Best Internet Service Providers in Alexandria, Virginia
What is the best internet provider in Alexandria?
CNET ranks Verizon Fios as Alexandria’s top-rated Internet provider, and for good reason. It has fast fiber optic coverage, lightning fast speeds and reasonable prices. This includes unlimited data, free equipment rental and long-term price guarantees. It’s one of CNET’s top-rated internet providers in the entire country, so it makes sense that it would be good in Alexandria, too.
It has less availability and fewer plans, but Ting Fiber’s flat rate and fast speeds make it a solid fiber internet alternative to Verizon. If you’re looking for different plans, Xfinity offers the best selection, including the cheapest internet and fastest speed in Alexandria. Xfinity’s Connect More plan starts at $35 per month for speeds up to 300 megabits per second, while the Gigabit x2 plan offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps (2 gigabits per second) for $105 per month.
For more broadband options in Alexandria, check out fixed wireless internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet. Each provider is unique in speed and price, but they all offer unlimited data, free equipment and no contract requirements.
Best internet in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia, internet providers compared
Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET review score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ting fiber | Fiber | $89 | 1,000 Mbps | No | No | No | N/A |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-250Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
Verizon Fios Read the full review |
Fiber | $50-$110 ($35-$85 with eligible mobile plans) | 300-2000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.6 |
Xfinity Read the full review |
Cable | $35-$105 | 300-2,000 Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.2TB | None or 1 year | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Alexandria?
Plan | From price | Maximum download speed | Monthly equipment costs |
---|---|---|---|
Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
$35 | 300Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Xfinity fast Read the full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $15 (optional) |
Verizon Fios 300 Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | No |
Verizon 5G home internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | No |
T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | No |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Alexandria
The best internet deals and top promotions in Alexandria depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most offers are short-lived, but we regularly review the latest offers.
Alexandria internet providers such as T-Mobile and Xfinity may offer lower introductory prices or other promotions for a limited time. However, many, including Verizon Fios, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more comprehensive list of promos, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Fastest internet plans in Alexandria
Plan | From price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data limit | Connection type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Verizon Fios 2 performance Read the full review |
$110 ($85 with eligible mobile plans) | 2300Mbps | 880Mbps | No | Fiber |
Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read the full review |
$105 | 2,000 Mbps | 300Mbps | 1.2 TB or unlimited | Cable |
Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000 Mbps | 170Mbps | 1.2 TB or unlimited | Cable |
Ting fiber | $89 | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | 75Mbps | No | Fixed wireless |
Verizon Fios 1 gig Read the full review |
$90 ($65 with eligible mobile plans) | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | No | Fiber |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that’s suitable for video conferencing, video streaming, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here you will find an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Please note that these are guidelines only and internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed you really need.
- With 0 to 5 Mbps you can handle the basics: surfing the web, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a single user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- With 100 to 500 Mbps, one to two users can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming and gaming.
- With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more users can perform high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in Alexandria
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our approach? We start by researching the price, availability and speed information, using our own historical ISP data, the providers’ sites and map information from FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our records and make sure we’re considering every ISP that provides service in a particular area. We also enter local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably high internet speeds?
- Do customers get a good price for what they pay?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, we recommend the providers who come closest to ‘yes’ to all three questions. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly payment, but we also take into account things like price increases, equipment costs and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources such as Ookla And FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Visit our page on how we test ISPs to explore our process in more depth.
Internet Service Providers in Alexandria, Virginia, Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best internet provider in Alexandria?
Verizon Fios is the best internet provider in Alexandria. As the region’s largest fiber-optic internet provider, Verizon Fios offers fast download and upload speeds, unlimited data and clear pricing, including a two- to four-year price guarantee. Verizon Fios also claimed JD Power’s first place in customer satisfaction in the East region in 2024 – that’s 12 years in a row.
Is fiber optic internet available in Alexandria?
According to recent research, fiber optic internet is available to only about 20% of households in Alexandria FCC data released December 2023. Usability is greatest in the communities of Braddock Heights, Saint Elmo, and Eisenhower East, although random service areas can be found throughout the city. Verizon Fios is Alexandria’s largest fiber optic internet provider, although Ting Fiber also contributes to the area’s fiber availability.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Alexandria?
Xfinity has the cheapest internet plan in Alexandria, with service starting at $35 per month for download speeds up to 300 Mbps. Xfinity also has a lower introductory price for gig services, starting at $70 per month, compared to Ting Fiber ($89) and Verizon Fios ($90).
Keep in mind that renting Wi-Fi equipment from Xfinity can add $15 to your monthly bill, bringing the all-in price at or above other internet providers in Alexandria that don’t charge equipment rental fees. However, the equipment costs are optional as customers can skip them by using their own equipment.
Which internet provider in Alexandria offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity and Verizon Fios have the fastest internet plans in Alexandria, offering download speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps starting at $105 and $110 per month, respectively. Both providers also offer a 1,000 Mbps plan. Other internet providers in Alexandria, including Ting Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet, have a top speed at or just under 1,000 Mbps.