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What is the best internet provider in New Jersey?
Most homes in New Jersey have: Verizon Fio’s is the best internet provider according to CNET, offering fast, symmetrical speeds, long-term price guarantees and attractive sign-up benefits. Xfinity is another popular choice, known for affordable internet, bundle deals, and prepaid options. Depending on your location in the Garden State, you may have access to Verizon Fios, Xfinity, or other providers like Brightspeed, Optimum, and Starry. In suburban and rural areas, T-Mobile Home Internet expands options, while Verizon’s 5G service boosts competition in urban centers like Newark and the Jersey Shore.
Best Internet in New Jersey
Top Internet Providers in New Jersey
The providers listed above are not the only ISPs available in New Jersey, but they are the ones you are most likely to encounter and the ones I would recommend the most. The chart below will give you a better comparison of all of your potential options.
Internet Providers in New Jersey Compared
| Supplier | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data limit | Contract | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear speed | Fiber/copper | $49-$99 | 200-2,000 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No | No | n/a |
| Hughesnet Read the full review | Satellite | $50-$65 ($75-$90 after 12 months) | 50-100 Mbps | $15 per month or $400 one-time purchase | 100-200GB | 2 years | 6 |
| Optimal Read the full review | Cable/Fiber Optic | $50-$110 | 100-940 Mbps (varies by location) | No | No | No | 6.2 |
| Spectrum Read the full review | Cable | $50-$80 | 300-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $7 router (optional) | No | No | 7.2 |
| Starry sky Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$85 | 200-1000 Mbps | No | No | No | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $50-$70 ($30-$50 for eligible mobile customers) | 72-245 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.4 |
| Verizon Fio’s Read the full review | Fiber | $59-$129 | 200-2.048 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.6 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review | Fixed wireless connection | $60-$80 ($35-$45 with qualifying mobile plans) | 50-250 Mbps | No | No | No | 7.2 |
| Viasat Read the full review | Satellite | $120 | Up to 150 Mbps | One time purchase of $15 or $250 | No | No | 6.1 |
| Xfinity Read the full review | Cable | $35-$90 | 300-2,000 Mbps | $15-$25 included in some plans | No | None required | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
Internet Options in Rural New Jersey
New Jersey is the most populous state in the country, but many areas can still be considered rural. After all, it’s called the Garden State for a reason. In such locations where a cable or fiber internet provider can’t yet reach, you have a few choices for broadband service. T-Mobile would be my first choice, but satellite service is also available throughout the state.
- Clear speed: Best Wired Connection for Rural New Jersey. Brightspeed recently acquired CenturyLink’s DSL operations in New Jersey. Speeds and prices remain largely unchanged — $50-$70 per month for the fastest available speeds — as do coverage areas, which include most of the western edge of New Jersey.
- Hughesnet: Best for consistent speeds in New Jersey. You’ll find that competing satellite provider Viasat has unlimited data, but Hughesnet’s plans are cheaper despite the data caps.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Best Rural Internet Provider in New Jersey. As mentioned above, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is your best bet for internet in rural areas. Prices and fees are lower than satellite services, and 100 Mbps download speeds are available in much of the state. according to the FCC.
- Sterlink: Fastest satellite internet provider in New Jersey. Satellite internet has a reputation for slow speeds and high latency, but Starlink aims to change that with an arsenal of low-Earth orbiting satellites. Standard service is expensive: $120 per month and up to $600 to start.
- Viasat: A potentially faster alternative to Hughesnet and perhaps a cheaper option alongside Starlink, Viasat’s latest all-in-one plan is available now and can deliver faster speeds (up to 150Mbps in certain areas) and unlimited data.
Broadband in New Jersey at a glance
Unfortunately, New Jersey doesn’t have a huge selection of internet providers, but the ones that are available are still pretty good. Thanks to providers like Verizon Fios, Xfinity, and Optimum, download speeds of 250 Mbps or higher are available to nearly 98% of New Jersey households, according to the FCC.
Internet Distribution by City in New Jersey
It’s hard to cover an entire state’s broadband options and give individual cities the attention they deserve. That’s why we’re also compiling lists of the best internet providers in cities across the U.S., including New Jersey. We’ll tackle details like internet connection types, top speeds, cheapest providers, and more. If you don’t see the city you’re looking for below, check back later. We’re working to add more locations every week.
Cheap Internet Options in New Jersey
If you’re looking for cheap internet in New Jersey, start with Xfinity. Xfinity’s $30-a-month Connect plan for 300 Mbps is a decent option. T-Mobile and Verizon 5G Home Internet are solid choices for cheap internet, especially if you qualify for the mobile customer discount.
What is the cheapest plan in New Jersey?
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How fast is broadband in New Jersey?
Average internet speeds in New Jersey are better than most states thanks to fast providers like Verizon Fios, Xfinity, and Optimum. According to the most recent Ookla speed test dataNew Jersey ranked sixth for fastest download speeds, with an average speed of 234 Mbps.
Speed tests depend on many factors, including Ethernet vs. Wi-Fi connections, distance from the router, number of connected devices, and the maximum advertised speeds of an internet plan. Still, New Jersey residents are generally lucky to have access to fast download speeds.
Fastest Internet Plans in New Jersey
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speeds | Maximum upload speeds | Data limit | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimal 8 Gig Read the full review | $300 | 8,000 Mbps | 8,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Optimal 5 Gig Read the full review | $200 | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Verizon Fios 2 Gig Read the full review | $129 | 2,300 Mbps | 2,300 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Optimal 2 Gig Read the full review | $130 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Brightspeed 2 Gig | $99 | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Xfinity 2 Gigabit Read the full review | $90 | 2,000 Mbps | 300 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review | €75 | 1,200 Mbps | 100 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review | $50 | 1,000 Mbps | 100 Mbps | No | Cable |
| Brightspeed 1 Gig | €75 | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Optimal 1 Gig; Read the full review | $110 | 940 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No | Fiber |
| Spectrum performance Read the full review | $80 | 940 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.
How CNET Chose the Best Internet Providers in New Jersey
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 do it? We start by examining pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
And it doesn’t stop there: We head to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also enter local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service, we look at sources like the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. 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.
The Last Word on Internet in New Jersey
New Jersey doesn’t have many internet providers. Still, the ones that are available in much of the state — Verizon Fios, Xfinity, Optimum, T-Mobile and Verizon 5G — are pretty good. No matter where you are or where you move to in the Garden State, there’s likely a fast internet provider with competitive prices, unlimited data and no contract requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in New Jersey
What is the best internet provider in New Jersey?
Verizon Fios stands out as the best internet provider in New Jersey for several reasons. As the state’s largest fiber internet provider, Verizon Fios is able to deliver some of the fastest download and upload speeds in New Jersey. All plans are competitively priced and come with a one- to five-year price guarantee, unlimited data, and no equipment fees.
Is Xfinity or Verizon Fios better?
Xfinity has lower prices and a larger plan selection in most areas than Verizon Fios, but Verizon Fios is often the better value. For example, Xfinity’s cheapest plan in New Jersey starts at $35 per month for download speeds up to 300 Mbps, while the cheapest Fios plan costs slightly more, at $59 per month for speeds up to 200 Mbps. Renting equipment from Xfinity can add $15 to your bill, while Verizon Fios includes your equipment rental at no additional charge.
What is the cheapest internet provider in New Jersey?
Internet prices in New Jersey vary by provider and location, but Xfinity offers the cheapest plan of any major ISP in the state. The Connect plan starts at $35 per month with maximum speeds of 300 Mbps.
