Best Internet Providers in Trenton, New Jersey

What is the best internet provider in Trenton?

Comcast’s Xfinity is the best internet provider in Trenton, New Jersey, according to CNETbecause it offers the widest coverage of any internet provider in the region.According to the latest data from the Federal Communications CommissionXfinity serves 99% of Trenton’s households, so most residents can expect their address to be eligible for service. But that’s not all. The cable internet provider also offers some of the cheapest plans in the area, starting at $35 per month for 300 megabits per second.

While the FCC notes that at least 69% of Trenton residents have access to gigabit speeds, we’ll tell you that’s not always the case. CNET spoke to an Optimum spokesperson who said, “While Optimum does not currently offer internet service to customers in Trenton, NJ (via our fiber or HFC network), the company does offer service in Hamilton Township, which is just outside of Trenton. Customers in this area have access to speeds up to 1 Gig, and most have additional access to multi-gig speeds up to 8 Gig via Optimum Fiber.”

If it’s available at your address, Optimum’s fiber multi-gigabit plans reach blazing fast speeds of 8,000 Mbps for $280 per month. You can lower that cost with Verizon Fios’ 2-gigabit plan, which offers symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 2,300 Mbps for $110 per month. The per-Mbps cost of the 2-gigabit plan is a very affordable 5 cents per Mbps. Residents can find the most coverage along South Trenton and the Lamberton area.

Xfinity isn’t the only provider offering cheap internet in the area. Fixed wireless provider Andrea offers a $30 per month plan for 50 Mbps speeds. Equipment is included in that plan, so customers don’t have to worry about extra costs.

Best internet in Trenton, New Jersey

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How do I find internet deals and promotions in Trenton?

The best internet deals and top promotions in Trenton 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 Trenton, such as T-Mobile, Optimum, and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Other providers, such as Verizon Fios, 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 Trenton

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:

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 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 Trenton