also advertises maximum download speeds of 1,000 Mbps, but this is the high end which could be between 50 and 1,000 Mbps.
Verizon Fios offers a 940 Mbps plan in Ithaca. Although slightly slower than Spectrum’s fastest plan when it comes to maximum download speeds, Verizon Fios’ 940 Mbps plan comes with maximum download speeds of 880 Mbps, much faster than the 35 Mbps maximum that you would get with Spectrum.
