When space is limited, the competition is high, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who do business in the city must compete in a steep playing field, which can work to the benefit of the consumer. As a result, Boston’s home state of Massachusetts has one of the highest internet speed connections in the US, according to Statista. We’ve compiled the best choices for internet service in Boston that will fit the needs of everything from casual internet users to people who require fast speeds for their home office.
The three best internet providers in Boston
Verizon Fios — Best for high-speedXfinity — Best for availability RCN — Best for flexible plans
The best Boston internet providers: summed up
How we found the best internet providers in Boston
Finding the best internet service providers in Boston means focusing on what each company does best and what makes them stand apart from the competition. We dug into the details to determine key features that will help consumers decide which choice is best for them. If available, Fios is a solid choice for people who need fast internet that will perform at maximum Mbps for both upload speeds and download speeds. Fios utilizes fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to connect internet users directly to the company’s wider fiber network, which shaves off more time in between clicking a website over the connection and delivering that website’s information to your computer at home.
Price: $39.99 – $79.99Speed and Data: 100 Mbps – 940 Mbps/No data capPlans/Packages: 100 Mbps Speed, 300 Mbps Speed, Gigabit ConnectionContract Options: No contract, 12 months, 24 months
Xfinity has the most choices available on internet plans, and it offers many bundles with its services, as well. Although most of Xfinity’s internet service is operated through cable connections, the company’s highest-speed packages—Gigabit and Gigabit Pro—actually use a Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) network, which gives users even more reliability and connection speed.
Price: $39.99 – $299.99Speed and Data: 15 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps/One terabyte data capPlans/Packages: Performance Starter, Performance Plus, Performance Pro, Blast! Pro, Extreme Pro, Gigabit, Gigabit ProContract Options: No contract, 12 months, 24 months
This company is a good bet for more casual internet users or people who change living arrangements frequently because RCN doesn’t require a contract for any of their plans, and the installation process is fairly straightforward and inexpensive. RCN offers the cheapest internet option out of the three that we review. Cancel anytime without worrying over cancellation fees and the headache of getting out of a costly contract.
Price: $29.99 – $54.99Speed and Data: 15 Mbps – 940 MbpsPlans/Packages: 100 Mbps Internet, 250 Mbps Internet, 500 Mbps Internet, Gig InternetContract Options: No contract required
Coverage: Coverage is essential for an ISP. If the company doesn’t provide coverage in the desired location, then the service will be unavailable. Fios, Xfinity, and RCN all cater to the Boston area. Although all choices are available in parts of Boston, it’s a safe bet that Xfinity will have the highest rate of coverage, due to the company’s ubiquity in most metropolitan areas.
Value: The value each ISP offers to consumers depends on what type of internet service is needed. When it comes to deals and bundles, Xfinity is a great choice, due to the sheer amount of choices the company offers. As far as speed and reliability go, Fios’s fiber-optic connection is hard to beat. Casual internet users or people on the move might choose RCN, due to the ease of signing up and canceling the service at any time. RCN might save you from paying for pricey hotspots.Customer satisfaction: When it comes to customer satisfaction, the internet service provider industry is notorious for having low satisfaction ratings. We looked at the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power to find out how these companies measured up. At ASCI, Fios scored 70 out of 100 for 2018 and 2019, which is the highest mark of any ISP on the list. Xfinity scored 60 and 61 out of 100 for 2018 and 2019, respectively, and RCN did not receive an individual score as it is ranked in the “all others” category at 64 percent for 2019. We also looked at J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study for the East region of the U.S., and Verizon came in first with an overall satisfaction ranking of five out of five. Comcast Xfinity came in third with an overall satisfaction rating of three out of five, while RCN was not included on the list.
