Whether you're relocating or you want to switch ISPs, answering the question "How do I choose between the internet providers near me?" isn't always straightforward. Your choice of internet provider can make a huge difference in your ability to stay connected, but your options may be limited by your location or the reliability of local ISPs.
On the other hand, if you're in a densely populated urban area you may find yourself trying to understand the pros and cons of what feels like an overabundance of options. Is cable broadband actually better than DSL? Is satellite broadband really slower than other types of internet delivery? And what are some ways to compare ISPs, other than price?
Answering these and other questions can lead you down a rabbit hole of tech terminology, ISP packages, broadband types, hard sell advertising, bundle deals, and reviews. But sites like BroadbandSearch make finding and comparing internet providers easier by showing you what's actually available in your area and then giving you real data instead of sales pitches.
How Do I Start Finding the Internet Providers Near Me?
There are a lot of things to think about when you're looking for a broadband provider. You can shop by availability, price, speed, reliability, ease of use, and quality of connection. Obviously, availability is the most important factor at the beginning of your search - for two reasons.
First, because in some cases your location will make your choice for you. If you live in a rural area where cable and DSL aren't supported or on a boat or RV, satellite, wireless, and cellular broadband will be your only choices. But if you live in one of the few locations wired for FiOS, one of the fastest kinds of broadband internet, you may not feel the need to shop around at all.
And second, because even if you're living in an area where your options seem to be unlimited, infrastructure issues can affect which neighborhoods do and don't have access to certain technology. In other words, even though an ISP services your city, that doesn't mean it will service your particular corner of that city.
So wherever you live, your first step should be to check out the ISPs in your area. Knowing which companies operate locally (versus which ones you've seen advertised or what your friend across town has) gives you a platform from which to begin the next phase of your research. From there, you can start looking at the available providers' pricing, packages, and speeds to narrow down your list of potential ISPs.
Will I Get Exactly What Internet Providers Near Me are Promising?
"Will I actually get what internet providers near me are advertising?" is an important question to ask because connection speeds can and do differ widely by location when you're looking at cable internet and DSL. You might assume that the large nationwide ISPs advertising higher speeds and lower prices will give you the best bang for your buck, but that's not always what happens. Speeds are usually marketed as "up to" a certain number of Mbps, not an exact figure, because an ISP's ability to deliver specific speeds is limited by the existing infrastructure and the demands on the network at any given time.
To gauge what kinds of speeds local ISPs will deliver, check in with friends and family who live in your neighborhood. Ask about the internet providers they are using and whether they've had any issues with reliability or speed. Then do your own research. BroadbandSearch is a great starting point, with our unbiased information designed to help you determine which ISPs are most likely to deliver on their promises.
Ready to start comparing and contrasting internet providers near you? Start researching the ISPs in your area.
