Best Internet Providers in Manchester, New Hampshire – CNET

Also known as Consolidated Communications, this local provider offers the speediest plan in the city and has the fastest expected speeds, according to Ookla. Fidium is the only fiber provider in Manchester since AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber haven’t expanded to New Hampshire yet. 

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Check with Fidium

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Manchester

• Breezeline: This cable provider doesn’t offer coverage directly in Manchester but has a large presence in Deerfield, Epsom and Franklin. If you live north of Manchester, check if Breezeline is available at your address.
• Firstlight Fiber: Firstlight’s coverage is sparse across the state, so it’s unlikely you’ll be serviceable for it in Manchester. There is a small percentage of coverage in Derry, so it might be worth looking into if you’re near that city.  
• Satellite internet: No matter where you are in the country, satellite internet will always be an option. But it’s probably not the best one. With high prices and slow speeds, providers like HughesNet, Viasat and Starlink shouldn’t be your go-to for broadband.
• US Cellular: Available to about 50% of Manchester residents, this mobile company now offers internet through a fixed wireless network. You’ll have to input your information to find out the prices and service details, but US Cellular’s homepage says plans start at $50 per month. 
• Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon offers two internet plans under its network: $50 for 300Mbps or $70 for 1,000Mbps. However, it’s available to only 12% of households in Manchester, so you’ll have to check on Verizon’s website to see if your household is serviceable. 

Cheap internet options in Manchester

If you’re searching for the cheapest internet plan in the city, Xfinity offers a 200Mbps plan for $25 per month. While Breezeline’s Base plan is $5 cheaper than Xfinity’s, it isn’t available for Manchester residents — only those living north of Manchester will be serviceable for Breezeline. 

Most providers we’ve mentioned also participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives eligible low-income households a $30 monthly discount (or up to $75 for households on tribal lands) for high-speed internet. You can use the ACP toward any internet plan — not just the cheapest ones — from participating providers.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Manchester

The best internet deals and top promotions in Manchester depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Manchester internet providers, such as Xfinity and Fidium Fiber, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including T-Mobile and Verizon, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals. 

How fast is Manchester broadband?

New Hampshire ranks 17th for the fastest broadband speeds by state. So, how does the city of Manchester stack up? According to Ookla, Manchester has a median download speed of 275Mbps, which beats New Hampshire’s average speed of 206Mbps. 

But if you want a speed faster than 275Mbps, you have many options, including fiber, cable and fixed wireless connections. Fidium Fiber has the speediest plan in the city, offering 2 gigs for $75 per month. If you’re looking for cable connectivity, Xfinity’s Gigabit Extra plan offers 1,200Mbps of speed for $80 monthly. 

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s 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 robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that 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 really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to 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 give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Manchester

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov. 

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. 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 as of publication. 

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions: 

• Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds? 
• Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying? 
• Are customers happy with their service? 

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though 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 like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What’s the final word on internet providers in Manchester?

Despite Manchester not having many national broadband names, like AT&T Fiber, Google Fiber or Cox Communications, there are still plenty of connection choices in the city. Manchester residents have access to fiber, cable, and fixed wireless internet, but it all comes down to the provider available at your location. Xfinity has the widest coverage across the city, but Fidium Fiber offers symmetrical speeds only a fiber connection can provide. 

Internet providers in Manchester FAQs