Best Internet Providers in Watertown, New York
What is the best internet provider in Watertown?
For most residents, finding alternative home internet options can be difficult, as there is limited coverage in the city. According to the latest data from the Federal Communications CommissionSpectrum offers the broadest cable coverage of any ISP in the region, serving over 94% of households. That’s why Spectrum is the best internet provider in Watertown, according to CNET. This cable internet provider offers two subscriptions, both with unlimited data and no contract.
If you’re looking to save money on your monthly bill, the cheapest internet in the area is Spectrum’s $50-per-month plan for 500 megabits per second download speeds. Many cable providers raise their prices after the second year; Spectrum is no exception. If you want to avoid the price hike, Verizon and T-Mobile offer plans ranging from $50 to $70 per month (and cheaper for qualifying mobile customers).
Finding fast internet in Watertown can be difficult, as Spectrum is the only provider in the area that offers speeds of up to 1 gigabyte.
Internet providers in Watertown compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hughesnet Read the full review | Satellite | $50-$95 ($75-$120 after 12 months) | 50-100 Mbps | $15-$20 or $300-$450 one-time fee | 100-200GB | 2 years | 6 |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000 Mbps | Modem free; $10 router rental (optional) | No | No | 7.2 |
| Sterlink Read the full review | Satellite | $120, $140-$1,500 (Priority), $150-$5,000 (Mobile) | 25-220 Mbps | One-time purchase of $599 (or $2,500 for Priority) | Unlimited, 40GB-GTB (Priority) | No | 6.5 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($40-$50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 100-300 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
| Viasat Read the full review | Satellite | $150 | 25-150 Mbps | One-time fee of $15 or $250 | 850GB | No | 6.1 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Watertown?
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet 100 Read the full review | $50 | 500 Mbps | Modem free; $10 router rental (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 100 Mbps | No |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | $50 ($40 with qualifying mobile plans) | 245 Mbps | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
Downtown Watertown in Jefferson County, New York.
How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Watertown
The best internet deals and top promotions in Watertown depend on what discounts are available at any given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly check for the latest offers.
Internet providers in Watertown, such as Spectrum and Verizon, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, such as T-Mobile, maintain the same standard prices year-round.
For a more comprehensive overview of all promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.
Fastest Internet Plans in Watertown
| Supplier | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review | $70 | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet plans now can handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that’s suitable for video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s a look at the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCCPlease note that these are guidelines only and that Internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, check out our guide to how much internet speed you really need.
- With 0 to 5 Mbps you can perform basic tasks: surfing the web, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should provide enough bandwidth for a single user to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
- With 100 to 500 Mbps, one or two users can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more users can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Watertown
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen utensil, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So how do we approach this? We start by examining pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the providers’ websites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission on FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t stop there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses into carrier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and pricing are subject to frequent change; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask ourselves three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get value for their money?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” to all three questions are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, though we also consider things like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla And FCC Reports.
If you would like to take a more detailed look at our process, please visit our How We Test ISPs page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Watertown
What is the best internet provider in Watertown?
Spectrum has the broadest cable coverage of all internet providers in the region. According to the latest data from the FCCmore than 94% of households have access to Spectrum services. Customers can choose from two speed levels, the 500Mbps plan or the top-end 1,000Mbps plan.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Watertown?
Spectrum has the cheapest plan in the region, starting at $50 per month for 500 Mbps download speeds. However, that price jumps to $80 after the third-year promotional period ends. If you plan to lease equipment, that’s an additional $10 per month. Alternatively, qualifying mobile customers can get discounts with Verizon and T-Mobile home internet services.
Which internet provider in Watertown offers the fastest plan?
Spectrum is the only carrier in the region with download speeds of 1,000 Mbps. Fixed wireless carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile can’t match those gigabit speeds, but they could be a decent alternative to the inconsistent speeds of satellite connections.
