What is the best internet provider in Ithaca?
Spectrum is CNET's pick for the best internet service provider in Ithaca, New Yorkthanks to high availability, fast speed and direct pricing. Spectrum's two plan options in Ithaca — 500 megabits per second and 1,000Mbps — offer the best value of any ISP in the area and include unlimited data and a free modem (router not included).
Verizon Fios is also a great value, offering free equipment rental, unlimited data and a long price guarantee on each of its plans, but availability is severely limited in Ithaca. Verizon's wireless home internet service is more widely available and includes many of the same perks as Verizon Fios, but available speeds are less consistent.
If you are looking for a high speed internet alternative or shopping for internet in a rural area outside of Ithaca, T-Mobile Home Internet is probably your best choice. The service includes free equipment, unlimited data and no contract, and your price is locked in for as long as you keep your service.
Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet and both Verizon services have a starting price of $50 per month, but you get more speed for the price with Spectrum, making it a better choice for cheap internet. Spectrum also offers the fastest download speeds in Ithaca, up to 1,000Mbps, though Verizon Fios is close behind with a 940Mbps plan with faster upload speeds, up to 880Mbps compared to 35Mbps from Spectrum.
Ithaca, New York, vs. internet providers
| Provider | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Read the full review |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 (optional) | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with qualifying mobile plans) | 87-415Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
Fiber | $50-$90 ($25-$65 with qualifying mobile plans) | 300-940Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.6 |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Ithaca?
| Plan | Introductory price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 (optional) |
| Verizon Fios 300 Read the full review |
$50 | 300Mbps | nothing |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | nothing |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 318Mbps | nothing |
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Ithaca
The best internet deals and top promotions in Ithaca depend on what discounts are available at a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we're often on the lookout for the latest offers.
Ithaca internet providers, such as Verizon Fios, may offer lower introductory pricing or promotional offers for a limited time. However, many, including Spectrum and T-Mobile Home Internet, operate the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide to best deals on the internet.
Fastest internet plan in Ithaca
| Plan | Introductory price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read the full review |
$70 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | nothing | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | nothing | Fixed wireless |
| Verizon Fios 1 Gig Read the full review |
$90 ($65 with eligible mobile plans) | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | nothing | Fiber |
| Spectrum Internet Read the full review |
$50 | 500Mbps | 20Mbps | nothing | Cable |
| Verizon Fios 500 Read the full review |
$70 | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | nothing | Fiber |
| T-Mobile Home Internet All-In Read the full review |
$70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 415Mbps | 55Mbps | nothing | Fixed wireless |
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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 videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more stable connection. Here is an overview of recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are guidelines only — and internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you need.
- 0 to 5Mbps lets you tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.
How CNET picked the best internet providers in Ithaca
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptop, router o kitchen furnitureit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a particular city. So what is our strategy? We begin by researching pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
But it doesn't end there. We went to the FCC website to review our data and make sure we accounted for every ISP that provides service in an area. We also put local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look to sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate at publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three key questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they are paying for?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers that come close 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 fees, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is pretty straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world data speeds from sources such as Okla and FCC reports. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we evaluate ISPs page.
Internet providers in Ithaca, New York, FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Ithaca?
Spectrum is the best internet service provider in Ithaca, mainly because of its high speed availability throughout the area but also because of its competitive pricing on fast speeds and simple terms of service. Spectrum speeds range from 500 to 1,000Mbps in Ithaca, and both plans include free modem rental, unlimited data and no contract requirements.
Is fiber internet available in Ithaca?
Fiber availability is limited to about 20% of the city, or about 1,000 Ithaca households, according to the latest FCC data. Service is best in southeast Ithaca, in neighborhoods along Six Mile Creek and south of Cornell University. Verizon Fios is the leading fiber internet provider in Ithaca.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Ithaca?
The top internet providers in Ithaca have a monthly starting price of $50. Spectrum offers the fastest speeds for the price, up to 500Mbps, but renting a router will add $10 to the monthly cost. While Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet have slower max speeds than Spectrum, both offer a mobile discount that can bring the cost down to $35 per month. Additionally, there are no equipment fees and both providers have a longer price guarantee than Spectrum — T-Mobile's monthly rate is locked in as long as you keep your service.
Which internet provider in Ithaca offers the fastest plans?
Spectrum has the fastest speed tier in Ithaca, offering a max download speed of 1,000Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet also advertises a max download speed of 1,000Mbps, but that's the top range that could be anywhere between 50 and 1,000Mbps.
Verizon Fios offers a 940Mbps plan in Ithaca. Although slightly slower than Spectrum's fastest plan in terms of max download speed, the 940Mbps plan from Verizon Fios has a max upload speed of 880Mbps, faster than the 35Mbps max which you can get from Spectrum.
