The best internet providers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

What are the best internet providers in Lancaster?

The best internet providers often boil down to what is available in your area. xfinity CNET is the choice of the best Internet service provider in Lancasterbut every address in the area is unavailable.

In addition to the best high-speed internet coverage throughout the region, Xfinity offers the best plans, including the fastest ones in Lancaster. The Gigabit X2 plan costs up to 2,100Mbps and starts at $85.

If Xfinity is not drifting your boat, Brightspeed may bring fiber optic internet to your area as soon as possible. Otherwise, potential broadband alternatives to Lancaster include Verizon 5G home internet or fixed wireless internet from T-Mobile Home Internet. Verizon's fixed wireless coverage in Lancaster and cheaper services and faster top speeds than T-Mobile, but the latter can provide a better option for broadband in rural areas. Both providers offer up to $15 off when you bundle your qualifying mobile plans, making it the cheapest internet option in Lancaster.

Finally, the DSL Internet from Verizon or Frontier might be available in Lancaster, but it's hardly worth considering, rather than the option I suggest. With slower speeds and higher prices, Lancaster's home internet has a better choice.

The Best Internet in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Lancaster

The best internet deals and top promotions in Lancaster depend on the discounts available during this period. Most transactions are short-lived, but we often look for the latest quotes.

Lancaster Internet providers such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity may offer lower introductory pricing or other promotions for a limited time. However, many people, including Brightspeed and Verizon 5G home internet, run the same standard pricing throughout the year.

For a wider list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What is good internet speed?

Most Internet connectivity programs can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you are looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming videos or games, you will get better experience and have a stronger connection. According to the FCC, this is an overview of the minimum download speeds recommended for various applications. Note that these are just guides – Internet speed, services and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, see our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to solve the basics – browse the internet, send and receive emails, and stream low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps provides you with higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern remote office, video streaming and online gaming.
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to perform high bandwidth activities for two users simultaneously, such as video conferencing, streaming and online gaming.
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How to choose the best Internet provider in Lancaster

There are numerous and regional Internet service providers. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptops, routers, or kitchen tools, it is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what is our method? First, draw information, study pricing, availability and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider websites, and fcc.gov FCC’s FCC mapping information.

But that's not over. We visit the FCC’s website to check our data and make sure we consider all ISPs that provide services in a certain area. We also enter a local address on the provider's website to find specific options for residents. We look at resources including the U.S. Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power to evaluate how satisfied ISP services have with customers. ISP plans and prices change frequently; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once this local information is obtained, we ask three main questions:

1. Can providers access reasonable and fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for the money they pay?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

Although the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, the three we recommend are closest to the provider of “yes”. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the lowest monthly plan, although we also consider issues such as price increase, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We view upload and download speeds on ads and consider actual speed data from sources such as Ookla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by CNET and Ziff Davis, the same parent company.)

To explore our process more deeply, visit our test ISP page.

Internet providers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, FAQs