According to CNET, Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Richmond. The company optical internet service is one of the best options available anywhere, in our opinion speed analysis and pricing data. If you can't get Verizon Fios or Xfinity at your address, internet speed is more of a mixed bag: Richmond's average internet speed is on the slower side. According to Ookla's latest data (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) But with download speeds of 185 Mbps and upload speeds of 51 Mbps, it's still plenty fast for most households.
Our team considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best Richmond internet service in a variety of categories. Our evaluation includes reference to a proprietary database built over years of reviewing Internet services. We verify this against provider information by spot checking local addresses for service availability. We also carefully read the terms and conditions of the providers and, when necessary, we will call the ISPs to confirm the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations that you should be aware of. Pricing and speed data are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different levels of service and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your specific options is to include your address on the provider's website.
Please note that the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the supplier cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards show the full range of provider prices and speeds across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what's available in Richmond. The prices listed in the text of this article come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month – an industry standard offer. Other discounts and promotions may also be available, for things like being on a contract or bundled with a mobile phone plan.
To learn more about how we review ISPs, visit our full methodology page.
The best ISPs in Richmond
The providers we recommend below offer widespread coverage in Richmond. Checking your home address against Federal Communications Commission Broadband Map will display your specific options.
Top ISPs in Richmond
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Agreement | CNET Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $60 ($30 with eligible phone plan) | 72-245 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 (50% off with eligible phone plan) | 85-1,000 Mbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
Hair | 50-110 dollars | 300Mbps-2.3Gbps | No one | No one | No one | 7.6 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
Cable | 30-120 dollars | 200Mbps-2Gpps | $15 (optional) | No one | No one | 7 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Other available residential ISPs in Richmond
While the providers listed above are by far the best Internet options in Richmond, according to CNET's analysis, there may be several other choices available. Keep in mind, you'll need to check your real address to see which plans you have access to.
- Earthlink: Earthlink uses other providers' networks for its internet service, which usually means it's more expensive than going through those providers directly. You will need to call to find out what plans are available at your address.
- Satellite internet: If you can't get anything else, there's always satellite internet. While it's available almost everywhere in the country, it almost always comes with long contracts, slow speeds, low data caps, and high latency. HughesNet and Viasat are the traditional satellite competitors and there is not much to recommend them. Starlink is a newer provider that offers significantly faster speeds, but has a high upfront equipment cost of $599, and service may not yet be available at all Richmond addresses.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Like T-Mobile, Verizon has begun using its cellular network for home Internet service. It's not as widely available in Richmond as T-Mobile, but speeds can reach 1,000 Mbps in some areas.
Richmond home internet service pricing details
The average starting price for Internet service in Richmond is about $44 per month, but that's greatly skewed by Xfinity's $25 monthly plan deal. While Xfinity offers some of the lowest introductory rates you'll find anywhere in the country, your cost will increase significantly after one to three years.
Cheapest internet plans in Richmond
| Provider | Starting price | Maximum download speed | Monthly subscription for equipment | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Connect More Read the full review |
$25 (with two-year contract) | 200 Mbps | $15 (optional) | No one |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($30 for eligible mobile customers) | 245 Mbps | No one | No one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($25 with eligible Verizon 5G cellular plans) | 300 Mbps | No one | No one |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
50 dollars | 300 Mbps | No one | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Internet speeds in Richmond
Richmond residents have access to several Internet service providers that offer high-speed connections. Verizon Fios offers some of the highest upload speeds in the area, ranging from 300 to 880 Mbps, while Xfinity offers cable Internet plans with download speeds from 200 to 1,200 Mbps.
The fastest internet plans in Richmond
| Provider | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Starting price | Data cap | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read the full review |
1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 80 dollars | 1.2 TB | No one |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
1,000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $70 ($35 with eligible Verizon 5G cellular plans) | No one | No one |
| Xfinity Gigabit Read the full review |
1,000 Mbps | 25 Mbps | 70 dollars | 1.2 TB | No one |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
940 Mbps | 880 Mbps | 90 dollars | No one | No one |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
What's the final word on ISPs in Richmond?
Richmond residents don't have many providers to choose from, but it's hard to go wrong with the ones they do have. No matter where you are in the country, Verizon Fios is a no-brainer — if it's available, you should probably get it. The only exception is if you're looking for the cheapest price and don't need a ton of speed. In that case, the Xfinity Connect More 200Mbps plan for $30 a month is one of the best values you'll find in the area. 200 Mbps is enough for a few people to stream or work at once, but gamers may run into problems with Xfinity's slow upload speeds.
How CNET picked the best ISPs in Richmond
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? For starters, we use a proprietary database of pricing, availability, and speed information that is drawn from our historical ISP data, partner data, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
This guide uses a homegrown artificial intelligence tool called RAMP, which is trained on our writing and uses our database to generate content about specific internet service providers that our writers can use in determining and presenting our choices for a given a guide. Check it out CNET AI Policy for more information on how our teams use (and don't use) AI tools.
Since our database is not exhaustive, we go to the FCC website to check the primary data for ourselves and make sure we are looking at every ISP that provides service in a particular area. Plans and prices also vary by location, so we enter local addresses on provider websites to find the specific options available to residents. To gauge how satisfied customers are with an ISP's service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent change; all information provided is correct as of the time of our fact checking prior to 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. To explore our process in more detail, visit our how we test ISPs page.
ISPs in Richmond FAQ
What is the best ISP in Richmond?
According to CNET's analysis of pricing, speed and availability, the best Internet service provider in Richmond is Verizon Fios. Verizon Fios offers symmetrical speeds ranging from 300Mbps to 940Mbps and has the highest customer satisfaction scores of any ISP in the country. If you want the most cost-effective option, Xfinity is a great choice, offering download speeds of 200 Mbps for just $25 per month.
Is fiber optic internet available in Richmond?