What is the best ISP in Wilkes-Barre?
High availability, fast speeds and low initial cost Xfinity the best internet service provider in Wilkes-Barre. Download speeds range from 300 megabits per second to 2,000 Mbps, the fastest available in Wilkes-Barre, and with service starting at $30 per month, Xfinity is a top choice for cheap internet in the area.
Xfinity is the largest in the nation cable internet providerbut a local cable ISP, Electric Cable Television Serviceboasts better coverage in Wilkes-Barre. Prices are higher for the speeds you get, so Xfinity will be a better value in areas where both providers are available.
Select areas may also be serviced for Astound's cable internet. With a starting monthly rate of $20 for speeds up to 300 Mbps, Astound offers the cheapest Internet in Wilkes-Barre, but availability is very limited.
Aside from multiple cable Internet options, Wilkes-Barre residents can rely on 5G home internet from Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet for broadband service. T-Mobile voice customers may want to opt for T-Mobile Home Internet for the potential bundle discount, but Verizon 5G Home Internet is otherwise a better choice for availability, speed and overall value in Wilkes-Barre.
Best Internet in Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania ISPs Compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing broadband Read the full review |
Cable | 20-80 dollars | 300-2,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7 |
| SECTV | Cable | 48-147 dollars | 200-1,500 Mbps | $11 (optional) | No one | No one | N/A |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible cellular plans) | 87-415 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible cellular plans) | 50-250 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
Cable | 30-95 dollars | 300-2,000 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one | 1 year with selected plans (optional) | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Wilkes-Barre?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| An astonishing 300 Read the full review |
20 dollars | 300 Mbps | No one |
| Xfinity Connect Read the full review |
30 dollars | 300 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| An astonishing 600 Read the full review |
30 dollars | 600 Mbps | No one |
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
30 dollars | 300 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| SECTV 200 | 48 dollars | 200 Mbps | $11 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 250 Mbps | No one |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 245 Mbps | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Wilkes-Barre
The best online deals and top promotions in Wilkes-Barre depend on what discounts are available at that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Wilkes-Barre ISPs, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory rates or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including electric cable TV service and Verizon 5G home Internet, have the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
The fastest internet plans in Wilkes-Barre
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit x2 Read the full review |
95 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 200 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Admired 2000 Read the full review |
80 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| An astonishing 1,500 Read the full review |
55 dollars | 1,500 Mbps | 50 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| SECTV 1.5 gig | 147 dollars | 1,500 Mbps | 40 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Amazed 1000 Read the full review |
40 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| SECTV 1 Gig | 132 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 40 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
60 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps | No one | Cable |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an Internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here's an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different apps, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are guidelines only — and that internet speed, service, and performance vary by connection type, provider, and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you really need?.
- 0 to 5 Mbps lets you handle the basics: web browsing, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality video.
- From 5 to 40 Mbps, you can enjoy video streaming and video conferencing with higher quality.
- 40 to 100 Mbps should give a user enough bandwidth to meet the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500 Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000 Mbps allows three or more users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities.
How CNET picked the best ISPs in Wilkes-Barre, PA
Internet providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest ones smart phone, laptop, router or kitchen toolit is impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What is our approach? We begin by researching pricing, availability, and speed information, drawing our own historical data from ISPs, provider locations, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission to FCC.gov.
It doesn't stop there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that provides service in a certain area. We also enter local addresses on supplier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers satisfied with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to saying yes to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also take into account factors such as price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and look at real-world speed data from sources like Okla and The FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
ISPs in Wilkes-Barre, PA FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Wilkes-Barre?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Wilkes-Barre. While it's not the most widespread cable provider (that would be Service Electric) or the cheapest (Astound), it has the best all-around combination of availability, speed, and overall value of any ISP in the area.
Is fiber optic internet available in Wilkes-Barre?
According to the latest FCC data, less than 32% of residential addresses are usable for fiber internet. Frontier offers fiber-optic Internet in the area, but Wilkes-Barre residents are much more likely to use the provider's slower, less reliable DSL service.
What is the cheapest ISP in Wilkes-Barre?
Astound technically has the cheapest Internet plan in Wilkes-Barre — $20 a month for download speeds of up to 300Mbps — but availability is limited. Xfinity is much more widely available in Wilkes-Barre and offers competitive pricing on all plans, including the cheapest plan, which starts at $30 per month for speeds up to 300 Mbps.
Which ISP in Wilkes-Barre offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity's Gigabit x2 is the fastest Internet plan in Wilkes-Barre, with advertised speeds of 2,000 Mbps down and 200 Mbps up. Astound offers a 1,500Mbps plan with a maximum upload speed of 50Mbps, but again, availability is limited in Wilkes-Barre. Local cable ISP Service Electric has a gig plan with speeds of 1,000Mbps down and 40Mbps up, but for a higher price than Xfinity's 2 gig or Astound's 1.5 gig plans.