What is the best ISP in Reading?
Xfinity is the best internet service provider in Reading, Pennsylvania. It tops our list because it's the only practical wired internet option in the area. Xfinity offers it cheapest internet in Reading ($25 per month for speeds up to 150 megabits per second) and the fastest speeds, up to 2,000 Mbps for $95. However, if you're looking for alternatives to Xfinity in Redding, you won't have many. Frontier offers DSL Internet in parts of Reading, but speeds are likely lower which qualifies as broadbandand at $65 per month, the price is higher than what you'd pay for up to 800 Mbps from Xfinity.
Wireless Internet, from Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internetis the only reasonable broadband choice aside from Xfinity in Redding. Verizon 5G Home Internet has a better price, while T-Mobile Home Internet boasts better coverage. Both providers offer a discount for bundling with a mobile service.
The best internet in Reading, PA
Reading, Pennsylvania ISPs Compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Border Read the full review |
DSL | 65 dollars | It varies | No one | No one | No one | 6.3 |
| 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 |
| 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 | $25-$95 | 150-2,000 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one | 1 year (optional) | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Reading?
| Plan | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect Read the full review |
25 dollars | 150 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
35 dollars | 300 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Xfinity Fast Read the full review |
45 dollars | 500 Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible cell phone plans) | 85 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 Reading
The best online deals and top promotions in Reading depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we often look for the latest offers.
Reading ISPs, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including Verizon 5G Home Internet and Frontier, run 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 Reading
| 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 | 300 Mbps | No one | Cable |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
65 dollars | 1,000 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 1.2 TB | 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 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 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 Reading, Pennsylvania
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 on our historical data from ISPs, provider locations and mapping information from 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 answers to those questions are 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. (Disclosure: 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.
Reading, Pennsylvania, ISP FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Reading?
As the only wired broadband provider available in the area, Xfinity is the best internet provider in Reading, Pennsylvania. Xfinity has the best availability and variety of plans in Redding, including the cheapest and fastest internet plans in the area.
Is fiber optic internet available in Reading?
According to the latest FCC data, fiber internet is unavailable in Redding, Pennsylvania. Frontier and Verizon, two of the nation's largest fiber internet providers, are available in Redding, but neither offers fiber service in the area. Xfinity also offers fiber internet in certain areas, although Reading is not one of them.
What is the cheapest ISP in Reading?
Xfinity has the cheapest internet plan in Reading, with service starting at $25 per month for download speeds of up to 150Mbps. Xfinity offers two plans with starting prices lower than standard Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet rates.
Which ISP in Reading offers the fastest plan?
Xfinity is the only provider that offers read speeds in excess of 1Gbps. The Xfinity Gigabit x2 plan offers up to 2,000 Mbps.