Best Internet Providers in Manchester, New Hampshire

What is the best internet provider in Manchester?

For many households in New Hampshire, Comcast’s Xfinity Internet is the best internet provider for Manchester. This cable provider has almost complete coverage of Manchester and offers some of the most affordable internet plans in the area. If Xfinity service isn’t available in your location, alternatives like T-Mobile Home Internet and Fidium Fiber are also commendable options.

For those looking for the most cost-effective internet service, Xfinity’s Connect plan offers 200 Mbps for $25 per month, with no data caps or mandatory contracts. Meanwhile, for the fastest internet service, Fidium Fiber offers a $75 plan that delivers 2,000 Mbps of symmetrical speeds.

Best internet in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2024

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Manchester

• Breezel line: This cable provider does not offer direct coverage in Manchester, but has a large presence in Deerfield, Epsom and Franklin. If you live north of Manchester, check if Breezeline is available at your address.
• Firstlight fiber: Firstlight coverage is sparse across the state, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get it in Manchester. There is a small amount of coverage in Derry, so it may be worth investigating if you are near that city.
• Satellite internet: No matter where you are in the country, satellite internet is always an option. But it’s probably not the best. With high prices and slow speeds, providers like HughesNet, Viasat, and Starlink shouldn’t be your choice for broadband.
• American mobile: This mobile company is available to around 50% of Manchester residents and now offers internet via a fixed wireless network. You will need to enter your information to find out the prices and service details, but that of US Cellular homepage says plans start at $50 per month.
• Verizon 5G home internet: Verizon offers two Internet plans over its network: $50 for 300 Mbps or $70 for 1,000 Mbps. However, it is available to only 12% of households in Manchester, so you will need to check Verizon’s website to see if your household is usable.

Cheap internet options in Manchester

If you’re looking for the cheapest internet plan in town, Xfinity offers a 200 Mbps plan for $25 per month. Although Breezeline’s basic plan is $5 cheaper than Xfinity’s, it isn’t available to Manchester residents – only those living north of Manchester will be usable by Breezeline.

Most of the providers we mentioned also participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives eligible low-income households a $30 monthly rebate (or up to $75 for households in tribal areas) for high-speed internet . You can use the ACP for any internet subscription (not just the cheapest) from participating providers.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Here’s how to find internet deals and promotions in Manchester

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

Manchester internet providers such as Xfinity and Fidium Fiber may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including T-Mobile and Verizon, have the same standard prices year-round.

For a more comprehensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.

How fast is Manchester broadband?

New Hampshire ranks 17th for the fastest broadband speeds by state. How is the city of Manchester performing? According to OoklaManchester has an average download speed of 275 Mbps, which is better than New Hampshire’s average speed of 206 Mbps.

If you want speeds higher than 275 Mbps, you have many options, including fiber, cable, and fixed wireless connections. Fidium Fiber has the fastest plan in town, offering 2 gigs for $75 per month. If you’re looking for cable connectivity, Xfinity’s Gigabit Extra plan offers 1200 Mbps speed for $80 per month.

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 FCC. 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, and 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 online 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 Manchester

Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every Internet provider in a given city. What is our approach? To start, we use a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information that is based on our own historical ISP data, partner data, and Federal Communications Commission mapping information on FCC.gov.

It doesn’t stop there: we go to the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we’re taking into account every ISP that provides service in an 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?

The answers to these questions are often layered and complex, but 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 subscriptions with the lowest monthly amount, also taking into account issues such as price increases, equipment costs and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively easy. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and take into account real-world speed data from sources such as Ookla (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis) and FCC reports.

Visit our page on how we test ISPs to explore our process in more depth.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Manchester?

Despite Manchester not having many national broadband names such as AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber or Cox Communications, there are still plenty of connection choices in the city. Manchester residents have access to fiber optic, cable and fixed wireless internet, but it all depends on the provider available in your location. Xfinity has the largest coverage in the city, but Fidium Fiber offers symmetrical speeds that only a fiber connection can provide.

Frequently asked questions about internet providers in Manchester