Best Internet Providers in Virginia Beach, Virginia

What is the best internet provider in Virginia Beach?

For most customersthe best internet provider in virginia beach is Cox Communications. While all of the carrier’s plans cap data at 1.25 terabytes, customers don’t have to sign a contract to get the lowest possible monthly price. Cox also has the most coverage in Virginia Beach, covering nearly 99% of customers. If you’re interested in a fiber or fixed wireless ISP, Verizon Fios and T-Mobile Home Internet are also solid choices, depending on what’s available in your location. If you need speed, Verizon and Cox offer high-speed 2-gigabit plans, which are the fastest service you’ll find in the city.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Other available internet providers in Virginia Beach

• Satellite internet: No matter where you are in the country, satellite internet is an option. It’s probably not the best option. With high prices and slow speeds, providers like HughesNet, Viasat, and Starlink shouldn’t be your go-to for broadband.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: If Verizon Fios isn’t available in your home, fixed wireless might be. For $50 per month, customers can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbps with no data caps or equipment fees. Customers can also upgrade their service to gigabit speeds for an additional $20 per month.

Cheap Internet Options in Virginia Beach

The cheapest internet plans you’ll find in Virginia Beach cost $50 for around $300 Mbps. If you’re a Verizon or T-Mobile mobile customer, you can bundle your internet for as little as $35-$40 a month.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How to Find Online Deals and Promotions in Virginia Beach

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

Virginia Beach internet providers, such as Cox Communications, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including T-Mobile and 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.

How fast is broadband in Virginia Beach?

According to Ookla speed dataVirginia Beach has a median download speed of around 268 Mbps, with Cox and Verizon being the two fastest providers in the city. If you want a faster internet connection, many providers offer faster plans.

Cox Communications offers a 2000 Mbps plan for $120 per month, the fastest speed that Virginia Beach residents can achieve.

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 Federal Communications CommissionPlease 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 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 Virginia Beach

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen utensil, it’s impractical to personally test every Internet service provider in a given city. So how do we do it? To start, we use a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from FCC.gov.

And it doesn’t stop there. We use the FCC website to review 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:

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

The answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to yes on all three are the providers we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, although 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 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.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Virginia Beach?

As we like to say, you can’t go wrong with a fiber connection for your home. In addition to providing symmetrical download and upload speeds, fiber service is also less prone to lag and delays caused by network congestion. If you can get your hands on Verizon Fios in the Virginia Beach area, that should be your best bet for home internet. Fios coverage misses nearly half of the area’s residents, so for most addresses your best bet will be Cox Communications. Cable may not be able to match all of the capabilities of fiber, but it’s still a reliable connection type that can get most homes done.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Virginia Beach