What is the best ISP in Elmira?
Once home to Mark Twain, this city in the Finger Lakes region offers access to several of the top ISPs in the country. With so many options available, you may feel overwhelmed as you search for the right provider for you. CNET reviewed the available ISPs to help you find the best ISP in Elmira. From now on, Spectrum is CNET's pick for Elmira's best Internet service provider due to available gigabit speeds and coverage reaching over 92% of households in the city, according to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission. The cable connection does not fit with fiber, but Spectrum still took home the fastest average download speed in the countrytop providers like Xfinity, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
The starting monthly price for internet in Elmira averages $47. Several ISPs offer more plans available. Zeta Broadband, which offers fixed wireless plans in the city, has an inexpensive $35 per month plan for download speeds of 7 megabits per second. For $5 less, you can get speeds of 100 Mbps with Spectrum. Spektar is known for raising pricesand of course you can expect your bill to increase after a year or two.
Regional fiber provider Empire Access boasts the fastest plan in the area, offering speeds of 2,000 Mbps for $100 per month. $100 a month isn't cheap, but cost per Mbps works out to as cheap as 5 cents per Mbps. Empire Access has symmetrical download and upload speeds, which is not the case for Spectrum or T-Mobile.
Elmira ISP Comparison
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire approach | Hair | 50-100 dollars | 500-2,000 Mbps | $5 router rental fee | No one | No one | N/A |
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | 30-70 dollars | 100-1,000 Mbps | Free modem; $10 for router (optional) | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $60-$70 ($40-$50 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245 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 Verizon 5G cellular plans) | 100-300 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| Zeta Broadband, Inc. | Fixed wireless | 35-100 dollars | 7-100Mbps | No one | No one | No one | N/A |
Show more (0 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Elmira?
Provider
Starting price
Maximum download speed
Monthly subscription for equipment
Spectrum Internet advantage
Read the full review
30 dollars
100 Mbps
$10 (optional)
Zeta Broadband, Inc.
35 dollars
7 Mbps
No one
Spectrum Internet Premier
Read the full review
50 dollars
500 Mbps
$10 (optional)
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Read the full review
$50 ($35 with eligible Verizon 5G cellular plans)
100 Mbps
No one
Empire approach
50 dollars
500 Mbps
$5 router rental fee
T-Mobile Home Internet
Read the full review
$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans)
245 Mbps
No one
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet advantage Read the full review |
30 dollars | 100 Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Zeta Broadband, Inc. | 35 dollars | 7 Mbps | No one |
| Spectrum Internet Premier Read the full review |
50 dollars | 500 Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible Verizon 5G cellular plans) | 100 Mbps | No one |
| Empire approach | 50 dollars | 500 Mbps | $5 router rental fee |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$60 ($40 with eligible mobile plans) | 245 Mbps | No one |
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find online deals and promotions in Elmira?
The best online deals and top promotions in Elmira depend on what discounts are available at a particular time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Elmira ISPs, such as Spectrum and Verizon, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Empire Access and Zeta Broadband, Inc., run the same standard rates year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to the best internet deals.
The fastest internet plans in Elmira
Provider
Starting price
Maximum download speed
Maximum upload speed
Data cap
Connection type
Empire Access 2 Gig
100 dollars
2,000 Mbps
2,000 Mbps
No one
Hair
Spectrum Internet gig
Read the full review
70 dollars
1,000 Mbps
35 Mbps
No one
Cable
Empire access 1 gig
65 dollars
940 Mbps
940 Mbps
No one
Hair
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Access 2 Gig | 100 dollars | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps | No one | Hair |
| Spectrum Internet gig Read the full review |
70 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Empire access 1 gig | 65 dollars | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | No one | Hair |
Show more (0 item)
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 will 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, 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 Elmira
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 start 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?
The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, but 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 Elmira FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Elmira?
Is fiber optic internet available in Elmira?
What is the cheapest ISP in Elmira?
Spectrum's $30/month plan for 100 Mbps is the cheapest option in the area, but since your monthly bill will increase after a year or two, you may be better off looking to fixed wireless providers like Verizon and T-Mobile.
Which ISP in Elmira offers the fastest plan?
Empire Access has the fastest plan in the area for symmetrical download and upload speeds of 2,000 Mbps. Customers can also access its gigabit plan, but it only reaches 940 Mbps.