Best Internet Providers in Columbia, Maryland

What is the best internet provider in Columbia?

If you’re a resident of Columbia, Maryland, and you’re looking for the best internet provider, this guide will help. CNET has reviewed available providers in the area, and our broadband experts will help you choose the right plan for you, depending on your needs and budget. For most households, CNET recommends Verizon Fio’s as the best internet provider in Columbia — thanks to its symmetrical speeds, blazing fast connectivity and flat rates. Verizon Fios is also available throughout the region with good internet speeds and all plans come with unlimited data and devices. However, if you prefer to stay connected to a cable or fixed wireless network, Xfinity or T-Mobile may be a better fit for your home broadband needs.

Looking for the fastest or cheapest plan in this Maryland city? Check out Xfinity Connect and Xfinity Gigabit Extra. Xfinity Connect costs $25 per month and reaches speeds of up to 150 megabits per second and includes unlimited data. For high-speed bandwidth, Xfinity Gigabit Extra offers 1.2 gigabit download speeds for $70 per month.

Best internet in Columbia, Maryland, in 2024

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How to find online deals and promotions in Columbia

The best internet deals and top promotions in Columbia depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.

ISPs in Columbia, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. However, others, such as Verizon, maintain the same standard prices year-round.

For a more comprehensive overview of all promotions, check out our guide to the best online deals.

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 Columbia

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 provider 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:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get value for their money?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

While the answers to these questions are often 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 also consider real-world speed data from sources such as 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 Columbia