Best Internet Providers in Poughkeepsie, New York

What is the best internet provider in Poughkeepsie?

In Poughkeepsie, Verizon Fios is CNET’s top pick for best Internet dealr. In addition to having the fastest speeds in town – up to 2,300 megabits per second – Fios offers several plans with symmetrical speeds, meaning download speeds are as fast as uploads. This symmetrical service is due to its fiber internet network, making it the best choice in terms of speed, reliability and overall value.

Although Verizon Fios offers free hardware, unlimited data, and no contracts, it’s not the only ISP to offer these benefits. You’ll find similar benefits with other local providers: Spectrum includes a free modem, Optimum gives you a free modem and router, and neither has a contract or data cap.

Looking for the cheapest internet in Poughkeepsie? Optimum plans start at $40 per month for speeds up to 300 Mbps, which is $10 less than Verizon Fios for the same download speed plan. Spectrum is also a solid alternative, offering a 500 Mbps plan for $50 per month, but it charges an additional $10 for a router. Overall, Optimum will become the cheapest wired Internet provider in Poughkeepsie.

Fixed wireless service providers like Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet are also available in Poughkeepsie. Since Verizon Fios already covers much of the area, Verizon’s 5G home service has limited availability here. If you’re considering a fixed wireless Internet connection, T-Mobile Home Internet will likely be your best choice.

Best Internet in Poughkeepsie, New York

Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.

Source: CNET analysis of supplier data.

How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Poughkeepsie

The best internet deals and promotions in Poughkeepsie depend on the discounts available during this time. Most deals are short-term, but we frequently check for the latest deals.

Internet providers in Poughkeepsie, such as Optimum and Spectrum, may offer lower introductory prices or other incentives for a limited time. However, others, including Verizon Fios, charge the same standard rates year-round.

For a more comprehensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best Internet deals.

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 person enough bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
• 100 to 500 Mbps allows one or two people to participate in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming simultaneously.
• 500 to 1000 Mbps allows three or more people to participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How CNET Chose the Best Internet Service Providers in Poughkeepsie, New York

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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Are customers getting decent value for what they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

Although the answers to these questions are often multiple and complex, 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 Poughkeepsie, New York, FAQ