For an internet connection that moves as fast as the city, get Verizon Fios. In NYC, this speedy fiber connection delivers speeds of up to 2,300Mbps. You get symmetrical speeds with most plans, meaning your download and upload speeds are the same. That’s super useful if you regularly upload large files. But you’ll pay up to $90 a month in exchange for symmetrical Wi-Fi faster than commuters rushing to catch a train, so make sure your budget accommodates that extra cost before signing up.
Best Verizon Fios internet plan for most people: Internet 500/500, 500 Mbps for $69.99/mo.
Since living space is limited in New York City, you likely don’t have as many connected devices as you would in a home in the suburbs festooned with security cameras. And that, in turn, means that you need less speed—so 500Mbps should be more than enough for most users. Depending on how connected your lifestyle is, you could save money by settling for the Internet 300/300 plan, which is plenty of speed for a small to mid-sized household.
We recommend trying cable through Spectrum if fiber isn’t available where you live. Spectrum cable can’t reach the same speeds as fiber, but it’s still very fast and reliable (with speeds up to a gig), and the initial fees on Spectrum’s plans aren’t as expensive as Verizon Fios’. Also, Spectrum doesn’t require an annual contract, so if you think you might pack up your place and move to Dumbo next year, you’re free to go without being on the hook for early termination fees. However, Spectrum has a lot of extra fees (including a $5 monthly fee just to enable Wi-Fi on a Spectrum router), and it also hikes up its prices after a year.
Best Spectrum internet plan for most people: Internet Ultra; 500 Mbps for $39.99/mo.
As with Verizon Fios, New York City apartment dwellers and homeowners probably don’t need Spectrum’s gig plan. Half that speed should be more than enough for most internet users, especially since it comes at the could-be-worse price of $40 a month (for the first year, anyway).
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly internet plan, you should try T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. This relatively new service—which runs over T-Mobile’s vast 5G network— makes accessing the internet painless thanks to its easy setup and abundance of promotional deals. T-Mobile 5G has a fixed $50-a-month price, you don’t have to pay fees for installation or equipment, and you have unlimited data. But your speeds will only reach 245Mbps, which means it may not be the best for content creators, YouTube influencers, serious gamers, or anyone who relies on a fast, reliable connection for work or recreation.
Best T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan for most people: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet; 72–245Mbps for $50.00/mo.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet has just one plan for $50 per month. While the 245Mbps max speeds are a little slow for large households and power users, this service is perfect for the average user.
