How we rank internet providers

Every editorial score on this site comes from the same four-part rubric, weighted for how households actually experience internet service. No partner compensation touches any input.

1. Speed per dollar (35%)

We compare advertised download speed against the monthly price at both the promo rate and the post-promo rate. A plan that looks cheap for twelve months and expensive for the next twenty-four is scored on both halves of that story.

2. Post-promo honesty (25%)

Flat, price-locked plans score highest. Steep promotional cliffs, equipment fees, and data-cap overage exposure all cost points — because they cost you money after the honeymoon.

3. Upload performance (25%)

Video calls, cloud backup, and creator work made uploads the silent differentiator. Symmetrical fiber sets the benchmark; cable and 5G plans are scored by how close they get and how transparent they are about it.

4. Contract friendliness (15%)

No contracts, no equipment rental traps, easy cancellation, and self-install options all earn credit. Termination fees and mandatory professional installs lose it.

Where the data comes from

Plan and pricing data is reconciled from provider rate cards and our portfolio's shared tracking datasets, with a visible “reconciled” date on every plan table. Spot an error? Tell us — corrections ship fast and are never quietly buried.