What is the best ISP in Cambridge?
Wireless internet providers outnumber wired in the area, but Xfinity is the best internet service provider for most in Cambridge. Xfinity cable Internet service has the best broadband coverage in Cambridge, a low starting price, and some of the fastest download speeds available, up to 1,200 megabits per second.
Cable ISP Associate Amazed offers the fastest download speeds of any local provider, up to 1,500 Mbps, starting at just $55 per month, but availability is very limited in Cambridge. Better availability would be ideal, as the provider offers the fastest rate and on cheapest internet Cambridge plan — $20 per month for download speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
Like Astound, a fiber supplier Verizon Fios offers home internet in Cambridge, but with low availability. Aside from Xfinity, your broadband choices in Cambridge will likely include fixed wireless providers instead The stellar internet, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. Stellar Internet provides a simple, inexpensive Internet connection if you move into a building wired for service.
The best internet in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts 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 | 20-55 dollars | 300-1,500 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 with eligible cellular plans) | 72-245 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| The stellar internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | 30-55 dollars | 200-500 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7 |
| 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 |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
Hair | 50-90 dollars | 300-940 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.6 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
Cable | 30-75 dollars | 300-1,200 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one | No one | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Cambridge?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Cambridge
The best online deals and top promotions in Cambridge depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Cambridge ISPs, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory rates, unlimited data, or other incentives for a limited time. Many, including Starry and Verizon 5G Home Internet, use the same standard prices year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
Cambridge's fastest internet plans
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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 FCC. 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 5Mbps lets you handle the basics – web browsing, sending and receiving email, 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 Cambridge, Massachusetts
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. So 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.
But it doesn't end 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 answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that 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 things like 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.
Cambridge, Massachusetts ISPs FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Cambridge?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Cambridge. It has the best coverage of any local ISP, available to more than 99% of Cambridge households, according to the FCC.
Along with exceptional local coverage, Xfinity offers low introductory rates with speeds ranging from 300 to 1,200 Mbps. Plans include unlimited data and no contracts, which is not unique to Cambridge ISPs, but Xfinity plans in many other markets may come with a data cap or contract.
Is fiber optic internet available in Cambridge?
According to FCC data as of June 2024, only about 8% of residential addresses in Cambridge are usable for fiber internet. Service is greatest along the Charles River in the communities of East Cambridge and Lechmer Square. Verizon Fios is the main fiber internet provider in the area.
What is the cheapest ISP in Cambridge?
Astound has the cheapest internet in Cambridge with service starting at $20 to $55 per month for maximum download speeds of 300 to 1,500 Mbps. However, Astound has very little availability in Cambridge. Xfinity is much more widely available and, while not as cheap as Astound, offers similarly low starting rates of $30 to $70 per month for speeds of 300 to 1,200 Mbps.
Which ISP in Cambridge offers the fastest plan?
Astound offers the fastest internet plan with speeds up to 1,500 Mbps starting at just $55 per month, but again, the provider has limited availability in the area. Xfinity's Gigabit Extra plan offers nearly the same download speed potential, 1,200 Mbps, and is much more widely available throughout the Cambridge area.