How to Choose the Best Home Internet Service in 2023

At a time when the price of everything seems to be going up, you may be able to save money by switching home internet providers.

Over the past few years, I’ve tested: 

Which one should you choose? In this article, I’ll break down the pros and cons of these three types of internet services. Let’s get started with more on the big disruptors. 

5G Home Internet

T-Mobile and Verizon’s 5G home internet services are stealing away customers from other providers, which is leading to better deals from fiber and cable internet companies.

In fact, T-Mobile now refers to itself as the “fastest growing home internet provider.”

Both Verizon and T-Mobile’s services cost $50 per month, but the price drops if you have a qualifying phone plan. In Verizon’s case, it cuts the starting price in half.

You can sign up for only the internet plan with either service, but bundling is a way to save.

Verizon 5G Home InternetT-Mobile 5G Home Internet
5G Home Plan:
$50 per month with Auto Pay
$25 per month with select mobile plans

5G Home Plus:
$70 per month with Auto Pay
$35 per month with select mobile plans
$50 per month with Auto Pay
$30 per month with Magenta MAX mobile plan
$40 per month with other qualifying mobile plans
Get the latest Verizon deals and pricingGet the latest T-Mobile deals and pricing

Besides the affordable pricing, people choose T-Mobile and Verizon’s plans because they remove some of the gotchas that other internet providers are known for.

5G home internet features:

  • No contracts
  • Equipment included
  • Unlimited data
  • Easy self-installation

Another draw is that the price won’t go up after the first year. Verizon guarantees the price for two or three years, and T-Mobile says it will never increase the price you pay for 5G home internet.

These 5G home internet services use cell phone towers to bring internet to your home.

Cable competitors like Xfinity and Spectrum have made attack websites to highlight the downsides of relying on 5G home internet for your household.

These websites focus primarily on speed and reliability with 5G services.

Spectrum Mobile's website about 5G home internet

I tested data speeds for T-Mobile and Verizon’s services. T-Mobile’s download speeds averaged more than 100 Mbps, and Verizon’s 5G home internet averaged nearly 200 Mbps. 

You’ll also notice download speeds slowed later in the day, which is typical from my experience.

Verizon 5G Home InternetT-Mobile 5G Home Internet
11:00 AM247 Mbps 134 Mbps
12:00 PM201 Mbps 145 Mbps
1:00 PM185 Mbps 102 Mbps
2:00 PM220 Mbps 159 Mbps
3:00 PM255 Mbps 113 Mbps
4:00 PM252 Mbps 129 Mbps
5:00 PM192 Mbps 132 Mbps
6:00 PM173 Mbps 47.4 Mbps
7:00 PM160 Mbps 51.1 Mbps
8:00 PM96.6 Mbps 26.1 Mbps
AVERAGE198.2 Mbps103.9 Mbps

Your experience with 5G home internet won’t be the same as mine — it may be better or worse. The performance will vary depending on the signal at your address.

That’s one reason why eligibility is limited. Check Verizon and T-Mobile’s websites to confirm availability.

For everyday internet tasks like streaming video and browsing the web, Verizon and T-Mobile 5G home internet get the job done. However, heavy gamers will likely prefer fiber or cable internet.

Both 5G home internet services have money-back guarantees, so you can try one out before canceling your existing service.

See my related article comparing T-Mobile and Verizon’s 5G home internet services.

Cable Internet

For a lot of people, cable internet is their best and only high-speed internet option. But providers like Xfinity and Spectrum are responding to the pressure from 5G home internet services.

As someone who had Xfinity for many years, I made a list of the things I didn’t like about the service: 

  • Price goes up after the first year 
  • Wi-Fi equipment is extra 
  • Data cap (no unlimited data) 
  • Contract required 

However, Xfinity’s most recent limited-time deal removes most of those gotchas that customers have come to expect from cable providers:

  • $35 per month for 2 years
  • Wi-Fi equipment included
  • No contract

Previously, Xfinity offered this deal for only $25 per month. See the latest deals here.

You have to wonder: Would Xfinity be offering this deal if T-Mobile and Verizon’s 5G home internet services didn’t exist? 

Most of the people I hear from don’t have a problem with their cable internet service. Instead, it’s the pricing tactics that have them looking for any other option.

For those who are happy with Xfinity’s service, you can get a discount on your internet bill if you sign up for Xfinity Mobile.

This is a wireless service that runs on Verizon’s network.

I’ve tested Xfinity Mobile several times since it launched in 2017 and can tell you that it’s both affordable and reliable. Learn about the pros and cons in my updated review.

If you have Spectrum for internet, Spectrum Mobile is a similar wireless service that uses Verizon’s network.

Fiber Internet

Depending on where you live, fiber internet may be the most expensive option. However, I do like fiber internet and think it provides the best overall experience from my testing.

I’ll use AT&T Fiber as an example. That’s my former internet provider.

AT&T Fiber Internet Plans

For my area, the service is marketing plans that range in price from $55 per month to $80 per month. But what’s most interesting about AT&T is the service’s pivot to straightforward pricing.

AT&T straightforward pricing details:

  • No equipment fees
  • No annual contract
  • No data caps 
  • No price increase after 12 months 

Is this new commitment to straightforward pricing a response to competition from 5G home internet services? It sure looks that way.

One thing to be aware of with fiber internet providers like AT&T is that they heavily promote gig-speed plans. Most people do not need anywhere near that speed!

AT&T Fiber’s 300 Mbps plan is adequate for most consumers. Perhaps the 500 Mbps plan would be ideal for larger households, especially if you do a lot of online gaming and video conferencing.

Those who upload large files to the internet will also prefer fiber because it offers equal upload and download speeds.

With fiber, you may have to pay a one-time fee of around $100 if a technician needs to come out to your home. Self-install kits may be available in certain situations.

I’ve also noticed that AT&T Fiber routinely offers reward cards for new and returning customers.

AT&T FIber Reward card offer

I canceled internet service with AT&T Fiber three months ago to rely solely on 5G home internet. Only a few weeks later, AT&T offered me a $200 Visa reward card to switch back.

Check the latest deals on AT&T Fiber service here or call 877-381-5252.

5 Things You Need to Consider

When I recently polled my YouTube community, about 75% of those who responded said they pay $50 or more per month for home internet service.

Before you sign up for a new plan, here are five things to consider:

  • Pricing: How much does it cost? Is a contract required? Any deals?
  • Equipment: Is it included or how much will it cost? 
  • Data Caps: Does the plan include unlimited data? 
  • Speed: Am I paying for more speed than I really need? 
  • Installation: Do I need to pay for a technician or can I do it myself?

Many home internet providers participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.

This program offers up to a $30 per month savings on internet service for households that qualify. The benefit is up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

Which internet service do you have and how much is it? Let me know in the comments below!


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