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What is the best internet provider in Cambridge?
Wireless internet providers outnumber wired ones in the area, however Xfinity is the best internet service provider for most of Cambridge. Xfinity cable internet service has the best broadband coverage in Cambridge, low introductory prices and some of the fastest download speeds available, up to 1,200 megabits per second.
Associated cable ISP surprised offers the fastest download speeds of any local provider, up to 1,500Mbps, starting at just $55 a month, but availability is very limited in Cambridge. Better availability would be ideal, because the provider offers the fastest level and THE cheapest internet Cambridge plan — $20 per month for download speeds up to 300Mbps.
Like Astound, fiber provider Verizon Fios offers home internet in Cambridge but few are available. Aside from Xfinity, your options for broadband in Cambridge will likely include fixed wireless providers Starry Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. Starry Internet provides a simple, affordable internet connection when you move into a building wired for service.
Best internet in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts, internet providers compared
| giver | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | The monthly cost of equipment | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband Read the full review |
Cable | $20-$55 | 300-1,500Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$50 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.4 |
| Starry Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $30-$55 | 200-500Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible mobile plans) | 50-250Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
| Verizon Fios Read the full review |
ravelled | $50-$90 | 300-940Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.6 |
| Xfinity Read the full review |
Cable | $30-$75 | 300-1,200Mbps | $15 (optional) | nothing | nothing | 7 |
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Providers of the store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Cambridge?
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Providers of the store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Cambridge
The best deals on the internet and the top promotions in Cambridge depend on which discounts are available in the past. Most deals don’t last, but we’re always on the lookout for the latest offers.
Internet providers in Cambridge, such as T-Mobile Home Internet and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory prices, unlimited data or other incentives for a limited time. Many, including Starry and Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same base price year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, see our guide to best deals on the internet.
Fastest internet plans in Cambridge
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Providers of the store at my address
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 are looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you will have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and 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 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 satisfy 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 participate in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picks the best internet providers in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptop, router or kitchen utensilsit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a city. So what is our approach? We started by researching pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission on FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We looked at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to assess how happy customers are with ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to constant change; All information provided is accurate in the publication.
Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they paid for?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answers to these questions are often layered and complex, providers who are close to “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, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real world speed data from sources such as Ookla 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 test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, FAQs
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.
With exceptional local coverage, Xfinity offers low introductory rates with speeds from 300 to 1,200Mbps. The plans include unlimited data and no contracts, which is not unique to Cambridge internet providers, but Xfinity plans in many other markets may have a data cap or contract.
Is fiber internet available in Cambridge?
According to FCC data from June 2024, only about 8% of residential addresses in Cambridge will be available for fiber-optic internet. The best services along the Charles River in the East Cambridge and Lechmere Square communities. Verizon Fios is the leading fiber internet provider in the area.
What is the cheapest internet provider 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 1,500Mbps. However, Astound has little to do with Cambridge. Xfinity is 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 1,200Mbps.
Which internet provider in Cambridge offers the fastest plan?
Astound offers the fastest internet plan with speeds up to 1,500Mbps starting at $55 per month, but, again, the provider has limited availability in the area. Xfinity’s Gigabit Extra plan offers almost the same download speed potential, 1,200Mbps, and is more widely available throughout the Cambridge area.
